2020 International Conference on Industry 4.

0 Technology (I4Tech)
Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India. Feb 13-15, 2020

FACTS Devices for Reactive Power Compensation

and Power Flow Control – Recent Trends
Aditya Chorghade Vandana A. Kulkarni (Deodhar)
Electrical Department Electrical Department
Government Engineering College Government Engineering College
Aurangabad, India Aurangabad, India
adityageca2019@gmail.com kul111@rediffmail.com

Abstract—Electrical power systems are frequently with solid state switches. Fig (1) represents the generalized
accommodating numerous electromechanical disturbances configuration of SSSC.
caused due to different reasons such as sudden application of
load or escape out of load, environmental causes etc. Such Transformer connected in series is also known as
perturbations are responsible for creation of harmonics and coupling transformer or insertion transformer for the
oscillations affecting system stability which may further lead to exchange of active-reactive power. The magnitude of
system failure. Different technologies are used to compensate exchange of real and reactive power is determined by the
these disturbances and to provide quality power. One of the phase displacement of inserted voltage Vpq [3].
technologies is the implementation of Flexible AC
Vpq
Transmission System (FACTS) devices. The paper gives brief
information about advanced generation of FACTS devices such AC System
as Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC), Static
Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), Interline Power Iline
Coupling Transformer
Flow Controller (IPFC) and Unified Power Flow Controller
(UPFC) and the role of the same for reactive power Iac
compensation as well as the power flow control.

Keywords-Compensating Devices, Voltage Source Vout

Converter(VSC), FACTS, STATCOM, SSSC, IPFC, UPFC.
Voltage Source Converter
I. INTRODUCTION
One of the important aspects in the power system is
observed as system stability. Expansion of the transmission Idc Vdc
system is limited as compared to the increasing demand of
power. Because of this, the electrical stress on the Energy Storage
transmission lines is intense. This is responsible for various
power quality as well as power quality issues such as voltage Fig. 1. SSSC: Basic Configuration [3]
collapse, fluctuations in the voltage, occurrence of the
transmission line fault etc. Due to which injection of B. Modes of Operation
harmonics and oscillations can be possible. These problems Operation of SSSC is takes place in two different modes
further lead to reactive power imbalance which is necessary which are capacitive mode as well as inductive mode for
to mitigate to avoid system instability [1]. For such problem, reactive power compensation. Consider the two machine
compensation of reactive power is needed to be done along lossless system represented in fig (2).
with controlling of power flow through the transmission Vpq X
line. This might be achieved with the implementation of
controllers formulated with modern power electronics
devices. One of the technologies is the FACTS (Flexible AC
Transmission System) devices. The paper consists of the
brief discussion on advanced FACTS controllers such as
SSSC Vr 0
Static Series Synchronous compensators (SSSC), Static Vs δ
Synchronous Compensators (STATCOM), Interline Power
Flow Controller (IPFC) and Unified Power Flow Controller
(UPFC) with their basic configuration, modes of operation
and the role for compensation of reactive power and
controlling of power flow [2]. Fig. 2. Generalized Two Machine System

II. SSSC Where, X : Effective reactance of transmission line

A. Basic Confoguration Vs: Voltage appeared at sending end
SSSC basically is a device used for series compensation. Vr: Voltage appeared at receiving end
It controls the power flow in the transmission line. It is δ: Angle between Vs and Vr
formulated with voltage source converter (VSC) modelled Vpq: Series inserted voltage by SSSC [4].

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 i) Capacitive Mode Thus, by changing series insertion voltage magnitude the
SSSC introduces the voltage Vpq in transmission line. It value of δ changes resulting changes in the value of active-
leads transmission line current by 90°, since the mode is reactive power. Thus the controlling of active reactive power
capacitive. Observe the phasor diagram drawn with the takes place. Specifically, the compensation of reactive power
reference of fig (2). can be done by decreasing the value of δ [5].
Observe the fig (3) which represents the phasor diagram Vs δ
for operation of SSSC in capacitive mode, Here the receiving
end voltage Vr is considered a reference. The equation for
current so obtained is,
ଶ௏௦ ఋ ௏௣௤
‫ ܫ‬ൌ •‹ ൅  (1) IX + Vpq
௑ ଶ ௑

