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Reactive Compensation Tutorial

E.M. John, Member, IEEE

a TCR is used, harmonic filters are usually required to limit

Abstract—The Static Var Compensator and STATCOM are voltage distortion in the network to acceptable values. The
two systems for providing shunt reactive power compensation. HF is capacitive at the fundamental frequency and contributes
This document is intended to provide an overview of the to the net capacitive output of the SVC. The HF is normally
application of both systems. not switched but fixed to the SVC bus and is therefore often
referred to as a fixed capacitor (FC).
Index Terms--
A. Configuration
I. INTRODUCTION Three basic SVC configurations can be constructed using the

R EACTIVE power compensation is a powerful means of

optimizing power flow on transmission networks. This
aforementioned building blocks. The first consists of a
thyristor-switched reactor (TSR) and a thyristor-switched
capacitor (TSC). Since no reactor phase control is used no
document describes two regulated sources of leading or
lagging reactive power, the Static VAr Compensator (SVC) filters are needed. The second consists of a TCR and a fixed
filter capacitor (TCR/FC). The third consists of a TCR and
and Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM).
TSC (TCR/TSC) which may also include a fixed filter
capacitor. In transmission applications the SVC is coupled to
II. STATIC VAR COMPENSATOR
the network through a step-up transformer. The required
A Static Var Compensator (SVC) is a regulated source of reactive power is measured on the high side of the
leading or lagging reactive power. By varying its reactive transformer.
power output in response to the demand of an automatic
voltage regulator, an SVC can maintain virtually constant Variations of the configurations shown in [1] can be made to
voltage at the point in the network to which it is connected. optimize the SVC system design. This is especially true for
An SVC is comprised of standard inductive and capacitive the higher rated SVC applications where it is common to
branches controlled by thyristor valves connected in shunt to have multiple TSC branches with overall continuous control
the transmission network via a step-up transformer. achieved with a TCR as shown in the example below. Factors
Thyristor control gives the SVC the characteristic of a influencing the design include continuous and dynamic
variable shunt susceptance. In terms of its steady state ratings, loss evaluation, redundancy requirements, harmonic
performance, an SVC acts much like a synchronous generation, audible noise, environmental conditions and area
condenser. Unlike a synchronous condenser, however, an constraints. The TSC branches need not be identical. For
SVC has no inertia and contributes nothing to the network example, additional branches could be rated in multiples of
short circuit level. Unlike mechanically switched the smallest branch. In such a case the larger branches would
compensation, an SVC can operate repeatedly and is not be switched in combination with other branches to keep the
encumbered by the delays associated with mechanical net TSC step size equal to that of the smallest branch. This
switching. This lets the SVC respond very rapidly to technique is called binary switching and serves to limit the
changing network conditions such as line or generator outage number of branches at the expense of redundancy. The
contingencies. transformer and some SVC branches need not be rated
continuously. If the maximum output of the SVC is only
An SVC has an inductive and a capacitive capability. The required dynamically during system swings for instance,
algebraic difference between these two capabilities is called some SVC branches and the transformer can be rated on a
the dynamic range. There are three main building blocks short-term basis. If reliability and redundancy are extremely
available to make-up the required SVC capability. These are critical, the SVC can be split in two halves with each
the thyristor-switched capacitor (TSC), the thyristor- connected to a separate transformer secondary winding, one
controlled reactor (TCR) and the harmonic filter (HF). The wye the other delta. This technique allows de-rated operation
TSC is a synchronized on-off device. A small tuning reactor with an SVC branch out of service and usually allows the
is used in the TSC for damping and resonance control. The elimination of harmonic filters as higher disturbance levels
TCR reactive power absorption is continuously variable from can be permitted during the shorter partial outage time. To
zero to its rated value due to phase control of its conduction extend the overall capacitive range or restore the SVC output
interval which controls the fundamental frequency component to within its dynamic regulating range or continuous rating
of reactor current. By avoiding use of phase control the TCR following systems contingencies, a mechanically switched
can be used as an on-off, thyristor-switched reactor (TSR). If capacitor bank

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can be installed on the high voltage bus. Such a B. Control

configuration is called a static var system (SVS). The SVC control system provides the intelligence to
achieve a stable, accurate and rapid response to changing
network conditions. The most common SVC control mode is
automatic voltage regulation (AVR). This mode is often
combined with reactive power or susceptance (B) control and
occasionally with power oscillation damping (POD) control.
The SVC control system varies the output of the SVC
between its inductive and capacitive susceptance limits in
response to changing network conditions. Figure [2],
illustrates a progressive build-up of main control functions
along with their impact on the V-I operating characteristic.

d
Fig. 1 SVC configurations [a] TSR-TSC [b] TCR-TSC [c] TCR-MSC Fig. 2 SVC Control block diagrams [a] PI Voltage regulator [b] add regulator
slope [c] add susceptance control [d] discrete (step-wise) control – add hysterisis
and increase deadband.

