Intelligent Integrated Approach for Voltage Balancing Using Particle Swarm Optimization and Predictive Models

Abstract

In this paper, an intelligent integrated approach is proposed to control the reactive power and restore the voltage balance in a three-phase power system using particle swarm optimization (PSO), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and support vector machine (SVM). The PSO algorithm is used in offline mode to determine the optimal set of firing angles for the thyristor-controlled-reactor (TCR) compensator according to the smallest fitness value required for voltage balancing. The optimum firing angles are then used to train the GPR and SVM regression models. The GPR and SVM models are finally used as a real-time controller to retrieve the voltage balance in online mode. A simulation model and experimental setup of the electrical power system are built. The modeled system consists of a 500 km long transmission line. The line is divided into three-pi sections to guarantee a real system response. Several simulation and practical case studies have been conducted to test and validate the capability of the proposed integrated approach in solving the voltage unbalance problem. The results have revealed the supreme ability of the proposed integrated approach to restore the voltage balance quickly (within 20 ms) and for a wide range of voltage unbalance factors (VUFs) (3.90–8.42%).