Where, X is stated as effective line reactance which also I

involves the reactance due to Vpq. Thus, the additional factor
௏௣௤ δ/2
 is due to implementation of SSSC. The value of δ/2
௑
current is increased than that of the uncompensated system. Vr 0

Vs δ Fig. 4. Phasor Diagram for SSSC Operation in Inductive Mode [5]

III. STATCOM
A. Basic Configuration
IX -Vpq STATCOM is a device which is used for shunt
compensation connected in parallel with the transmission
I line. It can either act as a source or a sink for a reactive
power to stabilize the voltage. The fig (5) shows the basic
δ/2
δ/2
configuration of STATCOM.
Vr 0

Vpcc
Fig. 3. Phasor Diagram for Operation of SSSC in Capacitive Mode [5] Syse
tmBus

Ish
Where, X is stated as effective line reactance which also
involves reactance due to Vpq. Thus, the additional factor Coun
p
a
irg
n
ltso
fm
r er
௏௣௤
 is due to implementation of SSSC. The value of
௑
current is increased than that of the uncompensated system.
+
The equation for active power is obtained by considering Vx Ta
rnso
fm
rL
ereakag
n
Ieduc
atnce

Vs = Vr = V -
V
niv

௏ଶ ௏௏௣௤ ఋ VSI
P= •‹ ߜ ൅  …‘• (2)
௑ ௑ ଶ
+
-
௏௏௣௤ ఋ
Due to the additional factor …‘• , the increment in Vdc
௑ ଶ
the active power takes place. EnergySource

௏ଶ ௏௏௣௤ ఋ
Q= ሺͳ െ …‘• ߜሻ ൅ •‹ (3) Fig. 5. STATCOM: Basic Configuration [6]
௑ ௑ ଶ

As the magnitude of inserted voltage changes, the angle It mainly consists of voltage source inverter (VSI) use to
ߜ changes. Thus supression of reactive power takes place on convert input which is DC in nature to output which is AC in
decreasing value ofߜ. nature. The coupling transformer is used for linking of VSI
with a transmission line. Given DC capacitor is utilized to
ii) Inductive Mode supply constant DC voltage to the VSI [6]. Mathematical
In inductive mode series inserted voltage Vpq lags formula for active power as well as reactive power
current I in given transmission line by 90°.Phasor diagram respectively is as follows,
for SSSC operation in inductive mode represented in fig (4).
௏௣௖௖௏௜௡௩
The active power is expressed mathematically as follows, ܲ ൌ •‹ ߜ (6)
௑
௏మ ௏௏௤ ఋ ௏௣௖௖ మ ௏௣௖௖௏௜௡௩
ܲ ൌ •‹ ߜ െ  …‘•  (4) ܳൌ െ …‘• ߜ (7)
௑ ௑ ௑ ௑ ௑
The reactive power is given by, Thus, by changing the value of δ the controlling of power
௏మ ௏௏௣௤ ఋ
can be possible. Specifically, by decreasing the value of δ,
Q= ሺͳ െ …‘• ߜሻ െ  •‹ (5) the value of reactive power reduces. Thus, compensation of
௑ ௑ ଶ
reactive power takes place [7].

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B. Modes of Operation
Similar to the SSSC, STATCOM has two operating Transient Limit Transient Limit
modes which are capacitive mode and inductive mode. The
phasor diagrams of the same are as follows.
i) Capacitive Mode
The phasor diagram for operation of STATCOM in
capacitive mode is represented in fig (6). Vref
Bmax
Ish

Vpcc
δ
Ic-max IL-max
Vx Capacitive Region Inductive Region

Vinv Fig. 8. V-I Characteristics of STATCOM [9]

From above figure it is cleared that the STATCOM

Fig. 6. Phasor Diagram for Operation of STATCOM in Capacitive Mode exhibits constant current characteristics. Thus the
[8] continuous reactive power is maintained by the STATCOM
[9].
In the capacitive mode, the output voltage of
inverter i.e. Vinv is greater than that of system ac IV. IV. IPFC
voltage i.e. Vpcc. The current is directed from converter
to AC system through the reactance. Thus reactive
Bus 2
power is generated by converter for the system. Bus 1 Series
Receiving
Sending Transformer 1
End
ii) Inductive Mode End
A phasor diagram for operation of STATCOM in
inductive mode is represented in fig (7).
SSSC 1

