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This paper proposes a novel methodology to improve stability in a transmission system under critical conditions of operation when additional loads that take the system to the verge of stability are placed in weak bus bars according to the fast voltage stability index (FVSI). This paper employs the Newton–Raphson method to calculate power flows accurately and, based on that information, correctly calculate the FVSI for every transmission line. First, the weakest transmission line is identified by considering N − 1 contingencies for the disconnection of transmission lines, and then all weak nodes associated with this transmission line are identified. Following this, critical scenarios generated by stochastically placed loads that will take the system to the verge of instability will be placed on the identified weak nodes. Then, the methodology will optimally size and place a single static VAR compensator SVC in the system to take the transmission system to the conditions before the additional loads are connected. Finally, the methodology will be validated by testing the system for critical contingencies when any transmission line associated with the weak nodes is disconnected. As a result, this paper's methodology found a single SVC that will improve the system's stability and voltage profiles to similar values when the additional loads are not connected and even before contingencies occur. The methodology is validated on three transmission systems: IEEE 14, 30, and 118 bus bars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTSs) have been widely incorporated in electric power systems in order to control system parameters. This paper proposes the modeling of four FACTS devices, using the Branch Flow Model (BF) as an optimization problem to reduce the complexity of the Newton–Raphson (NR) load flow code with FACTS devices. The devices are represented as variable impedances, as a function of a firing angle, and as voltage source converters (VSCs) located on the buses and transmission lines. This proposed model solves the problem associated with the selection of appropriate initial conditions of the parameters of each device that guarantee convergence. The model is validated by evaluating its percentage deviation with respect to the NR method, using the standard test systems, IEEE 5-bus, IEEE 14-bus, IEEE 30-bus, and IEEE 57-bus systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrical power system (EPS) is subject to unexpected events that might cause the outage of elements such as transformers, generators, and transmission lines. For this reason, the EPS should be able to withstand the failure of one of these elements without changing its operational characteristics; this operativity functionality is called N − 1 contingency. This paper proposes a methodology for the optimal location and sizing of a parallel static Var compensator (SVC) in an EPS to reestablish the stability conditions of the system before N − 1 contingencies take place. The system's stability is analyzed using the fast voltage stability index (FVSI) criterion, and the optimal SVC is determined by also considering the lowest possible cost. This research considers N − 1 contingencies involving the disconnection of transmission lines. Then, the methodology analyzes every scenario in which a transmission line is disconnected. For every one of them, the algorithm finds the weakest transmission line by comparing FVSI values (the higher the FVSI, the closer the transmission line is to instability); afterward, when the weakest line is selected, by brute force, an SVC with values of 5 Mvar to 100 Mvars in steps of 5 Mvar is applied to the sending bus bar of this transmission line. Then, the SVC value capable of reestablishing each line's FVSI to its pre-contingency value while also reestablishing each bus-bar's voltage profile and having the lowest cost is selected as the optimal solution. The proposed methodology was tested on IEEE 14, 30, and 118 bus bars as case studies and was capable of reestablishing the FVSI in each contingency to its value prior to the outage, which indicates that the algorithm performs with 100% accuracy. Additionally, voltage profiles were also reestablished to their pre-contingency values, and in some cases, they were even higher than the original values. Finally, these results were achieved with a single solution for a unique SVC located in one bus bar that is capable of reestablishing operational conditions under all possible contingency scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategic intent of the African Union is to develop a "Smart Integrated African Electric Power Super Grid" driven by modern tools and advances in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) engineering and flexible alternating current technology systems (FACTS), which is central in supporting Africa's sustained economic growth and development. The southern African region, including South Africa, is beset by the critical challenges of perennial load-shedding, which impedes economic growth and aggravates unemployment. This has led to the insecurity of electricity supplies and degraded the quality of life. The parallel operation of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and flexible AC technology systems (FACTS) controllers is gaining traction as system conditions become more complex, such as weak power networks which requires increased stability requirements, resulting in load-shedding and power outages. These adversely affect business productivity and adversely affect GDP and economic growth. Thus, the application of innovative technologies such as HVDC links can stabilize weak power systems. It is established that HVDC delivery systems reduce losses in long transmission lines transporting bulk power compared with high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission lines for power wheeling. This paper evaluates the parallel operation of the Cahora Bassa 1414 km bipolar HVDC link and a weak parallel 400/330 kV alternating current (AC) link. It demonstrates the use of FACTS controllers to enhance the technical performance of an existing network, such as voltage control, and technical loss reduction. It combines an HVDC line commutated converter (LCC) and HVAC