Power System Engineering Development using FACT Devices

Rahul Mishra, Mohit Kumawat, Pushpendra Singh, Mohit Jain

Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS), controllers, shunt impedance.

A combination of lack of investment and environmental issues results in lack of building of new transmission infrastructure. This leads to a requirement for better utilization of existing transmission network. Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) controllers are widely used for this purpose. However, due to their cost the wide spread use of such devices is limited. Thus the problem exists of where/how to use these resources (devices) in a modern network setting, which is operated under competitive trading. FACTS technology has opened up new opportunities for controlling power and enhancing the usable capacity of present, as well as new and up graded lines. These opportunities arise through the ability of FACTS controllers to control the inter-related parameters that govern the operation of transmission system including series impedance, shunt impedance, current, voltage, phase angle and damping of oscillation at various frequencies below rated frequency. FACTS technology is not a single high-speed controller, but rather a collection of controllers, which can be applied individually or in co-ordination with others to control one or more of the interrelated system parameters. But for the efficient control of these parameters proper co-ordination and exact placement of different FACTS devices in the system imperative.