2018 21st International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS) October 7-10, 2018┃Jeju, Korea

Development of ±400Mvar World Largest MMC

STATCOM
Jungsoo Park Sangmin Yeo Jongyun Choi
Power Systems Perofmance Unit Power Systems Perofmance Unit Power Systems Perofmance Unit
Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation
Gyeonggi-do, Korea Gyeonggi-do, Korea Gyeonggi-do, Korea
jspark98@hyosung.com harc@hyosung.com choris007@hyosung.com

Abstract — This documents deals with 400MVA world metropolitan area is constrained and KEPCO system can be
largest MMC STATCOM projects in Korea. The STATCOM in danger of voltage collapse because power system voltage
has many technical advantages superiors to SVC. Those are is dropped too much.
very fast response time, excellent output capability under low
voltage condition and very weak system having extremely low
short circuit level, smaller foot print, extremely low harmonic
generation, and so on. This paper introduces the design, testing,
and commissioning of the MMC STATCOM.

Keywords—Modular Multilevel Converter, MMC,

STATCOM

I. INTRODUCTION
Static synchronous compensator(STATCOM) is a
voltage source converter based reactive power compensator.
Comparing to Static Var Compensator(SVC) which is
composed of thyristor switched capacitors(TSC) and
thyristor controlled reactors(TCR), it has advantages which
are very fast response time, excellent output capability under
low voltage condition and very weak system having
extremely low short circuit level, smaller foot print, and so
on. In addition, it does not need harmonic filter or sometimes
require small size high frequency filter. [1]
Especially, the superior capacitive reactive power output
capability under low voltage condition is the representative
advantage of STATCOM. Under low voltage condition
where output is reached to capacitive limit, the capacitive
reactive power output of SVC is decreased in proportional to
the square of power system voltage. However the output of
STATCOM is decreased in proportional to the power system
voltage.
In early 2000s, adopting Modular Multilevel
Converter(MMC) technology, STATCOM becomes to have
additional advantages such as scalability, low conversion
losses, lower harmonic generation, and redundant design. [2] Fig. 1. Location of ±400Mvar STATCOMs

Because of the advantages mentioned above, the
demands of STATCOM are being increased. Moreover,
since it becomes possible to make large scale MMC, the
STATCOMs whose rated reactive power is more than
300MVA is being discussed.
In 2017, Korea Electric Power Corporation(KEPCO)
system recorded the peak load around 80GW and about 40%
of load is concentrated in Seoul and near Seoul. In order to
support the huge load, 2 x 765kV double circuits and 4 x
345kV double circuits are transmitting electric power from
other areas to Seoul metropolitan area. However if one of the
765kV double circuits is tripped, the massive electric power
transmitted on the line has to be bypassed through neighbor
345kV lines. At that time, since power system voltage is
dropped too much, the transmission capacity to Seoul
In order to maximize the transmission line capacities of
the neighbor 345kV transmission lines and prevent voltage
collapse, KEPCO is installing 3 x ±400Mvar MMC
STATCOM at Shinchungju, Shinyoungju, and Donghae
345kV substations. Currently, they are the world largest
MMC STATCOMs. Among them, the 2 x ±400Mvar
STATCOM at Shinyoungju and Shinchungju 345kV
substation is commissioned and under operation.
The ±400Mvar STATCOM is composed 3 x ±134Mvar
MMCs and a 400MVA coupling transformer. It is very huge
size. Nevertheless, it responds very fast and harmonic
generation is too low without any harmonic filters at both
primary and secondary side of coupling transformer. It is
designed to work with reactive power control mode within a

