Optimal Voltage and Reactive Power Management using Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) with Generator Reallocation and Hybrid Index Driven UPFC Placement for Enhanced Power System Stability

Abstract

From the operation and control of the power systems, the optimization of significant parameters like voltage profiles, reactive power, and real power losses assures stability, efficiency, and dependability. Following operational limits, including producing limits, transmission line capacities, and voltage requirements, the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem aims to minimize generating costs, system losses, and voltage deviations. This paper presents an improved OPF solution for the IEEE 30-bus system using the Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) method, a modern metaheuristic driven by Harris hawks cooperative hunting activity. First stressing lowering real power losses and voltage aberrations, the technique then integrates generator reallocation to optimum power generation under system constraints. Integrated into the OPF framework, a flexible FACTS device able to manage voltage magnitude, line reactance, and phase angle, a Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) enhances system stability. The best location of the UPFC is discovered by using Hybrid Index (HI), which combines the L-index for voltage stability and the Line Utilisation Factor (LUF) for line congestion, therefore enabling the appropriate detection of stressed network points. Performance of the Harmony Search (HS) algorithm is compared with that of the HHO based OPF approach. Results on the IEEE 30-bus system reveal that HHO trumps HS in terms of solution quality, reduction in real power losses, voltage profile enhancement, and general system robustness both with and without UPFC inclusion.