Power Transmission &

Distribution
EPE 611
Lecture
by
Kamran Hafeez

Introduction to FACTS
Technology

Flexible Alternating Current

Transmission systems(FACTS) .

power electronics based fast

switching devices to enhance
controllability and increase power
transfer capability.

Cont..

Flexible AC transmission systems

(FACTS) devices are installed in
power systems to increase the power
flow transfer capability of the
transmission systems, to enhance
continuous control over the voltage
profile and/or to damp power system
oscillations.

Power System Constraints

Steady-State Power Transfer Limit
Voltage Stability Limit
Transient Stability Limit
Power System Oscillation Damping Limit
Thermal Limit
Short-Circuit Current Limit

Cont

In the past three decades, power system

stabilizers (PSSs) have been extensively used to
increase the system damping for low frequency
oscillations.
FACTS devices have been mainly used for solving
various power system steady state control
problems such as voltage regulation, power flow
control, and transfer capability enhancement.

Controllability of Power
Systems

Three main variables that can be

directly controlled in the power system
to impact its performance. These are:
Voltage
Angle
Impedance

Conventional Equipment

Series Capacitor(Controls impedance)

Switched Shunt-Capacitor and

Reactor(Controls voltage)

Transformer LTC (Controls voltage)

Phase Shifting Transformer(Controls
angle)
Synchronous Condenser(Controls
voltage)

FACTS Devices
1. FIRST GENERATION OF FACTS

Static VAR Compensator (SVC)

Thyristor-Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC)

Thyristor-Controlled Phase Shifting

Transformer(TCPST).

2. SECOND GENERATION OF FACTS

Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)

Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)

Inter-phase Power Flow Controller (IPFC)

Benefits of FACTS

Increased Loading and More Effective Use of

Transmission Corridors

Power Flow Control

Improved Power System Stability
Increased System Security
Increased System Reliability
Elimination of the Need for New Transmission
Lines

Generally,
the
FACTS
devices/Controllers are placed in
power
system
to
provide
fast
continuous control of power flow in the
transmission system by controlling
voltages at critical buses, by changing
the impedance of transmission lines,
or by controlling the phase angles
between the ends of transmission lines

Types of FACTS

1. variable impedance type

2. voltage source converter (VSC)
-based

The variable impedance

type controllers include:

Static Var Compensator (SVC), (shunt

connected)

Thyrister Controlled Series Capacitor or

compensator (TCSC), (series connected)
Thyristor Controlled Phase Shifting Transformer
(TCPST) (combined shunt and series)

The VSC based FACTS

controllers are:

Static synchronous Compensator

(STATCOM) (shunt connected)

Static Synchronous Series Compensator

(SSSC) (series connected)
Interline Power Flow Controller (IPFC)
(combined series-series)
Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)
(combined shunt-series)

Static Var Compensator

Static Var Compensators (SVC) can be
allocated to the category of Shunt
FACTS devices . That means, linked to
an AC transmission line it generates or
absorbs reactive power at the point of
connection.
The main task of SVCs is therefore to
allow exact voltage control in power
transmission systems but also to
maximize the power transfer over
transmissions lines.

Static Var Compensator

Thyristor-Controlled Reactor (TCR): Inductance controlled by a

thyristor valve
Thyristor-Switched Capacitor (TSC): Comprises a thyristor
valve in series with a capacitor
Thyristor-Switched Reactor (TSR): Represents a reactor
without current phase control
Mechanically Switched Capacitor (MSC): Fixed capacitor
switched by circuit breakers

Picture of an SVC assembly

TCR Susceptance as function of the

firing angle
Therefore, the susceptance of a TCR can be varied continuously
from maximum ( = 90 , BTCR=BL) to minimum ( =180 ,
BTCR=0).

Picture of an SVC assembly

Unified Power Flow Controller

(UPFC)

The UPFC can provide simultaneous control of

all
basic
power
system
parameters
( transmission voltage, impedance and phase
angle).

The controller can fulfill functions of reactive

shunt compensation, series compensation and
phase shifting meeting multiple control
objectives.

Applying a boosting transformer injected

voltage and a exciting transformer reactive
current. The injected voltage is inserted by a
series transformer.

Unified Power Flow Controller

(UPFC)

Implementation of the UPFC by back-to-back voltage

source converters

Unified Power Flow Controller

(UPFC)

The UPFC electric circuit arrangement

Unified Power Flow Controller

(UPFC)

Thank
You