Multilevel STATCOMs – a new converter topology that

opens up the market

Simon Sinsel, Siemens AG, Germany

Ian Ramsay, Siemens Inc., NC, USA
 Key Messages

• We describe three multilevel STATCOM

installations in Chile, Australia and the US.
• Each multilevel STATCOM fulfills a different
primary electrical performance
requirement – dynamic voltage support,
load balancing and flicker reduction.
• Secondary features of the multilevel
STATCOM technology favor its application
on these projects – modularity, low
interaction with the network in terms of
harmonics and the low amount of primary
equipment.

Source: Siemens AG
 Agenda

Multilevel STATCOM Topology Overview

Case 1: Reactive Power Support for Increased Transmission Capacity

Case 2: Dynamic Load Balancing for Railway Applications

Case 3: Flicker Reduction

Conclusion
 Multilevel STATCOM Topology Overview
Terminal A Terminal B

Modul #1 Modul #n

~
Modul #2 Modul #n-1

Modul #3 Modul #n-2

Modul #4 Modul #n-3

Source: Siemens AG

• Multilevel STATCOM is built by Power Modules connected in series. The required

output determines the number of modules.
• The sum of all power module output voltages form the terminal voltage.
• The reactive power output is controlled via the amplitude of the converter voltage.
 Reactive Power Support for Increased Transmission Capacity
Diego de Almagro, Chile

Initial situation Taltal

• Trip on one of three Cardones –
Maitencillo circuits led to voltage
instability in northern transmission Diego de Almagro
region.
• Dynamic voltage recovery criteria Carrera
could only be fulfilled by limiting Pinto

load on Cardones – Maitencillo lines

to 340 MW.
SVC PLUS
• Increased power demand and Cardones
relatively high generation cost in
northern region provided incentive
to increase transmission capacity on
the corridor. Maitencillo

Grid schematic with installed multilevel STATCOM; Source: TRANSELEC

 Reactive Power Support for Increased Transmission Capacity
Diego de Almagro, Chile

Primary Project Requirement

Taltal
• Increase of reactive power supply in
the northern region to
(1) comply with grid code and Diego de Almagro
(2) increase load limitation from
the southern grid region. Carrera
Pinto
Additional Project Requirements
• Design, supply and commissioning
within 15 months. SVC PLUS
• Increased level of redundancy Cardones

beneficial.

Maitencillo

Grid schematic with installed multilevel STATCOM; Source: TRANSELEC

 Reactive Power Support for Increased Transmission Capacity
Diego de Almagro, Chile
Vprim [pu]

220 kV

1.0
100 MVA Results
14 kV • Compliance to required grid code criteria.
• Increased level of redundancy due to twin
configuration.
0.5
• Installation increased transmission
capacity through Cardones – Maitencillo
from 340 to 420 MW.

-1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0 Iprim [pu]

capacitive inductive
continuous operation continuous operation
±50 Mvar
Multilevel STATCOM
±50 Mvar +40 Mvar
conventional SVC
SLD time
of installed
limitedmultilevel
operationSTATCOM; Source: Siemensoperation
time limited AG
Multilevel STATCOM conventional SVC

Source: Siemens AG
 Reactive Power Support for Increased Transmission Capacity
Diego de Almagro, Chile

Multilevel STATCOM installation at Diego de Almagro Substation; Source: Siemens AG

 Dynamic Load Balancing for Railway Applications
Wycarbah, Duaringa & Bluff, Australia

Initial situation
• Projected substantial increase of
coal export via railway from FS TrSC FS
Central Queensland to coast for
export.
• Increased use of induction motor
locomotives instead of DC and
diesel-electric locomotives. SVC SVC

• Due to both drivers, potential

non-compliance to grid code
Railway electrification scheme prior to upgrade
limitations for positive and Source: Powerlink Queensland
negative sequence voltage.
 Dynamic Load Balancing for Railway Applications
Wycarbah, Duaringa & Bluff, Australia

132 kV Feeder

Primary Project Requirement

• Installation of additional parallel
100 MVA Tx1 Tx2
compensation devices at three 132/30 kV 30/40 MVA
sites. 132/50 kV
Additional Project Requirements Filter Filter