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The output of the regulator is a susceptance reference, Bref. characteristics of the SVC even under degraded voltage
The susceptance reference is translated to triggering orders to conditions.
the thyristor valves and distributed in the different SVC
branches as indicated in the figure [3]. Other SVC controls that minimize prolonged operation of the
SVC at its capacitive limit are:
• Slope or droop characteristic
• Susceptance regulator
• SVC-directed switching of mechanically-switched shunt
capacitor (MSC) banks
An SVC has a steady-state and dynamic voltage-current (VI)
characteristic. The SVC current/susceptance are varied to
regulate the voltage according to a droop characteristic, or slope.
The slope setting is important in coordination with other voltage
control equipment. It is also important in determining at what
voltage the SVC will reach limit of its control range. A large
slope setting will extend the active control range to lower voltage
but at the expense of voltage regulation.
The primary purpose of the susceptance regulator is to maintain
Fig. 3 Block diagram showing control pulse generation. the desired reactive power output during steady-state conditions
C. SVC Operation at Capacitive Limit and to preserve the dynamic control range for disturbances.
Usually this means the SVC will be operating close to zero or
In order for a source of dynamic reactive power to be most
even inductive output so that fast capacitive boost is available for
effective in supporting system voltage following a
disturbances. Following a disturbance, SVCs will respond faster
contingency, it should be normally operated well within its
than other voltage regulating controls. To reposition for the next
dynamic regulating range. A generator, for example, should
disturbance, and to coordinate with slower equipment such as
be operated near unity power factor or slightly lagging rather
MSC, reactors, and network LTC, the SVC output is slowly
than at its rated power factor and field current limit. The
returned to its setpoint by the susceptance regulator. The
same operating principle applies to an SVC. Prolonged
susceptance regulator contributes a voltage correction to the
operation at its capacitive limit should be avoided. There are
voltage reference when the actual SVC output is different from
SVC control functions which can avoid prolonged operation
the desired value. The susceptance regulator is often a purely
at a limit automatically so as not to burden the system
integral control. The response time of the susceptance regulator
operator.
is set very slow so as not to interfere with the fast-acting voltage
When the SVC var output reaches and stays at its maximum regulator. The output of the susceptance regulator is limited,
capacitive limit, the SVC loses active control and behaves usually to a few percent in voltage, so that for very low steady-
like a shunt capacitor bank. For systems heavily dependent state voltage conditions the SVC is allowed to go to maximum
on SVCs and shunt capacitors, the critical or collapse voltage output. If keeping the SVC in active control range is essential to
can become the SVC-regulated voltage and voltage instability maintain a stable operating point, such as when the load power
is more likely when a disturbance exceeding planning criteria level is high, the response time of the susceptance regulator can
takes the SVC to its boost limit. be set to seconds instead of the typical minutes.
The first priority of the SVC should be to help the system survive To achieve capacitive reserve, the SVC can order mechanical
a major disturbance first (transient stability, including transient switching of nearby shunt capacitor banks and shunt reactors.
voltage stability), followed by small signal stability. Just as there The switching order from the SVC is initiated after the SVC has
is nothing wrong with a generator hitting its excitation limit for a been on its capacitive limit for a specified time.
short time to provide reactive support following a disturbance,
Two innovative and low-cost methods of specifying and
there is nothing wrong with operating the SVC at limits for short
designing SVCs to extend its dynamic control range are
duration. On the contrary, the use of the full control effort
illustrated by the following examples. The increase in the
following a major disturbance is desirable, as it usually results in
capacitive range will also help minimize SVC operation at the
the optimum utilization of the available SVC rating. The key is
capacitive limit.
to avoid or minimize prolonged operation at the capacitive limit.
Figure [4] shows a modified V-I characteristic which extends
SVC controls can be and have been designed to prevent or the capability of the SVC where needed without unnecessarily
minimize continuous operation at its capacitive limit. Special increasing the rating of all of the main circuit equipment, i.e.,
controllers that slightly reduce the voltage reference as the thyristor valves, capacitors, reactors and transformer. The
operating point of the SVC approaches the capacitive limit have reactive power absorption capability for high temporary
been used. The objective is to keep the SVC in active control overvoltages can be maintained by placing a time-dependent
range, that is, to have continuous operation along the slope current limitation on the reactor as indicated by the inductive

