1

Benefits of SVC and STATCOM for Electric

Utility Application
M. Noroozian, SM IEEE
!e, N "etersson, B. T#or$aldson, Bo A. Nilsson
ABB Utilities, %ACTS &i$ision
S'()1 *+ V,ster-s, S.eden
C./. Taylor, %ello. IEEE
Carson Taylor Se0inars
"ortland, Ore1on USA
Abstract-- Examination of the behavior of SVCs and
STATCOMs in electric power systems is presented. The paper is
based on analytical and simlation analysis! and conclsions can
be sed as power indstry "idelines.
#e explain the principle strctres of SVCs and STATCOMs!
the models for dynamic stdies! and the impact of these devices
on steady state volta"e and transient volta"e stability. Sensitivity
analysis is provided which shows the impact of SVCs and
STATCOMs with re"ard to networ$ stren"th. %armonic isses!
space re&irements! and price discssions are also briefly
addressed.
Index Terms'(ynamic Compensators! SVC! STATCOM!
Short Circit Capacity! )ain Sensitivity! Short Term Volta"e
Stability! %armonics
I. INT2O&UCTION
3UNT'connected static $ar co0pensators 4SVCs5 are 6sed
e7tensi$ely to control t#e AC $olta1e in trans0ission
II. BASIC &ESC2I"TION
T#is section e7plains 8riefly t#e 8asic confi16ration of SVCs
and STATCOMs9
A. SVC
%i1. 1 s#o.s a sc#e0atic dia1ra0 of a static $ar
co0pensator. T#e co0pensator nor0ally incl6des a t#yristor'
controlled reactor 4TC25, t#yristor's.itc#ed capacitors 4TSCs5
and #ar0onic filters. It 0i1#t also incl6de 0ec#anically
s.itc#ed s#6nt capacitors 4MSCs5, and t#en t#e ter0 static $ar
system is 6sed. T#e #ar0onic filters 4for t#e TC2'prod6ced
#ar0onics5 are capaciti$e at f6nda0ental fre:6ency. T#e TC2
is typically lar1er t#an t#e TSC 8loc!s so t#at contin6o6s
control is realized. Ot#er possi8ilities are fi7ed capacitors
4%Cs5, and t#yristor s.itc#ed reactors 4TS2s5. Us6ally a
dedicated transfor0er is 6sed, .it# t#e co0pensator e:6ip0ent
at 0edi60 $olta1e. T#e trans0ission side $olta1e is
controlled, and t#e M$ar ratin1s are referred to t#e
trans0ission side.
net.or!s. "o.er electronic e:6ip0ent, s6c# as t#e t#yristor
controlled reactor 4TC25 and t#e t#yristor s.itc#ed capacitor
4TSC5 #a$e 1ained a si1nificant 0ar!et, pri0arily 8eca6se of
.ell'pro$en ro86stness to s6pply dyna0ic reacti$e po.er .it#
fast response ti0e and .it# lo. 0aintenance.
/it# t#e ad$ent of #i1# po.er 1ate t6rn'off t#yristors and
transistor de$ices 4;TO, I;BT, <5 a ne. 1eneration of po.er
electronic e:6ip0ent, STATCOM, s#o.s 1reat pro0ise for
application in po.er syste0s =>,+?.
T#is paper ai0s to e7plain t#e 8enefits of SVCs and
STATCOMs for application in 6tility po.er syste0s.
Installation of a lar1e n608er of SVCs and e7perience 1ained
fro0 recent STATCOM pro@ects t#ro61#o6t t#e .orld
HV bus
MV bus
Filters
TCR
Qsvc
TSC TSC
0oti$ates 6s to clarify certain aspects of t#ese de$ices. %i1. 1. Sc#e0atic dia1ra0 of an SVC
T#e ratin1 of an SVC can 8e opti0ized to 0eet t#e re:6ired
de0and. T#e ratin1 can 8e sy00etric or asy00etric .it#
respect to ind6cti$e and capaciti$e reacti$e po.er. As an
e7a0ple, t#e ratin1 can 8e )AA M$ar ind6cti$e and )AA M$ar
capaciti$e, or 1AA M$ar ind6cti$e and )AA M$ar capaciti$e.
S
B. STATCOM
T#e $olta1e'so6rced con$erter 4VSC5 is t#e 8asic electronic
part of a STATCOM, .#ic# con$erts t#e dc $olta1e into a
t#ree'p#ase set of o6tp6t $olta1es .it# desired a0plit6de,
fre:6ency, and p#ase. %i1. ) s#o.s t#e si0plest
i0ple0entation of a STATCOM.
HV bus
QSTATCOM
MV bus
Voltage-Sourced
Inverter
+V-
A. SVC [2]
An SVC is in principle a controlled s#6nt s6sceptance.
