Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, March, 2018; Vol.

14(1):125-133
Copyright © Faculty of Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Print ISSN: 1596-2490, Electronic ISSN: 2545-5818,www.azojete.com.ng

POWER SYSTEM STABILITY AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT USING FACTS DEVICES

C. Amos1*, J. J. Vandu2, D.M. Gyathi2, J. Usman3, and S.Y. Musa2

1
National Centre for Technology Management, Modibbo Adama University of Technology,Yola, Nigeria
2
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology,Yola,
Nigeria
3
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
*chindaamos@gmail.com
Abstract
The advent of the 21st century brought about great and enormous quantum of electrical energy needs of the world where the
nation’s lively hood is now greatly hinged on the use and application of electrical energy. Recent research shows that the
demand of electric power has grown significantly whereas power generation and transmission is not expanded due to certain
limitations and as a result the transmission lines are being over loaded and losses are inevitable which result to instability of
the power system network. Interestingly however, the above limitations are being overcome through the application of
flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices for quality improvement of power transmission systems.
The use of FACTS controllers (classes and their generation based on their properties) allows the possible control of dynamic
control of transmission line variables which include the phase angle, the voltage and the impedance. Similarities between
conventional methods and FACTS controller for enhancing power system quality has been considered. The publication
focuses on utilizing FACTS devices for the benefits of enhancing electrical power transmission system operation.
Classifications of FACTS devices as well as the evolving generation of FACTS controllers have been reviewed.

Key Words: - FACTS, Quality, PST, SVC, TCSC, UPFC, STATCOM, IPFC, SSSC, TCPS, SMES

1. Introduction
Nowadays, power system is a complicated network that is made up of a lot of generators, transmission
lines, assorted distribution transformers etc. Consequently, FACTS controllers proffers a solution to
these long distance transmission lines as far as alternating current (AC) is concerned in improving or
reducing the power flow on a definite transmission line and responds with no intentional time delay to
the network stability problem. Flexible Alternating Current Transmission system (FACTs) is a
stationary device used for the AC transmission of electrical energy (power electronics based device).As
a result of increasing power demand some transmission lines are over loaded thereby over stretching
their designed capabilities. The subsequent increase of load on a long distance transmission line brings
about the problem of transit stability after the line has been subjected to a major fault. Therefore the use
of FACTS device will enhance controllability and increase power transfer capability.
1.1 Stability
Stability of a power system is its ability to return to normal or stable state of operation after it has
suffered some kind of disturbance. If the disturbance is mild such as the switching OFF or ON of a
transmission line or a generator then it is a case of steady state stability. If on the other hand the
disturbance is large and sudden usually caused by a fault then it is a case of transient stability, (ie.
without losing synchronism for large disturbance) the outcome of the system response in an event of
large movement of generator rotor angles and is influenced by the nonlinear power angle relationship.
Stability relies on both the initial operating conditions of the system and the magnitude of the
disturbance. With the high level of technology in recent years, the development of power electronics has
resulted to the introduction of flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTs) controllers in
electrical power engineering.

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According to the switching techniques, (FACTs) devices can be categorized into three namely:
Mechanically switched (such as phase shifting transforms), thyristor switched or fast switched, using
IGBTs. While some types of FACTs, such as the phase shifting transformers (PST) as the static VAR
compensator (SVC) are already well known and used in power systems. New developments in power
electronics and control have extended the application range of FACTs (Hingorani and Gyugyi, 2000).
Furthermore, intermittent renewable energy sources and increasing international power flows provide
new applications for FACTs. The additive flexibility and controllability of FACTs allow mitigating the
problems associated with the unreliable of supply issues of renewable. SVCs and STATCOM devices
are well suited to provide ancillary services (such as voltage control) to the grid and fault rid through
capabilities which standard wind forms cannot provide (Rao et al, 2014). Moreover, FACTs minimizes
oscillators in the grid system which is particularly good in dealing with random behavior of alternative
energy (Renewable).
2. Methodology
2.1 Power System Control
2.1.1 Power Flow Control on a Transmission Line
To establish the relationship between the electric power output and the load angle, it is only power
system that can be influenced by the control of its variables; consider a schematic diagram of a generator
connected to an infinite bus and its phasor diagram as shown below.