Vpcc Common DC Link

δ SSSC 2

Vx
Bus 3
Series
Transformer 2 Receiving
End
Vinv
Ish IPFC

Fig. 9. IPFC: Block Diagram [10]

Fig. 7. Phasor Diagram for operation of STATCOM in Inductive Mode [8] The fig (9) shows the generalized block diagram of IPFC
system with two SSSCs. The series compensation is
In the inductive mode, the system ac voltage i.e. provided by each of the SSSC to the respective line to which
Vpcc is greater than that of voltage output voltage of it is connected. These converters connected to the
inverter i.e. Vinv. A current is directed from AC system transmission lines through the two coupling transformers
to converter through the reactance. Thus the converter [10].
absorbs reactive power for the system [8].
Vr 0
C. V-I Characteristics of STATCOM Vs δ
X
STATCOM can generate capacitive as well as inductive
current independent of voltage. The V-I characteristics is
shown in fig (8)
Fig. 10. Generalized Two Machines System

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 Assuming the transmission line is lossless, the
mathematical expression for real power as well as reactive
power obtained are,
ܲ ൌ
௏௦௏௥
•‹ ߜ (8)
௑
௏௦
ܳ ൌ  ሺܸ‫ ݏ‬െ ܸ‫ߜ •‘… ݎ‬ሻ
௑
Where,
Vs = Voltage appeared at sending end
Vr = Voltage appeared at receiving end
X = Transmission line reactance
δ = Phase Angle between voltages
The equation (8) shows the expression for real power.
Real power is very much sensible to the change in phase
angle δ than that of change in voltage magnitude [11].
The transfer of real power is from sending end to
receiving end when Vs leads Vr. The phase angle is positive
i.e capacitive mode.
The transfer of real power is from receiving end to
sending end when Vs lags Vr. The phase angle is negative i.e
inductive mode. Thus the flow control of real power takes
place.
The equation (9) shows the expression for reactive
power. The value of phase angle should be small for
maintaining the transient stability as well as reactive power
compensation. And the flow of reactive power is influenced
by even if there is minute variation in the difference voltages
appeared at sending end as well as receiving end [12-13].
V. UPFC
A. Basic Configuration
The UPFC is advanced FACTS device consists of two
voltage source converters. They can be stated as shunt
controller as well as series controller. The means of coupling
for these controllers is DC link capacitor. These whole
assembly connected transmission line through coupling
transformer [14].
V1
I
Vs Ф V2 X V3
Transmisssion Line
P,Q
I sh
STATCOM SSSC
Fig. 11. UPFC: Basic Configuration [15]
B Principle of Operation
The converter which is connected in parallel with a line
i.e. STATCOM is functioned importantly to act as source or
sink of active power through DC common link capacitor
keeping voltage across it constant. Furthermore it is
functioned to exchange the reactive power for a regulation of
the voltage in the transmission line [15].
The converter which is connected in series with the line
i.e. SSSC is functioned to insert the 3 phase voltage which is
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symmetrical in nature through series insertion transformer.
Controlling of magnitude and phase angle is achieved. The
mathematical expression for real power as well as reactive
power are,
ൌʹ͵•‹ ߜ 
(10)
(9)
ൌʹሺʹȂ͵…‘• ߜ ሻ
(11)
The phasor diagram for operation of UPFC is represented
in fig (12).
V2
Vs
δ V1 Ф
I
V3
Fig. 12. Phasor Diagram for operation of UPFC [16]
The voltage injected through series transformer in a given
transmission line having it’s magnitude Vs and phase angle
Ф controlled by two voltage source converters as discussed
earlier. Consequently, the voltage V2 and δ are controlled.
Thus controlling of active and reactive power can be possible
through this [16].
C Advantages
¾ System loss reduction
¾ Improvement of stability
¾ Controlling of real and reactive power transfer
¾ Voltage stability improvement
¾ Power quality improvement
¾ Optimal system operation
¾ Line capacity improvement
¾ Load ability improvement
¾ Efficiency increment
VI. CONCLUSION
The new generation of FACTS devices is described
theoretically in this paper. These devices are mainly
implemented for reactive power compensation. Besides the
provision of various advantages by these FACTS devices
enlisted in the paper controlling of active as well as reactive
power flow is achieved through these devices. Being the
combination of SSSC and STATCOM, the IPFC and UPFC
has more flexibility in controlling the active and reactive
power flow in transmission lines of the power system.
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