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The use of a static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) for power flow
control in the 220 kV Spanish transmission network

D. ALVIRA*, M. TORRE, J. BOLA, U. BÚRDALO, M. MARQUEZ

Red Eléctrica de España
España

M.A. RODRIGUEZ, J. CHIVITE, A. HERNÁNDEZ, S. ÁLVAREZ

INGETEAM
España

SUMMARY

The project described in this paper consists of the development of a FACTS device for the control and
direction of flows of a power line through the use of a Static Synchronous Series Compensator
(SSSC). The article describes the need satisfied with this development and the implementation of this
type of device in future energy systems. With the installation of this device, the risk of overload
situations in a 220 kV line that has a high variability in its flow in certain situations of demand and
generation will be minimized.

The SSSC operates by injecting a voltage controlled in amplitude and phase, in series with the
transmission power line. This voltage, which is 90º out of phase with the line current, will have the
effect of either decreasing or increasing the power flow when it is leading or lagging that current
respectively.

The initial parameters of the most likely scenario under which the device will be working, and the
functionality intended are described. Taking these parameters into account, a preliminary design of the
device and its components has been developed. To validate this design several simulations have been
carried out in which, using various simplified models of the transmission network, the behaviour of
the device has been studied in normal operation and during temporary situations caused by
disturbances of the network. The results of these simulations are summarized in the article.

In parallel, as an important aspect for the device´s final definition, the selection of the site where to
implement it has been studied. In addition to the initial characteristics and the requirements defined for
the previous design other technical restrictions for physical implementation have to be studied, such as
surface area needs, connection to the existent equipment installed in the substation, other constraints
from the functional point of view and possible impact to system security.

KEYWORDS

SSSC, VSC, power flow control, power system simulation, line overloads, PSS/E.

* [email protected]
1- INTRODUCTION

The energy industry is continuously changing throughout the world due to increasingly demanding
environmental restrictions. Another main driver is the need to satisfy the growing energy demand and
improve the quality of the service that the electricity networks of transmission and distribution
provide. In this context it is notable the need to use existing networks closer to their limits. It requires,
therefore, the analysis of the technical feasibility of achieving these goals while minimizing the
development of new infrastructure using new technologies that maximize the use of existing networks,
such as devices based on power electronics, FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) [1].

In a classical transmission network, the way of controlling power flows consists of connecting or
disconnecting equipment, moving tap changers of transformers and re-dispatch of generation. At
present it is difficult to control power flows on the network precisely. Sometimes this lack of control
reduces network security and increases the losses in the system. Faced with these needs are phase
shifter transformers and FACTS devices.

There are numerous other reasons that promote the implementation of new technologies to achieve a
better use of the existing infrastructure, for example:
 Some new technologies are reaching levels of sufficient security and more affordable prices.
 Massive integration of delocalized new sources of electricity generation has substantially
modified the energy flows through the network, even more in the case of renewable
generation, dependent on primary resources at any time. In consequence, some facilities may
operate with high loads in some situations and with low loads in others.
 The environmental factors and public opinion, more and more demanding, make it extremely
difficult to install new infrastructures. From the environmental point of view the installation of
a new FACTS device produces less impact than the construction of a new transmission or
distribution line.

The application of FACTS devices, the aim of this project, will significantly change the power grids as
we know them today. With the same level of security it will be required less development of the
network, since it will control the power flows.

This paper describes the development of a Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) for power
flow control. The purpose of this device is to use it in situations where it is necessary to avoid
overloads in power lines. In the first sections the basic components of the SSSC will be described, and
also the expected functionality and modes of operation of the equipment from the point of view of
network operation. The next section shows a simplified scenario of the transmission network that
allows the validation of the operation of equipment in a typical transmission line of the Spanish
network in normal operation and contingency situation, and a line model to analyse the behaviour of
the device during a short-circuit on the line in which it is located. Then the problematic questions will
be treated to select a suitable site for the implementation of the prototype. Finally the conclusions of
the development made will be summed up.

2- NEED FOR POWER FLOW CONTROL EQUIPMENTS IN TRANSMISSION

GRIDS

The overload of a line in an electrical system usually indicates the need to enhance the line or to
construct a new one. Sometimes, while one line gets overloaded (maybe an old line with low capacity)
there is another line far from its maximum capacity (maybe a new line with high capacity). In these
cases flow control could save, or delay, the need of new lines.

