IEEE - 40222

Congestion Management of Transmission Line using

Smart Wire & TCSC with their Economic Feasibility
Nibha Rani 1 Pallavi Choudekar 1, Divya Asija 1, Vishnu Astick P 1
nibharani279@gmail.com, pallaveech@gmail.com, divyaasija83@gmail.com, astick.vishnu@gmail.com
Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida1

Abstract - The rapid increase in demand of electricity led to
many challenges in transmission and distribution network in
power systems. Out of which one of major problem is
congested transmission lines. Earlier various FACTS devices
were introduced to manage the congestion in lines. But they
suffer for cost as well as reliability issues. To suppress these
issues this paper introduces a device called Smart Wire that is
connected in transmission lines. This smart wire limits the flow
of current in transmission lines hence protects the lines from
being congested. The operation of smart wire is implemented
on IEEE-5 bus system. The results obtained have shown
tremendous improvement of congestion from the transmission
network.
Key Words-Smart wire (SW), Flexible AC Transmission
System (FACTS), Distributed Flexible AC Transmission System
(D–FACTS), Single Turn Transformer (STT)
I. INTRODUCTION
In this modern world the growing pace of electricity demand
is not same as the pace of installation of new line to fulfil
that demand. Due to this already existing line are being over
exploited. This over exploitation of lines result in
congestion of lines. Thus congestion is described as the
inability of transmission lines to transfer power beyond its
limits. This congestion of lines not only enhances the
occurrences of losses in lines but also degrades the
reliability of power system network.
Earlier various methods have been developed to avoid
congestion of lines. These methods includes introduction of
various FACTS devices like TCR, TCS, SVC, STATCOM,
TCSC, UPFC and many more. Apart from the FACTS
devices the other method employed to check congestion are
introduction of phase transformer and installation of new
lines. Sometimes DGs are also used to suppress the growing
load demand and avoid congestion of load demand. Among
all the above method only few are economical.
Apart from all these previously introduce methods this
paper presents an idea of using Smart Wire Module (SW) to
avoid congestion of lines. This module is connected in
series with the line that affects impedance of the line to
check the congestion of the line.
The SW module is so designed that it operate only during
congestion and during healthy condition while in other
conditions it remains inactive without affecting operation of
passive assets of the line. Thus it is inferred that it operate
on fail normal phenomena. As the module is connected in
series it raises the impedance of line. Thus allows only a
certain limit of power to flow through the line and shifting
the extra power demand to some other underutilised line.
Thus it can be said that it checks congestion as well as
provides method for optimal utilisation of power system
resources.
For the validation of proposed work IEEE-5 bus system is
used in this paper. The proposed method has been simulated
in MATLAB/Simulink. The IEEE-5 bus system has a slack
bus, a PV bus and 4 PQ buses. The total load connected to
network is P=1.65 MW and Q =0.40 MVA. The system has
been modelled for 11 KV base.
In this paper section 1 deals with the introduction of
congestion and SW module. Section 2 comprises of
literature review. Section 3 provides detail analysis of
working of SW module. Section 4 contains Simulink model.
Section 5 deals with technical feasibility of SW module.
Section 6 deals with economic feasibility of SW module.
Section 7 comprises of conclusion & future work
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
FACTS controller can mitigate congestion in lines. Various
intelligent techniques are used for optimal placement of
FACTS controllers. For optimal placement of FACT
devices minimisation of losses, load at each bus and voltage
stability are considered. [1]
Simple and effective model is developed to optimise the
placement of FACTS devices for congestion control. The
results obtained using 5 and 75 bus system for testing were
significant. [2]
Cost and reliability issue plays a significant role in adoption
of FACTS devices. Hence DFACTS devices became
alternative approach for cost effective power flow control.
[3, 4]

