Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

ISSN: 3159-0040
Vol. 2 Issue 2, February - 2015

Modelling and Simulation of STATCOM for

Reactive Power and Voltage Control.
B. U. Musa Musa Mustapha
Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
University of Maiduguri University of Maiduguri
Maiduguri, Nigeria Maiduguri, Nigeria
[email protected]

Abstract—The continuous demand in electric noticed that both planning and operation of electric
power system network has caused the system to networks are undergoing fundamental and radical
be heavily loaded leading to voltage instability. changes in order to cope with the increased complexity
However, Flexible Alternating Current of funding economic and reliable network solutions.
Transmission System (FACTS) devices provide The necessity to design power system networks that
the necessary features to avoid technical provide the maximal transmission capacity and at the
problems in the power systems. They also same time resulting in minimal cost is a great
increase the transmission line efficiency. Among engineering challenge. Despite that the reactive power
the FACTS family is Static Synchronous problem have been successfully employed in some
Compensator (STATCOM). It injects the sample power system [1] and [2]. Still much need to be
compensating current in phase quadrature with done to ensure effective and efficient distribution of
line voltage, it can emulate as inductive or reactive power and voltage control in an electric
capacitive reactance so as to produce capacitive network. In an attempt to circumvent the deficiencies
power for the AC grid or draws inductive power of the conventional methods, FACTS technology which
from the ac grid to control power flow in the line. was developed by [3] offers considerable advantage
This paper describes the approach of a shunt over the conventional one's in terms of space
connected FACTS device (STATCOM), in which reduction and performance [4]. FACTS are a result of
the device is modelled and used to provide the development in the power electronic area and aim
controllable bus voltage and reactive power to rapidly control electrical signal [5].
compensation. Simulation results obtained using
This paper deals with modeling and simulation of
MATLAB/SIMULNK for selected 3-bus- 3-machine Static Synchronous Compensators, (STATCOM), a
500 kV interconnected power system. The findings shunt compensation device from the family of Flexible
reveal that the performance and behaviour of the Alternating Current Transmission System, FACTS. A
STATCOM in controlling bus voltage and reactive STATCOM or Static Synchronous Compensator is
power on 500 kV transmission network was used for voltage compensation at the receiver end of a
effective. The simulated results show the transmission lines, thus replacing banks of shunt
advantages of using STATCOM. capacitors. When used for this purpose, STATCOMs
offer a number of advantages over banks of shunt
Keywords—Flexible AC Transmission System capacitors, such as much tighter control of the voltage
(FACTS); Static Synchronous Compensator compensation at the receiver end of the ac
(STATCOM); Reactive Power Compensator; Bus transmission line and increased line stability during
Voltage load variations [6]. It is build based on power
electronics Voltage Source Converter and can act as
I. INTRODUCTION
either a source or sink of reactive AC power which is
In interconnected power systems, which today are tied to a transmission line. The STATCOM regulates
very complex, there is great need to improve utilization the voltage magnitude at its terminals by controlling
while still maintaining reliability and security. While the amount of reactive power injected into or absorbed
some transmission lines are charged up to the limit from the power system. When system voltage is low,
load, the others may have been overloaded, which the STATCOM generates reactive power (STATCOM
have an effect on the values of voltage and reduces capacitive). When system voltage is high, it absorbs
system stability and security. Transmission networks of reactive power (STATCOM inductive). So the shunt
controller is therefore a good way to control voltage in
present power systems are becoming progressively
and around the point of connection through injection of
more stressed because of increasing demand and
reactive current (leading or lagging) alone or a
limitations on building new lines. One of the combination of active and reactive current for a more
consequences of such a stressed system is the risk of effective voltage control and damping of voltage
losing stability following a disturbance. For this reason, dynamics [7]. The real power (P) and reactive power
it is very important to control the power flows along (Q) are given by:
transmissions lines to meet transfer of power needs.
.V
Summarizing the current development, it must be  sin  (1)


