Applications of Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) Based
Technology for FACTS and Custom Power Installations
Gregory F. Reed
Terrence R Croasdaile
John J. Paserba
Richard M. Williams
Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.
Warrendale,Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT
As the utility industry in the United States continues to move
forward with deregulation, financial and market forces are
demanding a more optimal and profitable operation of the
power system with respect to generation, transmission, and
distribution. In addition, with the recent concerns at the US
government level over transmission system reliability,
including comments fiom the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), more efficient utilization and control of
existing networks are required. Electricity is increasingly
being considered as a commodity in the United States. As a
result, transmission systems are being pushed closer to their
stability and thermal limits, while the focus on the quality of
power delivered is greater than ever.
Now, more than at any other time in the history of the electric
utility industry, the application of advanced control
technologies are critical for the reliable and secure operation
of power systems. Power electronics based equipment, such as
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) and Custom
Power technologies, which implement voltage source inverter
(VSI) based technology concepts, constitute some of the most
suitable and proven technical advancements to address the new
operating challenges being presented today.
These advancements are based on the high-performance
capability of power electronics equipment to rapidly respond
to dynamic system events, increase power transfer limits, and
improve the quality of power delivered. The benefits of
FACTS and Custom Power technologies have become widely
recognized within the electric power industry, and each year
more projects are being implemented throughout the United
States and other parts of North America by both the utility and
industrial sectors for VSI-based systems.
This paper summarizes two recent applications of VSI-based
technology in the United States; one which addresses power
transmission system operating issues and is currently under
construction (the Vermont Electric Power Company’s Essex
0-7803-6338-8/00/$10.00(~)2000IEEE
Masatoshi Takeda, Shinji Jochi
Naoki Morishima, Tomohiko Aritsuka
Yoshihiro Hamasaki, Yuzuru Yonehata
Susumu Amakasu, Katsuya Takamiya
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Kobe / Tokyo, Japan
Substation +133/-41 MVA, 115 kV STATCOM Project), and
the other which focuses on distribution level power quality
improvement and was completed earlier this year (the Seattle
Iron & Metals Corporation’s 5 MVA, 4.16 kV D-STATCOM
Project). Brief descriptions of these two applications are
provided herein.
It is anticipated that an increasing number of similar
applications will be required throughout the United States,
North America, and other parts of the world in the very near
future, to further provide solutions for the enhancement of
power system operation, performance, and control.
Key Words - Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS),
STATCOM, Voltage Source Inverter, VSI Customer Power,
D-STATCOM
1. INTRODUCTION
Vermont Electric Power Company Essex Substation
STATCOM Project: The installation of a +133/-41 MVA,
115 kV Static Reactive Compensator (STATCOM) System is
currently underway at the Vermont Electric Power Company’s
(VELCO) Essex Substation in Burlington, Vermont. The
STATCOM is being applied to compensate for heavy
increases in summertime electric usage, which have rendered
the existing system increasingly vulnerable to failure in the
event of problems elsewhere on the transmission system. The
STATCOM is a state-of-the-art Flexible AC Transmission
System (FACTS) technology that uses advanced power
semiconductor switching techniques to provide dynamic
voltage support, power system stabilization, and enhanced
power quality for transmission and distribution system
applications. This STATCOM system, rated +133/-41 MVA
at 115 kV, consists of the latest VSI-based technology
concepts, using gate turn-off thyistors. It offers hgh
reliability based on a modular VSI design configuration. The
38 1
 system also includes inverter transformers, capacitor banks,
switchgear, cooling equipment, and an automated protection
and control system. The scheduled in-service date for the
project is May 1,2001.
Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation D-STATCOM Project:
The installation of a 5 MVA, 4.16 kV Distribution-level Static
Reactive Compensator (D-STATCOM) was recently
completed at the Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation's new
steel recycling facility in Seattle, Washington. The D-
STATCOM technology was selected as the preferred option
for voltage flicker compensation of a 4,000 Hp shredder
motor, which will be operated at the new facility. For voltage
flicker applications, the D-STATCOM technology provides
rapid-response compensation to correct for the voltage sag and
swell characteristics imposed on the interconnected system
during the shredder motor operation. In this application, the
D-STATCOM is operating at 4.16 kV and provides reliable
power quality for both the new steel recycling facility and the
interconnecting utility, Seattle City Light, which provides
power to the plant at 26.4 kV. The D-STATCOM
commissioning was completed in February 2000.
2. VERMONT ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
ESSEX S/S STATCOM PROJECT
, 2.1 System Description
