A Methodology for Solving VAr/Voltage Problems in the Western Algerian Transmission System

This paper describes the methodology adopted to deal with the VAr dispatch and voltage violation problems. This flexible methodology combining heuristic and numerical techniques has been successfully used to determine a suitable strategy for the operation of the western Algerian transmission/sub-transmission system. The injection of shunt capacitors at target buses, optimization step and corrective actions at specific transformer taps and synchronous generators with considering heuristic rules allows to maintain the voltages in the whole network within the required limit and to reduce the active power losses. Finally, field results corresponding to the worst case reported up to date are analyzed to show the validity of the proposed procedure.