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JMESTN42350466 143
 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)
ISSN: 3159-0040
Vol. 2 Issue 2, February - 2015
V 
  3
 2 .V XT
Q  cos  (2)
  In the same way, there is exchange between the
Where E is the line voltage of transmission line reactive power of the inverter and the AC system,
V Is the generated voltage of the Voltage Source which can be controlled by varying the magnitude of
Converter. the output voltage [7, 8].
X Is the equivalent reactance of interconnection
transformer  Is the phase angle of E with respect to B. Multi Control Function of STATCOM
V. In the practical application of a STATCOM, it may
The basic element is the Source Voltage Converter be used for controlling one of the following
(SVC) which converts an input DC voltage to an AC Parameters.
voltage at the fundamental frequency with a given
magnitude and a controllable phase. The AC output 1. Voltage magnitude of the local bus to which
voltage is dynamically controlled in order to provide the STATCOM is connected.
the required reactive power to the network [8]. 2. Reactive power injection to the local bus, to
A. Operational Principle of STATCOM which the STATCOM is connected.

The fig. 1 shows the STATCOM tie on to a 3. Impedance of the STATCOM.

transmission line. 4. Voltage Injection.
Grid Bus STATCOM Bus 5. Voltage magnitude at a remote bus.
Step-down Transformer
6. Power flow.
3ϕ Line
Vdc C 7. Apparent power or current control of a local
or remote transmission line.
V E
Among these control options, control of the voltage
Controller α of the local bus which the STATCOM is connected to,
is the most recognized control function. The other
Fig.1. STATCOM connected to the power system via control possibilities have not fully been investigated in
coupling transformer. power flow analysis [9, 10, 11].
The STATCOM consist of a coupling II. METHODOLOGY
transformer,converter/inverter circuit, and a DC
capacitor, which is shown in fig.1 above. For such an A. STATCOM Model
arrangement, the ideal steady state analysis assumed Based on the operating principle of the STATCOM,
that the active power exchange between the AC the equivalent circuit can be derived, which is given in
system and the STATCOM can be neglected, and fig. 2. In the derivation, it is assumed that,1.Harmonic
only the reactive power can be exchanged between generated by the STATCOM is neglected 2. The
them. system as well as the STATCOM is assumed three
When the amplitude of the output voltage is raised phase balanced
over the system voltage, then the current flows via The STATCOM can be equivalently represented by
reactance from the inverter to the AC system and the a controllable fundamental frequency positive
inverter produces capacitive power for the AC grid. On sequence voltage source Vsh. In principle, the
the other hand, if the output voltage amplitude is STATCOM output voltage can be regulated such that
decreased under that of the AC grid, then the reactive the reactive power of the STATCOM can be changed.
current flows from the AC system to the inverter and
the inverter draws inductive power. In addition, when PCC (Point of Common Connection)
the output voltage amplitude is balanced to the AC grid Bus i
voltage, the reactive power flows become zero.  sh
sh  jQsh
The output of reactive current strongly depends on
the thyristor firing angle α that is given by the phase Vi
shift between the STATCOM-voltage E and the bus  sh
voltage V. Depending on this firing angle α, the
charging state of the dc- capacitor is changed and +
therefore the amplitude of the STATCOM bus voltage
E changes. The amplitude difference of the STATCOM Vsh
bus voltage and the grid voltage together with the -
transformer leakage reactance XTdetermines the
amplitude of reactive current that is injected into the
power system given in equation (3). Fig. 2. STATCOM Equivalent Circuit.

Based on the equivalent circui, it can be

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JMESTN42350466 144
 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)
ISSN: 3159-0040
Vol. 2 Issue 2, February - 2015

established, Vi is the voltage at bus i, Ish is the current The VSC output voltage must fall within the allowed
through the STATCOM shunt converter. Psh and limits of operation:
Qshare the shunt converter branch active and reactive
power flows respectively. The power flow direction of Vsh
min
 Vsh  Vsh
max
,     sh  
Psh and Qsh is leaving bus i. Zsh is the equivalent
STATCOM shunt coupling transformer impedance. max
Where Vsh is the voltage rating of the
From the equivalent circuit,suppose [9] STATCOM,
then the power
Vsh  Vsh  sh and Vi  Vi  i While Vsh min is the minimal voltage limit of the
flow constraints of the STATCOM are: STATCOM.
sh  Vi 2 g sh ViVsh ( g sh cos( i   sh )  bsh sin( i   sh )) (4) 2.The current flowing through a STATCOM I sh ,
must be less than the current rating: that is
Qsh  Vi 2 bsh  ViVsh ( g sh sin( i   sh )  bsh cos(  i   sh )) (5)
Where  sh max is the current
 sh   sh
max

