THE HONG KONG

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY_________________________________________________ ___

Department of Electrical Engineering

CHAPTER 5 POWER ELECTRONICS FOR UTILITY APPLICATIONS

5.1. Power Electronics Revolution in Utility Applications

In recent years, as semiconductor devices have improved in their voltage and current handling
capabilities, new applications of power electronics in power systems are being investigated. Their major
applications include:
- Reactive Power Control & Compensation - Active Power Control & Compensation
- Voltage Control - Current Control
- Oscillations damping - Improvement of Power System Stability
- High Voltage DC Transmission System - AC Systems Interconnection
(HVDC) (Different Frequencies and/or Phases)
- Active Harmonic Filtering - Distributed Electrical Energy Generation
(Renewable Energy)

5.2. Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) is a power electronic based system with other static
equipment providing control of one or more AC transmission system parameters to enhance
controllability and increase power transfer capability. This technology increases the reliability of AC
grids and reduce power delivery costs. Transmission quality and efficiency of power transmission can
be improved by supplying inductive or reactive power to the grid.

FACTS use series and/or shunt compensation techniques with the power electronic based controllers to
improve the power quality of the power transmission. In general, there are FOUR types of FACTS
power electronic based controllers. They are:
- Series Controllers
- Shunt Controllers
- Combined Series-series Controllers
- Combined Series-shunt Controllers

5.2.1. Series FACTS Controllers

Fig. 5.1 shows a series FACTS controller connected

in series with a power line. This type of FACTS Line
controllers is power electronic based with variable
impedance characteristic from its internal capacitors
or reactors, acting as a variable source of main Fig. 5.1. One-line diagram of
frequency, subsynchronous and harmonic frequencies a series FACTS controller
(or a combination) to serve the desired need. It injects variable voltage in series with the line to
implement power compensation. The injected voltage is varied by the variable impedance multiplied by
the series current. As the voltage is in phase quadrature (90°) with the line current, this type of
controller only supplies and consumes variable reactive power.

EE529 Power Electronics for Utility Applications Page 1

 THE HONG KONG
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY_________________________________________________ ___
Department of Electrical Engineering

5.2.2. Shunt FACTS Controllers

Fig. 5.2 shows a shunt FACTS controller connected

to a power line. Similar to series FACTS controllers, Line
this type of FACTS controllers is power electronic
based with variable impedance characteristic from its
internal capacitors or reactors, acting as a variable
source of main frequency, subsynchronous and
harmonic frequencies (or a combination) to serve the
desired need. The difference from Series FACTS Fig. 5.2. One-line diagram of
a shunt FACTS controller
controller is that it injects variable current into the
power line at the point of connection to implement power compensation. The injected current is varied
by the variable shunt impedance of the controller. As the current is in phase quadrature (90°) with the
line voltage, this type of controller only supplies and consumes variable reactive power.

5.2.3. Combined Series-series FACTS Controllers

Fig. 5.3 shows a combined series-series FACTS

controllers connected to a power transmission system. Line
This type of FACTS controllers is a combination of
separated series FACTS controllers controlled in a DC Power Link
coordinated manner in a multiline transmission
system (e.g. 3-phase power transmission system). Line
Their DC terminals are connected together to form a
unified series-series FACTS controller. It processes
to balance both of the real power and the reactive Fig. 5.3. One-line diagram of
power flow in the lines via the DC power link. a series-series FACTS controller

5.2.4. Combined Series-shunt FACTS Controllers

Line Line

Coordinated
Control DC Power Link
(a) (b)

Line

Line DC Power Link

Line

DC Power Link
- DC Power Link
+

(c) (d)
Fig. 5.4. One-line diagram of different types of series-shunt FACTS controllers

EE529 Power Electronics for Utility Applications Page 2

 THE HONG KONG
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY_________________________________________________ ___
Department of Electrical Engineering

Fig. 5.4 shows four different series-shunt FACTS controllers connected to a power transmission system.
A series-shunt FACTS controller is a combination of separate series and shunt controllers which are
controlled in a coordinated manner in a multiline transmission system. The DC terminals of the power
electronic based FACTS controllers could be connected together to build a unified series-shunt FACTS
controller. External DC source could be used for some applications. A series-shunt FACTS controller
injects current and voltage into the system with the shunt and the series controller parts, respectively.
The real power of shunt and series controller parts can be exchanged via the DC power link.