The STATCOM System currently being installed at the
Vermont Electric Power Company's Essex 115 kV Substation
has a rated capacity of +133/-41 MVA. As shown in Figure 1,
the STATCOM System consists of two groups of 43 MVA of
VSI (Voltage Source Inverters) each and two sets of 24 MVA
shunt capacitors. Each VSI group consists of 3 sets of 12.5
MVA VSI modules and a small 5 MVA harmonic filter, with a
nominal phase-to-phase ac voltage of 3.2 kV and a DC link
voltage of 6,000 V. The 43 W A STATCOM groups of VSI
are connected to the 115 kV system via two 43 MVA, 3.2 kV
to 115 kV three-phase inverter transformers. The main power
semiconductor devices incorporated in the VSI design are 6
inch gate turn-offthyristors, rated at 6kV, 6kA. These devices
are utilized in each VSI module, forming a 3-level inverter
circuit, which reduces the harmonic current as compared to a
2-level design. The control of the inverter is achieved with a
5-pulse PWM (pulse width modulation), which further
decreases the harmonics as compared to 3-pulse or 1-pulse
PWM control. Because of these two aforementioned features,
only a small high-pass harmonic filter is required on the AC
side (5 MVA at 3.2 kV for each of the STATCOM groups). A
key feature of the inverter is that the snubber energy is
regenerated to the DC capacitors in the inverter circuit for a
lower loss VSI system operation. The 24 MVA shunt
capacitors are connected directly at the 115 kV level.
Some of the main benefits of this STATCOM System design
382
are as follows:
0 rapidly responds to system disturbances
provides smooth voltage control over a wide range
of operating conditions
supports voltage even during fault conditions by way
of overload capability, thus improving the local
power quality
incorporates a significant amount of built-in
redundancy (i.e., any one or more of the 12.5 MVA
VSI modules, or 43 MVA groups can be out of
service while all others remain in operation at their
full rated capability)
As shown in Figure 1 below, the system design is entirely
redundant for optimum operating flexibility and efficiency.
Each GTO-based STATCOM group and each shunt capacitor
bank are supplied to a 115 kV bus via 115 kV SF-6 Gas
Circuit Breakers (GCB's). A main disconnect switch is
provided to connect the entire STATCOM system to the Essex
Substation's 115 kV ring bus position.
Figure 1 - Single-Line Diagram Representation of Essex
+133/-41 M A , 115 kVSTATCOMSystem
2.2 System Layout
Figure 2 shows an overall physical layout diagram of the
STATCOM System. The 115 kV ring bus position at Essex is
to the far left of the diagram. Overhead bus work is brought
out from this position and the 24 MVA capacitor banks and
the 43 MVA inverter transformers are connected, 'as depicted
in the middle portion of the diagram. The 5 MVA, 3.2 kV
filters are also installed outdoors on the low side of the
inverter transformers. Existing 115 kV overhead transmission
lines coming into the station cut across the top of the FACTS
yard from the upper left of the diagram sloping towards the
middle right. The upper right portion of the diagram shows
the five sets of inverter cooling system heat exchanges. The
large rectangular shape to the far right of the diagram is the
STATCOM building.
A more detailed representation of the STATCOM building is
shown in Figure 3. The building contains the VSI modules;
protection, automation, and control panels; cooling system
controls; low voltage switchgear; and auxiliary systems. There
are two separate inverter halls, as well as separate halls for the
protection and control, and for the cooling systems. The
connections from the building equipment to the outdoor
equipment are made via underground cabling and conduit.
In addition to the STATCOM building, an additional control
room has been erected by VELCO at the Essex Substation,
which contains some portions of the protection and control
equipment. All interfacing between the STATCOM System
and the VELCO Systems are done via control wire cabling
connectionsbetween the two buildings.
The STATCOM control system is able to not only control the
operation of the STATCOM inverters and the two 24 MVA
capacitor banks, but it is also designed to provide remote
capacitor bank control in order to maintain a steady-state
voltage profile during normal system operating conditions.
The control is for remote capacitor banks at Essex Substation
as well as three additional neighboring substations. All of the
control is interfaced with the VELCO SCADA system.
Figure 2 - Overall Layout Diagram of Essex
+133/-41 MVA, 115 kVSTATCOMSystem
Figure 3 - Building Layout Diagram of Essex
+133/-41 MVA, 115 kVSTATCOMEquipment
2.3 System Construction and Installation
2.4
At the time of this article, the construction phase of the
STATCOM System is well underway. Some of the more
difficult .challenges with the installation have been from a
physical space limitation. Due to a restriction on the amount
of available land at the substation site, the FACTS yard
footprint was extremely limited. A hillside at the site was
excavated in order to provide space for the STATCOM
building. Figures 4 through 7 show recent photographs of the
site construction and installation work, with various views of
the FACTS yard and the equipment and building installations.
Figure 4 - View of excavation and retaining wall behind
STATCOM building location
383
 Figure 5 - View towards FACTS yard of STATCOM building
foundation and conduit work, Essex 138 kV ring bus, and
-
Figure 6 View of FACTS yard (outdoor equipment
foundations) and VELCO building (background)
yard (with GCB’S)and Essex 138 kvstition
2.4 Essex Substation STATCOM Project Summary
