IEEE ISGT Asia 2013 1569805245

Significance of CSR in Smart

Transmission(EHV/UHV) Planning
G.Vamshi Krishna Kartheek

V.Satya Narasimham Arava

I. Siva Subrahmanyam

Power Research & Development

Consultants (P). Ltd., Bangalore, India
gvamsikrishnak@gmail.com

Power Research & Development

Consultants (P). Ltd., Bangalore, India
narasimhamarava@hotmail.com

Power Research & Development

Consultants (P). Ltd., Bangalore, India
sivasubbu211988@gmail.com

lines can be further loaded. The reactive power drawl from

EHV network is restricted to avoid under voltages in the
transmission network. But if the fixed shunt reactors are
replaced by thyristor switchable reactors the power transfer
capability of the lines can further be improved till 80% of the
thermal limit without any constraint. Additionally the CSR [13] has got many advantages like reducing the losses in lines,
improving voltage stability in the network, improving network
loading limits etc. CSR has got its own payback period of 2.5
years with reduced losses.

AbstractThis paper discusses about the significance of FACTS

devices like Controlled Shunt Reactor (CSR) in EHV network
planning. A special case study analysis is presented to
demonstrate the operation advantages with CSR to effectively
utilize the transmission network and thereby avoiding the
requirement of construction of new lines in parallel to existing
transmission lines.
Index TermsEHV network, Transmission planning, FACTS,
operation.

I.

In this paper a case study is presented to demonstrate the

significance of Controlled Shunt Reactor (CSR) in
transmission planning. An EHV network is considered for
studies with base case load generation balance. Transmission
planning is performed on this network with two cases. One
case is with network planning as per Manual on Transmission
Planning Criteria [4] and the other case is with network
planning as per Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria [4]
with consideration of possible planning of CSR in the network
planning. All the studies are performed in Professional
computer aided power system analysis software-MiPower [5].
The network layout drawn in MiGUI [5] is shown in Figure 6.

INTRODUCTION

In a developing nation like India the transmission

infrastructure growth plays crucial role in nations growth.
The establishment of large power plants needs huge
investments and long term plan. Backing generation of such a
plant due to network constraints is not acceptable to the plant
inverters and also from the prospective of national growth. In
the case of renewable generation like wind, solar, hydro, etc.,
being the cheapest kind of power, the operator should
prioritize their utilization over other sources. When the load is
shed due to the network constraints it will be very difficult for
industrial growth. Construction of a long transmission line
will takes years of time with lot of skilled labour. These
practical constraints can cause the delay in establishment of
transmission network connectivity for newly established
power plants, industries, etc.

II.

NETWORK DETAILS

An EHV network is modeled with similarities to Indian

grid system. The network is modeled with six different
regions. Five regions are named as region 1, region 2, region
3, region 4, region 5 and region 6. Region 6 is represented in
detailed with 25 buses. Other regions are represented with
equivalent buses such that the export and import of the main
region from other regions will be imperative. All the regions
are mainly connected to the region 6. Region 1 is in west,
region 2 is in east, region 3, 4 are in south and region 5 (a
small far away island) in north. So finally the network analysis
will be based on the present network (Region 6) conditions
with export and import from other regions as constraints on
the present network. As there are some interconnections
between these regions the constraints imposed for export
/import to/from other regions will be depending on those
interconnections. Base case network layout is shown in Figure
1. 2930 circuit kilometers of 400 kV interstate transmission
corridor is considered in the study. Export/import details are
shown in Table-1. Load generation balance is shown in TableII. The network details (only of Region 6) are as shown below.