• Low interaction with the grid in

terms of harmonics.
• Electrical similarity between all Feeder

three sites beneficial. Auto

Transformers
±100 Mvar
Catenary

Schematic feeder station with installed multilevel STATCOM

Source: Powerlink Queensland
 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
00 A
20 A
40 A
80 A
60 A
100 A
120 A
160 A
140 A
00:00:01 00:00:01
00:42:31 00:43:41
01:25:01 01:27:21
02:07:31 02:11:01
02:50:01 02:54:41
03:32:31 03:38:21
04:15:01 04:22:01
04:57:31 05:05:41
05:40:01 05:49:21
06:22:31 06:33:01
07:05:01 07:16:41

Source: Powerlink Queensland

07:47:31 08:00:21
08:30:01 08:44:01
09:12:31 09:27:41
09:55:01 10:11:21
10:37:31 10:55:01
11:20:01 11:38:41
12:02:31 12:22:21
12:45:01
13:06:01
13:27:31
13:49:41
14:10:01
14:33:21
14:52:31
15:17:01
15:35:01
16:00:41
16:17:31
16:44:21
17:00:01
17:28:01
17:42:31

in service
STATCOM
18:11:41
18:25:01
18:55:21
19:07:31
19:39:01
19:50:01
20:22:41
20:32:31
21:06:21

Comparison of NPS with multilevel STATCOM in service and out of service

21:15:01
21:50:01
21:57:31
22:33:41
22:40:01
23:17:21
23:22:31

of service
STATCOM out
Tx 2
Tx 1

NPS (in %)
Results
Wycarbah, Duaringa & Bluff, Australia

harmonics.
Dynamic Load Balancing for Railway Applications

configuration.
delivery, operation and
maintenance due to same
• Synergy potential in project
• Compliance to required grid
• Significant reduction of NPS.

positive phase sequence and

code criteria for negative and
 Dynamic Load Balancing for Railway Applications
Wycarbah, Duaringa & Bluff, Australia

Multilevel STATCOM installation at Wycarbah Feeder Station; Source: Siemens AG

 Flicker Reduction
CMC Steel, TX, USA

Initial situation
• CMC Steel Texas operates an 80 15 kV Electric Arc Furnace Busbar
MVA AC Electric Arc Furnace on a
15 kV busbar.
• Existing STATCOM was not able to
reduce the flicker to required
value of Pst < 0.8 on the 138 kV
PCC.
• Grid code compliance only
possible with a flicker reduction STATCOM STATCOM
Filter Filter
factor higher than four. ±45 Mvar ±45 Mvar

SLD of multilevel STATCOM directly connected to Arc Furnace Busbar

Source: Siemens AG
 Flicker Reduction
CMC Steel, TX, USA

Results
• Significant reduction
of Flicker.
• Flicker performance
of multilevel
STATCOM higher
compared to
conventional
Thyristor-based SVC
(Factor 4 vs. factor 2).

Flicker comparison of 1st generation STATCOM and multilevel STATCOM

Source: CMC Steel
 Flicker Reduction
CMC Steel, TX, USA

Multilevel STATCOM installation at CMC Steel, Tx; Source: CMC Steel

 Conclusion

• We described three multilevel STATCOM

installations in Chile, Australia and the US.
• Each multilevel STATCOM fulfills a different
primary electrical performance
requirement – dynamic voltage support,
load balancing and flicker reduction.
• Secondary features of the multilevel
STATCOM technology favor its application
on these projects – modularity, low
interaction with the network in terms of
harmonics and the low amount of primary
equipment.

Source: Siemens AG
 Thank You!

For questions, comments & discussions

please contact:

Simon Sinsel
simon.sinsel@siemens.com
Siemens AG, Germany

Ian Ramsay
ian.ramsay@siemens.com
Siemens Energy Inc., NC, USA

Source: Siemens AG
 References

• V. Hild, L. Kirschner, G. Pilz, L. Peuther and B. Gemmell, "The best of both –

Combining STATCOM with conventional thyristor based Static Var Compensator
technology", unpublished, presented at the EPRI Conference, Palo Alto, CA, 2013.
• M. Pereira, D. Retzmann, J. Lottes, M. Wiesinger and G. Wong, “SVC PLUS: An
MMC STATCOM for Network and Grid Access Applications” presented at IEEE
PowerTech, Trondheim, 2011.
• A. Handschick, A.J. Hernandes, F. Schettler, B. Strobl, “Voltage Control in Offshore
Wind Farms Using Switched Compensation Elements (MSCs, MSRs) Together with
the Reactive Power Capability of the Wind Turbine Generators” unpublished,
Erlangen, 2010.
• A. Janke, R. Memisevic and G. Pilz, “Queensland Railways Upgrade Project”, SCB4
Colloquiu, CIGRE, Paris, 2011.