transmission lines, in hybrid notation to increase the voltage stability of the system by controlling the reactive power with a Static Var Compensator (SVC). These modern tools can increase the transmission power controllability and stability of the power network. In this study, HVDC–LCC was used with a setpoint of 1000 MW in conjunction with the 850 MVAr SVC. The results show that the technical losses were reduced by 0.24% from 84.32 MW to 60.32 MW as Apollo 275 kV SVC was utilized for voltage control. The network analysis was performed using DIgSILENT PowerFactory software that is manufactured by DIgSILENT GmbH at Gomaringen, Germany [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A constant worldwide growing load stress over a power system compelled the practice of a reactive power injection to ensure an efficient power network. For this purpose, multiple technologies exist in the knowledge market out of which this paper emphasizes the usage of the flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) and presents a comparative study of the static var compensator (SVC) with the static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), inducted in a real electric substation. The aim is to improve the power factor (PF) and power quality and to encounter reliably extreme conditions. A 220 kV electric substation was opted for the analysis, and both the static and dynamic conditions were observed with the help of a power system analysis tool termed PowerFactory-DIgSILENT. Multiple aspects were investigated via software simulations to assess the performance of the aforementioned FACTS devices, such as the voltage profile evaluation via the load flow analysis method (LFA), the harmonic response via the power quality and harmonic analysis tool, and the short-circuit response via the RMS simulation tool. The outcomes were verified and compared with permissible values included in the universal standards, such as IEC and IEEE. The superiority of the STATCOM over the SVC was proven in light of the simulative results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new hybrid static VAR compensator (SVC) with a series active filter (AF). The proposed hybrid SVC consists of a series AF and SVC. The series AF, which is connected in series to phase-leading capacitors in the SVC, performs for a resistor for source-side harmonic currents. A sinusoidal source current with a unity power factor is obtained with the series AF, although the thyristor-controlled reactor generates harmonic currents. A digital computer simulation was implemented to confirm the validity and high practicability of the proposed hybrid SVC using PSIM software. The simulation results demonstrate that sinusoidal source currents with a unity power factor are achieved with the proposed hybrid SVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, an alternative methodology is proposed for the location of Static VAR Compensators (SVC) in power systems, considering the reconfiguration of reactive power flows through the optimal switching of the transmission stage, which resembles the contingency restriction N-1 usually considered in transmission expansion planning. Based on this methodology, the contingency index was determined, which made it possible to determine which is the contingency that generates the greatest voltage degradation in the system. For the quantification of reactive flows, optimal AC power flows were used, which minimize the operating costs of the power system subject to transmission line switching restrictions, line charge-ability, voltages and node angles. To determine the node in which the compensation should be placed, the contingency index criterion was used, verifying the voltage profile in the nodes. The proposed methodology was tested in the IEEE test systems of 9, 14 nodes and large-scale systems of 200, 500 and 2000 bus-bars; to verify that the proposed methodology is adequate, the stability of the EPS was verified. Finally, the model allows satisfactorily to determine the node in which the SVC is implemented and its compensation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new multilevel one-cycle control (OCC) technique for a five-level diode-clamped multilevel converter (DCMC)-based static VAR compensator (STATCOM). The OCC algorithm in combination with multi-carrier level-shifted PWM control is used in the proposed five-level DCMC-based STATCOM. The automatic dc link voltage balance is simply realized by four voltage compensators presented as the part of the OCC controller. In this paper the OCC principle of a two-level converter-based STATCOM is reviewed and extended to the five-level DCMC-based STATCOM. The proposed multilevel OCC control method of the five-level DCMC-based STATCOM in steady-state and dynamic operation modes is verified by simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the electrical power quality, in the last decades, an intense development in the last decades of high-performance equipment built as advanced power electronics applications, such as the compensators from Switching Power Converter category, has taken place. For all that, Reactive Power Compensators (RPC) based on passive circuit elements, such as Static var Compensators (SVCs), still occupy a wide range of applications in customer and installations of the distribution system installations. The functions of power factor (PF) improvement and load balancing in a three-phase distribution network can be achieved with an unbalanced SVC, known as the Adaptive Balancing Reactive Compensator (ABRC). Presenting first the mathematical model of the initial sizing and the working mechanism of a Balancing Reactive Compensator (BRC) for a three-phase four-wire network, this article develops a compensator resizing algorithm through an iterative change of the initial sizing to transform the compensator into a Balancing Capacitive Compensator (BCC), which keeps the same functions. By using two computational and modeling software tools, a case study on the application of the method was carried out, demonstrating the availability of the sizing problem solution and validating the unbalanced capacitive compensation as an efficient way to PF improving and load balancing in a PCC (Point of Common Coupling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]