MUET logo

Optimizing Power Quality and Efficiency of a Distribution Substation through Static Var Compensators: A Case Study of the 132 kV Qasimabad Grid Station, Pakistan

Authors

  • Shayan Akhund

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan 76062
    Author

  • Abdul Karim Shah

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan 76062
    Author

  • Muhammad Ashar

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan 76062
    Author

  • Faheemullah Shaikh

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan 76062
    Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22581/3378

Keywords:

Power Distribution Management, Grid Performance Optimization, Flexible AC Transmission Systems, Load Flow Analysis, Static Var Compensator, Electrical Transient and Analysis Program

Abstract

The Qasimabad Grid Station has lost its efficiency due to increasing electricity demand and the aging of its infrastructure. This has resulted in frequent outages, overloading of transformers, degradation of the power factor, and bus voltages that are close to the minimum allowable values. To evaluate the performance of the grid, a power flow study was performed using the Electrical Transient and Analysis Program (ETAP) in accordance with the regulatory framework of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The main goal of this study was to improve the performance of the grid system through the integration of Static Var Compensators (SVCs) in the modeled network. The first step in the research was to analyze system limitations to determine the reactive power needs of the system for proper SVC location and sizing in the network. This stage required data gathering and analysis during both high load and low load periods, paying particular attention to the number of transformer overloads experienced in June 2023, as well as underloads experienced in December 2023. The results further strengthened the findings of previous studies that SVCs are beneficial in improving grid reliability by maintaining nominal bus voltages, reducing transformer loading, and correcting the power factor.

Downloads

References

[1] M. N. Nwohu, “Voltage Stability Improvement using Static Var Compensator in Power Systems,” 2009. [Online]. Available: http://ljs.academicdirect.org

[2] B. Oum et al., “Voltage Stability Studies With Optimal Placement of SVC Device.” [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272238125

[3] S. S. Bhole and P. Nigam, “Improvement of Voltage Stability in Power System by Using SVC and STATCOM,” International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 749–755, Feb. 2015, doi: 10.15662/ijareeie.2015.0402035.

[4] M. J. Katira and K. B. Porate, “Load flow analysis of 132 / 11 kV distribution sub station using static var compensator for voltage enhancement - A case study,” in IEEE Region 10 Annual International Conference, Proceedings/TENCON, 2009, doi: 10.1109/TENCON.2009.5396170.

[5] Maryam Ibrahim and Izza Ikram, “Energy Crisis in Pakistan and Its Solution (Updated),” Aug. 2022. Accessed: Aug. 24, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.paradigmshift.com.pk/pakistan-energy-crisis-and-its-solution

[6] S. A. Khatri et al., “An Overview of the Current Energy Situation of Pakistan and the Way Forward towards Green Energy Implementation,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 1, p. 423, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16010423.

[7] I. N. Kessides, “Chaos in power: Pakistan’s electricity crisis,” Energy Policy, vol. 55, pp. 271–285, Apr. 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.12.005.

[8] National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), “State of Industry Report,” 2023. [Online]. Available: https://nepra.org.pk/publications/State%20of%20Industry%20Reports/State%20of%20Industry%20Report%202023.pdf

[9] Tense Electronics, “What Is SVC? What Are Its Usage Areas and Advantages? What Is SVC Compensation?” Tense Electronics, Dec. 12, 2023. Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://tense.com.tr/en/what-is-svc-what-are-its-usage-areas-and-advantageswhat-is-svc-compensation

[10] A. Eberle GmbH & Co. KG, “Reactive Power.” Accessed: Apr. 24, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.a-eberle.de/en/knowledge/reactive-power

[11] G. L. Filho, H. P. Corrêa, and F. H. T. Vieira, “Distributed Reactive Power Injection-Based Approach for Minimization of Losses in Electrical Networks Considering Heuristic Algorithms and Voltage Deviation,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 19, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16196761.

[12] A. Nigam, K. K. Sharma, M. B. Riaz, M. Yaseen, A. Shafiq, and T. N. Sindhu, “Reactive power compensation during the convergence of grid system with FACTS devices,” Results in Engineering, vol. 23, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102449.

[13] R. G. Zaher and T. U. Okeke, “Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS),” in International Conference on New Concepts in Smart Cities: Fostering Public and Private Alliances (SmartMILE), Gijon, Spain, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6708208

[14] National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), “Distribution Code,” 2005. [Online]. Available: https://nepra.org.pk/Legislation/6Codes/6.1%20Distribution%20Code%20%202005/Distribution%20Code%202005.pdf

[15] International Electrotechnical Commission, “Loading Guide for Oil-Immersed Power Transformers,” IEC Publications, vol. 1991, p. 13, Geneva, Switzerland, 2006.

[16] I. Wonodi, E. Wodi, W. Ikonwa, U. Okogbule, and B. Dike, “Power Flow Studies of 132/33/11 kV Distribution Network Using Static Var Compensator for Voltage Improvement,” American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), no. 3, pp. 51–58. [Online]. Available: http://www.ajer.org

[17] B. Houari, F. Z. Gherbi, S. Hadjeri, and F. Ghezal, “Modelling and Simulation of Static Var Compensator with Matlab,” Acta Electrotehnica, vol. 49, pp. 450–457.

[18] Omazaki Group, “Load Flow Study & Analysis - Omazaki Group,” Omazaki Group, Apr. 05, 2021. Accessed: May 11, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.omazaki.co.id/en/load-flow-study-analysis

[19] N. K. Lal, “A Review on Load Flow Analysis,” 2014. Accessed: Aug. 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317592915

[20] O. A. Afolabi, W. H. Ali, P. Cofie, J. Fuller, P. Obiomon, and E. S. Kolawole, “Analysis of the Load Flow Problem in Power System Planning Studies,” Energy and Power Engineering, vol. 7, no. 10, pp. 509–523, 2015, doi: 10.4236/epe.2015.710048.

Published

2026-10-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 4 (2026): October Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Optimizing Power Quality and Efficiency of a Distribution Substation through Static Var Compensators: A Case Study of the 132 kV Qasimabad Grid Station, Pakistan. (2026). Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 45(4), 240-245. https://doi.org/10.22581/3378

Similar Articles

41-50 of 111

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.