Many times the existing transmission network is under

loaded, but the network constraints cause congestion problem,
stability issue, etc. In many cases new lines will be planned in
parallel to the existing line even though the existing line is
loaded below 30-40%. This is done for improving low
voltages, angular stability constraint, and network constraint.
In other cases the upcoming planned lines will be at very high
demand due to growth prospective requirement. But the
present lines will be either 50% loaded or operated at low
voltage due to the high power flow.
An EHV transmission line will be having fixed shunt
reactors connected at both the ends to avoid surges under fault,
switching and high voltages in light loaded conditions. In
India it is common practice to connect 60% of line charging
susceptance as line reactors. These connected reactors will be
avoiding high voltages at light load conditions, but causes low
voltages in normal/peak load conditions. This constraint forces
the EHV planners to limit the EHV loaded limit at 50-60% of
its thermal limit. If this loading limit is extended the EHV

No. of buses: 25 (excluding other region buses, four 11kV, six

220kV, twelve 400kV, three 765kV buses)

No. of transformers: 68 (1500MVA, 765/400kV units,

315MVA, 400/220kV units, 600MVA 220/11kV units of
transformers)
750 MW

150 km

Total shunt reactors: 4360 MVAr

Total shunt capacitance: 2000 MVAr

150 km

150 km

200 km

120 km

400 km
400 km

800 MW

B-410

800 MW

100 km

750 MW

B-410

765 kV
400 kV

1X50
MVAr

3600
MW

150 km

B-403

5X50
MVAr

Region
1

120 km

Export (MW)
2359.64
567.61
2000
4927.25

1X50
MVAr

2X50
MVAr

750 MW

8X240
MVAr

2500 MW

2X240
MVAr
2X50
MVAr

B-701

2X50
MVAr

1X50
MVAr

4X240
MVAr

100 km

700 MW

B-407
600 MW

4000 MW

765 kV
400 kV

200 km

210 km

B-406

Region
4

B-409

B-410
2X50
MVAr

100 km

Region
2

800 MW

B-702

2X50
MVAr

B-405

1500
MW

150 km

150 km

B-700

IMPORT/EXPORT DETAILS

Import (MW)
1459.24
1537.23
2996.47

2X50
MVAr

B-401

400 km

495 km

3000 3500
MW MW

B-400

400 km

400 MW

B-404

Sl.No
To
1
Region-1
2
Region-2
3
Region-3
4
Region-4
5
Region-4
Total (MW)

495 km

HVDC
2000
MW

Figure 1. Network layout of Basecase

TABLE I.

400 MW

B-408
300 km

765 kV
400 kV

5000
MW

Region
3

250 km

180 km

Region
4

200 km

210 km

100 km

5000
MW

Region
3

B-402
B-406

4000 MW

Figure 2. Network layout of planned case without considering CSR

4000 MW

B-405

B-409

100 km

175 km

400 km

100 km

750 MW

1X50
MVAr

Region
2

B-409

B-702
120 km

Region
2

600 MW

150 km

400 km

300 km

B-404

2X50
MVAr

2X50
MVAr

Region
4

2500 MW

B-701

1X50
MVAr

B-406

B-405

B-700

180 km

Region
1

3X240 MVAr

2X50
MVAr

600 MW

B-407

B-702

2X50
MVAr

750 MW

B-407

B-408

B-403

150 km

700 MW

200 km

HVDC
2000
MW

150 km

150 km

3X240 MVAr

200 km

B-401

B-401

1500
MW

B-408

B-701

210 km

150 km

250 km

700 MW

175 km

B-402

2X50
MVAr

B-404
1500
MW

2X50
MVAr

12X240 MVAr
2500 MW

400 km
400 km

Region
1

3000 3500
MW MW

B-400
HVDC
2000
MW

300 km

Total load: 15000 MW

3000 3500
MW MW

5X50
MVAr

B-700

180 km

Total generation capacity: 16600 MW

B-400

250 km

B-403

No. of shunt capacitors: 2 (1000MVAr)

750 MW

3600
MW

B-402

No. of bus and line reactors: 18 (240 MVAr), 20 (50 MVAr)

3600
MW

1X50
MVAr

13000.00 MW
4927.25 MW
302.00 MW
18229.25 MW

150 km

No. of transmission lines: 20 (1600 circuit kilometers of 765

kV, 5960 circuit kilometers of 400 kV of transmission
corridor)

Load
Export
Losses
Total Load

175 km

3
4
5

No. of loads: 10

200 km

No. of generators: 5

5000
MW

400 MW

Region
3

495 km

Figure 3. Network layout of planned case with considering CSR

TABLE II.

