Electrical Power Flow Improvement by Reducing Fault Current using FACTS Devices

Nowadays, power demand has increased to a large extent. But due to scarcity of resources, transmission and distribution systems are not capable of fulfilling the unbound demand. The loss existing within the power lines makes the situation more unfavorable to transfer maximum power. One of the most effective ways to reduce these line losses is the implementation of a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS). In this paper, the FACTS devices are utilized for reducing the fault current in the system. This also increases the performance of the switchgear and protection equipment. Further larger power can be transmitted through the system with the same switchgear and protection equipment due to reduced fault current. The performance of Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC), Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), and Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is analyzed in this case. The STATCOM and UPFC show remarkable performance in fault current reduction. So, besides the voltage regulation and power flow control, STATCOM and UPFC can also ensure the fault current reduction in the power system. The feasibility of the system model is analyzed in MATLAB/Simulink environment.