CHAPTER – 3.

THE STATIC
COMPENSATOR(STATCOM)

Power Electronics in power system

ADVANTAGES OF STATCOM OVER SVC
• Faster response
• Requires less space as bulky passive components
(such as reactors) are eliminated
• Inherently modular and relocatable
• It can be interfaced with real power sources such as
battery, fuel cell or SMES (superconducting
magnetic energy storage)
• A STATCOM has a superior performance during
low voltage maintained as the reactive current
maintained constant
INTRODUCTION
• The STATCOM (or SSC) is a shunt-connected
reactive-power compensation device that is capable
of generating and/ or absorbing reactive power and
in which the output can be varied to control the
specific parameters of an electric power system.

• It is a solid-state switching converter, capable of

generating or absorbing independently controllable
real and reactive power at its output terminals
when it is fed from an energy source.
INTRODUCTION
• STATCOM is considered as voltage-source
converter that, from a given input of dc voltage,
produces a set of 3-phase ac-output voltages, each
in phase with and coupled to the corresponding ac
system voltage through a relatively small reactance.
STATCOM CAN IMPROVE

The dynamic voltage control in transmission and

distribution systems
The power-oscillation damping in power-
transmission systems
Transient stability
The voltage flicker control
The control of not only reactive power but also (if
needed) active power in the connected line, requiring
a dc energy source
CIRCUIT
STATCOM OPERATION
• If the amplitude of the output voltage is increased
above that of the utility bus voltage, Et, then a
current flows through the reactance from the
converter to the ac system and the converter
absorbs inductive-reactive power for the ac system.
STATCOM OPERATION

• If the amplitude of the output voltage is decreased

below the utility bus voltage, then the current
flows from the ac system to the converter and the
converter generate capacitive-reactive power from
the ac system.
STATCOM OPERATION

• If the output voltage equals the ac system voltage,

the reactive- power exchange becomes zero, in
which case the STATCOM is said to be in a
floating state.
STATCOM OPERATION
• Adjusting the phase shift between the converter-
output voltage and the ac system voltage can
similarly control real-power exchange between the
converter and the ac system.
STATCOM OPERATION

• In other words, the converter can supply real power

to the ac system from its dc energy storage if the
converter-output voltage is made to lead the ac-
system voltage. On the other hand, it can absorb
real power from the ac system for the dc system if
its voltage lags behind the ac-system voltage.
STATCOM OPERATION
• In practice, the semiconductor switches of the
converter are not lossless, so the energy stored in
the dc capacitor is eventually used to meet the
internal losses of the converter, and the dc capacitor
voltage diminishes.
STATCOM OPERATION

• When the STATCOM is used for reactive-power

generation, the converter itself can keep the
capacitor charged to the required voltage level.
This task is accomplished by making the output
voltages of the converter lag behind the ac-system
voltages by a small angle (usually in the 0.18–0.28
range).
STATCOM OPERATION
• In this way, the converter absorbs a small amount of
real power from the ac system to meet its internal
losses and keep the capacitor voltage at the desired
level.
STATCOM WITH ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE
STATCOM WITH ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE
Adjusting the phase shift between the converter-
output voltage and the ac system voltage can
similarly control real-power exchange between the
converter and the ac system.
STATCOM WITH ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

• If the converter-output voltage is made to lead the

ac-system voltage, then the converter can supply
real power to the ac system from its dc energy
storage.

• If its voltage lags behind the ac-system voltage,

then the it absorb real power from the ac system
for the dc system
DESIGN OF STATCOM
 Voltage Source Converter
 Capacitor

 Reactor

 Harmonic Filter
DESIGN OF STATCOM
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
The STATCOM can supply both the capacitive and
the inductive compensation and is able to
independently control its output current over the
rated maximum capacitive or inductive range
irrespective of the amount of ac-system voltage.
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM

That is, the STATCOM can provide full capacitive-

reactive power at any system voltage even as low as
0.15 pu.
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
The characteristic of a STATCOM reveals another
strength of this technology: that it is capable of
yielding the full output of capacitive generation
almost independently of the system voltage
(constant-current output at lower voltages).