T#e $olta1e 0eas6re0ent con$erts t#e f6nda0ental t#ree'
p#ase .a$efor0s to a 2MS $al6e. T#e con$ersion and
filterin1 can 8e represented 8y an analo1 la1 .it# aro6nd 1A
0s ti0e constant.
T#e $olta1e re16lator deter0ines a $al6e for Bre to 0a!e
t#e error si1nal zero in t#e steady state. T#e $olta1e
re16lator is often p6rely inte1ral control. T#e c6rrent 0ay
8e o8tained 8y 06ltiplication of B
re
and V
!eas
" T#e
s6sceptance re16lator li0its are deter0ined 8y t#e p#ysical
size of t#e SVC 4B
!in
and B
!a#
$. Today, t#e controls are
di1ital so t#at $ario6s strate1ies can 8e i0ple0ented. %or
e7a0ple, t#e Bot#er si1nalsC inp6ts to s600in1 @6nction
co6ld 8e da0pin1 control.
T#e slope is defined as t#e ratio 8et.een t#e c#an1e of
$olta1e and t#e c#an1e of t#e SVC c6rrent o$er t#e .#ole
control ran1e. It deter0ines t#e steady'state operatin1 point
and is nor0ally set 8et.een )DEF.
T#e t#yristor s6sceptance control 0od6le is nor0ally
%i1. ). Sc#e0atic dia1ra0 of a 8asic STATCOM
0odeled 8y a ti0e delay 4
T
5 of a8o6t + 0s. An SVC
T#ere are different 0et#ods to realize a $olta1e'so6rced
con$erter for po.er 6tility application. Based on #ar0onics
and loss considerations, p6lse .idt# 0od6lation 4"/M5 or
06ltiple con$erters are 6sed.
In#erently, STATCOMs #a$e a sy00etrical ratin1 .it#
respect to ind6cti$e and capaciti$e reacti$e po.er. %or
e7a0ple, t#e ratin1 can 8e 1AA M$ar ind6cti$e and 1AA M$ar
capaciti$e. %or asy00etric ratin1, STATCOMs need a
co0ple0entary reacti$e po.er so6rce. T#is can 8e realized for
e7a0ple .it# MSCs.
III. MO&EGIN;
T#is section descri8es t#e appropriate 0odels for
dyna0ic st6dies9
d%
0i1#t incl6de a 6nder$olta1e strate1y .#ic# forces t#e
s6sceptance to t#e lo.est le$el to pre$ent contri86tion of
t#e SVC to o$er$olta1e follo.in1 fa6lt clearin1. 4In %i1. >
t#e para0eter V
C&
can 8eco0e zero 8ased on t#e selected
$al6es for V
&
and V
H
5. A c6rrent li0iter is nor0ally
pro$ided to red6ce t#e TC2 c6rrent .it#in a predefined
ti0e 4T
'
is a8o6t 1 second5.
B. STATCOM
%i1. + s#o.s t#e STATCOM 0odel for transient sta8ility
st6dies. STATCOM is in principle a controlled $olta1e
so6rce. In a real installation, t#e 0a1nit6de of t#e so6rce
$olta1e is controlled t#ro61# dc $olta1e across t#e
capacitor. Since t#is loop is $ery fast, t#e dc capacitor does
not need to 8e 0odeled for dyna0ic sta8ility st6dies. T#e
re16lator !eeps t#e STATCOM c6rrent .it#in t#e c6rrent
li0it 4I
MA(
5.
%i1. >. SVC 0odel for dyna0ic st6dies
%i1. * s#o.s t#e 0odel po.er syste0 .it# an SVC9
Es V
0
X
S
B
FC
P=P (V/V )
mp
Q=Q (V/V )0:
%i1. *9 Sin1le'line dia1ra0 of t#e st6died po.er syste0 .it# SVC
T#e follo.in1 e:6ation yields t#e node $olta1e9
[P V
mp
X
(E V )
)
]
)
+ [Q V
mq
X
+ (1 B
FC
X
S
B
SVC
X
S
)V
)
]) =
4+5
%i1. +. STATCOM 0odel for dyna0ic st6dies
%i1. ( s#o.s t#e 0odel po.er syste0 .it# a STATCOM9
IV. VOGTA;E 2E;UGATION
SVCs and STATCOMs respond to c#an1es in po.er syste0
operatin1 conditions fast and contin6o6sly. Nor0ally, t#e size
of t#e reacti$e co0pensators 4S
Q
5 is decided 8y t#e net.or!