(a) Generator connected to an infinite bus

(b) Phasor diagram

(c) Power angle curves for different values of X

Figure 1a-c: Illustration of power flow control on a transmission line

To impact the performance of power system, there are three main variables that can be controlled
directly from the illustration above which include voltage, angle and impedance even through the curve
is a steady state type and the introduction of FACTs is mainly for change in systems.
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If the angle between the two bus voltages is small the current flow largely represents the active power.
Increasing or decreasing the inductive impedance of a line will greatly affect the active power flow.
Thus impedance control, which in reality provides current control, can be the most cost effective means
of controlling the power flow. With appropriate control loops it can be used for power flow control
and/or angle control for stability.
Conventional method and FACTs controllers are presented for the control of the variable the power
system for the effective enhancement of the transmission system.

Table 1:Similarities between conventional method and FACTs controllers for enhancing power system
control
FACTS Controllers
 Static Var Compensator (SVC) controls voltage
 Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)
controls voltage
 Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC)
controls impedance
 Thyristor Controlled Phase Shifting Transformer
(TCPST) controls angle
 Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage
(SMES) controls voltage and power
 Unified Power Flow Controllers (UPFC)
 Convertible Series compensator (CSC)
 Inter-Phase Power Flow Controller (IPFC)
Static Synchronous Series Controllers (SSSC).
Each of the above mentioned controllers have impact on
voltage, impedance, and/or angle (and power)
Conventional Methods
 Transformer LTC controls voltage
 Series Capacitor controls impedance
 Synchronous condenser controls voltage
 Switched Shunt-capacitor and Reactor
controls voltage
 Special Stability Controls focuses on
voltage control but often include direct
control of power
Other (when thermal limits are involved) can
include reconductoring, raising conductors,
dynamic line monitoring, adding new lines etc.

2.2 Major Constraints in Power System

Transmission systems are gradually being pushed to their thermal and stability limit whereas the
emphasis on the quality of power supplied is more than before. The drawbacks of the transmission
system can take numerous facets and include power transfer among areas or within a particular area and
could involve some of these characteristics:
i. Thermal limit
ii. Steady state power transfer limit
iii. Short circuit current limit
iv. Dynamic voltage limit
v. Inadvertent loop flow limit
vi. Voltage stability limit
vii. Transient stability limit
viii. Power system oscillation damping limit

Every transmission hindrances or area constraints could have some of these system level problems, the
way to approach these problems are through system engineering analysis which is the most cost–
effective and coordinated method.

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2.3 Advantages Derived from FACTs Devices

The advantages derived from FACTs devices in electrical power transmission systems could be
enumerated as follows:-
i. Increased dynamic and transient grid stability and reduction of loop flows.
ii. Environmental benefits
iii. Better utilization of existing transmission system assets.
iv. Increased quality of supply for sensitive industries.
v. Increased transmission system reliability and availability.

