STATCOM Control for Power System Voltage Control Applications

A static compensator (STATCOM) is a device that can provide reactive support to a bus. It consists of voltage sourced converters connected to an energy storage device on one side and to the power system on the other. In this paper the conventional method of PI control is compared and contrasted with various feedback control strategies. A linear optimal control based on LQR control is shown to be superior in terms of response profile and control effort required. These methodologies are applied to an example power syste

Mitigation of power quality issues due to high penetration of renewable energy sources in electric grid systems using three-phase APF/STATCOM technologies: a review.

This study summarizes an analytical review on the comparison of three-phase static compensator (STATCOM) and active power filter (APF) inverter topologies and their control schemes using industrial standards and advanced high-power configurations. Transformerless and reduced switch count topologies are the leading technologies in power electronics that aim to reduce system cost and offer the additional benefits of small volumetric size, lightweight and compact structure, and high reliability. A detailed comparison of the topologies, control strategies and implementation structures of grid-connected high-power converters is presented. However, reducing the number of power semiconductor devices, sensors, and control circuits requires complex control strategies. This study focuses on different topological devices, namely, passive filters, shunt and hybrid filters, and STATCOMs, which are typically used for power quality improvement. Additionally, appropriate control schemes, such as sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) and space vector PWM techniques, are selected. According to recent developments in shunt APF/STATCOM inverters, simulation and experimental results prove the effectiveness of APF/STATCOM systems for harmonic mitigation based on the defined limit in IEEE-519

Energy and voltage management methods for multilevel converters for bulk power system power quality improvement

Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) are prevalent in the steel industry to melt iron and scrap steel. EAFs frequently cause large amplitude fluctuations of active and reactive power and are the source of significant power quality disturbances. Also EAFs comprise a major portion of industrial loading on the bulk power system. Typically, a static VAR compensator (SVC) or Static Synchronous compensator (STATCOM) are use to provide the reactive power support in order to alleviate the fluctuations in voltage at PCC. Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOMs) provide a power electronic-based means of embedded control for reactive power support. Integrating an energy storage system (ESS) such as large capacitors with the STATCOM will improve the device performance to have active power controllability as well as the reactive power. A cascaded multilevel STATCOM has been utilized in order to compensate for all the fluctuations caused by an EAF both in the RMS of the voltage at PCC and also the active power generation. Designing a sophisticated controller, it is possible to get the STATCOM track the variations of active power in load. Therefore, the generator does not need to produce the random active power demanded by the load --Abstract, page iv

Inter-area oscillation damping in large scale power systems with unified power flow controllers

Power system oscillations occur in power networks as a result of contingencies such as faults or sudden changes in load or generation. They are detrimental to the operation of the system since they affect system stability and the optimal power flow through it. These oscillations do not usually damp out in tie-lines unless certain controls are applied to the system. Local and inter-area oscillations have traditionally been controlled by Power System Stabilizers (PSS). However, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Controllers (FACTS) have significant potential as alternatives to PSS. The main goal of this research is to damp inter-area oscillations by Unified Power Flow Controllers (UPFC). UPFC is a series-shunt FACTS device which is used for purposes such as the control of active and reactive power flow through the corridors of the system. However, using supplementary controls and proper coordination of UPFCs, they can be used for fast damping of inter-area oscillations in multi-area power systems --Abstract, page iv

An Improved Nonlinear STATCOM Control for Electric Arc Furnace Voltage Flicker Mitigation

Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) are prevalent in the steel industry to melt iron and scrap steel. EAFs frequently cause large amplitude fluctuations of active and reactive power and are the source of significant power-quality (PQ) disturbances. Static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) provide a power-electronic-based means of embedded control for reactive power support and PQ improvement. This paper introduces a new nonlinear control for the STATCOM that provides significant reduction in EAF-induced aperiodic oscillations on the power system. This method is compared with traditional PI controls and has shown to have improved performance

Online Control of Modular Active Power Line Conditioner to Improve Performance of Smart Grid

This thesis is explored the detrimental effects of nonlinear loads in distribution systems and investigated the performances of shunt FACTS devices to overcome these problems with the following main contribution: APLC is an advanced shunt active filter which can mitigate the fundamental voltage harmonic of entire network and limit the THDv and individual harmonic distortion of the entire network below 5% and 3%, respectively, as recommended by most standards such as the IEEE-519

Modeling and Simulation of Parallel D-STATCOMs with Full-Wave Rectifiers

In recent years, both a significant increase in electrical demand and a large influx of intermittent renewable energy sources have put a considerable stress on the nation’s electrical grid. Conventional power flow control techniques such as capacitor banks and tap-changing transformers are incapable of adequately handling the rapid fluctuations in power supply and demand that today’s grid experiences. Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) controllers are a practical way to compensate for such rapid power fluctuations. One type of shunt FACTS controller is the Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), which uses fully controllable switches to source or sink reactive power to a point on the grid, thus reducing voltage fluctuations due to load changes. The purpose of this thesis is to model and simulate the operation of two Distribution STATCOMs (D-STATCOMs) operating on the same point on the grid. These D-STATCOMs also utilize parallel full-wave rectifiers that directly connect the ac grid to the dc capacitor of the D-STATCOMs. Parameters such as power loss, reaction time, stability, and THD are measured for several test scenarios. Results from this thesis show that two D-STATCOMs operating on the same point can be stable and effective under a wide range of conditions. This thesis also concludes that the inclusion of parallel rectifiers with the D-STATCOMs results in no performance improvement of the D-STATCOMs

Novel Night and Day Control of a PV Solar System as a STATCOM (PV-STATCOM) for Damping of Power Oscillations

Installations of large scale PV solar farms are rapidly increasing, worldwide. This is causing a growing apprehension that inertialess power injections from these inverter based generators will result in a decline in power system stability. Instead, this thesis presents novel applications of a patent pending technology whereby the PV solar farms actually help significantly increase system stability. A novel 24/7 (night and day) control of a large-scale PV solar farm as a dynamic reactive power compensator STATCOM, termed PV-STATCOM, is presented for damping low-frequency electromechanical power oscillations resulting in a significant improvement in power transfer capability of existing power transmission systems. A new real and reactive power modulation based control of PV-STATCOM is demonstrated during daytime that combines the functionalities of both a STATCOM and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide significantly enhanced levels of power oscillation damping than that achieved by either a STATCOM or a BESS. The effectiveness of the proposed PV-STATCOM Power Oscillation Damping (POD) control techniques based on modulation of reactive power, real power or a combination of both is evaluated through both small signal and Electromagnetic Transients simulations studies. Participation factor analysis is utilized for selection of appropriate control signals and damping controllers. The POD controllers are designed through small signal Residue analysis and validated through Simplex Optimization technique in electromagnetic transient simulations. The efficacy of the proposed PV-STATCOM controls is demonstrated on three power systems: Single Machine Infinite Bus SMIB system, Two-Area system, and the 12 bus FACTS power system, which exhibit different power oscillation modes. New ramp up techniques for power restoration from solar farms are also presented, which are substantially faster than those specified by grid codes. A methodology for coordination of proposed PV-STATCOM controls with existing Power System Stabilizers (PSSs) on synchronous generators is further described for further damping enhancement. This thesis thus presents a novel technology that can not only help increase the penetration of large scale PV solar farms but utilize them for reducing the need for construction of expensive new lines or use of costly Flexible AC Transmission systems for stability improvement