Where g  jb  rating of the STATCOM converter while I sh is the

sh sh 1 Z sh
magnitude of current through the STATCOM and
The operating constraint of the STATCOM is the
given by   Vi  Vsh
active power exchange  via the DC link as
 sh
sh

described by:
  e (Vsh I  sh )  In contrast, it is necessary to include external
restriction of the grid voltage at the PCC. According
 e (Vsh I  sh )  Vi 2 g sh  ViVsh ( g sh cos( i   sh )  bsh sin( i   sh )) (6) to the specific regulation of the grid operator, the
grid voltage at the PCC must be within certain
The principle of operation of VSC based
allowed limits. Vi Vi Vi
min max
STATCOMdepends on the control strategy for [9].
regulating the interchange of power between the C. Modelling and Simulation of 500 kV System
converter/inverter circuit and the grid and it depends Case Study.
also on the output AC voltage of the converter/inverter
circuit. If the magnitude of the voltage of the converter To study a system, it is sometimes possible to
is equal to the voltage of the grid Vsh  Vi , the experiment with the system itself. The goal of the
system simulation is to predict how a system performs
interchange of reactive power between the STATCOM
when it is build. So, it is not feasible to experiment with
and the grid is equal to zero. In contrast, if the voltage
a system when it is already put into use. It is very
of the converter is less than the grid voltage at point of
costly, dangerous and often impossible to make
common connection (PCC), Vsh  Vi the STATCOM
experiment with real systems. Provided that models
absorbs reactive power (draws lagging current). are adequate descriptions of reality (they are valid),
experimenting withthem can save money, suffering
However, if the STATCOM controlled happens to be and time.The block building principle employed in
in such a way that the output voltage of the converter modeling help organize system description by isolating
is higher than the grid voltage at PCC, Vsh  Vi , subsystem and identifying their input and output.Fig. 3
reactive power is injected into the grid. Also, note that shows the single line diagram of system case study
the capacity for injecting reactive power into the grid is model which is used to analyse the impact of
limited by the maximumvoltage and the maximum STATCOM on the 500 kV power network.
current allowed by the semiconductors [9]. 6500MVA
Station B
In practice, it is also necessary to control the active Bus B1 Bus B2
power exchange of the STATCOM by regulating the L2= 500kV 75km 200MWW
phase angle  sh   i   sh between the voltage at the 8500MVA
Station A

VSC (Vsh  Vsh  sh ) and the voltage at the PCCis

L3= 500kV 180Km

300MW STATCOM

Vi  Vii  so that the VSC absorbs active power W

from the grid to maintain a constant voltage for the DC L1= 500kV 240km

link [9, 11].

Bus B3
B. Restriction of Operation
1. In a STATCOM, the maximum reactive power that
9000MVA
can be supplied to the grid depends on the Station C

maximum voltage and current permitted by the

Fig. 3. Single line diagram of the proposed interconnected
power semi-conductor, so it s necessary to include
power system with STATCOM installed as system study.
the following restriction.

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 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)
ISSN: 3159-0040
Vol. 2 Issue 2, February - 2015

The STATCOM is used to control the power flow and reactive power flow through B1. It consists of 100-
along planned 500 kV interconnected line. The MVA, three-level, 48-pulse GTO-based converter; it's
STATCOM is installed at the Bus B1of the 240km line connected in shunt at bus B1. The MATLAB /
1 planned transmission line between 500 kV Bus B1 SIMULINK model of the case study system is shown in
(Section A) and Bus B3 (Section C). The STATCOM is Fig. 4.
employed to regulate B1 Bus voltage at (Section A),

L1= 500 kV _240 km

A
aA aA
N B bB bB

C cC cC
L2= 500 kV _75km B2 L3= 500 kV_180 km B3
Stati on A (8500 MVA)
Pow er System Equi val ent
A
C B
A
B

C
300 MW

C
A
B
200 MW
Stati on C (9000MVA)

C
Pow er System Equi val ent

A
B
Stati on B (6500MVA)

N
Pow er System Equi val ent

N
Q
Cp VdcP Pulses
------
B1

A aA
N
B bB

Cm VdcM C cC
VaSec, Va IaPrim (pu)
Va,VaIa
STATCOM
500 kV, 100MVA Q (Mvar)
Q (Mvar)

