PROCEEDINGS OF ICETECT 2011
Optimal Location of Shunt Facts Devices for
Power Flow Control
M.Karthikeyan1
1 2
Research Scholar, PRIST University,
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
karthifascinatesyou@gmail.com
Abstract Power flow control, in an existing long transmission
line, plays a vital role in Power System area. This paper employs the
shunt connected compensation (STATCOM) based FACTS device
for the control of voltage and the power flow in long distance
transmission line. The proposed device is used in different locations
such as sending end of the transmission line, middle and receiving
end of the transmission line. The PWM control strategy is used to
generate the firing pulses of the controller circuit. Simulations were
carried out using MATLAB Simulink environment. The suitable
location and the performance of the proposed model were
examined. Based on a voltage-sourced converter, the STATCOM
regulates system voltage by absorbing or generating reactive power.
Contrary to a thyristor-based Static Var Compensator (SVC),
STATCOM output current (inductive or capacitive) can be
controlled independent of the AC system voltage. The simulation
results reveals that the reactive power generated is better at the
middle of the transmission line when compared with the other ends
of the transmission line and also the voltage is controlled at the
middle of the line. Henceforth the location of STATCOM is
optimum when connected at the middle of the line.
Key Words: FACTS device, STATCOM, SVC, PWM
technique, MATLAB Simulink.
I. INTRODUCTION
In modern era the applications of the power electronics
devices in power systems are very much augmented. It is an
urgent need to control the power flow, in a long distance
transmission line. The FACTS devices are introduced in the
power system transmission for the reduction of the
transmission line losses and also to increase the transfer
capability. STATCOM is VSC based controller to regulate the
voltage by varying the reactive power in a long transmission
line. Tan Y.L.,et al[1] have demonstrated the effectiveness of
SVC and STATCOM of same rating for the enhancement of
power flow. Xia Jiang Xinghao Fang Chow et al [2] have
focused on modeling converter-based controllers when two or
more VSCs are coupled to a dc link (e.g., unified power-flow
controller (UPFC), interline power-flow controller, and a
generalized unified power-flow controller) and in their
approach they allowed efficient implementation of various
VSC operating limits, where one or more VSCs are loaded to
their rated capacity. Chandrakar, V.K. et al [3] have
978-1-4244-7926-9/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE
Dr.P.Ajay-D-Vimalraj2
Assistant Professor, EEE Department,
Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry.
ajayvimal@yahoo.com
investigated the optimal location of shunt FACTS devices in
transmission line for highest possible benefit under normal
condition and also they considered three different line models
namely, line impedance model, reactance model and pi()
model. Bebic, J.Z.[4] have presented two such topologies, the
first one consists of a shunt connected controllable source of
reactive power, and two series connected voltage-sourced
converters - one on each side of the shunt device which is
named as "hybrid power flow controllers", or HPFC. Johnson,
B.K.[5] has presented an overview of how series connected
and combined series/shunt connected FACTS controllers are
studied in an AC system. Shankaralingappa, C.B.[6] has
achieved the optimum required rating of series and shunt
flexible ac transmission systems controllers for EHVAC long
transmission lines by computing `optimum compensation
requirement' (OCR) for different loading conditions. Shakib,
A.D.[7] has defined a sensitivity analysis, which is used to
determine the area on which the FACTS device has significant
influence, for the detection of sensor nodes and then only this
limited area is included in the Optimal Power Flow control.
Salemnia, A. et al [8] have proposed the concept of using
remote signals acquired through PMU to damp SSR. K.R.
Padiyar et al[9] have considered a series passive compensation
and shunt active compensation provided by a static
synchronous compensator (STATCOM) connected at the
electrical center of the transmission line to minimize the
effects of SSR. Prabhu, N. et al[10] has investigated the sub
synchronous resonance (SSR) characteristics of the system
and proposed a novel method for the extraction of sub
synchronous component of line current using filter. Zarghami,
M.et al[11] has discussed a novel approach for damping inter-
area oscillations in a large power network using multiple
STATCOMs. Yap, E.M. et al[12] have focused on the
effective utilization of a flexible alternating current
transmission system (FACTS) device called unified power
flow controller (UPFC) for power flow control ans also
demonstrated the use of the latest power system analysis
toolbox (PSAT) package for network analysis of alternative
means of improving existing transmission capability. Y u Liu
Bhattacharya, S. et al[13] have designed a controller in which
an optimal combination modulation strategy is used, which
leads to some challenges in designing the controller, such as
extra switching and the balancing of individual dc capacitor
voltages. Larki, F. et al [14] have presented a new approach
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for identification of optimal locations of STATCOM and SVC
and also simulated case studies conducted on Kouzestan
power networks in Iran based on the proposed techniques.
Albasri, F.A.et al[15] have investigated a comparative study
of the performance of distance relays for transmission lines
compensated by shunt connected flexible ac transmission
system (FACTS) controllers.
In this paper performance strategy were conducted on
STATCOM at different locations such as sending end, middle
and the receiving end of the long distance transmission line.
In every part of the location the power flow is tested with and
without compensation strategy. A mathematical modeling
approach and control design is presented in the proposed
work. The simulink model of the standard system is developed
and tested using MATLAB Simulink environment.
II. OPERATING PRINCIPLE
A STATCOM consists of a coupling transformer, an
inverter and a DC capacitor is shown in Figure1.
Figure1. Structure of STATCOM. Figure2. Equivalent Circuit of
STATCOM.
For such an arrangement, in ideal steady state analysis, it
can be assumed that the active power exchange between the
AC system and the STATCOM can be neglected, and only the
reactive power can be exchanged between them. STATCOM
is usually used to control transmission voltage by reactive
power shunt compensation. Based on the operating principle
of the STATCOM [16], the equivalent circuit can be derived,
which is given in Figure2. In the derivation, it is assumed that
(a) harmonics generated by the STATCOM are neglected; (b)
the system as well as the STATCOM are three phase balanced.
Then the STATCOM can be equivalently represented by a
controllable fundamental frequency positive sequence voltage
source Vsh. In principle, the STATCOM output voltage can be
regulated such that the reactive power of the STATCOM can
be changed.
III. MODELING OF STATCOM
From the equivalent circuit of the STATCOM shown in
figure2. let , , then the power flow
constraints of the STATCOM are :
cos
- sin
sin
cos 2
Where,
1
3
The operating constraint of the STATCOM is the active power
exchange via the DC link. i.e.
0 4
Where,
cos
sin 5
IV. CONTROL STRATEGY
In the practical applications of the STATCOM, it may be
used for controlling the voltage of the bus, reactive power
injection, impedance, current magnitude and etc. Among these
control options, control of voltage of the local bus, which the
STATCOM is connected to, is the most recognized control
function. The mathematical descriptions of the control
functions are :
A. Bus Voltage Control
The bus control constraint is
0 6
Where is the bus voltage control reference.
B. Reactive Power Control
In this control mode, reactive power generated by the
STATCOM is controlled to a reactive power injection
reference. The control constraint is
0 7
C. Impedance Control
STATCOM compensation can be equivalently represented
by an imaginary impedance or reactance. In this control mode,
Vsh is regulated to control the equivalent reactance of the
STATCOM to a specified reactance reference:
0 8
Where, is the specified reactance control reference
of the STATCOM and is the equivalent reactance of
the STATCOM.
V. SIMULATION OF STATCOM
A. Circuit Description
The power grid consists of two 500-KV equivalents,
respectively 3000 MVA and 2500 MVA, connected by a 600-
km long transmission line. When the STATCOM is not in
operation, the "natural" power flow on the transmission line is
925.8 MW from bus B1 to B3. STATCOM has a rating of
+/- 100MVA. This STATCOM is a phasor model of a
1 typical three-level PWM STATCOM. STATCOM is having a