The power being transmitted by a power line in a synchronously connected system is determined by
Kirchhoff’s laws. Electrical power being transmitted from A to B will follow the path of least
resistance without being influenced by whether or not that path of least resistance is overloaded or not.

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The load flow through a certain line depends on the energy that is to be transmitted between their ends
and the impedance of the line compared to the impedance of the parallel paths through which that
power could flow. The power flowing through the line A-B after neglecting transmission losses is
represented by the following formula:

V1V2
P sin  (1)
X LIN
where V1 and V2 represent the voltage at both ends of the line, XLIN the impedance of the line and δ the
voltage angle difference between both ends of the line.

This physical reality gives little opportunities for controlling flows through lines other than altering the
amount of power that must be transmitted from A to B by re-dispatching generation or loads or
modifying the topology of the grid. A voltage reduction at the line ends V1 and V2 in order to reduce
the power flow implies a voltage change also in the parallel paths, so the angle difference would
increase in order to transmit the same amount of power. The higher angle difference would then
increase as well the flow through the line trying to be controlled. The impedance XLIN of a line depends
on the physical configuration of the line and is therefore given.

A solution that is normally used nowadays to control power flows across a line is by changing the
topology of the system to modify the impedance of the parallel paths. These topology changes are
generally obtained opening a line or a coupling switch between bus-bars in a double bus-bar substation
and are only done if in the final scenario the N-1 security criterion is met. These manoeuvres in
general reduce the redundancy of the grid as they make it less meshed and, although the N-1 criterion
is fulfilled, the probability of a cascading event is higher in case of multiple simultaneous failures not
considered in the security analysis. Reducing the meshing of the system is usually not desirable unless
the network was planned and developed taking into account that some lines or switches would
normally be operated open, which happens only rarely.

In this context, the use in specific areas of load-flow control equipment that is able to alleviate
congestions is desirable as a temporary measure until the final transmission system enforcements are
put into service. In a few lines of the Spanish system, that are located in areas where is no longer
possible to reinforce the grid, load flow equipments (phase shifter transformers) are being installed
permanently to prevent overloading of the line.

3- PROPOSED SSSC DEVICE

3.1- Equipment functionalities

The selected option to solve the grid issues exposed in precedent section is a FACTS, specifically a
SSSC [2, 3, 4]. The function of the SSSC is to introduce in series with the transmission line (where the
power flow needs to be regulated) a voltage with a controlled magnitude and phase. The voltage will
lead or lag the line current by 90 degrees. It is shown in Figure 1.

Depending on the phase of the imposed voltage the effect will be to limit or to increase the amount of
apparent power that flows across the line. The total apparent power across the line will be:
V1V2
S 2  2 cos  (2)
X EQ
VCOMP
X EQ  X LIN  X COMP X COMP  (3)
I LIN
Where ILIN is the current of the line, XCOMP is the equivalent impedance of the SSSC (this impedance
will take positive values for an inductive compensation and negative values for capacitive
compensation) and VCOMP is the magnitude of the voltage imposed by the SSSC. From the point of

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view of the System Operator, the device is a variable impedance (inductive or capacitive) that
increases or decreases the final impedance of the line.

VLIN_EQ VCOMP VLINE

VCOMP VLINE
VLIN_EQ
I LINE
V1 V2
XCOMP XLINE ILINE
Gen 1 Gen 2 δ
V1 V2

XLIN_EQ = XLINE + XCOMP Inductive, XCOMP = 5 Ω

VLIN_EQ = VLINE + VCOMP XLINE = 20 Ω ; XLIN_EQ = 25
Ω
Figure 1.- Schematic diagram of SSSC in a transmission line and vector diagram for a capacitive operation.

The operation of the SSSC will be done according to three operation modes:
 Regulation Mode: The SSSC imposes the necessary impedance so the transmitted total power
of the line corresponds to the reference sent by the System Operator.
 Limitation Mode: The device limits the power flow across the line to the power reference
imposed by the System Operator
o If the measured apparent power is less that the ordered limit, the SSSC imposes a null
reactance in the line
o If the measured apparent power across the line is greater than the limit, the SSSC
starts to increase the imposed impedance so the power across the line is maintained
below the limit
 Impedance Mode: The SSSC imposes the reference impedance that is sent by the System
Operator.

