Introduction to FACTS

Electricity generation is the process of creating electricity from other forms of energy. Transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to substations located near to population centers. Electricity is transmitted at high voltages (110 kV or above) to reduce the energy lost in long distance transmission. Power is usually transmitted through overhead power lines. Highest transmission voltage in India is 765 KV. The transmission of electricity differs from transportation of any other commodity as the production needs to match the consumption and at the same time system control is also not an easy task. The flow of electricity does not usually follow the economic law. At present transmission losses in India is around 30-45%. One way to minimize the operational costs caused by an overloaded transmission system is through the installation of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices in power grids. FACTS allow transmission circuits to be used to their maximum thermal capability. They are able to change power flows by modifying the network parameters. Line Diagram of Presently used Substation

In the above diagram, to disconnect a fault from power system one or more circuit breakers are required in conjunction with protection. This is considered as the ultimate application of Thyristor technology where thyristor itself acts as a circuit element for interrupting bulk power, but with no moving parts to be susceptible to wearing or arcing. This technology is being developed for power control and dynamic balances in regions with frequent power interruptions due to storms, where maintenance costs are reduced . In addition, faults can be cleared immediately, minimizing damages and interruptions. It is often not possible to maintain the required system reliability by conventional mechanical switches alone such as by using tap changers, phase shifters, and switched capacitors and reactors (inductors). The power flow of an ac line is a function of phase angle, line end voltages and line impedance and there is no speed control over any of these parameters. To arrive at the required steady

state power flow, while maintaining voltages and phase angles within safe tolerable limits, that is well below the peak stability limits of the power system, through the use of generation scheduling, the occasional changing of power transformer taps and the switching of shunt reactors and capacitors. This results in a system with reduced speed, the inability to fully utilize the transmission resources to their thermal or economic limits, undesirable VAR flows, higher losses, high or low voltages, cascade tripping and long restoration times. Mechanical controllers are on the whole less expensive, but they increasingly need to be supplemented by rapidly responding power electronics controllers. Facts are the power electronics based controllers designed to enhance the behaviour of uncontrolled systems. Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System or FACTS is defined as AC system incorporating power electronics based and other static controllers to enhance controllability and increase power transfer capacity. FACTS controller operate very fast, they enlarge safe operating limits of a transmission system without risking stablility. FACTS have been developed to improve the performance of weak AC systems and for long distance transmission. Sophisticated controls, monitoring devices and computer codes are also important components of FACTS. With FACTS, availability and efficiency of power grids are improved for existing as well as new grids. Use of FACT device provides flexibility in the system , that is it can continuously change the line impedance of the transmission line and also controls the flow of active and reactive power in a power system.

Figure: FACTS can direct flow along a desired path FACTS are family of devices which can be inserted into power grids in series, shunt in some cases in both series and shunt .

Fixed Capacitors

A series capacitor is to be connected at the system voltage level and therefore needs to be insulated properly against ground. Moreover, adequate protection is to be provided against over-voltages. Figure 1 shows the circuit diagram of a typical series capacitor along with protection and control units. A non-linear resistance Z, called a varistor is connected across C to protect it against overvoltage. During the passage of short circuit current, the voltage across the capacitor may reach dangerous values and the varistor limits this voltage by drawing a huge amount of short circuit current. A controlled bypass spark G is used to short circuit the capacitor in case the varistor fails or is unable to limit the voltage by drawing adequate current. This system is mechanically controlled by circuit brakers which would eventually fail due to the stress that many switchings would place on the brakers mechanical components and hence they are limited by flexibility. Using a series capacitor that is Thyristor controlled as shown in figure 2 would allow switchings as needed. On the other hand, the series capacitor may lead to a subsynchronous frequency that could cause damage to the generator's shaft. The switchings could be rnodulated so as to damp any subsynchronous resonance conditions. A thyristor controlled series capacitor can greatly improve the stability of the network. Static VAR Compensators(SVC)

Figure:

A typical static VAR compensator

A Static VAR Compensator (SVC) is a device that uses thyristor valves to rapidly switch in or out shunt reactors and capacitors. An SVC can operate not only to make steady state voltage corrections but also to respond very rapidly to minimizing voltage depression during a fault and voltage overshoot during fault recovery. A typical shunt connected static var compensator composed of thyristor controlled capacitor and reactor is as shown in figure. With proper coordination of capacitor and reactor control, the var output can be varied continuously between the capacitive and the inductive of the equipment. Static Compensator(STATCOM)

Figure: A STATCOM device A Static Compensator uses IGBT(Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) and is designed to outperform the already existing static var compensator that uses thyristor switches. A Static Compensator consists of a voltage source converter, a coupling transformer and controls (Fig). In Figure, Iq is the converter output current which is perpendicular to the converter voltage Vi . The magnitude of the converter voltage and thus the reactive output of the converter (Q) is controllable. If Vi > Vt , the STATCOM supplies reactive power to the ac system and acts as a capacitor that is the current flow is caused to lead and the difference in amplitudes determines how much current flows. If V i < Vt , the STATCOM absorbs reactive power and acts as a reactor that is current flow is caused to lag and the amplitude difference determines the current flow. In this manner reactive power and its polarity can be controlled. In India a FACTS project that envisages installation of fixed series capacitor and thyristor controlled series compensation, has been taken up at Ballabhgarh end of 400KV KanpurBallabhgarh single-circuit line of power grid. The project has been executed at two phases successfully. Also ABB is yet to install a 400KV transmission line in India with Flexible AC Transmission solution.The line, along with the existing 1000 MW HVDC back-to-back link in Chandrapur, will ensure reliable power supply and stable inter-regional transfer of power from eastern to southern India. In addition, this technology will minimize cascade trippings and the chances of a grid collapse, if either pole of the HVDC bipoles were to trip. FACTS are high end power technologies providing more flexibility in power transmission. FACTS are not implemented at wide range in India but it is the future technology which when implemented can bring about significant changes over the present scenario.