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DC link nominal voltage of 40 KV with an equivalent
capacitance of 375 F. On the AC side, its total equivalent
impedance is 0.22 pu on 100 MVA. This impedance
represents the transformer leakage reactance and the phase
reactor of the IGBT bridge of an actual PWM STATCOM.
Figure3 explains about the circuit diagram without
compensation. In this circuit the power is directly measured in
the 600km long transmission line at the three stages like
B1,B2 and B3 and also tabulated the result in table1. Figure4
explains about the circuit diagram when STATCOM is
connected at the sending end of the long transmission line.
Similarly the connections are made when the STATCOM is
connected at the middle and receiving end of the long
transmission line.

Figure3. Circuit Diagram without Compensation

Figure4 Circuit Diagram of STATCOM at Sending End

VI. SIMULATION RESULTS 940

920
Initially Vref is set to 1 pu; at t=0.2 s, Vref is decreased to 900
P in M W

0.97 pu; then at t=0.4 s, Vref is increased to 1.03; and finally

880
at 0.6s, Vref is set back to 1 pu. And also the fault breaker at
bus B1will not operate during the simulation. The results were 860
obtained with and without compensation and also the 840
numerical results were tabulated in table 1. Figure5 and
820
Figure6 highlights the real and reactive power control at the 0 20 40 60 80 100
three stages when the STATCOM is not connected i.e. without Time in msec
compensation.
Figure5. Real Power at B1,B2 & B3 without compensation

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 100 100
50

Q in M V A r
0
Q in MV Ar

-50 -100
-100
-200
-150 0 200 400 600 800
0 20 40 60 80 100 Time in msec
Time in msec
Figure6. Reactive Power at B1,B2 & B3 without compensation
Figure10. Reactive Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Sending End
Figure7, Figure8 and Figure9 exhibits the active power at
the three stages of the transmission line when STATCOM is 100

connected at the sending end, middle and receiving end.