3.2- SSSC sizing

It has been decided that the most appropriate lines to install the SSSC are 220 kV lines with a nominal
power equal or lower than 340 MVA. The SSSC will be mainly used to limit the quantity of power
that is transmitted across the line in order to avoid its overloading. Some previous considerations have
been analysed in order to estimate the most adequate magnitudes of the main parameters of the SSSC:
 The nominal power of the line is 340 MVA (892 A), with an admissible overload of 15%
(1026 A) during 20 minutes and a 40% of overload for very short period of time (one or two
minutes).
 The length of the line where the SSSC will be placed will be between 50 and 100 km
(considering this distance the length between two meshed nodes of the grid), with a
characteristic impedance of 0,05 + j0,4 Ω/km. The resulting impedance of the line should be
between 20 and 40 Ω.
 The imposed inductive impedance by the SSSC at maximum power (1250 A) is 10 Ω to
achieve the desired power control range. This impedance approximately corresponds to a line
length of 25 km.

Taking into account these characteristics, it results a SSSC with a nominal power of 47 MVA.

3.3- Description of the components of the SSSC

The voltage source represented in figure 1 will be implemented by a coupling transformer whose
primary winding is connected in series with the line and the secondary feeds a power electronic
converter (figure 2).

4
 Bypass

B1 VLINE
Int 1 B2
ILINE
RT XLINE
Gen 1 COUPLING Gen 2
TRANSFORMER

V1 V2
ADDITIONAL
INDUCTANCE

THYRISTORS

MAGNETIC COUPLING

+
DC/2
0
DC/2
-
VSC

SSSC

Figure 2.- Schematic diagram of SSSC in a transmission line and main components.

The converter used is of the Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) type, converting the dc-voltage stored
in a capacitor bank, or dc-bus, into an ac voltage, variable in phase and magnitude. The VSC is
composed of several three-phase NPC diode clamped three level inverters. These power electronic
devices are associated in series and/or in parallel in order to achieve the required power magnitude.
The association will be done by means of intermediate magnetic elements.

The inverters are implemented using state-of-the-art IGCT (Integrated Gate Commutated Thyristor)
semiconductor technology [5, 6]. These high power-medium voltage devices, which belong to the
thyristor family, have an optimized gate with an integrated driver, allowing switching frequencies in
the range of 500 Hz. The initial studies consider the use of two different modulation strategies to
obtain the converter output voltage: PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and synchronous full-wave
multi-pulse modulation. The former obtains a very fast output response, whereas the latter reduces the
semiconductor loss.

To reduce magnitude of the total power of the VSC it has been considered the addition of an external
inductance that reinforces the predominant inductive response of the SSSC output power. This
external inductance is so that the total Static Impedance (External inductance plus leakage inductance
of the transformer) of the SSSC is 3 Ω.

Taking into account the big short circuit currents that can be found in the 220 kV transmission grid,
about 50 times the transmission power of the line, it is necessary to protect the VSC semiconductors in
case of short circuit. This is done with a dedicated bypass installed in the secondary of the coupling
transformer. The connection and disconnection of the SSSC will be done using the bypass which is
placed in the primary of the coupling transformer. The state of the primary and secondary switches
will define the next functional states for the SSSC:
 Non-operative when it is bypassed by the breaker placed in the primary of the transformer
 Operative when the breaker of the primary is opened. Under this situation two cases are to be
distinguished:
o Dynamic compensation: When the line current is less than 1250 A and the thyristor
bypass of the secondary is open.
o Static compensation: When the current across the line is greater that 1250 A and the
bypass of the secondary of the coupling transformer is closed. In this case the
reactance that is imposed by the SSSC is the additional external reactance of the
secondary plus the leakage inductance of the coupling transformer (More or less 3 Ω).