2.4 Classes of FACTs Devices

FACTs devices can be classified into four different categories, depending on their connection to the
network. As expressed in (Hingorani and Gyugyi, 2000)
i. Series Controllers: could be a variable impedance, such as capacitor, reactor, etc., or a power
electronics based variable source of main frequency, subsynchronous and harmonic frequencies (or a
combination) to serve the desired need. In principle, all series controllers inject voltage in series with the
line. Even a variable impedance multiplied by the current flow through it, represents an injected series
voltage in the line. As long as the voltage is in phase quadrature with the line current, the series
controller only supplies or consumes variable reactive power. Any other phase relationship will involve
handling of real power as well.
ii. Shunt Controllers: As in the case of series controllers, the shunt controllers may be variable
impedance, variable source, or a combination of these. In principle, all shunt controllers inject current
into the system at the point of connection. Even a variable shunt impedance connected to the line voltage
causes a variable current flow and hence represents injection of current into the line. As long as the
injected current is in phase quadrature with the line voltage, the shunt controller only supplies or
consumes variable reactive power. Any other phase relationship will involve handling of real power as
well.
iii. Combined Series-Series Controllers: This could be a combination of separate series controllers,
which are controlled in a coordinated manner, in a multi line transmission system. Or it could be a
unified controller, in which series controllers provide independent series reactive compensation for each
line but also transfer real power among the lines via the power link. The real power Transfer capability
of the unified series-series controller, referred to as Interline Power Flow Controller, makes it possible to
balance both the real and reactive power flow in the lines and there by maximize the utilization of the
transmission system. Note that the term "unified" here means that the dc terminals of all controller
converters are all connected together for real power transfer.
iv. Combined Series-Shunt Controllers: This could be a combination of separate shunt and series
controllers, which are controlled in a coordinated manner or a Unified Power Flow Controller with
series and shunt elements. In principle, combined shunt and series controllers inject current into the
system with the shunt part of the controller and voltage in series in the line with the series part of the
controller. However, when the shunt and series controllers are unified, there can be a real power
exchange between the series and shunt controllers via the power link.
FACTs devices can also be categorized into three generations based on their technical properties.
First generation:
i. Static var compensator SVC
ii. Thyristor controlled series compensator TCSC
iii. Thyristor controlled phase shifter TCPS

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Second generation:
i. Static synchronous compensator STATCOM
ii. Static synchronous series compensator SSSC
Third generation:
i. Unified power flow controller UPFC
ii. Inter line power flow controller IPFC
2.4.1 Static Var compensator (SVC)
Static var compensator (SVC) is an electric device that can continuously provide the reactive power
required to control dynamic voltage oscillations under various system conditions and thereby improve
the power system quality of transmission and distribution stability (Zhang et al, 2006). It can also
increase transfer capabilities and reduce losses while maintaining a smooth voltage profile under
different network conditions when installed in one or more suitable points in the network. SVC is
primarily designed to draw the system much closer to unity power factor. The SVC uses reactors in the
form of thyristor controlled to absorb VARs from the system if the power system’s reactive load is
capacitive in nature thereby minimizes the system voltage. SVC under inductive load, the capacitor
banks are switched on thereby increases the system voltage.
Critical observation shows that SVC controls can greatly affect nonlinear system behavior especially
under high stress operating conditions.
2.4.2 Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC)
Thyristor controlled series compensator controllers were applied using capacitor segments of series
capacitor bank in parallel with thyristor controlled reactor. The mixture of capacitor bank and thyristor
controlled reactor permits the capacitive reactance to be controlled without stress on a long distance and
can be switched when instructed to a situation where two bi-directional thyristor conduct progressively
and in turn incorporate an inductive reactance into the system (Hingorani and Gyugyi, 2000). As the first
generation of FACTs, TCSC could regulate the line impedance by the application of thyristor controlled
capacitor in series with the transmission line. The problems of dynamic stability, voltage stability,
steady state stability and transient stability on a wide range of transmission line can be effectively and
economically solved by the application of TCSC. As a series controlled capacitive reactance, TCSC can
make available consistence control of power on an AC line over a long distance. The activity of TCSC
can be understood by examining the response of a variable inductor connected in series with a fixed
capacitor.
2.4.3 Thyristor Controlled Phase Shifter (TCPS)
The Phase shift angle was determined as a non linear function on rotor and speed in a TCPS control
technique to provide a rapidly variable phase angle (Hingorani and Gyugyi, 2000). In general, phase
shifting is obtained by adding a perpendicular voltage vector in series with a phase.
2.4.4 Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)
STATCOM is a device used for regulating alternating current on the transmission lines. It depends on
power electronics voltage source converter which can act either as sink or source of reactive AC power
to an electrical network. Active AC power can be achieved when connected to a power source. The
introduction of FACTs devices particularly gate turn on (GTO) thyristor-based STATCOM has enable
such technology to be proposed as competitive alternatives to conventional (Nabavi and Iravani, 1996).
Installation of STATCOM is done to correct electrical network with poor power factor and also poor
voltage regulation which in turn stabilizes the voltage. Comparatively STATCOM provides desirable
damping characteristics than SVC as it has the capability to transiently exchange active power with the
system (Usman, et al, 2013), (Mustafa et al, 2013).
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2.4.5 Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC)