Copyright ⓒ KIEE Electrical Machinery and Energy Conversion Systems 2060

certain voltage band, and with automatic voltage control
mode outside of the band.
This document will deals with the development of the
±400Mvar World Largest MMC STATCOM. It will
introduce the design, testing, and commissioning of the
MMC STATCOM.
II. DESIGN OF ±400MVAR STATCOM
A. Single line diagram
Fig. 2 shows the single line diagram of the ±400Mvar
STATCOMs. The ±400Mvar STATCOM mainly comprises
of coupling transformers, MV bus, 3 x ±134Mvar MMCs,
control & protection systems, auxiliary equipment, and so on.
The MV bus voltage level is chosen to optimize the proposed
solution which meets the requirements specified by KEPCO.
Fig. 2. Single line diagram of ±400Mvar STATCOM
Fig. 3. Single line diagram of ±134Mvar MMC(Modular Multilevel
Converter)
In the STATCOM, 3 x ±134Mvar MMCs are connected
to 353kV(345kV) 3-phase bus through Y-Δ connected 3
single phase coupling transformer. As shown in Fig. 3, the
±134Mvar MMC consists of Δ-connected 3-phase MMC
circuits, and each MMC phase circuit has a MMC valve
being composed of series-connected 42 full-bridge
submodules, including 4 redundancies, whose rated DC
voltage is 2.5kVdc, and a phase reactor.
Due to low THD characteristics of MMC, any harmonic
or HF(High Frequency) filter is not required to the MV side
of coupling transformers.
The full-bridge submodule is composed of 4 IGBT &
free-wheeling diode modules and DC capacitor. Besides, it
has a mechanical bypass switch connected between its 2
terminals. If any fault is detected inside of full-bridge
submodule, the mechanical bypass switch is switched in and
the faulted submodule is eliminated from the MMC
operation and the MMC phase circuit can continue its normal
operation with other normal submodules.
As mentioned above, since the ±134Mvar MMC has 4
redundancy submodules per phase, it can continue its normal
operation with 4 faulted submodules per phase. If the 5th
submodule is bypassed within a MMC phase circuit, the
HV(high voltage circuit breaker) will be immediately opened.
After opening the disconnector switch at the faulted MMC,
the STATCOM in Fig. 1 can be restarted and operated with
only 2 or 1 x ±134Mvar MMCs.
Fig. 4. Example layout of ±400Mvar STATCOM in Shinyoungju 345kV
substation.
Fig. 5. Bird-eye view of ±400Mvar STATCOM in Shinyoungju 345kV
substation.
B. Layout design
Fig. 4 shows the layout of ±400Mvar STATCOM in
Shinyoungju 345kV substation. Its footprint is just 100.8m x
44.55m. Comparing to the layout of SVC having similar
capacity, it must be proved that the footprint of STATCOM
is much smaller than SVC.
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 Each ±134Mvar MMC value room and its cooling room
are designed in independently from other MMCs. In addition,
the AC yard component of each ±134Mvar MMC are also
designed to be capable of being managed separated from
other MMCs. Therefore, each MMC can be repaired and
overhauled when other MMCs are being operated.
Fig. 5 shows the actual bird-eye shot of ±400Mvar
STATCOM in Shinyoungju 345kV substation. Comparing to
the similar picture of SVC, it must be also proved that the
configuration of STATCOM is much more simple and
compact than SVC.
C. Control fuctions
The ±400Mvar STATCOM has control functions as
follows,
x Mandatory functions
- Automatic voltage control
- Reactive power control
x Auxiliary functions
- Power oscillation damping
- External device control
- Adaptive gain control
It is specified that the response time of STATCOM
output under automatic voltage control mode to the step
input of voltage change has to be equal to or less than 1 cycle
from inductive to capacitive limits or vice versa.
The ±400Mvar STATCOM has very excellent fault ride
though capability. It is designed to be capable of supplying
rated capacitive current output down to 0.3pu power system
voltage. In addition, it can supply symmetric rated capacitive
current output under single-line-to-ground fault condition.
D. Harmonic performance
As mentioned above, the ±134Mvar MMC is composed
of 42 full-bridge submodules including 4 redundancies per
phase.
Fig. 6. Schematic representation of AC output voltage of MMC valve
Since each full-bridge submodules can make positive,
zero, and negative DC capacitor voltage between its 2
terminals and the MMC valve generates AC sinusoidal
voltage by connecting individual submodule voltage outputs.