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3.4- Characteristic curve of the imposed reactance

Although the SSSC has been designed to impose an impedance of 10 Ω for a current of 1250 amperes,
the impedance that can be imposed depends on the magnitude of the current that flows across the line,
following equation (4).
VVSC _ NOM Rt
X COMP  X EST  (4)
I LINEA
Where, XEST is the sum of the leakage impedance of the transformer and the external additional
reactance, VVSC_NOM is the nominal voltage of the VSC and Rt is the transformation relation of the
coupling transformer. Figure 3 shows the impedance characteristic of the SSSC as a function of the
line current.
XCOMP [Ω]

20
Maximum admissible Line
Current for SSSC
INOM_SSSC = 1250 A PRIMARY
15
DYNAMIC
COMPENSATION

XNOM_IND = 10
Thyristors
Inductive
5
XEST = 3

ILINE [A]
500 1000 1500
XNOM_CAP = -4
Capacitive

-10
STATIC
COMPENSATION

Figure 3.- Imposed Reactance function of the line current

It can be seen how the SSSC is able to impose an impedance of 4 capacitive Ohms or 10 inductive
Ohms for a line current of 1250A. When the current in the line decreases the value of the impedance
that can be imposed by the SSSC increases.

4 –PREVIOUS VALIDATION OF THE EQUIPMENT IN SIMULATION

To validate the functionalities of the SSSC, firstly it has been defined a study case that permits the
validation of the behaviour of the equipment in normal operation and during contingencies in the grid
by using a power flow simulation software, secondly, it has been built a more simplified study case in
order to analyse the behaviour of the SSSC in electromagnetic short-circuit simulations. In the next
sections the two study cases are described.

4.1 – Functional validation of the equipment

Reference Grid definition

Due to the complexity of the Spanish Transmission Grid, it has been developed a simplified
“Reference Grid Model” for the evaluation of the equipment, this model represents the main
characteristics of the real Power System. In Figure 4 the simplified model is shown.

The two transmission lines on the top, together with the network equivalents in buses 1 and 2,
represent the 400 kV Transmission System, while the two parallel lines bellow are the 220 kV lines
where the problem to be solved is located. The impedance and the transmission capacity of the 220 kV
lines is different. The power flow through these lines is different as well. The transmission capacity of
the axis composed by lines 3 and 4 is 340 MVA while the transmission capacity of lines 5 and 6 is 600

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MVA. Under normal operation of the Electrical Power System, the power flow direction is from left to
right.

SWING node -1800 MVAs

Grid equivalent 275 MVArs
Line 1
B1 B2

2440 MW Line 2 400 kV Grid

6 MVArs
220 kV Grid

T1 T2 < 220 kV Grid

T4
600 MVAs 600 MVAs 600 MVAs
T5
40 MVAs 600 MVAs
B6 B4 8 MVArs
(SSSC)
SSSC Line 3 Line 4
B3 B7

Line 5 Line 6
B5

800 MVAs
T4 80 MVAs
300 MVAs 160 MVArs
510 MVAs 16 MVArs
60 MVArs

Figure 4.- Reference Grid Model

Under a specific generation scenario, the 220 kV line with less transmission capacity reaches its limit
earlier than the other in parallel. To solve this problem it is necessary to change the generation
scenario or to open some of the lines of the transmission system in other to achieve the desired result.
The change in the generation scenario disrupts the normal market behaviour. The opening of the
overloaded line supposes a lightly overload on the 220kV line in parallel and the reduction of the
security margin of the Electric Power System.

The aim of the SSSC in this scenario is to limit the power flow of the line that is sensitive to be
overloaded and to avoid the re-dispatching or the topological changes. Thanks to the SSSC a better
generation profile is achieved and the security of the transmission systems is maintained because the
number of connected lines is not reduced.

The proposed Grid model has been used to validate the equipment. The main objectives of the
simulations over this scenario are:
 To validate the capacity of the SSSC to re-direct the power flow in the place of the grid where
is supposed to be located and to validate the sizing of the equipment.
 To validate the SSSC under overload scenarios produced by contingencies in the Power Grid
 To validate the magnitudes of the short-circuit currents in the proposed model.