s#ort circ6it capacity 4S
SC
5. A ratio of EF 4S
Q
)S
SC
5 is
nor0ally selected. T#is section de0onstrates t#e i0pact of
Es
X
S
V 0
I
STATCOM
X
STATCOM
B
FC
P=P
0
(V/V
0
)
Q=Q (V/V ) mq
SVCs and STATCOMs on t#e 86s $olta1e for de$iation of t#e
net.or! stren1t# fro0 t#e no0inal point. In t#e st6died 0odel
t#e no0inal S
SC
is 1A p.6. T#e size of t#e dyna0ic
co0pensator is A.E p.6. A fi7ed capacitor is pro$ided near t#e
%i1. (9 Sin1le line dia1ra0 of t#e st6died po.er syste0 .it# STATCOM
T#e follo.in1 e:6ation 1i$es t#e $olta1e9
load to fi7 t#e load $olta1e at 1 p.6. for nor0al operation. T#e
size of t#e load is 2.3+j0.8 p.6. %i1. E s#o.s t#e sc#e0atic
[P V
mp
X ]
)
+ [Q V
mq
X + (1
X
S
B
FC
)V
)
I
STATCOM
VX
S
]
)
=
dia1ra0 for t#e st6died syste0.
Es V
0
(E V )
)
A. !"e#$%&t'(e C'se
4E5
%i1. E9 Unco0pensated syste0
P=P
0
(V/V
0
)
Q=Q
0
(V/V
0
)
To see t#e i0pact of $olta1e re16lation pro$ided 8y t#e
dyna0ic co0pensators on t#e 6nder$olta1e case, t#e t#ree
non'linear e:6ations 4E:s. >DE5 are sol$ed .it# respect to t#e
$ariation of (
s
4*)S
SC
5 fro0 t#e no0inal $al6e 4A.1 p.6.5. %i1.
H s#o.s t#e $ariation of $olta1e for different co0pensators. In
t#e si06lations !
+
)* and
!
,
)2.
T#e follo.in1 e:6ations are $alid for po.er flo.s in %i1. E9
P =
E
S
V
sin
X
S
415
V
)
VE
cos
Q = B V
)

S
X
S
4)5
Eli0inatin1 t#e an1le , .e 1et t#e follo.in1 non'linear
e:6ation for calc6latin1 t#e ter0inal $olta1e V .
[P V
mp
X
]
)
+ [Q V
mq
X
+ (1
X
S
B
FC
)V
)
]
)
= (E V )
)
4>5
%i1. H. Volta1e $ariation .it# c#an1e in so6rce reactance
0
o
A A S S
S
S
m
0
A
S
Xs
B
FC
A S
m
m
FC
A S
A S S
%i1. H s#o.s #o. a dyna0ic co0pensator reacts .it#
increase of net.or! reactance 4decrease of S
SC
5. In t#is
e7a0ple, SVCs and STATCOMs re16late t#e load $olta1e 6p
to a $al6e a8o6t (
s
-."%/ p.6. A8o$e t#is le$el, 8ot#
co0pensators #it t#e li0it. SVCs .or! as a s#6nt capacitor
and STATCOMs .or! as a constant c6rrent so6rce. It is seen
t#at if t#e S
SC
decreases to one't#ird of t#e no0inal $al6e 4for
e7a0ple, o6ta1e of parallel lines5, STATCOMs contri86te to
t#e $olta1e re16lation 0ore t#an SVCs 8y a factor a8o6t 1.(F.
B. O$e#$%&t'(e C'se
T#e sa0e net.or! in 6sed to ill6strate t#e infl6ence of
SVCs and STATCOMs on red6cin1 o$er$olta1e. To create t#e
o$er$olta1e scenario, t#e S
SC
is !ept at t#e no0inal le$el 86t
t#e load le$el is red6ced. To s#o. 0ore clearly t#e 8e#a$ior of
SVCs and STATCOMs .it# respect to o$er$olta1e, t#e load
size is selected to 8e + p.6. and t#e fi7ed capacitor is increased
to ).E p.6. fro0 1.1 p.6.
e:6i$alent to 1.1 p.6., t#e 0a7i060 allo.a8le net $olta1e .ill
8e a8o6t 1.) p.6. If t#e $olta1e rises 8eyond t#is li0it, t#e
STATCOM s#o6ld 8e disconnected to protect t#e $al$es.
T#e a8o$e e7a0ples s#o. t#at .it# t#e sa0e reacti$e
po.er ratin1, STATCOMs contri86te to $olta1e re16lation
0ore effecti$ely t#an SVCs d6rin1 6nder$olta1e sit6ations,
.#ile SVCs contri86te to $olta1e re16lation 0ore effecti$ely
t#an STATCOMs d6rin1 o$er$olta1e sit6ations.
V. SENSITIVITI O% STABIGITI GOO"
An interestin1 consideration in t#e application of SVCs and
STATCOMs is t#e i0pact of t#e net.or! reactance on t#e
sta8ility of t#e control loop. T#e si0ple net.or! in %i1. E is
6sed for analytical e7a0ination of t#e a0plification factors,
.#ic# are e:6i$alent to t#e sensiti$ities of t#e node $olta1e
.it# respect to t#e control $aria8les.