Therefore, its output voltage can have 77-levels in maximum
from positive to negative peaks. Although it generates rated
inductive output at 0.9pu power system voltage, it is
expected that the output voltage have 39-levels.
As shown in Fig. 6, the output voltage is very close to
AC sinusoidal voltage. Therefore, the harmonic
performance of ±400Mvar STATCOM is also very excellent.
III. TEST RESULTS
Fig. 7 shows the actual TFR(Transient Fault Recorder)
data measured for SAT(Site Acceptance Test) of
Shinyoungju ±400Mvar STATCOM. It shows the step
response of STATCOM output under automatic voltage
control mode.
At steady-condition, the voltage reference of STATCOM
is set to Vref=0.99pu in order to make 0Mvar output. And
then, the voltage reference is changed to 1.1pu in
step(Vref=0.99puÆ1.1pu). At that time, the current output of
STATCOM is increased up to 1.0pu from 0.0pu within
11.7msec. It is just around 70% of 1 cycle(=1/60
sec=16.7msec).
The step response test from inductive to capacitive limit
could not be done because the 800Mvar reactive power could
give significant shock to power system.
Fig. 7. The response of STATCOM under automatic voltage control mode
(353kV PCC voltage, the current output to 353kV PCC, the RMS
value of current output, and reference voltage.)
Fig. 8 shows the RTDS test results for FAT(Factory
Acceptance Test) of control system of Shinyoungju
±400Mvar STATCOM. It shows the response of STATCOM
to single-line-to-ground fault condition at primary side of
coupling transformer.
At steady-state, the voltage reference of STATCOM is
set to Vref=1.0pu in order to make 0Mvar output. And then,
single-phase-ground fault is applied at phase A of 353kV
PCC(Point of Common Coupling). At that time, the voltage
at phase A becomes close to zero. It means that the positive
sequence voltage of 353kV PCC becomes around 0.667pu.
In order to support the positive sequence voltage component,
the STATCOM generates symmetric capacitive current
output.
Fig. 9 shows the measured harmonic voltage for 8 hours at
353kV PCC for SAT(Site Acceptance Test) of Shinyoungju
±400Mvar STATCOM. For 8 hours, the ±400Mvar
STATCOM was operated with rated inductive output.
Unfortunately, the background harmonic could not be
measured. It means that the harmonic voltage in Fig. 9 shows
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the sum of background harmonic and the harmonic
contributions by ±400Mvar STATCOM.
Fig. 8. The response of STATCOM to single-line-to-ground fault (353kV
PCC voltage, the current measured at 353kV PCC, the MV bus
voltage, the current output to MV bus, and the current output to
MMC#1)
The upper graph in Fig. 9, the voltage THD(total harmonic
distortion) up to 50th was measured between 0.4% and 0.7%.
It means that the harmonic contribution by ±400Mvar
STATCOM must be less than 0.7%, assuming the
background harmonic is zero. The lower graph in Fig. 9
shows the maximum(Orange), average(Grey), and
minimum(Blue) individual harmonic voltages measured for 8
hours. The maximum component is 5th harmonic voltage
and it is less than 5%. It means that the maximum harmonic
voltage component induced by ±400Mvar STATCOM must
be less than 0.5%, assuming the background harmonic is
zero.
The v-THD=0.7% and V5=0.5% meet the harmonic
requirement in IEEE Std. 519 [3] specified by KEPCO,
without any harmonic filters.
Fig. 9. Meausred voltage harmnoic distortions (THD and individual)
IV. CONCLUSION
As noticed to public, the STATCOM has many technical
advantages superiors to SVC. Those are very fast response
time, excellent output capability under low voltage condition
and very weak system having extremely low short circuit
level, smaller foot print, extremely low harmonic generation,
and so on. As show in this paper, the large scale STATCOM
up to ±400Mvar rating becomes applicable in power system.
The test results also prove that STATCOM has better
configuration, dynamic performance, and harmonic
characteristics
REFERENCES
[1] CIGRE WG 14.19, "Static Synchronous Compensator," Brochure 144,
Aug. 1999.
[2] M. Pereira, D. Retzmann, J. Lottes, M. Wiesinger, G. Wong, "SVC
PLUS: AN MMC STATCOM for Network and Grid Access
Applications", Proc. IEEE Trondheim PowerTech, pp. 1-5, 2011.
[3] IEEE Std 519-1992, “IEEE Recommended Practices and
Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power Systems,”
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. 1993
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