5.2.5. Characteristics of Different Types of FACTS Controllers

Series controllers are good in providing current/power flow and damp oscillations control in line. They
have to be designed to ride through contingency and dynamic overloads or bypass short circuit currents.

Shunt controllers are good in providing voltage support at and around the point of connection. They
serve the bus node independently of the individual lines connected to the bus.

5.3. High Voltage DC Transmission (HVDC) Systems

The role of a high voltage DC transmission (HVDC)

HVDC
system, for economic reasons, is to interconnect AC AC/DC DC/AC
Line
system where a reliable AC interconnection would be
too expensive. Fig. 5.5 shows a diagram of an Fig. 5.5. One-line diagram of a HVDC system
HVDC system. There are one AC/DC converter and
one DC/AC inverter in the system.

The main benefit of HVDC is that the influence of the reactance of transmission line is much less than
that of AC transmission. Some potential applications of HVDC to solve existing problems are listed in
the followings:
- Submarine cable
The cable has large capacitance. Thus AC cable requires a large charging current.
- Long distance overhead transmission
If the overhead transmission is very long, e.g. 1000 km, the saving in capital costs and losses with a
DC transmission line may be enough to pay for two converters.
- Connecting AC systems of different or incompatible frequencies
Matching of frequencies and phases for interconnection of AC systems can be avoided by HVDC
systems. For example, the western part and the eastern part of Japan use different frequencies. A
300MV, 125kV HVDC back-to-back station has been installed at Sakuma.

5.4. Active Harmonic Filtering

Nonlinear
Electrical appliances with nonlinear input characteristics are Load
very common nowadays especially in commercial and
residential building. Concerning harmonics elimination in
power transmission system has been very important. Active Active
harmonic filters are connected in parallel with nonlinear load to Harmonic
the supply to eliminate harmonics as shown in Fig. 5.6. They Filter
use active switching elements and handle harmonic power. Fig. 5.6. Simplified diagram of
They can also be used as reactive power compensators as well. connection of an active harmonic filter

EE529 Power Electronics for Utility Applications Page 3

 THE HONG KONG
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY_________________________________________________ ___
Department of Electrical Engineering

Fig. 5.7 shows a one-line diagram of an active harmonic filter I1 I1+∑Ih

to illustrate its harmonic elimination operation. The basic
principle of operation of active harmonic filters is shown in the From power To nonlinear
following: supply ∑Ih load

- The load current is monitor with current sensors.

- FFT or instantaneous power theory is used to get harmonic Harmonic injection
spectrum. or compensation
- Low order harmonic components are selected. Fig. 5.7. One-line diagram to illustrate
- Approximated harmonic current is injected for operation of an active harmonic filter
compensation.

5.5. Distributed Electrical Energy Generation (Renewable Energy)

There is a trend that public uses a number of renewable energy sources in building. A power electronic
interface is needed to connect renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic, wind and small hydro to
the utility system. Fig. 5.8 and Fig. 5.9 shows the examples of power electronic interface in photovoltaic
and wind/hydro power systems, respectively.

High Frequency
Solar Array
Transformer

DC/AC AC/DC DC/AC

Fig. 5.8. High frequency photovoltaic interface

AC System
AC
AC/DC DC/AC
Generator

Fig. 5.9. Interconnection of wind/hydro generator

5.6. Active Semiconductor Switches for High Power Applications

Features of power electronic active switching devices for utility applications are high voltage and current
ratings. The most common active switching devices in this field are:
- Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) - Gate-turn-off Thyristor (GTO)
- Thyristor (SCR and Triac) - Integrated gate-commutated thyristor (IGCT)

Thyristor is a family name of silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), triac (bi-directional thyristor). GTO and
IGCT are also types of thyristors but they have different control methods from traditional thyristors.
MOSFETs are commonly used in power electronic products, especially switched mode power supplies,
because of its low resistive conduction characteristics and its high frequency operation. However, they
are rarely used in utility applications since their voltage and current ratings are comparatively low.

EE529 Power Electronics for Utility Applications Page 4