A. Se!s+t+$+ty %, !%"e $%&t'(e t% SVC
s-s.ept'!.e
&ifferentiatin1 E:. + .it# respect to
sensiti$ity.
"V
=
"B
SVC
B
SVC
0 yields t#e
) ) mq
X
S
V 4 /
1
V + Q
A
X
S
V 5
m P
)
X
)
V
) m
p
1
+ (Q X m V
m
q
1
+ )0 V )(0 V
)
+ Q
X
m V
m
q
) E
)
V
p A S A S q 1 1 A S q S
4*5
.#ere
0
1
= 1 X
S
(B
FC
+ B
SVC
)
4(5
T#e sensiti$ity is deter0ined at t#e operatin1 points for
B
SVC
.#ic# re16late t#e node $olta1e at 1 p.6.
%i1. J. Ill6stration of o$er$olta1e for t#e si0ple po.er syste0
T#e e7planation of t#e i0pact of SVCs and STATCOMs on
t#e syste0 $olta1e d6rin1 an o$er$olta1e is as follo.s 4T#e
selected $olta1e li0it $al6es are 8ased on c6rrent practices59
SVC
At a s6dden $olta1e rise 6p to less t#an 1.> p.6., t#e TC2
B. Se!s+t+$+ty %, !%"e $%&t'(e t% STATCOM $%&t'(e
&ifferentiatin1 E:. E .it# respect to $olta1e so6rce E yields
t#e sensiti$ity.
"V
=
"E

0
>
1
STATCOM
X
S
V
c6rrent is allo.ed to increase as deter0ined 8y t#e TC2
reactance. A li0itin1 f6nction #a$in1 a ti0e constant of 1.A
m
p
P
A
X
)
V
) m
p
1
+/
>
4)0
)
V
+ m
q
Q
A
X
S
V
m
:
1

1
STATCOM
EX
S
5 E
)
V
4H5
second .ill t#en red6ce t#e c6rrent do.n to t#e allo.a8le
0a7i060 contin6o6s c6rrent, i.e., t#e c6rrent at 1.1 p.6.
.#ere
0
)
= 1 X
S
(B
FC
+ B
STATOM
)
$olta1e.
At a s6dden $olta1e rise e7ceedin1 1.> p.6., t#e TC2 c6rrent
0 = 0 V
)
+ X Q V
mq
1
STATCOM
EVX
S
4J5
.ill increase as deter0ined 8y t#e reactor i0pedance. In t#is
case, no c6rrent li0itation is possi8le, res6ltin1 in
disconnection of t#e SVC after 1 second.
STATCOM
STATCOMs a8sor8 reacti$e c6rrent to red6ce t#e $olta1e.
/#en t#e $olta1e 1oes #i1#er t#an a certain $al6e 4say 1.)
p.6.5, t#e VSC $olta1e a0plit6de 06st increase to li0it t#e
c6rrent to t#e 0a7i060 $al6e. %or a typical STATCOM .it#
reactance of 1AF and .it# a 0a7i060 $olta1e of 1
S
T#e sensiti$ity is deter0ined at t#e operatin1 points for E
.#ic# re16late t#e node $olta1e at 1 p.6. %i1. 1A s#o.s t#e
sensiti$ities of t#e load $olta1e to SVC s6sceptance and
STATCOM $olta1e .it# respect to $ariation of t#e net.or!
reactance. T#e t.o c6r$es are scaled .#ic# res6lt in 1 p.6.
sensiti$ity at t#e no0inal operatin1 point.
S
)
S
) > A
S
SO2RC1
R1C SVC/
STATCOM
%3.-4V %3.-4V
153 Mvar
R1C
%/-4V
M
162 Mvar
P=300 MW
p.f.=1.0
%i1. 1A. Sensiti$ity of t#e load $olta1e to t#e SVC and STATCOM control
$aria8les
%i1. 1A s#o.s t#at SVC and STATCOM sensiti$ities
increase .it# respect to t#e net.or! .ea!ness. T#e $ariation
of sensiti$ity is less for STATCOMs. In practice, for SVC
applications, a 1ain s6per$isor and opti0izer red6ces t#e
control 1ain .#en t#e sensiti$ity 1oes 8eyond a li0it.
T#is o8ser$ation re$eals t#at a STATCOM sta8ility loop is
0ore ro86st t#an an SVC .it# respect to t#e $ariation of t#e
net.or! capacity.
V*. S3O2T TE2M VOGTA;E STABIGITI
In t#is section .e consider an e:6i$alent of a typical po.er
syste0, and e7a0ine s#ort'ter0 4transient5 $olta1e sta8ility
foc6sin1 on t#e i0pact of SVCs and STATCOMs on $olta1e
reco$ery.
%i1. 11 s#o.s t#e st6died syste0. A *AA M/ load is ser$ed
fro0 a lar1e syste0 o$er t.o )>A'!V lines, eac# 11> !0 lon1.
