UC Irvine

The electrical power grid is the biggest man-made system, and one of the most complex ones. This system has been up and evolving from about a century into the large connected system we have today. However, innovations are very few in recent years, and it becomes more outdated as days go by. Moreover, we need to modify the operational status quo - not environmentally friendly because of its predominant coal-based generation. Investigation of the grid’s behavior and study of control techniques under new scenarios, such as renewable energy generation, is needed to update the grid to cope with new challenges brought by implementation of modern technologies enhancing our power systems.

In this thesis, effects of Reactive Power will be discussed, VAR compensation techniques such as static, switched capacitor banks and static VAR compensators are simulated on a grid with high solar energy penetration. Two different software are used to simulated a 12.47 kV, 7 MW circuit, and VAR compensation is studied in conjunction with load curves. The VAR Compensation methods are effectively employed, and discussions made regarding their effects.

A new technique of optimal capacitor placement and sizing for losses reduction is developed, using power flow optimization and graphical tools to achieve the most efficient and effective place and size for banks placement. Using easy-to-implement steps, it enables losses and costs reduction , increasing grid’s efficiency. The validity of the approach is tested in the same grid previously studied, confirming its functioning and effectively reducing over 5% of circuit losses.