1
2

LOAD-GENERATION BALANCE

Generation
Import
Total generation

The present network is not satisfying n-1 contingency. So

to improve the security level of the network the transmission
network planning is taken up as per the Manual on
Transmission Planning Criteria [4]. The newly modelled
network is having additional lines in parallel so that the

15233.29 MW
2996.47 MW
18229.76 MW

network will satisfy the n-1 contingency criteria. As an

alternative to the establishment of new lines, replacement of
some of the selected reactors with thyristor switched reactors
is considered first in planning. Network layouts of the cases
without and with CSR are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3
respectively.

1500MW generation is backed in region 1. Some of the

interregional tie lines are over loaded and low voltage
conditions are observed. Import, Export details are
mentioned in Table-V. Monsoon light load is considered
as 70% of base load as per [4].

The base case network is planned as per the Manual on

Transmission Planning Criteria [4]. On planning the network
for satisfying the n-1 contingency criteria some new lines are
added to the network. These lines are two new 765kV lines
each of 400km, two new 400 kV lines each of 150km.The
additional assets required in the case of without CSR and with
CSR are tabulated and are given in Table-III
TABLE III.
Assert Type
Additional
Transmission
line
Reactors
Capacitors
CSR

TABLE V.

Sl.No
1
2
3
4
5

ADDITIONAL ASSETS REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF WITHOUT

CSR AND WITH CSR
Without CSR
800 circuit kilometers of
765 kV corridor
300 circuit kilometers of
400 kV corridor
765 kV-18240 MVAR
400 kV-450 MVAR
11000 MVAR
-

III.

765 kV-14240 MVAR

400 kV-450 MVAR

Export (MW)

Region-1

1458.41

Region-2

1541.53

Region-3

2848.28

Region-4

566.49

Region-5
Total (MW)

2000

2999.94

5414.77

Import (MW)

Export (MW)

Region-1

1460.12

Region-2

1606.43

Region-3

2431.3

Region-4

512.98

IV.

Region-5

2000

3066.55

4944.28

COMPARISON OF NETWORK PLANNING WITH AND

WITHOUT CSR

The observations on the network for different seasons with

CSR and without CSR are given below.
A. Summer Season:
Without CSR case: Due to the deficit of 1500 MW of power in
Region 3 congestion is observed in the Region 6 power
corridor. Due to these network constraints a load of 1000 MW
is forced to be shut down in Region 3. But the 765 kV lines, in
Region 6 (which is main transmission corridor) are loaded up
to 25% of their thermal rating.
With CSR case: Due to the deficit of 1500 MW of power in
Region 3 congestion is observed in the Region 6 power
corridor. Due to these network constraints a load of 500 MW
is forced to be shut down in Region 3. But the 765 kV lines, in
Region 6 (which is main transmission corridor) are loaded up
to 50% of their thermal rating and voltage at substation buses
are within acceptable limits.
B. Monsoon season:
Without CSR: The 400 kV transmission lines between buses
409-410 are overloaded and low voltages are observed in the
system. Hence the hydro generation in region 3 is backed

2.

2.

To

Total (MW)

IMPORT/EXPORT DETAILS

Import (MW)

IMPORT/EXPORT DETAILS

Sl.No

1. In summer season 1500MW generation in region 3 is not

available due to low hydro generation. So region 3 need
to import that additional 1500MW generation under peak
load condition. In this condition network could not meet
the loading conditions even though the lines are not over
loaded. Import, Export details are mentioned in Table-IV.
Summer peak load is considered as 100% of base load as
per [4].

To

Export (MW)
2632.57
593.82
2000
5226.39

In winter season under light load conditions, some part

of the network has observed load shedding and in some
parts generation is backed down. Import, Export details
are mentioned in Table-VI. Monsoon light load is
considered as 70% of base load as per [4].
TABLE VI.