T#e syste0 is #ea$ily stressed and #ea$ily s#6nt co0pensated.
T#e load is #alf 0otor and #alf resisti$e. A GTC transfor0er
controls t#e $olta1e at t#e load. T#e data for t#e syste0 is
1i$en in 2ef. =1?. /e apply a t#ree'p#ase fa6lt at t#e 0idpoint
of one of t#e lines. T#e fa6lt is cleared after HA 0s 8y
per0anently openin1 t#e line. /e si06late t#is case .it# SVC
and STATCOM .it# t#e ratin1 of )AA M$ar located at t#e
2EC )>A'!V 86s. T#e SVC 8loc!in1 sc#e0e for 6nder$olta1e
is not 0odelled.
%i16res 1)D1+ s#o. si06lation res6lts. As e7pected, t#e
STATCOM sol6tion allo.s faster $olta1e reco$ery co0pared
to a con$entional SVC.
%i1. 11. E:6i$alent syste0 st6died for s#ort ter0 $olta1e sta8ility
%i1. 1). Volta1e $ariation .it# SVC and STATCOM
%i1. 1>. Variation of SVC s6sceptance and STATCOM c6rrent
%i1. 1+. Variation of ind6ction 0otor speed
VII. T3E %UNCTIONAG 2ATIN; CONCE"T
Traditionally, SVCs of a co00on desi1n #a$e 8een 6sed to
#andle different types of net.or! pro8le0s. T#e trend today,
#o.e$er, is to tailor SVCs for t#eir intended 6se. T#is is
i0portant in order to 0a!e SVCs cost efficient.
%or steady state $olta1e s6pport, i.e., to follo. t#e daily
load pattern, 86l! reacti$e po.er co08ined .it# stepless
s0oot# $olta1e control is desired. Vernier $olta1e re16lation
can 8e pro$ided 8y a TC2 r6nnin1 in parallel .it# #ar0onic
filters. T#e 86l! reacti$e po.er is pro$ided 8y 0ec#anically
s.itc#ed capacitor 8an!s 4MSCs5 or reactors 4MS2s5
1o$erned 8y t#e SVC controller. T#6s SVCs ser$e t#e p6rpose
of contin6o6sly 0aintainin1 a s0oot# $olta1e, pilotin1 t#e
MSC s.itc#in1.
If t#e tas! is to s6pport a syste0 li0ited 8y post
contin1ency $olta1e insta8ility or 6naccepta8le $olta1e le$els,
a lar1e a0o6nt of :6ic!ly controlla8le reacti$e po.er is
needed for a s#ort ti0e d6ration. An SVC .it# additional
TSCs is an e7cellent c#oice. "ost reco$ery $olta1e s6pport
0ay also 8e necessaryKt#is is t#en prefera8ly pro$ided
8y MSCs 1o$erned 8y t#e SVC.
%or te0porary o$er$olta1es, lar1e ind6cti$e reacti$e po.er
is needed for a s#ort period of ti0e. T#e standard TC2 #as
so0e s#ort'ti0e o$erc6rrent capa8ility. T#is capacity can
easily 8e e7tended 8y lo.erin1 its steady state operatin1
te0perat6re and 8y B6ndersizin1C t#e reactors.
A. E!2'!.e" SVCs
T#e SVC c#aracteristic at depressed $olta1e can 8e
efficiently i0pro$ed 8y addin1 an e7tra TSC. T#is 8ranc# is
intended to operate only d6rin1 6nder$olta1e conditions. It can
8e added .it#o6t introd6cin1 additional cost in ot#er parts of
t#e SVC. Most i0portant is t#at t#e c6rrent ratin1 or t#e
$olta1e capa8ility of t#e po.er transfor0er does not need to
8e increased. "o.er transfor0ers allo. lar1e o$erc6rrent
d6rin1 li0ited ti0e 4IEEE CE('11E can 8e 6sed as a 16ide for
a$aila8le capacity5. In 0any cases t#ree ti0es o$erload in
c6rrent for 1A seconds is a$aila8le. T#e additional TSC ratin1
is typically in t#e ran1e of EA to 1AAF of t#e SVC ratin1.
B. SVC S2%#t Te#m O$e#&%'"
T#e 0a7i060 po.er fro0 an SVC at a 1i$en $olta1e is
deter0ined 8y its reactance. No o$erload capacity is a$aila8le
6nless t#e reactance is lo.ered, e.1., 8y addin1 a TSC. %or
o$er$olta1es, #o.e$er, t#e SVC reactance is no lon1er t#e
li0itin1 factorL instead t#e c6rrent in co0ponents defines t#e
li0it. In 0ost cases t#e t#yristors set t#e li0it. T#e desi1n is
0ade so t#at t#e t#yristors are r6nnin1 at a 0a7i060 allo.ed
te0perat6re at 0a7i060 steady state syste0 $olta1e. A
0ar1in to destr6cti$e te0perat6res is reser$ed in order to
#andle fa6lt cases. T#e %or8es EAA !V static $ar syste0 near
&6l6t# Minnestoa USA is an interestin1 e7a0ple of an
En#anced SVC =E?.