Simulation Results

From the Power Flow analysis of the reference grid it has been shown that the line where the SSSC
was supposed to be placed arrives earlier to its transmission capacity that the line of 220 kV in
parallel. Likewise, when the SSSC is imposing the static impedance the power that goes from Bus
“B3” to Bus “B7” is divided proportionally to the maximum capacity between the two 220 kV lines.
This means that both lines arrive to their maximum transmission power capacity simultaneously.

A contingency analysis has been carried out, considering the loss of each line and transformer of the
reference Power Grid (N-1 Contingency Analysis). In the Spanish Electrical Power System it is
accepted an overload of 15% in each transmission line during 20 minutes, after this time the grid
operator has to solve the overload and restore the power through the line to its maximum transmission
capacity.

The worst contingency in this scenario is when line 5 is lost. In this situation the load of line number 3
arrives to 171% of its maximum capacity. This value is greater that the allowed transient load (115%)
so this power violation after contingency has to be solved. When introducing the SSSC thanks to the
static impedance, the load of the line after the same contingency reaches 113%, which is less that the

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115% of the capacity. Then it is decision of the Grid Operator to increase the imposed impedance by
using the dynamic compensation of the SSSC to reduce the load down to 100% of the maximum
capacity. Another Grid violation is produced when one of the 400 kV lines trips. In this case the flow
in line 3 is 129%. Thanks to the SSSC static compensation this overload is reduced to 112% while the
load in the parallel line (line 5) is less than 100%.

Once the SSSC is placed, it has been proved that the number of violation in the reference grid is
reduced. Moreover, the severity of the resultant violations is less and there is no circumstance where a
contingency in the reference grid provokes the disconnection of the overloaded line with the SSSC.
The maximum overload when the SSSC is placed is less than 15% in all the contingencies.

4.2- Short circuit Analysis

Grid Model

Another important aspect is the behaviour of the SSSC under short circuits in the line of the equipment
or in lines next to the SSSC. To analyse the equipment under this situations it has been consider that
the SSSC has to support 40 kA of short circuit current across the coupling transformer. Figure 5 shows
the line model that has been used to simulate the desired electromagnetic analysis of a short circuit in
the line of the SSSC.

ZG1 LINE ZG2

SSSC π
Gen 1 Gen 2
B1 B2 B3

Figure 5.- Grid model for the electromagnetic studies

The main objective of this simulation is to quantify the magnitude of the short circuit current across
the primary and secondary of the coupling transformer, to define correctly the characteristics of the
thyristor bypass in the secondary and specify the most appropriate SSSC connexion logics.

Simulations results

The placement of the external additional inductances in the secondary of the coupling transformer
makes the transformer to be deeply saturated during the short circuit. This phenomenon has a
beneficial effect in the current that appears in the secondary. Due to the saturation of the core of the
transformer the current in the secondary is not proportional to the transformation relation, it is
significantly less. On the contrary, the over voltage in the secondary becomes and aspect to take into
account and the isolation level in the medium voltage devices has to be increased.

Figure 6 shows the evolution of the current in the line during a short circuit and the re-connexion of
the SSSC after one re-close of the line breaker.

It can be appreciate that in t1 a single phase fault to ground has appeared and that the time between t1
and t2 is the time that the thyristor Bypass needs to close the secondary. In t3 the line protection relay
has detected the fault and the line breaker (Int 1) has opened the line. After the re-closing time the line
breaker Int 1 closes the line in t4 , but the fault is still there and the breaker closes over fault. In t5 the
line is definitively tripped.

It’s important to consider that to protect the Power Electronic devices (the fault current peak is
between 50 and 100 kA), the thyristor Bypass has to be able to close the secondary in a very short
period of time (microseconds). Moreover, the re-closing process of the line is realized with the
secondary bypass close, so the total impedance imposed by the SSSC when closing the breaker is
more or less the Static Impedance.

8
 I (A)
5
x 10

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 t(s)

Fault time
duration

Int 1 Breaker
Status

Re-close time

Thyristors
Status

IFAULT throw
Secondary

SSSC in
Regulation
t(s)
t0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6

Figure 6.- Logical intervention of the protection devices of the SSSC

5- LOCATION SELECTION FOR PROTOTYPE INSTALLATION

The more adequate lines for installing the equipment are 220 kV lines with low capacity capability,
where the equipment will be used for limiting power flow and avoiding overloads. In order to avoid
the need of constructing a too big equipment, it has been defined a maximum transmission capacity of
340 MVA. This capacity is considered to be big enough to find locations for installing the equipment.