Vmeas Vref (pu)

Vmes Vref (pu)

[Vabc_B1] Vabc Vdc

Vdc

[Iabc_B1] Iabc Pulses

Signals and STATCOM
Scopes

2 VdcPN

Multimeter STATCOM
Controller

+100 Mvar/-100 Mvar 48-pulse GTO STATCOM

Fig. 4. MATLAB/SIMULINK Study System Model using STATCOM [13]

The Typical Overhead Transmission Line parameters bus voltage of fig. 5 at 0.979pu.
of the 500 kV Transmission line system was taken A 100-Mvar STATCOM regulates voltage on the
from [12]. bus B3 of a 500 kV interconnected power system.
Result in fig. 5 reveals that, when the bus voltage B3 is
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1.0pu, the STATCOM is out of service. Thus, if the
The simulation was prepared using reference voltage Vref is set to 1.0pu, the STATCOM
MATLAB/SIMULINK package available in MATLAB doesn’t exhibit current interchange (zero current).
9.1. The STATCOM characteristic is simulated for bus
voltage and reactive power flow control.
From fig. 5, STATCOM is in the voltage control mode
and its reference voltage is set to Vref = 1.0 P.U. The
voltage drop of the regulator is 0.03pu/100VA.
Therefore when the STATCOM operating point
changes from fully capacitive (+100 Mvar) to fully
inductive (-100 Mvar) the STATCOM voltage varies
between 1.0 – 0.03 = 0.97pu and 1.0 + 0.03 = 1.03pu.

Fig. 6. Change in Reactive Power (Mvar)

At time t= 0.2 second, fig. 5 reveals a rapid

increase of source voltage from 0.979p.u to 1.03p.u.
As a result, fig. 6 displays STATCOM reaction by
changing its operating point from capacitive mode
(+70Mvar) to inductive mode (-75Mvar) to keep
voltage at 1.021pu. At this point the STATCOM
absorbs -75Mvar as shown in fig. 6.
Fig. 5. STATCOM Voltage Magnitude Measurement (V p.u) At time t=0.3second, fig. 5 and 6 also displayed
how the voltage source is set back to its nominal
Result in fig. 5 shows the STATCOM voltage value, and that of STATCOM operating point comesup
source 1.0p.u at time t= 0 second, while fig. 6 reveals to 0 Mvar respectively.
reactive power at 0-Mvar at time t= 0 sec respectively.
At t = 0.1 second, the voltage source of fig. 5 suddenly
decrease to 0.955pu. As a result, Fig. 6 display
STATCOM reaction by generating reactive power of
Q=+70Mvar (capacitive mode) in order to keep the

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 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)
ISSN: 3159-0040
Vol. 2 Issue 2, February - 2015

General Meeting, 2005.

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Fig. 7.Behaviour of the DC bus voltage (kV)
[4] Ricardo Da`valos Mari`n, Detailed analysis of
Finally, result in fig. 7 shows the behaviour of DC a multi-pulse STATCOM, Pre-doctoral thesis, May
bus voltage. At time t= 0.1 second of fig. 5 when a 2003.
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range. On the other hand, at t=0.2 sec of fig. 5, when a
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voltage has lowered to 18.2 kV. At this point, the Simulation of a three level 48 pulses STATCOM.
STATCOM absorbs reactive power.
[7] Michael Merkle and Amir M. Miri: “Detailed
IV. CONCLUSSION dynamic modelling of a 50MVAr STATCOM via
network simulation in time domain”: Proc. of IEEE
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the bus voltage profile. It is commonly used to maintain
Engineering, 2001.
a constant voltage across ac transmission lines and
also serve as automatic reactive power control. The [8] Md. Nazrul Islam, M.d Arifur Kabir and
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simulate a model of power system with STATCOM STATCOM to improve power quality”. International
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Modelling of STATCOM: A Comparison of Power
reacts by absorbing the reactive power, so the DC
Injection and Current Injection Models in Power Flow
voltage decreased. This is the inductive mode.
Study” International Journal of Advanced Technology
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[12] Prabha Shankar Kundur, Power System
reactive power flow through the line.
Stability and control, Power System Engineering
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