The Reconfiguration of Kaduna Municipal Area Distribution Network for Power Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement Using Static Var Compensators (SVC)

The increase in global and Nigerian demand for electricity due to technological advancements has brought about numerous challenges, including voltage instability, power factor problems, and high-power losses in electrical power distribution networks. This paper presentsthe placement of a Static Var Compensator (SVC) inthe power distribution network of Town One Station,Kaduna, Nigeria, to investigate its impact on improvingand addressingthe network’spoorvoltage profile and reducing the active power lossexperienced by the network. For analysis, the bus voltage, power, and the current passing through the chosen feeders were measured and noted appropriately. The network parameters, including route length, transformer parameters, and maximum power flow, were obtained from the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company inKaduna, Nigeria. The distribution network was modelled and simulated in the ETAP software environment, both with and without Static Var Compensator (SVCs). The results obtained from the simulation indicated that buses 5, 7, 8, and 47, among others, have a voltage magnitude of 0.743–0.932 pu, which is clearly outside the acceptable limit of 0.95–1.05 pu. Further results showed that the network experienced real and reactive power losses of 8,527 kW and 23,535 kVAr, respectively. After the placementof the SVC with a 5.75MVAR rating, the active power loss decreased from 8527 kW to 6751 kW, indicating a 20.82% reduction in total active power loss experienced by the network. Additionally, the minimum network’s bus voltage improved from 0.743 to 1.02 p.u.