Module 4 : Voltage and Power Flow Control
Lecture 19a : Use of Controllable Devices : An example
Objectives
In this lecture you will learn the following
The use of controllable devices with the help of an example
An example
In the previous lectures we have seen that power electronic based controllers like generator excitation systems, SVC,
TCSC and DC links allow real and reactive power flow control. In this lecture, we try to understand how this can be
achieved in practice, by considering a simple example. Most of the concepts in this lecture have been introduced
previously. However, it is hoped that this lecture will not be a mere reiteration, but will bring clarity to most points.
Consider a two area system shown below, connected by two tie lines. A series controlled device (TCSC) is placed in
one of the parallel lines. The lines have unequal impedance. Therefore steady state power flow through them is not
equal.
We can utilize the power flow control ability of a TCSC to assist the system in the following tasks:
a) Regulate power or current in the parallel AC tie line in case it is thermally overloaded by diverting
power to the line in which TCSC is connected.
Note: This function is "given up" in case the TCSC compensated line reaches its thermal limit or the
TCSC itself reaches some limit (voltage, current or firing angle limit). In case both paths are thermally
overloaded, a TCSC cannot help, and efforts will have to be made to reduce the cumulative power flow
between the two areas by adjusting the generation (AGC) and/or loads.
b) Increase the "stiffness" of the tie-lines connecting the two areas by increasing series capacitive
compensation for a short while after large disturbances. This will aid in improving angular stability --
keeping the two areas in synchronism.
c) Modulate the series capacitive reactance so as to make the relative angular motions (swings) settle
down quickly.
The first function can be acheived "slowly", since thermal time constants are large. However, the last two functions
require quick response capability which is possible since TCSC is power electronically controlled.
We now consider control systems which will help us achieve these strategies.
Control Strategy for Power Flow Control
To divert power flow through the TCSC compensated line when a parallel path is overloaded, one would need to first
sense that such a condition exists. Therefore the current in the parallel tie line is measured.
(One can also synthesize the current in the parallel path using only local measurements of current and voltage
, phasors at the TCSC location, provided all line parameters are known. How can one do it ?)
In case the current magnitude in the parallel tie - line is greater than the permissible value due to thermal limit,
increase the power (or current) flow in the TCSC compensated line by increasing the TCSC capacitive reactance.
Since the effective impedance of the TCSC compensated line is reduced, it will take on a larger share of the total
power flow between the 2 areas.
A feedback control system which can achieve this is shown below. I_LIMIT_1 denotes the current limit of the tie line
which is parallel to the TCSC compensated line. Xmax and Xmin denote the minimum and maximum controllable
reactance of a TCSC in the capacitive region. The integrator has minimum and maximum limits of 0 and Xmax. This
means that as soon as the output of the integrator crosses these limits, then the integration is halted and resumes
only if the sign of the input to the integrator is such that further integration will get the output back into the the
range 0 to Xmax.
For example if the input to the integrator at a particular instant is -0.5 and the output is 0, then integration is
stopped (the output of the integrator remains frozen at 0). It resumes only after the input becomes positive.
Similarly if the input is +0.8 and output is Xmax, then integration is stopped, and it resumes only when input
becomes negative.
It can be inferred that if current exceeds the limit I_LIMIT1, then the output of the controller increases the value of
TCSC reactance above its scheduled (or set point) value. On the other hand, if the limit is not exceeded, the
integrator output will settle to the integrator lower limit, i.e., zero.
Auxiliary Control for improving angular stability
One could use the quick response capability of a TCSC to limit transient relative angular deviations between the two
areas following disturbances, and make the transient angular oscillations "die" out.
In other words, we wish to prevent potential loss of synchronism and also make the system settle down to a steady
state as soon as possible.
A simple "intuitive" control strategy would be as follows:
1. Boost the electrical power flow from area 1 to area 2 if the angular difference between the voltage
phasors at area 1 end of the transmission tie lines and the area 2 end increases. The increased electrical
power flow between the two regions when angular deviation increases, retards the relative movement
between generator rotors in one area with respect to the other. To boost the power flow, the capacitive
reactance of the TCSC can be increased in proportion to the angular difference.
2. How does one make the transient angular swings settle down quickly ? Recall that rotor angular swings
are analogous to the oscillations in a spring mass system. Oscillations die out in a spring mass system due
to a retarding force which is approximately proportional to speed (i.e. viscuos friction). We can try to create
similar retarding forces in a power system, by making the electrical power flow to be a function of the rate
of change of angular difference (it is already a function of the angular difference).
