Chapter-1

1.1 Introduction

Recent advances in power electronics have led to the development of the Flexible AC
Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices to be effectively used in power systems to enhance the
performance. The Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) is a new technology that acts as
a promising tool for power system application during the last decade. Modern utilities are
beginning to install FACTS devices in their transmission networks to increase the transmission
capacities and enhance controllability. In view of their advantages, there is a growing interest in
the use of FACTS devices in the operation and control of power systems. There are two main
aspects that should be considered while using FACTS controllers: The first aspect is the flexible
power system operation according to the power flow control capability of FACTS controllers.
The other aspect is the improvement of stability of power systems. This thesis reports the
development of novel control techniques for Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS)
devices for the purpose of power system stability improvement.[1]

The current developments, it must be noticed that both planning and operation of electric
networks are undergoing fundamental and radical changes in order to cope with the increased
complexity of finding economic and reliable network solutions. The operation of the
transmission and distribution networks will be closer to their physical limits. The necessity to
design electric power networks providing the maximal transmission capacity and at the same
time resulting in minimal costs is a great engineering challenge. Innovative operational
equipment based on power electronics offers new and powerful solutions. Commonly described
by the term 'Flexible AC Transmission Systems' or 'FACTS devices', such equipment has been
available for several years, but has still not been widely accepted by all grid operators for several
reasons. The introduction of innovative equipment has a great impact on the operation. A more
flexible transmission or distribution system may cause new problems during normal or disturbed
operating states. Furthermore, the proper understanding of innovative equipment is also an
educational problem because there is not much experience reported so far with this innovative
equipment. On the other hand, the opportunities for new solutions are substantial and important.
FACTS-devices can be utilized to increase the transmission capacity, improve the stability and
dynamic behavior or ensure better power quality in modern power systems. Their main
capabilities are reactive power compensation, voltage control and power flow control. Due to
their controllable power electronics, FACTS-devices always provide fast control actions in
comparison to conventional devices like switched compensation or phase shifting transformers
with mechanical on-load tap changers [2].

The development of FACTS-devices has started with the growing capabilities of power
electronic components. Devices for high power levels have been made available in converters for
high and even highest voltage levels. The overall starting points are network elements
influencing the reactive power or the impedance of a part of the power system. For the FACTS
side the taxonomy in terms of 'dynamic' and 'static' needs some explanation. The term 'dynamic'
is used to express the fast controllability of FACTS-devices provided by the power electronics.
This is one of the main differentiation factors from the conventional devices. The term 'static'
means that the devices have no moving parts like mechanical switches to perform the dynamic
controllability. Therefore most of the FACTS-devices can equally be static and dynamic.[2]