Static var compensators (SVCs)
An SVC is a shunt-connected static generator
and/or absorber of reactive power in which
the output is varied to maintain or control
specific parameters of an electrical power
system.
General characteristics of SVCs
The lowering of maintenance requirements
from the absence of rotating parts.
The very fast control-response time.
The feasibility of individual phase control.
The diminished losses.
The high reliability.
The lack of contribution to system short-
circuit capacity.
The generation of harmonics by SVCs except
thyristor-switched capacitors (TSCs).
Static var compensation
It involves injection of current into the
system which is in phase quadrature with the
line voltage enabling exchange of reactive
power.
Variable impedance type Static Var
Compensators are power electronic devices
that control the VAR generation by varying
the impedance
SVC - Types
The thyristor - controlled and thyristor-
switched reactors (TCR and TSR)
Thyristor switched capacitor (TSC)
Fixed capacitor, TCR type var generators
Schematic diagram of SVC
V-I Characteristics of the SVC
Describe the variation of SVC bus voltage
with SVC current or reactive power.
Types:
Steady-state characteristics of SVCs
Dynamic characteristics of SVCs
V-I Characteristics of the SVC
Dynamic characteristics of SVCs
Reference Voltage
The reference voltage can be varied between the maximum
and minimum limits—Vrefmax and Vref min—either by
the SVC control system.
Linear Range of SVC Control
This is the control range over which SVC terminal voltage
varies linearly with SVC current or reactive power.
Slope or Current Droop
The slope or droop of the V-I characteristic is defined as the
ratio of voltage-magnitude change to current-magnitude
change over the linear-controlled range of the compensator.
Dynamic characteristics of SVCs
Over load Range
When the SVC traverses outside the linear-
controllable range on the inductive side, the
SVC enters the overload zone, where it
behaves like a fixed inductor.
Over current Limit
To prevent the thyristor valves from being
subjected to excessive thermal stresses, the
maximum inductive current in the overload
range is constrained to a constant value by an
additional control action.
Steady-state characteristics of SVCs
The steady-state V-I characteristic of the SVC
is very similar to the dynamic V-I
characteristic except for a dead band in
voltage.
Voltage Control by the SVC
Voltage Control by the SVC
The power system is modeled as an
equivalent voltage source, Vs, behind an
equivalent system impedance, Xs, as viewed
from the SVC terminals.
The system impedance Xs indeed
corresponds to the short-circuit MVA at the
SVC bus and is obtained as:
Voltage Control by the SVC
Voltage Control by the SVC
The SVC current thus results in a voltage
drop of [Link] in phase with the system
voltage Vs.
The SVC bus voltage decreases with the
inductive SVC current and increases with the
capacitive current.
Advantages of the Slope in the SVC
Dynamic Characteristic
Substantially reduces the reactive-power
rating of the SVC for achieving nearly the
same control objectives;
Prevents the SVC from reaching its reactive-
power limits too frequently
Facilitates the sharing of reactive power
among multiple compensators operating in
parallel.
SVC Applications
INCREASE IN STEADY-STATE POWER-
TRANSFER CAPACITY
ENHANCEMENT OF TRANSIENT STABILITY
AUGMENTATION OF POWER-SYSTEM
DAMPING
PREVENTION OF VOLTAGE INSTABILITY
SVC MITIGATION OF SUBSYNCHRONOUS
RESONANCE (SSR)