50
1000

Q in MVAr
0
950
P in MW

900 -50

850 -100
800
-150
0 200 400 600 800
750 Time in msec
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec Figure11. Reactive Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Middle
100
Figure7. Real Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Sending End
1000 50

950
Q in MVAr

900
P in MW

-50

850
-100
800
-150
0 200 400 600 800
750 Time in msec
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec Figure12. Reactive Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Receiving End
Figure8. Real Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Middle Figures13,14,Figures15,16 and Figures17,18 show the
voltage (Vm) and reactive power (Qm) control when
STATCOM is connected at the sending end, middle and
950
receiving end of the long line.
P in MW

900 1.04

1.02
850
Vm, Vref p.u

1
800
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
Figure9. Real Power at B1,B2 & B3 when STATCOM is Receiving End 0.98
Similarly the reactive power at the three stages B1,B2 and
B3 when STATCOM is connected to the sending end, middle 0.96
and receiving end are shown in Figures10,11 and 12. 0 200 400
Time in msec
600 800

Figure13. Voltage Vm when STATCOM is at Sending End

157
 0.8 0.01

0.6 0.005

0
0.4
Qm, Qref p.u

Id in p.u
-0.005
0.2
-0.01
0
-0.015
-0.2 -0.02

-0.4 -0.025
0 200 400 600 800 0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec Time in msec
Figure14. Reactive Power Qm when STATCOM is at Sending End Figure19. Current Id when STATCOM is at Sending End
1.04

0.4
1.02
Vm, Vref p.u

0.2
1

Iq in p.u
0

-0.2
0.98
-0.4
0.96 -0.6
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
-0.8
Figure15. Voltage Vm when STATCOM is at Middle 0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
0.8 Figure20. Current Iq when STATCOM is at Sending End

0.6
0.01
Qm, Qref p.u

0.4 0.005
0
Id in p.u

0.2
-0.005

0 -0.01
-0.015
-0.2
0 200 400 600 800 -0.02
Time in msec
Figure16. Reactive Power Qm when STATCOM is at Middle -0.025
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
1.04
Figure21. Current Id when STATCOM is at Middle
0.4
1.02
Vm, Vref p.u

1
Iq in p.u

-0.2
0.98

0.96
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
Figure17. Voltage Vm when STATCOM is at Receiving End -0.8
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec
Figure22. Current Iq when STATCOM is at Middle
0.4
0.01
0.2
0.005
Qm, Qref p.u

0
0
-0.2
Id in p.u

-0.005
-0.4
-0.01
-0.6
-0.015
-0.8
0 200 400 600 800
Time in msec -0.02
Figure18. Reactive Power Qm when STATCOM is at Receiving End
-0.025
Figures19,20,Figures21,22 and Figures23,24 show the 0 200 400
Time in msec
600 800

current Id and Iq when STATCOM is connected to the sending Figure23. Current Id when STATCOM is at Receiving End
end, middle and receiving end of the long transmission line.

158
 [8] Salemnia, A. Khederzadeh, M. Ghorbani, A. Mitigation of
0.6 subsynchronous oscillations by 48-pulse VSC STATCOM using remote
signal, IEEE Transactions on Power Tech, pp 1-7, June 2009.
0.4
[9] K.R. Padiyar N. Prabhu Design and performance evaluation of
0.2 subsynchronous damping controller with STATCOM, IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.21(3), pp 1398-1405, July 2006.
Iq in p.u