C. STATCOM
In STATCOMs t#e 0a7i060 c6rrent is 1i$en 8y t#e
difference in $olta1e 8et.een t#e con$erter ter0inal $olta1e
and t#e po.er syste0 $olta1e, and 8y t#e p#ase reactance. A
nor0al desi1n of t#e con$erter is s6c# t#at it can .it#stand a
c6rrent correspondin1 to a8o6t 1AD1EF $olta1e difference
across t#e p#ase reactance. T#e control syste0 06st ens6re
t#at t#e con$erter ter0inal $olta1e is !ept #i1# eno61# not to
o$erload t#e plant. At f6ll c6rrent 4rated po.er5 t#e con$erter
se0icond6ctors, I;BTs, I;CTs or ;TOs, .or! at t#eir
0a7i060 allo.ed steady state te0perat6re. A 0ar1in to
destr6cti$e te0perat6re 06st 8e left for 6ncertainties and for
fa6lt cases. T#ere is also a 0a7i060 instantaneo6s c6rrent t#at
t#e se0icond6ctors can t6rn off. T#e sa0e principle is 6sed
#ereL a 0ar1in 06st 8e left for 6ncertainties and for fa6lt cases.
T#e concl6sion is t#at a STATCOM does not #a$e s#ort ti0e
o$erload capacity 6nless its po.er ratin1 is de'rated initially.
Usin1 t#e a8o$e 0entioned 0ar1ins for planned s#ort ti0e
operation .o6ld @eopardize t#e plant sec6rity.
3. S2%#t Te#m V%&t'(e St'1+&+ty 4+t2 E!2'!.e" SVC
To de0onstrate t#e perfor0ance of an En#anced SVC,
t#e )AA M$ar SVC 6sed in t#e Section VI is en#anced to
)*A M$ar. T#e ratin1 of t#e transfor0er is 6nc#an1ed, 86t
t#e SVC ratin1 is increased 8y addin1 a TSC. %i16res 1ED1(
s#o. t#e affect of t#e SVC en#ance0ent on t#e s#ort'ter0
4transient5 $olta1e sta8ility. T#e fi16res re$eal t#at .it#
>AF increase of t#e TSC capacity, t#e perfor0ance of t#e
En#anced SVC is co0para8le to a STATCOM for s#ort'
ter0 $olta1e sta8ility.
%i1. 1E. Variation of 86s $olta1e .it# En#anced SVC STATCOM
%i1. 1*. Variation of En#anced SVC s6seceptance and STATCOM c6rrent
%i1. 1(. Variation of ind6ction 0otor speed .it# STATCOM and En#anced
SVC
VIII. 3A2MONICS
Bot# SVCs and STATCOMs 1enerate #ar0onics. T#e TC2
of an SVC is a #ar0onic c6rrent so6rce. Net.or! #ar0onic
$olta1es distortion occ6rs as a res6lt of t#e c6rrents enterin1
t#e po.er syste0. T#e STATCOM is a #ar0onic $olta1e
so6rce. Net.or! $olta1e #ar0onic distortion occ6rs as a res6lt
of $olta1e di$ision 8et.een t#e STATCOM p#ase i0pedance
and t#e net.or! i0pedance.
T#e 0a@or #ar0onic 1eneration in SVCs is at lo.
fre:6enciesL a8o$e t#e 1Et# #ar0onic t#e contri86tion is
nor0ally s0all. At lo.er fre:6encies t#e 1eneration is lar1e
and filters are needed. SVCs nor0ally #a$e at least Et# and (t#
#ar0onic filters. T#e filter ratin1 is in t#e ran1e of )EDEAF of
t#e TC2 size.
STATCOMs .it# "/M operation #a$e t#eir 0a@or
#ar0onic 1eneration at #i1#er fre:6encies. T#e 0a@or
contri86tions are at odd 06ltiples of t#e "/M s.itc#
fre:6encyL at e$en 06ltiples t#e le$els are lo.er. T#e
#ar0onic 1eneration decays .it# increasin1 fre:6ency.
STATCOMs 0i1#t also 1enerate #ar0onics in t#e sa0e
spectra as t#e con$entional SVCs. T#e 0a1nit6des depend on
con$erter topolo1y and t#e 0od6lation and s.itc#in1
fre:6ency 6sed. In 0ost cases STATCOMs as .ell as SVCs
re:6ire #ar0onic filters.
IM. %OOT"2INT
More and 0ore fre:6ently t#e footprint a$aila8le for
prospecti$e STATCOMs or SVCs is restricted. T#e trend is, as
in 0any ot#er fields, 0ore capacity on less space.
