EG2070 FACTS and HVDC in Electric

Power Systems

Static Compensator (STATCOM)

Electric Power System

Stockholm, March 2011

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 STATCOM

• The STATCOM:

• Shunt connected FACTS device.

• It absorbs or generates reactive power.

• Its main function is to control the voltage, and

thereby to improve transient stability.

• An STATCOM can also be utilized for power

oscillation damping

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 STATCOM

• Line diagram of STATCOM

Power System

U ∠θ
I ST

Converter ac
terminal bus
VSC

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 STATCOM

• Characteristics STATCOM

• A STATCOM has both turn-on and turn-off control

capability (IGBTs).

• It generates an output ac voltage from a dc voltage.

• The ac voltage is controllable both in magnitude and

phase angle.

• “Seen” from P.S., the VSC acts as a controllable sinusoidal

voltage source.

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 STATCOM

• Characteristics STATCOM

• Like an SVC, the main function of a STATCOM is to absorb

or generate reactive power.

• A STATCOM is also capable to exchange active power with

the power system by adding an energy source in the dc
side.

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 STATCOM

• Exchange of reactive power

Power System

U ∠θ
I ST
jxST
Esh ∠γ sh Converter ac
terminal bus
VSC

Id C
+ −
Ud
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 STATCOM

• Voltage-current characteristic

U
X SL

U ref

Capacitive Inductive
cap ind
I ST I max I max I ST
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 SVC

• Voltage-current characteristic

( )
−1
min
Slope BSVC
X SL U max
U ref

( )
−1 U min
max
BSVC
Capacitive Inductive
cap ind
I SVC I max I max I SVC
Control range
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 STATCOM - SVC

• Voltage-current characteristic

• For U changes outside the control range, the STATCOM

has the ability to provide maximum capacitive or inductive
output current regardless of the system voltage.

• For U changes outside the control range, the output

current in the SVC is determined by a fixed capacitor or
inductor

𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝐵𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑈

𝑚𝑖𝑖
𝐼𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝐵𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑈

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 STATCOM - SVC

• Voltage-current characteristic

• In case of decreasing system voltage:

• the SVC supplies linearly decreasing compensating

current,
• the STATCOM is able to supply maximum capacitive
output current regardless of decreasing system voltage

𝑄𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝐵𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑈 2

• The SVC compensating reactive power decreases by

the square of decreasing system voltage.

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 STATCOM - SVC

• Voltage-current characteristic

𝑄𝑆𝑇 = 𝐼𝑆𝑇 𝑈

• The STATCOM provides linearly decreasing

compensating reactive power with decreasing
system voltage.

• This especial characteristic makes the STATCOM

more robust and effective than an SVC in providing
voltage support and stability improvements.

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 STATCOM

Signal 2
max
E sh

POD
KI µ1
Signal 1 Eshmax
s +
U ref + + + Esh
+
∑ min ∑ ∑
- E sh +
µ2
KP Eshmin -
I ST U
∑+ X SL bST ∑+
+

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 STATCOM

• As a current source

𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝐸𝑠𝑠 = 𝑈 + 𝑥𝑆𝑆 𝐼𝑚𝑚𝑚

𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝐸𝑠𝑠 = 𝑈 − 𝑥𝑆𝑆 𝐼𝑚𝑚𝑚

Power System Power System

U U
I ST
xST I ST

Ideal voltage
Esh
source

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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 STATCOM

• SVC and STATCOM have almost the same impact on the

system behavior as long as they operate within their
control ranges.

• The difference between these devices is more obvious

when they operate outside of their control ranges.

• The STATCOM provides linearly decreasing compensating

reactive power with decreasing system voltage.

• The SVC compensating reactive power decreases by the

square of decreasing system voltage.

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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STATCOM - EXAMPLE

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 STATCOM

• Therefore, the STATCOM is more robust and effective than

an SVC in providing voltage support and stability
improvements

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