Jyoti Agrawal et al.

/ International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF
THYRISTOR CONTROLLED REACTOR
(TCR) AND GTO CONTROLLED
SERIES CAPACITOR (GCSC)
JYOTI AGRAWAL
Department of Electrical Engineering (M-Tech IV SEM IPS), G.H.Raisoni College Of Engineering, Nagpur
Nagpur, India
jyotingp7777@gmail.com

K.D.JOSHI
Department of Electrical Engineering, G.H.Raisoni College Of Engineering, Nagpur
Nagpur, India
kdjoshi22@gmail.com

Dr. V. K. CHANDRAKAR
GHRIETW, Nagpur
Nagpur, India

Abstract:
This paper deals with the simulation of Thyristor controlled reactor (TCR) and GTO Controlled Series
Capacitor (GCSC), equipment for controlled series compensation of transmission systems. The paper also
presents experimental results of a TCR and GCSC connected to a single-phase system. The experiments are
carried out in the FACTS lab of electrical engineering department. The TCR system is simulated using
MATLAB and the simulation results are presented. The power and control circuits are simulated. The current
drawn by the TCR varies with the variation in the firing angle. Stepped variation of current can be obtained
using thyristor switched reactor. The simulation results are compared with the theoretical and practical results.
Harmonics and its impact on the system are presented. This paper also presents the GCSC, its main components,
principal of operation, typical waveforms and main applications. Duality of the GCSC with the well known
thyristor controlled reactor is also discussed in this paper.
Keywords: FACTS; TCR; GCSC; harmonics; single phase power line analyser; MATLAB.

1. Introduction
A FACTS technology is not a single high-power Controller, but rather a collection of Controller, which can be
applied individually or in coordination with others to control one or more of the interrelated system parameters.
By means of controlling impedance or phase angle or series injection of appropriate voltage a FACTS
Controller can control the power flow as required. This project is based on FACTS technology. TCR is gaining
popularity as a method of voltage control. The basic elements of a TCR are a reactor in series with a
bidirectional thyristor. This paper focuses on the Thyristor Controlled Reactor. The current in the reactor L can
be controlled from a maximum (thyristor valve closed) to zero (thyristor valve open) by the method of firing
delay angle control. The TCR produces harmonic currents because thyristors only allow conduction in the
reactor for a portion of the cycle.
Harmonic current magnitudes vary as the firing angle of the thyristor is varied. Series compensation of
power transmission lines is a useful tool to improve the power transfer capability. In power systems where large
amounts of power must be transmitted through long transmission lines, sometimes it is necessary to add series
compensation, in order to improve system performance. Several FACTS controllers for shunt, series or both
shunt and series compensation are now operating in power systems around the world.
In practical applications, the GCSC would be used typically for EHV transmission lines compensation,
requiring high voltage GTO valves. Therefore, these valves should consist of several GTO devices connected in
series. Fortunately, the GCSC is a zero voltage switching (ZVS) equipment, that is, the GTOs always fire and

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block at zero voltage. Hence, the series connection of the GTOs is not difficult. This device continuously
regulates the capacitor voltage. By controlling turn-off delay angle γ, one can continuously vary the impedance
of the GCSC. The waveforms of the GCSC are similar to those of the well-known thyristor controlled reactor
(TCR). The GCSC is the dual circuit of the thyristor controlled reactor (TCR). The use of this analogy simplifies
the analysis, modeling and understanding of this equipment. In TCR the control was done by the firing angle
and in the GCSC it is done by the blocking angle. The GCSC is the natural solution for series compensation as
well as the TCR is the natural solution for shunt compensation. Also, the GCSC may be the simplest and lowest
cost solution for line impedance control. This paper presents the waveform of capacitor voltage Vc.

