Improvements in Voltage Control and Dynamic Performance of Power Transmission Systems Using Static VAR Compensators (SVC)

Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) controllers, such as the Static Var Compensator (SVC), employ the latest technology of power electronic switching devices in electric power transmission systems to control voltage and powerflow, and improve short-term voltage stability.Given a profit-driven, deregulated electric power industry coupled with increased load growth, the power transmission infrastructure is being stressed to its upper operating limits to achieve maximum economic returns to both generator and transmission system owners. In such an environment, system stability problems such as inadequate voltage control and system instability must be resolved in the most cost-effective manner to improve overall grid security and reliability.Static Var Compensators are being increasingly applied in electric transmission systems to economically improve voltage control and post-disturbance recovery voltages that can lead to system instability. An SVC provides such system improvements and benefits by controlling shunt reactive power sources, both capacitive and inductive, with state-of-the-art power electronic switching devices. This thesis will discuss and demonstrate how SVC has successfully been applied to control transmission systems dynamic performance for system disturbances and effectively regulate system voltage. System and SVC modeling will also be discussed