Optimization of Dynamic Reactive Power Sources Using Mesh Adaptive Direct Search

Dynamic reactive power sources can be used to effectively mitigate the fault-induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR) and transient voltage instability issues. When many var sources need to be installed at planned locations, optimization of their sizes is a complicated nonlinear optimization problem due to its non-convexity and the dependence of the constraint on time-series trajectories of post-fault voltages. Solving this optimal sizing problem needs to utilize both a nonlinear optimization solver and a power system differential-algebraic equation solver. This paper proposes a new approach for solving this problem under both a single contingency and multiple contingencies by using the Mesh Adaptive Direct Search algorithm interfaced with a power system simulator. The proposed approach is validated by case studies on a North American Eastern Interconnection model to optimize the sizes of planned STATCOMs against critical contingencies.