The studies are performed on the network for various

scenarios in different seasons, with light load, peak load,
generation conditions, etc. some of the significant scenarios
are discussed in this paper. Region 1 & 2 has high wind
generation share. Region 3 has predominant hydro generation.
In some of the scenarios various congestion constraints are
superimposed on the network. The scenarios that cause
congestion in the network are explained below.

Sl.No

Import (MW)
2361.65
2477.23
4838.88
3.

3.

With CSR

DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

TABLE IV.

To
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
Region-5
Total (MW)

IMPORT/EXPORT DETAILS

In monsoon season due to high wind conditions an

additional power of 2320MW is available with region
1&2. So to meet the load generation balance the hydro
generation in region 3 is backed by 500MW. The net

down by 500 MW. It is also observed that the loading of 765

kV lines is less than 25%.
With CSR: The 400 kV transmission lines between buses 409410 are overloaded and low voltages are observed in the
system. Hence the hydro generation in region 3 is backed
down by 500 MW. It is also observed that the loading of 765
kV lines is less than 50%.

The voltage profile at the buses for the cases without and with
CSR is plotted and is shown in Figure 4. From the Figure-4 it
can be observed that in the case with CSR, the voltage levels
at the buses are improved in all the three scenarios of summer,
monsoon and winter. It is also observed that the voltages are
in the range of 0.97 pu to 1.02 pu in the case with CSR.
The percentage loading of the lines in various scenarios for the
cases without CSR and with CSR is plotted as shown in
Figure-5. It is observed that most of the transmission lines
could be loaded more with the installation of CSR as a
replacement to fixed shunt reactors. This means that the
effective utilization of the network asserts is improved with
the consideration of CSR planning. As this is a small network
many benefits are unexplored and the extent of optimization is
not foreseen. For a practical big network the advantages and
economy will be more than the observations given in this
paper.

C. Winter season:
Without CSR: It is observed the loading of lines and voltages
at substations are within the acceptable limits. It is also
observed that the 765 kV corridor is loaded less than 25% of
its thermal rating.
With CSR: It is observed the loading of lines and voltages at
substations are within the acceptable limits.

The following are observed from the case studies without

CSR,
I.
Due to changing geographic load-generation pattern
congestion is observed in some parts of network due
to which load-shedding/generation back down is
forced.
II.
765 kV corridor is not loaded more than 30% of its
thermal rating in normal condition. Under n-1
contingency condition the loading will be less than
50% of its thermal limit.
III.
Low voltages are observed in monsoon scenario.
Uneven voltage profile is observed.
The following are observed from the case studies with CSR,
I.
Transmission corridor is utilized to better extent in
the case modelled with CSRs rather than the case
without CSR.
II.
The requirement of new 800 circuit kilometers of 765
kV and 300 circuit kilometers of 400 kV corridors is
avoided in this case.
III.
The generation is reduced to 500 MW compared to
1000 MW in the case of without CSR case in
summer scenario.
With the above observed advantages and benefits it can be
claimed that the consideration of CSR in EHV/UHV network
planning will avoid the need to new lines and reduce the
generation back down, load shedding due to network
constraints.

Figure 4. Voltage profile maintained in the cases without CSR (red color),
with CSR (blue color) for the three scenarios of summer, monsoon and
winter.

V.

CONCLUSIONS

The consideration of possible planning of CSR in

transmission planning criteria will help in avoiding
commissioning of new lines, installing additional capacitors
and also in improving voltage stability & network
controllability. This kind of planning criteria can help to speed
up the infrastructure growth at national level. Especially in the
present situation of insufficient power corridor this can be
helpful. We propose this kind of transmission network
planning for realizing green power corridor as a part of Smart
Grid.

Figure 5. Percentage loading of lines in the cases without CSR (red color)
and with CSR (blue color) for the three scenarios of summer, monsoon and
winter.

Figure 6. Network layout drawn in MiGUI for simulation studies in Mipower.

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