Power Flow Control Strategies in Electric Power Systems

Power flow control is central to modern electric power systems, enabling the efficient and reliable delivery of energy amid growing renewable generation and cross-border interconnections. Traditional approaches rely on passive equipment such as phase-shifting transformers to redirect real power by varying the phase angle between network nodes. Advances in power electronics have introduced a family of flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices and high-voltage DC (HVDC) links that allow continuous, bidirectional and rapid control of active and reactive power. In distribution networks, rotary and static controllers embed intelligent two-stage algorithms to coordinate voltage regulation and loss minimisation in real time. At the transmission level, optimisation frameworks couple multi-objective cost functions with machine-learning or evolutionary algorithms to allocate flows that reduce congestion, improve voltage stability and cut redispatch costs. Emerging asynchronous interconnection technologies, such as variable frequency transformers and flexible AC links, offer novel pathways for resilience and inertia management. Taken together, these strategies provide a suite of tools that balance economic dispatch, grid security and decarbonisation targets across diverse system scales.

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Power Flow Control Strategies in Electric Power Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in power flow control strategies in electric power systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Phase-shifting transformer (PST): A transformer that adjusts voltage phase angles to redirect real power flows between network branches.

Rotary power flow controller (RPFC): A device using rotating-phase-shifting transformers and motor drives to regulate active and reactive power in distribution circuits.

Active distribution network (ADN): A power network integrating distributed generation and controllable loads to enable dynamic voltage and power flow management.

Multi-objective optimisation: An algorithmic framework that concurrently optimises multiple criteria, such as loss minimisation and voltage regulation, under system constraints.

References

1. Multiple-Zone Synchronous Voltage Regulation and Loss Reduction Optimization of Distribution Networks Based on a Dual Rotary Phase-Shifting Transformer. Sustainability (2024).
2. Two‐stage power control method of rotary power flow controller for flexible interconnection of distribution network. IET Renewable Power Generation (2024).
3. Power Flow Regulation Effect and Parameter Design Method of Phase-Shifting Transformer. Energies (2024).