2. Basic operations of TCR and GCSC

2.1. Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR)

The circuit of TCR system is shown in fig 1 a. The thyristor-controlled reactor consists of a reactor in series
with two parallel inverse thyristors. The two inverse parallel thyristors are gated symmetrically. They control
the time for which the reactor conducts and thus control the fundamental component of the current. The
thyristors conduct on alternate half-cycles of the supply frequency depending on the firing angle α or conduction
angle σ, which is measured from a zero crossing of voltage. The relation between firing angle and conduction
angle is given by equation (1):
σ = 2(π − α) (1)
Full conduction is obtained with a firing angle of 0º. Under this condition, the current is reactive and its
waveform is purely sinusoidal. There is a partial conduction between 0º and 90º as shown in figure 1b. When
the firing angle α increases from 0º to 90º, the waveform of the current goes away from the original sinusoidal
form. For the condition of balanced loading, TCR produces odd harmonics. However, TCR circuits should not
be operated at points near resonance as they would generate conditions causing effective harmonic production.
The current in the reactor can be expressed as
iL(t)=V/ωL (sin ωt- sin α) (2)
The term (V/ωL) sinα is an α dependent constant.

Fig 1.a. Circuit of TCR

V is the input AC source. TCR is realized using inductor and anti-parallel switch.

Fig 1.b. Waveform of current in TCR with Alpha=72º

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2.2. GTO Controlled Series Capacitor (GCSC)

The circuit of GCSC system is shown in fig 2 a. It consists of a fixed capacitor in parallel with a bidirectional
switch made up of a pair of GTO thyristor. In contrast to a thyristor, a GTO thyristor can be turned off upon
command. A GCSC is a dual of a TCR which is connected across a voltage source which is assumed to be
sinusoidal. The objective of the GCSC scheme is to control the voltage Vc across the capacitor at a given line
current i. When the GTO valve is closed the voltage across the capacitor is zero, and when the valve is open, the
voltage across the capacitor is maximum. For controlling the capacitor voltage, the closing and the opening of
the valve is carried out in each half-cycle in synchronism with the ac system frequency. If the GTO’s are kept
turned-on all the time, the capacitor C is bypassed and it does not present any compensation effect. However, if
the GTO’ are turned-off once per cycle, at a given blocking angle γ counted from the zero-crossings of the line
current, the capacitor turns alternately on and off, in series with the transmission line, and a voltage Vc appears.
The level of series compensation is given by the fundamental component of the capacitor voltage Vc. This level
may be varied by controlling the blocking angle γ of the semiconductor switches. When the opening of the valve
is delayed by the angle γ with respect to the crest of the line current, the capacitor voltage can be expressed with
a defined line current, given by equation (3)
i(t) = I/ωC (sin ωt-sin γ) (3)
The term I/ωCsin γ is simply a γ dependent constant by which the sinusoidal voltage obtained at γ = 0. The turn-
off delay angle γ defines the prevailing blocking angle given by equation (4)
ζ=π-2γ (4)
As the turn-off delay angle γ increases, the correspondingly increasing offset results in the reduction of the
blocking angle ζ of the valve, and the consequent reduction of the capacitor voltage. At the maximum delay of γ
= π/2, the offset also reaches its maximum of I/ωC at which both the blocking angle and the capacitor voltage
becomes zero.

Fig 2 a. Circuit of GTO-Controlled Series Capacitor

3. Simulation Results for the TCR

The simulation was done by writing the program in Matlab version 7.2 and the results are presented here. The
ILF(α), normalized to the maximum current ILFmax is plotted against delay angle α as shown in Fig 3.
The amplitude ILF(α) of the fundamental reactor current can be expressed as
ILF(α) =V/ωL (1-2α/π - sin 2α/π) (5)

Fig 3. Amplitude variation of the fundamental TCR current with the delay angle α

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3.1. Description of Single Phase Power Line Analyser

Single phase power line analyser consists of input AC source, transmission line model, static var compensator
configuration like thyristor switched capacitor (TSC), thyristor controlled reactor (TCR), thyristor switched
series capacitor (TSSC) and GTO controlled series capacitor (GCSC) and display meter section. Static var
configuration model set up had provided the variac for controlling the voltage of the thyristorized controller.
The variac output voltage can be adjusted by changing the increment and decrement switch which is given to the
thyristorized and GTO controller. SCR pulse controller is placed to give firing pulse for the thyristor which is
connected through the 9 pin pulse connector. Each and every controller function can be analysed individually,
for the firing pulses that are taken from the digital pulse controller. Some functional keys are provided in the
digital pulse controller which is explained below.
▲ - Selection and increment function
- Selection and decrement function
▼
◄► - Cursor movement

- Enter key

- Reset

Transmission line model is connected with TCR. The single phase resistive load of 220.6 Ω is connected with
transmission line output terminals. Input voltage can be varied by using the increment and decrement voltage
adjustment Knob. Firing pulses can be varied from the digital controller.

