Optimal location of UPQC for power quality improvement: Novel hybrid approach

Purpose: In general, the optimal reactive power compensation could drastically enhance the performance of distributed network by the reduction of power loss and by enhancement of line loadability and voltage profile. Till now, there exist various reactive power compensation models including capacitor placement, joined process of on-load tap changer and capacitor banks and integration of DG. Further, one of the current method is the allocation of distribution FACTS (DFACTS) device. Even though, the DFACTS devices are usually used in the enhancement of power quality, they could be used in the optimal reactive power compensation with more effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: This paper introduces a power quality enhancement model that is based on a new hybrid optimization algorithm for selecting the precise unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) location and sizing. A new algorithm rider optimization algorithm (ROA)-modified particle swarm optimization (PSO) in fitness basis (RMPF) is introduced for this optimal selections. Findings: Through the performance analysis, it is observed that as the iteration increases, there is a gradual minimization of cost function. At the 40th iteration, the proposed method is 1.99 per cent better than ROA and genetic algorithm (GA); 0.09 per cent better than GMDA and WOA; and 0.14, 0.57 and 1.94 per cent better than Dragonfly algorithm (DA), worst solution linked whale optimization (WS-WU) and PSO, respectively. At the 60th iteration, the proposed method attains less cost function, which is 2.07, 0.08, 0.06, 0.09, 0.07 and 1.90 per cent superior to ROA, GMDA, DA, GA, WS-WU and PSO, respectively. Thus, the proposed model proves that it is better than other models. Originality/value: This paper presents a technique for optimal placing and sizing of UPQC. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that introduces RMPF algorithm to solve the optimization problems.