Thus, to reduce angular difference as well as to make the system "settle down" quickly, the TCSC reactance can be made
Lecture 19a : Use of Controllable Devices : An example
Objectives
In this lecture you will learn the following
The use of controllable devices with the help of an example
An example
In the previous lectures we have seen that power electronic based controllers like generator excitation systems, SVC,
TCSC and DC links allow real and reactive power flow control. In this lecture, we try to understand how this can be
achieved in practice, by considering a simple example. Most of the concepts in this lecture have been introduced
previously. However, it is hoped that this lecture will not be a mere reiteration, but will bring clarity to most points.
Consider a two area system shown below, connected by two tie lines. A series controlled device (TCSC) is placed in
one of the parallel lines. The lines have unequal impedance. Therefore steady state power flow through them is not
equal.
We can utilize the power flow control ability of a TCSC to assist the system in the following tasks:
a) Regulate power or current in the parallel AC tie line in case it is thermally overloaded by diverting
power to the line in which TCSC is connected.
Note: This function is "given up" in case the TCSC compensated line reaches its thermal limit or the
TCSC itself reaches some limit (voltage, current or firing angle limit). In case both paths are thermally
overloaded, a TCSC cannot help, and efforts will have to be made to reduce the cumulative power flow
between the two areas by adjusting the generation (AGC) and/or loads.
b) Increase the "stiffness" of the tie-lines connecting the two areas by increasing series capacitive
compensation for a short while after large disturbances. This will aid in improving angular stability --
keeping the two areas in synchronism.
c) Modulate the series capacitive reactance so as to make the relative angular motions (swings) settle
down quickly.
The first function can be acheived "slowly", since thermal time constants are large. However, the last two functions
require quick response capability which is possible since TCSC is power electronically controlled.
We now consider control systems which will help us achieve these strategies.
Control Strategy for Power Flow Control
To divert power flow through the TCSC compensated line when a parallel path is overloaded, one would need to first
sense that such a condition exists. Therefore the current in the parallel tie line is measured.
(One can also synthesize the current in the parallel path using only local measurements of current and voltage
, phasors at the TCSC location, provided all line parameters are known. How can one do it ?)
In case the current magnitude in the parallel tie - line is greater than the permissible value due to thermal limit,
increase the power (or current) flow in the TCSC compensated line by increasing the TCSC capacitive reactance.
Since the effective impedance of the TCSC compensated line is reduced, it will take on a larger share of the total
power flow between the 2 areas.
A feedback control system which can achieve this is shown below. I_LIMIT_1 denotes the current limit of the tie line
which is parallel to the TCSC compensated line. Xmax and Xmin denote the minimum and maximum controllable
reactance of a TCSC in the capacitive region. The integrator has minimum and maximum limits of 0 and Xmax. This
means that as soon as the output of the integrator crosses these limits, then the integration is halted and resumes
only if the sign of the input to the integrator is such that further integration will get the output back into the the
range 0 to Xmax.
For example if the input to the integrator at a particular instant is -0.5 and the output is 0, then integration is
stopped (the output of the integrator remains frozen at 0). It resumes only after the input becomes positive.
Similarly if the input is +0.8 and output is Xmax, then integration is stopped, and it resumes only when input
becomes negative.
It can be inferred that if current exceeds the limit I_LIMIT1, then the output of the controller increases the value of
TCSC reactance above its scheduled (or set point) value. On the other hand, if the limit is not exceeded, the
integrator output will settle to the integrator lower limit, i.e., zero.
Auxiliary Control for improving angular stability
One could use the quick response capability of a TCSC to limit transient relative angular deviations between the two
areas following disturbances, and make the transient angular oscillations "die" out.
In other words, we wish to prevent potential loss of synchronism and also make the system settle down to a steady
state as soon as possible.
A simple "intuitive" control strategy would be as follows:
1. Boost the electrical power flow from area 1 to area 2 if the angular difference between the voltage
phasors at area 1 end of the transmission tie lines and the area 2 end increases. The increased electrical
power flow between the two regions when angular deviation increases, retards the relative movement
between generator rotors in one area with respect to the other. To boost the power flow, the capacitive
reactance of the TCSC can be increased in proportion to the angular difference.
2. How does one make the transient angular swings settle down quickly ? Recall that rotor angular swings
are analogous to the oscillations in a spring mass system. Oscillations die out in a spring mass system due
to a retarding force which is approximately proportional to speed (i.e. viscuos friction). We can try to create
similar retarding forces in a power system, by making the electrical power flow to be a function of the rate
of change of angular difference (it is already a function of the angular difference).
Thus, to reduce angular difference as well as to make the system "settle down" quickly, the TCSC reactance can be made