This is a FACTS device that is connected in series to transmission line through a transformer and with
voltage source conversion capability. The principle arrangement of the device appears same as that of
STATCOM. This is an energy source that balances the losses of VSC and provide continues voltage
through a condenser. An injected voltage could be controlled both in magnitude and phase if there is an
enough energy source for the purpose. For reactive power balancing it is only the voltage that is
controllable since the voltage vector form 900 with the line intensity (Hingorani and Gyugyi, 2000).
However, SSSC is capable of exchanging active and reactive power with the transmission system and it
aims at balancing the reactive power through the energy source could be absolutely small. Moreover, the
serial injected voltage can be deferred/progresses the line current which implies that the SSSC can be
controlled all together with any given value within VSC working aperture.
2.4.6 Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)
The Most liable device within the FACTs family is the unified power flow controller because it has the
capability of adjusting the controllable parameters, namely (Nabavi-Niaki and Iravani, 1996):-
i. Phase angle
ii. bus voltage
iii. the transmission line reactance across two buses, either independent or in a simultaneous
condition.
It carries out this function by regulating the quadrature voltage, in-phase voltage and shunt
compensation (Alisha and Kaushik, 2011). The greatest UPFC was invented for dynamic compensation
and real-time control of AC transmission systems which provides several function needed to tackle
numerous challenges in the power industries.
In the underlying structure of 20th centaury power transmission philosophy, it is able to control, select,
or simultaneously cover all the variables distorting power flow in transmission line. In another
perspective UPFC can independently influence the real and reactive power flow in the transmission line
different from the remaining FACTs controllers. Lastly, UPFC is the largest and complicated power
electronic device that has become apparent for the control and optimization of power flow on the
transmission line of electrical power system.

Figure 2: Configuration of UPFC

2.4.7 Inter-line Power Flow Controller (IPFC)
IPFC is the most recently introduced controller among the FACTs controller devices. The aim of IPFC
is to control power flows in multiple transmission line other than control of power flow on a single
transmission line like UPFC (Rao et al, 2014). Its application comes into play if the power flows of two
transmission lines emanating from one sub-station desired to be controlled. IPFC combines two or more
static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) that are joined through an ordinary dc link which eases
bi-directional flow of real power across the ac terminals of SSSCs and are controlled to give individual
reactive compensation for the alteration of real power flow in separate line and to enable the desired
distribution of reactive power flow within the lines (Zhang et al, 2006).
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2.5 Network Connection Categories

Series controller has varying impedance as a condenser coil, and a typical example of such controller is
series synchronous static compensator (SSSC). The mode of operation of series controllers is to
introduce a serial tension transmission system, where any voltage which passes through it acts as the
series tension. Whereas the tension is in 90° phase shift with system current and the series controller
only absorbs reactive power (VAR) (Bisen and Shrivastava, 2013). Therefore, all other phase angles
other than reactive power are represented by management of active power.