2e:6ire0ents for e7tre0ely ti1#t desi1ns, #o.e$er, res6lt in
#i1#er costs. In 1eneral t#e footprint iss6e see0s not to #inder
t#e 6tilization of STATCOMs or SVCs, 86t occasionally,
STATCOM #as 8een preferred 8ased on anticipated s0aller
footprint.
/#en co0parin1 SVCs .it# STATCOMs, it is te0ptin1 to
ass60e t#at t#e latter .ill fit .it#in a 06c# s0aller footprint,
as t#e passi$e reacti$e ele0ents 4air core reactors and #i1#
$olta1e capacitor 8an!s5 are BreplacedC .it# se0icond6ctor
asse08lies. In t#e a6t#orsN opinion, t#is ass60ption #o.e$er
re0ains to 8e practically pro$ed. T#e 0ain reason for t#is is
t#at t#e $olta1e so6rced con$erter concepts applied in
STATCOMs to date #a$e 8een 86ilt .it# se$eral 4e$en as
0any as ei1#t5 in$erter 8rid1es in parallel. T#is desi1n
p#ilosop#y i0plies 0any c6rrent pat#s, #i1# fa6lt c6rrents and
co0ple7 0a1netic interfaces 8et.een t#e con$erters and t#e
1rid. All in all, not all STATCOMs co0e o6t as do.nsized
co0pared to SVCs. Also t#e #i1#er losses in t#e STATCOM
.ill re:6ire s68stantially lar1er coolin1 e:6ip0ent. 3o.e$er,
as t#e STATCOM tec#nolo1y e$ol$es, incl6din1 t#e 6se of
$ery co0pact in$erter asse08lies .it# series connected
se0icond6ctor de$ices, and .it# p6lse .idt# 0od6lation, t#ere
is a definite potential for do.nsizin1.
In t#e case of SVCs, t#e ind6stry #as a lon1 prod6ct
de$elop0ent .#ere, .#en necessary, 0eas6res #a$e 8een
ta!en to do.nsize t#e installation. S6c# 0eas6res incl6de
ele$ated desi1n of apparat6ses, stac!in1 of co0ponents
4reactors and capacitors5, $ertical orientation of 86s8ars and
6se of non'0a1netic 0aterial in near8y str6ct6res. In a fe.
e7tre0e cases iron core reactors #a$e 8een 6tilized in order to
allo. installation in $ery ti1#t pre0ises. In addition t#e
de$elop0ent of 06c# #i1#er po.er density in #i1# po.er
t#yristors and capacitors contri86tes to p#ysically s0aller
SVCs.
M. GI%E CICGE O2 EVAGUATE& COSTS
It is t#e a6t#orsN e7perience t#at t#e in$est0ent cost of
SVCs is today s68stantially lo.er t#an of co0para8le
STATCOMs. As STATCOMs pro$ides i0pro$ed
perfor0ance, it .ill 8e t#e c#oice in t#e cases .#ere t#is can
8e @6stified, s6c# as flic!er co0pensation at lar1e electrical arc
f6rnaces or in co08ination .it# acti$e po.er transfer 48ac!'
to'8ac! &C sc#e0es5. T#e t.o different concepts cannot 8e
co0pared on a s68syste0 8asis 86t it is clear t#at t#e cost of
t#e t6rn'off se0icond6ctor de$ices 6sed in VSC sc#e0es 06st
co0e do.n si1nificantly for t#e o$erall cost to fa$or t#e
STATCOM. In ot#er ind6stries 6sin1 #i1# po.er
se0icond6ctors, li!e electrical traction and dri$es, t#e
0ainstrea0 transition to VSC tec#nolo1y is since lon1
co0pleted and it is reasona8le to 8elie$e t#at trans0ission
applications, 8enefitin1 fro0 traction and dri$e de$elop0ents,
.ill follo.. Alt#o61# t#e se0icond6ctor $ol60es in t#ese
fields are relati$ely s0all, t#ere is potential for t#e cost of
B%%/s5
MIII. 2E%E2ENCES
STATCOMs to co0e do.n.O
Apart fro0 t#e losses, t#e life cycle cost for STATCOM and
SVCs .ill 8e dri$en 8y t#e efforts re:6ired for operation and
0aintenance. Bot# tec#nolo1ies can 8e considered
0aintenance freeKonly 1D) 0an'days of 0aintenance .it# a
0ini060 of e:6ip0ent is e7pected as an ann6al a$era1e. T#e
0aintenance is pri0arily needed for a67iliary syste0s s6c# as
t#e con$erter coolin1 and 86ildin1 syste0s. In all, t#e
difference in t#e cost for t#ese efforts, .#en co0parin1
STATCOM and SVC, .ill 8e ne1li1i8le.