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 IEEE - 40222
Sensitivities of transmission line losses with respect to the
line impedances determines the optimal location for
placement of DFACTS devices[5]
Current limiting diodes evolved as new distributed approach
for congestion management by increasing system reliability.
[6]
Power flow control in line can be achieved by DSS
compensation. DSSC directly connected to high voltage line
does not require high voltage insulation, thus have lower
cost. [7]
Minimisation of losses through reconfiguration of the
network states that system losses have been managed. Smart
wire module can be considered for over loaded lines for
congestion management. [8]
III. THYRISTOR CONTROLLED SERIES
COMPENSATION
Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation (TCSC) is a
power electronic device that belongs to the family of
FACTS devices. It can provide dynamic control over the
reactance in a transmission line and thus provides load
compensation. The dynamical nature of TCSC enables the
device to work or perform on various load compensation
levels and different operating modes as well.
Fig.1 Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation model.
The structure of TCSC is as shown in Fig.1 The TCSC
consists of a thyristor controlled reactor connected parallel
to a capacitor. The capacitor I connected in series to the
transmission line.
The triggering point of the thyristors defines the modes of
operation of the TCSC. The different modes of operation of
TCSC are mentioned below-
8th ICCCNT 2017
July 3 -5, 2017, IIT Delhi,
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Blocking mode: In this mode the thyristor valves are in off
state and the TCSC operates as a fixed series compensator.
The inductive branch is active in this mode of operation.
Bypass mode: In this mode of operation, thyristor valve is
ON, effectively both the capacitor and inductor in parallel
are active. This thus reduces current through TCSC.
Capacitive boost mode: In this mode the forward voltage
thyristor valve is triggered slightly before capacitor voltage
crosses zero to allow current to flow through inductive
branch, adding to capacitive current. This effectively
increases the observed capacitance of the TCSC without
requiring a larger capacitor within the TCSC.
IV. OPERATION OF SMART SERIES WIRE
In transmission and distribution network the power flows
from generating end to load end to fulfil the required load
demand. The power flow in the line depends upon voltage
of buses at both ends, phase angle between them and the
impedance of the line. The equation governing the transfer
of power flow is given as,
= (1)
Where, Vi is voltage i th bus Vj is j th bus voltage and Xij
is the line impedance and is the phase angle between the
bus voltages.
From the above mentioned equation, power flow of the line
can be governed by either changing angle between bus
voltages or by changing line impedance as voltages at the
buses cannot be varied.
The variation in phase angle between the bus voltages can
be achieved by introducing phase shifting transformer
between the lines. But this method is not at all economical,
hence limits the control. On the other way this power flow
control can be achieved by varying line impedances. This
variation of line impedances can be done by connecting SW
module in series.
Smart wire technology was developed by Georgia tech
which introduces control of reactance in the transmission
line to control the transmission line power hence manages
congestion problem.
Since the SW module is connected in series thus it enhances
the impedance of the line making it behave as current
limiting conductor, thus pushes the extra power demand
onto some other underutilised line. SW module is unable to
decrease the impedance of line hence cannot draw power to
another line by decreasing the impedance.
 IEEE - 40222

The SW module consists of STT, a pair of switches,

filtering elements and a relay to perform fail-normal
operation. The air gap of SW is responsible for production
of required magnetising inductance, thus eliminates the use
of additional inductor. For the single turn transformer turn
ratio is chosen such that it would always guarantee small
secondary current even in fault condition for proper working
of static switch. The switch relay is used only when switch
S1 is active and S2 is inactive. The parallel equivalent of
magnetising inductance and ac capacitor is introduced in
series with the line, while when only switch S2 is active and Fig. 4 IEEE 5 Bus system with TCSC
S1 is inactive, only magnetising inductance is introduced.
During operation of SW module, the equation governing the
transfer of power is given as

= (2)

Fig. 5IEEE 5 Bus system with Smart wire module

VI. RESULTS

The model is designed to operate on normal conditions and

then a congestion is created at line 2-5 and the SW
automatically detects the congestion and bypasses current
Fig.2 Smart wire circuit diagram and the current is reduced. The results of the observed line
2-5 are shown below.
V. SIMULINK MODEL
40

20
line current (Amperes)

-20

-40
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (seconds)

Fig. 6 Current in 2-5 line during healthy condition

Fig 6 show the current profile when the line operates in

healthy or normal condition. There is no huge rise or dip in
the current amplitude in 0 to 1 second duration.