0
[10] Prabhu, N. Janaki, M. Thirumalaivasan, R. Damping of
-0.2 subsynchronous resonance by subsynchronous current injector with
-0.4 STATCOM, IEEE Conference on TENCON 2009, pp 1-6, Jan.2009.
[11] Zarghami, M. Crow, M.L. Damping inter-area oscillations in power
-0.6
systems by STATCOMs, 40th North American Symposium 2008, pp 1-
-0.8
0 200 400 600 800
6, 978-1-4244-4283-6, Sept 2008.
Time in msec [12] Yap, E.M. Al-Dabbagh, M. Thum, P.C. Applications of FACTS
Figure24. Current Iq when STATCOM is at Receiving End Controller for Improving Power Transmission Capability, IEEE
Conference on TENCON 2005, pp 1-6, Nov 2005.
[13] Yu Liu Bhattacharya, S. Wenchao Song Huang, A.Q. Control
VII. CONCLUSION strategy for cascade multilevel inverter based STATCOM with optimal
combination modulation, IEEE Conference on Power Electronics
Specialists, PESC 2008, pp 4812-4818, June 2008.
The vital role of shunt FACTS devices, which are
[14] Larki, F. Kelk, H.M. Pishvaei, M. Johar, A. Joorabian, M. Optimal
connected in long distance transmission lines, are to improve Location of STATCOM and SVC Based on Contingency Voltage
the power transfer capability and also to control the power Stability by Using Continuation Power Flow: Case Studies of
flow in the power system network. In this proposed work Khouzestan Power Networks in Iran, Second International Conference
STATCOM is employed as a shunt FACTS device. on Computer and Electrical Engineering, ICCEE 2009, pp 179-183, Dec
STATCOM is connected at the various locations such as 2009.
sending end, middle and receiving end of the transmission [15] Albasri, F.A. Sidhu, T.S. Varma, R.K. Performance Comparison of
Distance Protection Schemes for Shunt-FACTS Compensated
line. The results were obtained with and without Transmission Lines, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.22(4),
compensation. The simulation results reveals that the reactive pp 2116-2125, Oct 2007.
power generated is better at the middle of the transmission line [16] Xiao-Ping Zhang, Christian Rehtanz, Bikash Pal, Flexible AC
when compared with the other ends of the transmission line Transmission Systems: Modeling and Control, Springer, Germany,
and also the voltage is controlled at the middle of the line. So, 2006.
the location of STATCOM is optimum when connected at the
middle of the line. The numerical results of the system TABLE I. COMPARISON OF P & Q
analysis were elaborated in the table 1. The simulation results
were carried in MATLAB Simulink environment. B1 B2 B3
P in Q in P in Q in P in Q in
Position
REFERENCES MW MVAr MW MVAr MW MVAr
Without 925.8 -104.2 885.3 -23.01 859.7 69.68
[1] Tan, Y.L., Analysis of line compensation by shunt-connected FACTS Sending
947.5 -99.11 826 -56.35 812.1 67.94
controllers: a comparison between SVC and STATCOM, IEEE end
Transactions on Power Engineering Review, Vol.19, pp 57-58, Aug Middle 940.1 -79.97 820.5 -37.43 806.5 56.36
1999. Receiving
952.5 -99.6 830.2 -54.78 816.2 70.94
[2] Xia Jiang Xinghao Fang Chow, J.H. Edris, A.-A. Uzunovic, E. Parisi, end
M. Hopkins, L. A Novel Approach for Modeling Voltage-Sourced
Converter-Based FACTS Controllers, IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol.23(4), pp 2591-2598, Oct 2008. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
1
[3] Chandrakar, V.K. Kothari, A.G. Optimal location for line M.Karthikeyan, is a Research Scholar in PRIST University, Thanjavur,
compensation by shunt connected FACTS controller, The Fifth and working as an Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and
International IEEE Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Electronics Engineering, Paavai Engineering College, Namakkal, India. He is
Systems, Vol 1, pp 151-156, Nov 2003. a life member of ISTE and member in Institution of Engineers(India). His
research interests include Power System Control and FACTS.
[4] Bebic, J.Z. Lehn, P.W. Iravani, M.R. The hybrid power flow
controller - a new concept for flexible AC transmission, IEEE Power Email: karthifascinatesyou@gmail.com )
Engineering Society General Meeting, DOI-10.1109/PES.2006.1708944, 2
Oct 2006. Dr.P.Ajay-D-Vimal Raj received the B.E. degree from Madras
University in 1998, M.E. degree from Faculty of Engineering, Anamalai
[5] Johnson, B.K. How series and combined multiterminal controllers University, Tamil Nadu, India, in 1999, and the Ph.D. degree from
FACTS controllers function in an AC transmission system, IEEE Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, in
Power Engineering Society General Meeting, Vol.2, pp 1265-1267, June 2008. Currently he is Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and
2004. Electronics Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry
[6] Shankaralingappa, C.B. Jangamashetti, S.H. FACTS Controllers to University, Pondicherry, India. Earlier he was Faculty working in Madras
Improve Voltage Profile and Enhancement of Line Loadability in EHV University, Pondicherry University and Deemed University affiliated
Long Transmission Lines, International IEEE Conference on engineering colleges. Dr. Raj is a life member of the Institution of Engineers
POWERCON, pp 1-5, Oct 2008. (India), life member of Indian Society of Technical Education (India), life
[7] Shakib, A.D. Balzer, G. Optimal location and control of shunt FACTS member of Society of Power Engineers (India) and member of IEEE (USA).
for transmission of renewable energy in large power systems, 15th He has published more papers in national/international journals and
conference proceedings. His research interests include power system control
IEEE Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference, MELECON 2010, pp
in renewable energy systems and conventional power systems, power system
890-895, Apr 2010.
optimization, analysis of power quality issues, and application of artificial
intelligence techniques in power systems.

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