Abstract

Load flow analysis plays an important role in the planning, operation, optimization and control of a power system network. Over the years, the Calabar 132Kv transmission system has witnessed voltage losses and load shedding due to insufficient power generation, inadequate or nonexistent reserves and the inability of the transmission companies to adequately manage the reactive power flow on the transmission line. This research titled “Load flow analysis of the 132kv Calabar transmission system for improved performance using Global-best Artificial Bee, Colony Algorithm (GABC)”. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) was used to evaluate the real time load profile of the transmission network under consideration, and its optimization wassimulated in a MATLAB environment. The aim of the research is to evaluate the condition of the transmission network load flow performance for improved stability and overall efficiency. Thus, determining the quantity of voltage loss during transmission, thereby providing the network with a viable recommendation which will form a medium-term policy framework for operation that will enhance and deliver quality as well as efficient electricity supply to the people connected to the transmission line. The outcome of our evaluation reveals that, bus 30 has a generated voltage of 403megawatts and the load supply of 252megawatts and the losses alone accounted for 151megawatts. The power lost on the 132Kv Calabar network was largely due to over loading, long distance, transmission/distribution lines ageing as well as inadequate control infrastructure. Also, it is observed that the result of the reactive power optimization for 100 maximum trial runs of the 179-bus network is 74megawatts which shows a reduction in power loss after optimization. Having evaluated the performance of the 132Kv Calabar sub-transmission network Cross River State, as a case study, to increase power capacity, outdated 132KV sub-transmission networks should be modernized and continued investment is needed in the power sector, particularly with the expansion of 132Kv sub-transmission networks and the introduction of distributed generation. Finally, for future growth, very old power transformers should be replaced with ones that have a higher MVA capacity, particularly Amika feeder lines linking Ekpo-Abasi, Calabar-South, Mary-Slessor road, by the main entrance of the University of Calabar. This analysis provides a tangible and detailed information of the Calabar 132kv transmission system operation capacity as well as the data for timely improvement of the network by the power sector policy makers.