MI. GOSSES
T#e pri0ary losses in SVCs are in t#e Bstep'do.nC
transfor0ers, t#e t#yristor controlled air core reactors and t#e
t#yristor $al$es. %or STATCOMs t#e losses in t#e con$erter
8rid1es do0inate. %or 8ot# tec#nolo1ies t#e lon1'ter0 losses
.ill depend on t#e specific operation of eac# installation. T#e
e$al6ation of in$est0ents in trans0ission #as also increasin1ly
incl6ded t#e costs d6rin1 t#e entire life cycle, not only t#e
initial in$est0ent. Gosses .ill t#en 8e increasin1ly i0portant.
/it# a typical e$al6ation at P>AAAQ!/ 48ased on >A years5,
and additional a$era1e e$al6ated losses of say >AA !/
4co0pared to an SVC5, t#e additional 86rden on t#e
STATCOM is si1nificant. T#e e$al6ated losses at f6ll o6tp6t
.ill contri86te si1nificantly to t#is, 86t .it# less .ei1#t on
t#ese t#e difference .ill 8e 06c# s0aller. 3ere t#e e$ol6tion
does not #elp t#e STATCOM as its ade:6ate perfor0ance is
ass60ed to 8e ac#ie$ed .it# #i1# fre:6ency "/M, i0plyin1
t#at t#e losses .ill 8e :6ite #i1# e$en at s0all reacti$e po.er
o6tp6t.
/e e7pect 0ost 6tilities to operate t#eir facilities close to
zero M$ar o6tp6t, in order to #a$e SVCs or STATCOMs
a$aila8le for dyna0ic $olta1e s6pport. In t#ese cases 8ot#
tec#nolo1ies .ill operate .it# .ell 8elo. A.EF losses 48ased
on Bstep'do.nC transfor0er ratin15. 3o.e$er t#e losses .ill
typically increase :6ite rapidly s#o6ld t#e operatin1 point 8e
offset fro0 zero. T#is is $alid for 8ot# SVCs and
STATCOMs. SVCs .ill fre:6ently operate .it# 8ot# s.itc#ed
capacitors and controlled reactors at t#e sa0e ti0e, .#ile
con$erter losses of STATCOMs .ill increase rapidly .it#
o6tp6t c6rrent. T#e losses of STATCOMs at rated o6tp6t .ill
8e #i1#er t#an for co0para8le SVCs.
MII. CONCGUSIONS
/e #a$e e7a0ined t#e perfor0ance of SVCs and
STATCOMs in electric po.er syste0s. Based on t#e
analytical and si06lation st6dies, t#e i0pact of SVCs and
STATCOMs on t#e st6died po.er syste0 is presented. It .as
s#o.n t#at 8ot# de$ices si1nificantly i0pro$e t#e transient
$olta1e 8e#a$ior of po.er syste0s. T#o61# SVCs and
STATCOMs .or! on different principles, t#eir i0pact on
increasin1 po.er syste0 trans0ission capacity can 8e
co0para8le. Specifically, .e descri8e B en#ancedC SVCs .it#
$olta1e reco$ery perfor0ance si0ilar to STATCOMs. Ot#er
iss6es s6c# as losses, footprint, #ar0onics, etc., 06st 8e
e7a0ined for eac# scenario for an opti060 in$est0ent.
=1? C. /. Taylor, P%4e# System V%&t'(e St'1+&+ty, Mc;ra.'3ill, 1JJ+.
Te.2!+.'& p'pe#s5
=)? IEEE Special Sta8ility Controls /or!in1 ;ro6p, BStatic Var
Co0pensator Models for "o.er %lo. and &yna0ic "erfor0ance
Si06lation,C IEEE T#'!s'.t+%!s %! P%4e# Systems, Vol. H, No. 1, pp.
11>D1)1, %e8. 1JJ+.
=>? A. E. 3a00ad, BCo0parin1 t#e Volta1e Control Capa8ilities of "resent
and %6t6re Var Co0pensatin1 Tec#ni:6es in Trans0ission Syste0s,C
IEEE T#'!s'.t+%! %! P%4e# 3e&+$e#y6 V%&. **6 7%. *6 8'!-'#y *99:.
=+? E. Garsen, et al., BBenefits of ;TO'Based Co0pensation Syste0s for
Electric Utility Applications,C IEEE T#'!s'.t+%! %! P%4e# 3e&+$e#y,
Vol. (, No. +, pa1es )AE*D)A*+, Oct. 1JJ).
=E? G. "a6lsson, A. Sil$a, B. T#or$aldsson, and 2. ;onzalez, BCo08ined
S#ort and Gon1 Ter0 2atin1s of Static Var Syste0 Co0ponents for
Steady State and Transient Volta1e S6pport in a EAA'!V "o.er ;rid,C
in$ited paper )+, IV Sy0posi60 of Specialists in Electric Operational
and E7pansion "lannin1, %oz do I16aR6, Brazil, )>D)( May 1JJ+.