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  • Essay / Four Categories of FACTS Devices - 764

    The concept of a FACTS device was introduced by the Electric Power Research Institute in the late 1980s. Since then, Facts devices have become increasingly popular in systems electrical. Before the introduction of FACTS, conventional power flow control techniques existed, but they were not fast enough, had to be operated manually, and lacked proper coordination leading to the acceptance of FACTS devices. Over the years, FACTS technologies evolve more and more. FACTS controllers can be divided into four categories based on their network connection: shunt controllers, serial controllers, series-serial combination controllers, and series-shunt combination controllers. These types of controllers are shunt connected with the transmission line. Shunt controllers are variable impedance type, variable source type, or a combination of both. They inject current into the system at the connection point and thus inject or absorb reactive power and thus regulate the voltage at the connection point. Thyristor controlled reactor (TCR), thyristor switched reactor (TSR), thyristor switched capacitor (TSC) and static synchronous compensator (Statcom) are the common shunt controllers. Series controllers are connected in series with the transmission line. They decrease the overall effective serial transmission impedance from the transmitting end to the receiving end and thus control the power flow. Static synchronous series compensator (SSSC), thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC), thyristor switched series capacitor (TSSC), thyristor controlled series reactor (TCSR) and thyristor switched series reactor (TSSR) are some of the common serial controllers. Series controllers are connected in series with neighboring lines with a DC link between them. They control the flow of energy through installed lines and are also capable of exchanging active power between neighboring lines. The Interline Power Flow Controller (IPFC) is one such controller. Combination series-shunt controllers are the most versatile and powerful devices in the FACTS family of devices. They are connected both in series and in branch with the transmission lines. Depending on their primary control strategy, they can act as a shunt and/or series compensator, power flow controller, voltage regulator, or phase shifter. Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is one such controller. In this work, improving the stability of the working voltage is targeted and that is why the FACTS SVC shunt device is used here.A. Static Var Compensator (SVC)SVC is a shunt-connected static reactive power generator or absorber that can maintain or control specific parameters of the electrical power system (usually bus voltage). They are called static because they have no rotational component.