UNIFIED POWER FLOW CONVERTER UPFC

UNIFIED POWER FLOW CONVERTER UPFC

UPFC concept was proposed by GyuGyi in 1991. The UPFC was devised for real-time control and dynamic compensation of ac transmission systems. It provides multifunctional flexibility to solve many of the issues facing the power delivery industries. UPFC is able to control synchronic or individually all the parameters (i.e. voltage, phase angle, and impedance) affecting power flow in the power system network. Thus this unique capability is announced by the adjective “unified”.the main reason behind the wide spread of UPFC is its ability to power flow bi-directionally maintain well-regulated DC voltage, and workability in a wide range of operating conditions.

This is the second or latest generation of FACTS technology. This FACTs device combines the two features of two other FACTS devices STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) and SSSC (the static synchronous series compensator). Basically, these devices are voltage source converters (VSCs) . the UPFC is a generally synchronous voltage source (SVS). The SVS usually exchanges both reactive and real power with the transmission system. Frankly speaking, an SVS is able to generate only reactive power exchanged; the real power must be supplied to it, or absorbed from it by a suitable power supply or link.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF UNIFIED POWER FLOW CONTROLLER UPFC

UPFC consist of two back to back converters named VSC1 and VSC2, are operated from a DC link provided by a dc storage capacitor. These arrangements operate as an ideal ac to ac converter in which the real power can freely flow either in direction between the ac terminals of the two converts and each converter can independently generate or absorb reactive power as its own ac output terminal.

PIN IT
Figure: Basic UPFC scheme

One VSC is connected to in shunt to the transmission line via a shunt transformer and other one is connected in series through a series transformer. The DC terminal of two VSCs is coupled and this creates a path for active power exchange between the converters. VSC provide the main function of UPFC by injecting a voltage with controllable magnitude and phase angle in series with the line via an injection transformer. This injected voltage act as a synchronous ac voltage source. The transmission line current flows through this voltage source resulting in reactive and active power exchange between it and the ac system. The reactive power exchanged at the dc terminal is generated internally by the converter. The real power exchanged at the ac terminal is converted into dc power which appears at the dc link as a real power demand. And VSC1 is to supply or absorb the real power demanded by converter2 at the common dc link to support real power exchange resulting from the series voltage injection. This dc link power demand of VSC2 is converted back to ac by VSC1 and coupled to the transmission line bus via shunt connected transformer. In addition, VSC1 can also generate or absorb controllable reactive power if it is required and thereby provide independent shunt reactive compensation for the line. Thus VSC1 can be operated at a unity power factor or to be controlled to have a reactive power exchange with the line independent of the reactive power exchanged by VSC1. Obviously, there can be no reactive power flow through the UPFC dc link.

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Aanchal Gupta

Welcome to my website! I'm Aanchal Gupta, an expert in Electrical Technology, and I'm excited to share my knowledge and insights with you. With a strong educational background and practical experience, I aim to provide valuable information and solutions related to the field of electrical engineering. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in Electrical Engineering, which has equipped me with a solid foundation in the principles and applications of electrical technology. Throughout my academic journey, I focused on developing a deep understanding of various electrical systems, circuits, and power distribution networks.

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