The completion of this fullturnkey project is expected to be on
schedule with an in-service date of May 1, 2001. Currently,
various equipment manufacturing has been completed and is
being delivered to the site. Simulator testing of the
STATCOM inverters and control system will be completed at
the time of this article’s publication. The coordination of the
project’s civil design engineering is being conducted by
Commonwealth Associates of Jackson, MI. The site work and
installation is being performed by Energy Erectors, Inc. of
Leesburg, Florida.
384
3. SEATTLE IRON & METALS CORPORATION
D-STATCOM PROJECT
3.1 System Description
A single line diagram of the D-STATCOM System installed at
the Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation application is shown in
Figure 8. The D-STATCOM technology, which consists of an
IGBT-based voltage source inverter system, uses advanced
power electronics to provide voltage stabilization, flicker
suppression, power factor correction, harmonic control, and a
host of other power quality solutions for both utility and
industrial applications,
The system essentially consists of a set of inverters, main
transformer, and a capacitor & reactor bank. The inverters
have a rated output capacity of +I-2,000 KVAr (continuous
rating) and +/-3,000 KVAr (overload rating for 1 minute).
The system is designed such that it can control the reactive
power from 0 to 5,000 kVAr in combination with the inverters
and the capacitor banks used for both the shredder motor and
the D-STATCOM System
The inverters are connected to the secondary side of the main
transformer. The main transformer is used for stepping the
voltage of 4.16kV down to 300V,which is the suitable voltage
for the inverter operation.
26kV
4.16 kV ++b FdA4.18 kv
4ooo HP
motor
Figure 8 - Single-Line Diagram of 5 MVA, 4.16 kV
D-STATCOM System
3.2 Inverter Design
The inverter equipment consists of 5 sets of inverter units as
shown in Figure 9. Each inverter unit has a separator switch
and local control. One of the inverter units contains a system
controller which is the master control of the D-STATCOM
System (or Voltage Compensator System). Each inverter unit
is a voltage source type inverter and has a rated capacity of
400 kVAr (continuous rating) and overload capacity of 600
kVAr for one minute. Thus, the five inverters can output
2,000 KVAr continuously and 3,000 KVAr as an overload
rating for 1 minute in total. The inverters are designed with a
redundancy such that even though one of the inverter units is
out of service, the remaining 4 inverters can maintain
operation with 80% of full rating. This is done by separating
the failed inverter unit from the circuit with the separator
switch.
The use of sophisticated semiconductor devices, Insulated
Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT's), are applied in the inverter
design. The ratings of the IGBT elements are 1,200 V, 600 A.
26.4 kV
r supplied to the slave controller of each inverter. In each
26.4 kV 14.16 kV
4.16 kV
4.16 kVI 300 V
2.000 KVA
Figure 9 - Configuration of the D-STATCOMSystem (7GBT-
based Inverter Design)
3 3 Main Transformer
The main transformer is used for stepping the voltage of 4.16
kV down to 300 V, the suitable voltage for the inverter output.
The transformer is an oil-immersed type unit with natural air
cooling. The transformer is installed outdoors adjacent to the
inverter housing. The connection between the transfomer and
the inverters, and the connection between the primary
terminals of the transformer and the high-voltage switchgear,
are cables.
3.4 Capacitor Bank
The capacitor bank has a rated capacity of 1,000 kVAr. It
consists of one set of capacitor units, a series reactor and a
vacuum switch. These components of the capacitor bank are
assembled in one compact package, together with the
necessary control and protection equipment. The capacitor
bank is designed for outdoor use. The connection between the
capacitor bank and the high-voltage switch-gear is made by
cables.
3.5 System Control
Figure 10 shows a block diagram of the control scheme for the
D-STATCOM System. The shredder motor current is dctected
by a CT in the shredder motor circuit, and the detected current
signal is transmitted as an input to the master control circuit.
The 4.16 kV voltage is detected by a PT on the 4.16 kV bus-
bar and the detected voltage signal is transmitted as an input to
the master control circuit. In the master control circuit,
reactive power of the shredder motor load is calculated by
means of a p-q conversion method. Additionally, a current
reference signal for the inverter is calculated in a current
reference controller. The calculated reference signal is
inverter unit, the slave controller independently controls the
inverter output current in response to the current reference
signal.
b
Figure I O - Control Block Diagram of D-STATCOMSystem
3.6 Seattle I&M D-STATCOM Project Summary
A 5 MVA, 4.16 kV D-STATCOM System has been specified
and designed to provide voltage flicker compensation for a
4,000 Hp shredder motor at Seattle Iron & Metals
Corporation. Operation of the D-STATCOM System provides
an advanced, high-speed control technology for reactive power
compensation in order to provide voltage flicker
compensation, voltage stabilization, power factor control, and
other distribution system mitigation measures for power
quality improvement. The D-STATCOM System was
commissioned in February 2000 and has been operating
successfully since that time. A photograph showing an
external view of the Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation D-
STATCOM is provided below in Figure 11.
385
 6. REFERENCES

