Contingency constrained optimal reactive power flow procedures for voltage control in planning and operation

The paper presents a preventive secure contingency constrained approach to power system voltage profile optimization suitable both for VAr planning and for short term reactive scheduling. The solution of the problems is based upon the implementation of two optimal reactive power flow (ORPF) programs: the first relevant to determining a workable state (security aspect); and the second relevant to attaining the optimal and secure point (global target). The first ORPF is solved by recursively employing a linear programming algorithm, whilst the second is based on the Han-Powell algorithm. In the paper, emphasis is given to the introduction of the contingency constraints in the ORPF models. The N-1 security constraints are explicitly introduced in the programs in order to obtain an operating point preventive-secure with respect to a selected contingency set. The performances of the procedures are shown by presenting the numerical results obtained from their applications to a small test network and to the large ENEL transmission system