2.5.1 Shunt Controllers

Shunt controller can be composed of variable impedance and also variable source or their combination.
The major aim of the shunt controllers is to allow current into the transmission system at the point of
connection connecting variable impedance across the line tension will allow the current flow to be
varied which acts as a current injected to the transmission system. Whereas the injected current is in 90 °
phase shift with line tension, the shunt controller allow utilizes the reactive power (VAR), where by any
other phase angle other than reactive power, acts by the management of active power and static
synchronous compensation (STATCOM) is a typical example of such a controller (Gotham and Heydt,
1998).

2.5.2 Series – Series Controllers

The typical example of such a controller is Inter-line power flow compensator (IPFC) with the capability
of combining a multiple coordinated series controllers in a transmission line. It is also a unified power
flow controller where by the series controllers gives serial reactive compensation for each of the
transmission system there by changing active power within the system line (Del Rosso et al., 2003). The
maximum active power transmission which gives a line power flow controller or unified power flow
controller, balance the active and reactive power flow, hence causes the broad use of transmission
system (Akhilesh et al, 2011). For this reason the terminal of the Direct Current converters which
constitute all the controllers to be joined to accomplish a transfer of active power across each other is
term unified.
2.5.3 Series – Shunt Controllers
The device is a combination of series and shunt controllers that are separated and controlled. The
fundamental process of the series – shunt controllers is to introduce current to the transmission system
via the shunt component of the controller and the series tension with the transmission system makes use
of the series component (Abdellatif et al, 2008). If the series and shunt controllers are unified, there may
be a transfer of active power across them. A typical example of such controller is unified power flow
controller (UPFC).
2.6 Incorporation of Facts Controllers in Steady State and Quality Enhancement of Power System
This review will be incomplete without an overview of the incorporation of FACTS Controllers to
different steady State power system problems like application of FACTS Controller to optional power
flow and deregulated electricity market will be reviewed.
2.6.1 Use of FACTS Controllers for Optional Power Flow
At the beginning of 21st century a lot of research has been made for finding solution to solve optional
power flow problem using assorted FACTS Controllers (Gotham and Heydt, 1998). Meanwhile, FACTS
Controller like IPFC, SSSC and VSC- Based are series and are intricate, STATCOM which are shut
could be more complicated and normally (Yu, 1983), (Nabavi and Iravani, 1996), (Noroozian and
Andersson, 1993) and (Gyugyiet al, 1999) designed as Controllable origin. Power flow studies include
the use of thyristor Controlled FACTs devices which include SVC and TCSC and are normally designed
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for the control of line impedance (Gotham and Heydt, 1998), (Gyugyiet al, 1999), (Li et al, 2000),
(Hanson et al, 2002), (Acha et al, 2000), (Del Rosso et al., 2003), and (Bisen and Shrivastava, 2013).
Lastly, optional power flow can be regulated through multiple transmission line by the application of
Interline power flow controller (IPFC), particularly voltage source converter (VSC).

2.6.2 Use of FACTS in Deregulated Electricity Market

It is obvious that electricity retailing is passing through privatization and without restriction thereby
creating an atmosphere for private sectors and customer choice, presently demand for electricity is on
astronomical growth which does not involve any support to increase power system transmission.
In most cases the widening of electricity supply industries are coming up with recent innovation into the
power system generation, transmission and distribution which are all associated to electricity market.
FACTS controllers therefore when properly harnessed will bring down the divers losses incurred in a
transmission system to improve the stability in the system for easy flow of electrical power.

3.Conclusion
Based on all that has been described on FACTS Controllers so far, FACTS Controllers have ability to
enhance transmission system stability which is the major concern for economic operation and quality
delivery of power system.
Major constraints militating against the smooth flow of power systems as well as the classification of
FACTS devices have been discussed.
Particular functions of each FACTS Controller as well as damping characteristics have been looked into.
Without any doubt FACTS Controller based technology through the application of semi conduction
devices has created a feature section for quality generation, transmission, distribution and consumption
of electrical power easily accessible with minimal losses. The similarities between conventional method
and FACTS Controllers and its advantages as well as types of connection were presented.

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