Fig. 7 Current in 2-5 line during congestion

The above Fig7 shows occurrence of congestion. The

Fig.3 IEEE 5 Bus model. amplitude of line current increases from 20 to 37 in 0.01

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July 3 -5, 2017, IIT Delhi,
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 IEEE - 40222

seconds at 0.5th second. It remains high since then. This while SW module was used the Q loss further dropped to
shows the congestion for a long duration and also increased 151.50 VAR.
losses in the transmission line.
The objective is to trigger or activate SW module Table 2 Load at bus 5 is increased by 3 times
immediately on the event of congestion or increased line From To Q loss without Q loss Q loss With
current detection. Once the rise in amplitude of line current bus bus SW (VAR) With SW TCSC
is detected, the SW module should limit the line current and (VAR) (VAR)
remove congestion. 1 2 65.58 64.28 65.32
1 3 32.63 28.31 30.47
40 2 3 8.52 10.44 9.63
2 4 9.38 15.47 16.54
20
2 5 43.26 17.28 18.31
line current(Amperes)

0
3 4 0.19 0.14 0.101
-20 4 5 5.96 15.6 17.14
TOTAL 158.2 155.84 157.511
-40
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (seconds)

Fig. 8 Current in 2-5 line with Smart Wire The same model is analysed for further variation in load.
Table 2above shows the Q losses when load is increased to
In the above Fig.8 we can see that line current in lines 2-5 3 times. The effect of SW module and TCSC on reactive
remains in the limit of 20 amps till 0.5 th second. At 5th power losses at each bus with increased load at bus 5 is also
second the line current increases and rises above 20 amps to shown. Even in this case the reactive power losses are
a max of 40 amps. The SW module is active at this instant reduced while using SW module compared with TCSC. The
by detecting rise in line current. The SW module decreases total reactive power loss or Q loss in the model when no
the effective impedance as expected and reduces the line device is connected is 158.2VAR. which is reduced to
current back to prescribed limit by 0.55 th second. The 157.511 VAR when TCSC is used for compensation. But
congestion remains only for less than 0.05 seconds and SW while SW module was used the Q loss further dropped to
module effectively solves the congestion in 0.05 second 155.8 VAR.
duration. Hence it is obvious that SW module are effective
in automatically managing congestion in minimum time
duration.

Table 1 Load at bus 5 is increased by 2 times

From To Q loss without Q loss Q loss
bus bus SW (VAR) With SW With
(VAR) TCSC
(VAR)
1 2 59.42 58.4 58.02
1 3 23.85 29.78 27.34
2 3 6.94 12.26 10.12
2 4 8.997 17.15 17.95
2 5 30.68 12.29 15.12
3 4 0.164 0.05 0.112
Fig. 9Comparison between voltages profiles.
4 5 27.58 21.57 25.15
TOTAL 157.631 151.5 153.812 From the above Fig 9. We can observe that the voltage profile is
improved when congestion is removed from the line. This
The above Table1 shows the effect of SW module and increases the reliability of the system. Among the two devices SW
TCSC on reactive power losses at each bus with load at bus and TCSC, it can be observed that SW maintains better voltage
5 increased 2 times its original value. Thevalues shows that profile as compared to TCSC.
the reactive power loss is reduced much while using SW
Apart from handling system reliability efficiently, analysis of
module. The effect of SW module is better than TCSC.
economic feasibility also should prove to be better for real life
Thetotal reactive power loss or Q loss in the model when no adaptation of proposed system. Here the economic comparison of
device is connected is 157.631VAR. Which reduced to SW with other FACTS devices is also presented.
153.812 VAR when TCSC is used for compensation. But

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 IEEE - 40222
Table 3 Economic comparison of smart wire with different
devices
Sl. No Device for congestion Cost ($/kVar)
management
1. SVC 128
2. STATCOM 172
3. UPFC Series Portions 189
4. TCSC 153
5. Smart Wires 105
As seen from the Table 3 the retail cost of various FACTS
devices are higher than that of SW module. This proves that
the SW modules are also economically feasible as compared
to other FACT devices.
VII. CONCLUSION
As load demand is increasing day by day, leading to
congestion of lines. The congestion management in
transmission system is an essential to ensure reliability and
power quality of the system. From the proposed work it can
be concluded that SW performs better than TCSC. It has
been observed that Q loss in case of SW gets reduced by
0.038% while in case of TCSC gets reduced to 0.024%.the
better congestion handling capacity of SW over TCSC is
justified from its improved voltage profile.
Further from the economic analysis, it can be concluded that
use of SW cost effective and reliable way of congestion
management as compared to that of TCSC.
The proposed model suffers a limitation that if the location
of SW module is not proper, then the distance relay used for
line protection may not operate properly.
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