In this project, the SSSC is going to be used to avoid overloads in 220 kV lines of the region of
Navarra, especially in high wind situation.

Nowadays, in the location chosen, during some situations of generation and demand, the only
available solutions are un-meshing the grid (thus reducing the security margin) or reducing wind
production (thus reducing the economical benefits of wind producers). With the installation of this
equipment in series with one the 220 kV lines of the chosen region, it is foreseen to reduce the number
of times that these above mentioned solutions are applied.

The objective of the equipment is, as it has already been mentioned, to avoid the overloading of one
(or several) 220 kV line by deviating part of the flow that, in a natural way, would pass through that
line to other alternative paths.

In order to achieve the objectives, the following functional, physical and system security factors have
to be taken into account during location selection.

From the functional point of view, the following premises have to be fulfilled by the location selected:
 It must exist an alternative path to the line that gets overloaded.
 The desired performance has to be achievable with the equipment design characteristics
defined (equivalent regulation range from 4 capacitive ohms to 10 inductive ohms), for the
scenarios considered.
 The situations in which the equipment has to actuate have to be frequent enough for assessing
its performance.

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For the physical implementation of the equipment a minimum surface of 20x20 m. is needed, plus the
space for the HV switching and measuring equipments. The connection of the equipment to the grid
will be done through a series transformer.

Three breakers are foreseen, one of them to configure the by-pass that will allow to disconnect the
equipment without disconnecting the line, and the other two to facilitate the protection of the
equipment. The already existing breaker for switching the line will be used. Disconnectors and current
and voltage transformers are also to be installed. Connection of the different equipment will be done
with aluminium/steel cable type Lapwing. SSSC equipment will be powered with three-phase 400 V.

It also has to be considered how critical the location from system security point of view is. On one
hand it is important to minimize the impact of a possible malfunctioning of the equipment and on the
other hand it is difficult to obtain permission to put out of service critical lines to do the works and this
may delay the connection of the equipment to the grid.

6- CONCLUSIONS

The initial studies performed indicate that the SSSC proposed is able to solve some of the overload
problems detected in the 220 kV grid of the Spanish Electrical System. This sort of equipment is
particularly convenient in old lines (with low capacity) with a power flow very much influenced by
wind power production.

The following are some of the advantages that have been detected in this equipment compared with
more conventional solutions, like installing a new line:
 It occupies fewer surfaces. This leads to:
o less environmental impact and thus less social rejection being then easier to obtain all
permits
o less terrain costs
 The time that is needed to put in service the SSSC is shorter due to the permits been easier to
obtain.
 The total cost of the necessary equipment is less.
 It is foreseen that in the future its dynamic behaviour could be exploited, even if today is not
one of the main drivers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] N. G. Hingorani and L. Gyugyi, Understanding FACTS. Concepts and technology of flexible
AC transmission systems, IEEE Press, Piscataway.
[2] Gyugyi, L.; Schauder, C.D.; Sen, K.K., "Static synchronous series compensator: a solid-state
approach to the series compensation of transmission lines", IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, vol.12, no.1, pp.406-417, Jan 1997
[3] Zelingher, S.; Fardanesh, B.; Shperling, B.; Dave, S.; Kovalsky, L.; Schauder, C.; Edris, A.,
"Convertible static compensator project-hardware overview," Power Engineering Society
Winter Meeting, 2000. IEEE , vol.4, no., pp.2511-2517 vol.4, 2000.
[4] Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC); Cigré WG B4.40, Nº 371; February 2009; pp
28-75.
[5] Steimer, P.K.; Gruning, H.E.; Werninger, J.; Carroll, E.; Klaka, S.; Linder, S., "IGCT-a new
emerging technology for high power, low cost inverters". IEEE Industry Applications Magazine,
vol.5, no.4, pp.12-18, Jul/Aug 1999
[6] S. Alvarez, Characterisation of 3.3 kV IGCTs for medium power applications, .Doctoral Thesis,
Institut National Polythechnique de Toulouse, ENSEEIFT, Toulouse, France, 2005.

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