This capability is particularly useful for situations

in which the STATCOM is needed to support the
system voltage during and after faults where voltage
collapse would otherwise be a limiting factor.
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
Figure also illustrates that the STATCOM has an
increased transient rating in both the capacitive- and
the inductive-operating regions. The maximum
attainable transient over current in the capacitive
region is determined by the maximum current turn-
off capability of the converter switches.

In the inductive region, the converter switches are

naturally commutated; therefore, the transient-current
rating of the STATCOM is limited by the maximum
allowable junction temperature of the converter
switches
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
THE V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF STATCOM
The reactive- and real-power exchange between the
STATCOM and the ac system can be controlled
independently of each other. Any combination of real
power generation or absorption with var generation
or absorption is achievable if the STATCOM is
equipped with an energy-storage device of suitable
capacity, as depicted in Figure.

With this capability, extremely effective control

strategies for the modulation of reactive- and real-
output power can be devised to improve the
transient- and dynamic-system-stability limits.
STATCOM
 Increasing E above V the operate it is in a over-excited
state. Thus result in leading current and that is the
machine now acts as a synchronous condenser or a
capacitor. The current flow through the tie reactance
from the converter to the AC system and the converter
generates the reactive or the capacitive power to the AC
system.

 Decreasing the value of the E below V the operating as

under excited, producing the lagging current and that is
a machine acts as an inductor or the reactor. To
compensate the mechanical loss and the electrical loss
small amount of the real power actually flows to the
system to the machine and that is to meet the losses.
STATCOM

Es= Statcom voltage

Et= voltage at PCC Et  Es
IL= Load Current IO 
Io= Statcom Injected Current X
IS= Compensated Source current
X= coupling inductance
D-STATCOM
 The DSTATCOM technology is now a mature
technology for providing reactive power
compensation, load balancing, and/or neutral
current and harmonic current compensation in AC
distribution networks.
 DSTATCOM also used to regulate the terminal
voltage, suppress voltage flicker, and improve
voltage balance in three-phase systems.
 DSTATCOM technology is considered the best
technology to mitigate all the current-based power
quality problems.
CLASSIFICATION OF D-STATCOM
 On the basis of the converter

 On the basis of the supply system

CLASSIFICATION OF D-STATCOM
 1-Phase two wire
 Voltage Source Converter

 Current Source Converter

 3- Phase 3 Wire

 Voltage Source Converter

 Current Source Converter

 3- Phase 4 Wire
o Voltage Source Converter

o Current Source Converter

D-STATCOM
1 PHASE 2-WIRE D-STATCOM
3 PHASE 3-WIRE D-STATCOM
CLASSIFICATION OF D-STATCOM BASED
ON LOAD SUPPLY
3 PHASE 4-WIRE D-STATCOM
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
A Synchronous condenser is a synchronous
machine, the reactive-power output of which can be
continuously controlled by varying its excitation
current.
 When Synchronous machine is connected to the ac
system and is underexcited, it behaves like an
inductor, absorbing reactive power from the ac
system.
 When it is overexcited, it is functions like a
capacitor, injecting reactive power in to the ac
system.
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
 The machine is normally excited at the base current
when generated voltage equals the system voltage;
it thus floats without exchanging reactive power
with the system.
 The broken line characteristic curve corresponds to
loading beyond the machine’s rated stator current.
 A synchronous condenser is usually connected to
the EHV ac system through a coupling transformer.
 The magnitude of the slope can be adjusted by
excitation control.
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
 Large, synchronous condensers are usually
hydrogen-cooled. Ratings of up to 345 MVA used
commercial use.
 Application:

1.Control of large-voltage excitations

2.Dynamic reactive-power support at HVDC
terminals
CHARACTERISTICS
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
 Synchronous condensers are connected at the
inverter end of an HVDC line to provide the
controllable part of the reactive-power requirement
of the inverter station and also to help regulate the
inverter ac voltage by increasing the short circuit
capacity of the ac system.
 The HVDC links are often connected to weak ac
systems at the receiving end, which re susceptible
to commutation failure if adequate control
measures are not taken.
 Synchronous condensers instead of the much
faster-acting SVCs
ACTIVE POWER FILTER
ACTIVE POWER FILTER
SHUNT ACTIVE POWER FILTER
SERIES ACTIVE POWER FILTER
HYBRID ACTIVE POWER FILTER