3.2. Front panel diagram of TCR

Using the front panel diagram that is single phase power line Analyser as shown in fig 4, the results obtained on
Digital Oscilloscope are presented here. The current through TCR with α=0º is shown in fig 5a. The through
TCR with α=70º is shown in fig 5b.

Fig 4. Front Panel Diagram of TCR

Fig 5.b. Waveform of current in TCR with α=70º

Fig 5.a. Waveform of current in TCR with α=0º

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4. Simulation Results for the GCSC

4.1. Front panel diagram of GCSC

Using the front panel diagram of GCSC that is single phase power line Analyser as shown in fig 6, the results
obtained on Digital Oscilloscope are presented here. The voltage across the capacitor at different ON and OFF
angle are shown in Fig 7.

Fig 6. Front Panel Diagram of GCSC

Fig7a. Waveform of voltage across capacitor Vc at Fig7b. Waveform of voltage across capacitor Vc at
αON = 0ºαOFF = 180º αON = 10ºαOFF = 170º

Fig 7a shows that the GTO’s are turned ON at αON = 0º and turned OFF at αOFF = 180º that is the GTO’s are
kept turned-on all the time, the capacitor C is bypassed and it does not present any compensation effect whereas
when the opening of the valve is delayed by the angle γ and the GTO’s are turned ON at αON = 10º and turned
OFF at αOFF = 170º the waveform of voltage across capacitor is shown in Fig 7b

Fig7c. Waveform of voltage across capacitor Vc at Fig7.d. Waveform of voltage across capacitor Vc at
αON = 90ºαOFF = 130 αON = 30ºαOFF = 150º

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5. Harmonics in TCR
Harmonics that arise from the interaction of thyristor controlled reactors (TCRs) and power systems can
sometimes cause stability problems. The stability problems are hard to analyse since the harmonics are affected
by the power system. TCR in addition to the wanted fundamental current also generates harmonics. For identical
positive and negative half–cycles, only odd harmonics are generated. The amplitudes of these are a function of
angle α , as expressed by the equation 6
ILn(α)=V4/ωLπ{(sinαcos(nα)-ncosαsin(nα))/(n(n^2-1))} (6)
The simulation was done by writing the program in Matlab version 7.2 and the results are presented here. The
amplitude variation of the harmonics, expressed as percent of the maximum fundamental current is shown
plotted against α in Fig 8

Fig 8. Amplitudes of the harmonic components in the current of the TCR versus delay angle α

6. Effect of TCR on Transmission voltage

Test results for with and without TCR are recorded in Table1 and Table2. Here Vs stands for Sending end
voltage, VR stands for Receiving end voltage, VM for Midpoint voltage, IL for Load current. Table2 shows the
values of current and voltage at different firing angles. By definition reactors (inductors) absorbs reactive power
when connected to an ac power source. The main objective of applying reactive shunt compensation in a
transmission system is to increase the transmittable power. This is required to improve the steady-state
transmission characteristics as well as the stability of the system. Fast reactive compensation can increase the
performance of line. TCR being a power electronics based device, can provide variable reactive power in
fraction of a second. Here from the test results tabulated below we can observe that when TCR is ON as shown
in Table2 (reading 1) the TCR conducts current over full 180º resulting in maximum inductive var output
absorbed by the fully conducting reactor. With the increase in firing angle VM and VR goes on increasing. When
the thyristor is off i.e. firing angle is 90º VM and VR is maximum as shown in Table2 (reading 5). A basic var
arrangement consisting of a fixed capacitor with a thyristor controlled reactor (FC-TCR) is generally used. The
constant capacitive var generation (Qc) of the fixed capacitor is opposed by the variable var absorption (QL) of
the thyristor controlled reactor, to yield the total var output (Q) required. At the maximum capacitive var output,
the thyristor controlled reactor is off (α=90º). To decrease the capacitive output, the current in the reactor is
increased by decreasing the firing angle α. At zero var output, the capacitive and the inductive currents become
equal and thus the capacitive and inductive vars cancels out. With further decrease of angle α, the inductive
current becomes larger than the capacitive current, resulting in the net inductive var output.