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characteristic above 1.1 per unit voltage. Thus, the SVC can system voltage, reactive power is absorbed. If the VSC AC
absorb more than its rated reactive power during temporary output voltage is higher than the system voltage, reactive
overvoltages allowing time for automatic adjustments such as power is produced. This general topology is shown in figure 5.
disconnection of mechanically-switched capacitor banks to
take place in the power system. At low voltage, the reactive
power supply can be increased by adding more capacitance
without having to add more capability to the transformer
through use of primary current limitation as indicated by the
vertical line on the capacitive portion of the characteristic
shown in the Figure below. This means that at its net
capacitive current limit, the SVC reactive power drops off
with voltage rather than voltage squared down to the
capacitive design point.
VI characteristic (Base: 100 MVA)
1.4 Fig. 5 STATCOM, comprised of VSC, coupling transformer T, and control
1.3
1.2 The VSC topology can be greatly simplified and performance
1.1
o B enhanced by using high frequency pulse width modulation
1
0.9 A
(PWM) rather than square wave operation. With PWM only
SVC voltage (p.u.)

0.8 o
C simple air-core inductors and a voltage-matching transformer
0.7 are needed for coupling to the ac network.
0.6
0.5 Figure 6 illustrates waveform generation from a three-level
0.4 VSC employing PWM control. The VSC is coupled to the
0.3
AC bus through series air-core reactors. Low pass filters
0.2
0.1
tuned to the switching frequency may need to be connected on
0 the line side of these reactors. Together they form a low-pass
-2 -1.8 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Cap <== SVC current (p.u.) ==>
filter such that only the fundamental frequency voltages
Fig. 4 Modified V-I curve demonstrating extended capability of SVC. appear on the line side of the reactors. If the AC voltage
becomes too low and the output of the VSC hits its current
Furthermore, The capacitive output can be increased without limit the maximum reactive power varies with the voltage
having to increase the voltage rating of the transformer or the rather than voltage squared as with an SVC. With PWM it is
capacitor by applying a secondary voltage limiter as indicated possible to vary the modulation index and add an additional
by the sloping line in the upper left hand corner of the V-I degree of boost up to some maximum value.
characteristic. Thus, the reactive power can be increased at
lower voltage without necessarily having to increase the
amount of installed KVAr due to the voltage derating of the
capacitors made possible by the secondary voltage limiter.
This is especially true for capacitive branches rated only for
short term because of the voltage withstand of the capacitor
versus time. The incremental cost of lowering the voltage
design point in this manner is minor. On a recent project, a
reduction of the design point from 90% voltage to 85%
voltage was less than 1% of the project cost.

III. STATIC SYNCHRONOUS COMPENSATOR (STATCOM)

A. General
The STATCOM consists of a voltage source converter (VSC)
operating as an inverter with a capacitor as the DC energy
source. It is controlled to regulate the voltage in much the
same way as an SVC. A coupling transformer is used to
connect to the transmission voltage level. In this application
only the voltage magnitude is controlled not phase angle. By
controlling the converter output voltage relative to the system
voltage, reactive power magnitude and direction can be Fig. 5 Waveform generation from a 3-level VSC with PWM control.
regulated. If the VSC AC output voltage is lower than the

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In a transmission network has much the same function as an

SVC:

• Steady state and dynamic voltage support and regulation

• Improved voltage stability
• Improved synchronous stability and transfer capability

For Power Quality applications, the VSC especially one with

PWM offers:

• Improved dynamic load balancing

• Improved flicker control
• Faster response for load compensation

B. Conclusion
The greatest benefit of a STATCOM is realized in
applications for voltage flicker suppression such as electric
arc furnace compensation. The high frequency response of the
SVC Light with PWM allows superior flicker mitigation
compared to a conventional SVC. The higher frequency
response for transmission voltage support, however, is really
not needed.

The response from an ordinary SVC is adequate for

transmission applications where the highest oscillation modes
are only about 1.5 Hz. One advantage of the VSC in
transmission applications, however, is that the capacitive
reactive power, when the device is at its limit, only falls off
with voltage, whereas with an SVC, it falls off with voltage
squared. This has an advantage when the system voltage falls
below normal down to about 85 %. Below 85%, however,
this advantage is questionable since voltage-sensitive loads
have already been lost. For overvoltages, when the device is
at a limit, the increased absorption of the VSC only goes up
with voltage, whereas with an SVC, it goes up with voltage
squared. Hence the conventional SVC TCR branch is
somewhat better at suppressing dynamic overvoltages than a
VSC.

IV. BIOGRAPHIES

Eric M. John (M’1995,) Graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

with a BS in Electric Power Engineering. He is currently pursuing an MBA
degree from Duke University.
His employment experience includes, three years with Westinghouse Power
Generation working with Power Quality and FACTS. He is currently a
marketing manager for FACTS with ABB Inc. of Raleigh, North Carolina.

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