Paserba, J.; Reed, G.; Takeda, M.; Aritsuka, T.; “FACTS and
Custom Power Equipment for the Enhancement of
Transmission System Performance and Power Quality,”
Symposium of Specialists in Electric Operational and
Expansion Planning (VI1 SEPOPE), Curitiba Brazil (May 21-
26,2000)

Reed, G.; Thomas, L.; “Vermont Electric Power Company,

Fitwe 11 - Ext~rnalView of Seattle Iron & Metals 5MVX
4.16 kV D-STATCOMSystem
4. CONCLUSIONS
In summary, this paper has described the application of VSI-
based technology and the system design aspects associated
with both the VELCO Essex Substation +133/-41 MVA, 115
kV STATCOM project and the Seattle Iron & Metals 5 MVA,
4.16 kV D-STATCOM project. These two projects are
excellent examples of the benefits of VSI technology for both
the enhancement of transmission system operation and control,
and the improvement of distributionsystem power quality.
Inc. Enhances Transmission Reliability for Customers with
Mitsubsihi Electric Power Products, Inc. Technology,” Press
Release, Warrendale PA (January 10,2000)
Reed, G.; powerElectronics product btalled in U.S.
by Mitsubsihi Electric Power Products, Inc. (Technology
Selected for Flicker Compensation of New Steel Recycling
Facility),” Press Release, Warrendale PA (March 17,2000)
Reed, G.; et. al.; “Application of a 5 MVA, 4.16 kV D-
STATCOM System for Voltage Flicker Compensation at
Seattle Iron & Metals,” IEEE Power Engineering Society 2000
Summer Meeting, Seattle WA (July 16-20,2000)

The benefits of FACTS and Custom Power technologies are

becoming widely recognized within the electric power
industry, and more projects are expected to be implemented
throughout the United States and other parts of North America
by both the utility and industrial sectors for VSI-based
systems.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to extend their sincere thanksto:

Ms. Laurie Thomas (Vermont Electric Power Co., Inc.), Mr.

George Smith (Consultant), Mr. Murray Bennett (Teshmont,
Inc.), and Mr. Raymond Swoish (Swoish Associates, Inc.) for
their sigolficant contributions to the VELCO Essex Substation
+133/-41 MVA, 115 kV STATCOM Project;

and to:

Mr. Alan Sidell (Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation), Mr. Fred
Ojima (Seattle City Light), and Mr. Ron Gore (Gore Electric
Co.) for their significant contributions to the Seattle Iron &
Metals Corporation 5 MVA, 4.16 kV D- STATCOM Project.

386