Table 1. Test results for without TCR

Sr.no Without TCR
Vs (Volts) VM (volts) VR (Volts) IL (amp)
1. 100 87 80 0.1

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Table 2. Test results for with TCR

Sr.no With TCR
Vs (Volts) VM (Volts) VR (Volts) Firing angle α (º) IL (amp)
1. 100 18 15 10 0.03
2. 100 33 36 30 0.06
3. 100 52 56 50 0.07
4. 100 68 69 70 0.09
5. 100 80 74 90 0.1

7. Operating V-I Area of TCR

A practical TCR can be operated anywhere in a defined V-I area, the boundaries of which are determined by its
maximum attainable admittance, voltage and currents ratings as illustrated in Fig 9. The admittance as a
function of angle α can be written directly from
BL(α) = 1/ (ωL){1-((2α)/π)-(Sin2α/π)} (7)
The test results for variation in voltage and current with fixed firing angle is recorded in Table 3. Using these
test results V-I area for TCR is obtained in the Matlab for two different firing angle i.e. at α=80º and α=65º as
shown in fig 9.
45

40

35 alpha=80(deg)
VL

30
alpha=65(deg)

25

20
0.02 0.022 0.024 0.026 0.028 0.03 0.032 0.034 0.036 0.038 0.04
IL
Fig 9. Operating V-I area of the TCR

Table 3. Test results for variation in voltage and current

with fixed firing angle
Sr.no Firing angle α (º) VTCR (Volts) ITCR (Amp)
25 0.04
1. 0 35 0.08
50 0.13
84 0.17
35 0.02
2. 65 65 0.03
98 0.04
45 0.01
3. 80 68 0.03
98 0.05
45 0.01
4. 90 70 0.02
85 0.06

8. Duality with the thyristor controlled reactor

One interesting feature of the GCSC is that its operation is exactly the dual of the well-known thyristor
Controlled reactor (TCR), used for shunt compensation. In fact, one may easily observe that the voltage

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waveform of the GCSC is similar to current waveforms of the TCR. Table1 shows a comparison between the
dual characteristics of both equipment.

Table 4. Dual characteristics of the GCSC and the TCR

Gate Controlled Series Capacitor (GCSC)
1) Semiconductor switches in parallel with a capacitor.
2) Supplied by a current source.
3) Series voltage Vc at a given line current is
Controlled.
4) Connected in series with the transmission line.
5) Voltage controlled by switches blocking angle.
6) Switches fire and block with zero voltage.
Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR)
1) Semiconductor switches in series with a reactor.
2) Supplied by a voltage source.
3) Shunt current at a given line voltage is
controlled
4) Connected in shunt with the transmission line.
5) Current controlled by switches firing angle.
6) Switches fire and block with zero current.

9. Prospective Applications
The GCSC could be typically used in applications where a TCSC is used today, mainly in the control of power
flow and damping of power oscillations. The GCSC may operate with an open loop configuration, where it
would simply control its reactance, or in closed loop, controlling power flow or current in the line, or
maintaining a constant compensation voltage. Power Oscillation Damping scheme may also be easily attainable
with the GCSC.

10. Conclusion
The characteristic performance of thyristor controlled reactor and GTO Controlled Series Capacitor circuit
has been studied using single phase power line analyser and Matlab version 7.2. The performance of TCR was
found to be highly dependent on the Firing angle of the TCR. It was found that as the firing angle increases,
results in the consequent reduction of the reactor current. TCR has the ability to ensure a continuous and fast
reactive power and voltage control which can increase the performance of the system such as control of
transients over voltages at power frequency, preventing of voltage collapse, increase in transient stability and
decrease in system. This paper also presented a equipment for controllable series compensation of transmission
lines: Gate Controlled Series Capacitor (GCSC). Emphasis is given to the fact that the GCSC is the dual device
of the Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR). GCSC is more compact, with lesser passive component: it does not
need reactors and its capacitor bank is much smaller. The waveform obtained on the digital oscilloscope
demonstrate the operating principles of the GCSC. The performance of GCSC was found to be highly dependent
on the turn-off delay angle of the GCSC. It was found that as the turn-off delay angle γ increases, the
correspondingly increasing offset results in the reduction of the blocking angle ζ of the valve, and the
consequent reduction of the capacitor voltage. GCSC can be used effectively to provide a fast and continuous
compensation of the line impedance.

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