Static synchronous compensators (STATCOM)

The Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) is a shunt connected reactive compensation

equipment which is capable of generating and/or absorbing reactive power whose output can be
varied so as to maintain control of specific parameters of the electric power system. The
STATCOM provides operating characteristics similar to a rotating synchronous compensator
without the mechanical inertia, due to the STATCOM employ solid state power switching devices
it provides rapid controllability of the three phase voltages, both in magnitude and phase angle.
STATCOM provide voltage support to buses by modulating bus voltages during dynamic
disturbances in order to provide better transient characteristics, improve the transient stability
margins and to damp out the system oscillations due to these disturbances.
Definition
STATCOM is defined by IEEE as a self-commutated switching power converter supplied from an
appropriate electric energy source and operated to produce a set of adjustable multiphase
voltage, which may be coupled to an AC power system for the purpose of exchanging
independently controllable real and reactive power.
When two AC sources of same frequency are connected through a series inductance, active
power flows from leading source to lagging source and reactive power flows from higher voltage
magnitude AC source to lower voltage magnitude AC source. Active power flow is determined
by the phase angle difference between the sources and the reactive power flow is determined
by the voltage magnitude difference between the sources. Hence, STATCOM can control reactive
power flow by changing the fundamental component of the converter voltage with respect to
the AC bus bar voltage both phase wise and magnitude wise.
Basic Circuit Configuration of STATCOM
The STATCOM has been defined as per CIGRE/IEEE with following three operating structural
components.
First component is Static: based on solid state switching devices with no rotating components;
Second component is Synchronous: analogous to an ideal synchronous machine with 3
sinusoidal phase voltages at fundamental frequency;
Third component is Compensator: provided with reactive compensation
The typical connection of STATCOM to AC bus is shown in Figure. That consists of the coupling
transformer, input filter, Voltage Source Converter and a controller.

The STATCOM is a static compensator is composed of inverters with a capacitor in its dc side,
coupling transformers, and a control system. The inverters are, in conventional STATCOMs,

switched with a single pulse per period and the transformers are connected in order to provide
harmonic minimization. The equipment action is made through the continuous and quick control
of capacitive or inductive reactive power. Its output voltage is a waveform composed of pulses
that approaches a sinusoidal wave. To obtain voltage harmonic content, that clearly agrees with
strict standards, without the necessity of filters, it is necessary at least a set of eight inverters
and transformers to produce a 48-pulse voltage waveform.
Operating principle of STATCOM
A STATCOM is comparable to a Synchronous Condenser (or Compensator) which can supply
variable reactive power and regulate the voltage of the bus where it is connected. (Synchronous
condenser is a salient pole synchronous generator without prime mover).
The equivalent circuit of a Synchronous Condenser (SC) is shown below, which shows a variable
AC voltage source (E) whose magnitude is controlled by adjusting the field current. Neglecting
losses, the phase angle difference between the generated voltage (E) and the bus voltage (V)
can be assumed to be zero. By varying the magnitude of E, the reactive current supplied by SC
can be varied. When E = V, the reactive current output is zero. When E >V, the SC acts as a
capacitor whereas when E < V, the SC acts as an inductor. When delta = 0, the reactive current
drawn (Ir) is given by;

A STATCOM has a similar equivalent circuit as that of a SC. The AC voltage is directly
proportional to the DC voltage (Vdc) across the capacitor (see above Figure which shows the
circuit for a single phase STATCOM).
If an energy source (a battery or a rectifier) is present on the DC side, the voltage Vdc can be
held constant. The self-commutated switches T1 and T2 (based on say GTOs) are switched on
and off once in a cycle. The conduction period of each switch is 1800 and care has to be taken
to see that T1 is off when T2 is on and vice versa. The diodes D1 and D2 enable the conduction
of the current in the reverse direction. The charge on the capacitors ensures that the diodes are
reverse biased. The voltage waveform across PN is shown in Figure below.

When T2 is conducting (and T1 is off). The switches are synchronized with the supply voltage
(V) which is assumed to be sinusoidal of frequency
. The fundamental component, rms value
(E1) is obtained as

When E1 > V, the STATCOM draws a capacitive reactive current, whereas it is inductive if E1 <
V. Note that, to be compatible with the convention used for SVC, the inductive current drawn is
assumed to be positive. At the instant when T1 is switched on and Ir is inductive, the current
(Ir) flowing through the circuit is negative (as it is a lagging current) and flows through T1 (as
iT1 is negative of Ir). After 900, the current through T1 becomes zero and as Ir rises above
zero and becomes positive, the diode D1 takes over conduction. Similar events occur when T2
turns on and off. Thus, both T1 and T2 cease conduction before they are turned off. On the
other hand, when Ir is capacitive, the current Ir is positive at the instant of turning on T1 and
flows through the diode D1. After 900, the current reverses its sign and flows through T1. At
the time of switching off T1, the current through it is at its peak value. Thus, we need selfcommutated devices such as GTOs when the STATCOM draws capacitive reactive current. In
contrast, T1 and T2 carry peak current at turn on when Ir is inductive. Note that diode D1 or D2
turns off automatically when the parallel device (T1 or T2) turns off. Also, the capacitors can be
charged from the source through the diodes.

STATCOM applications
STATCOM technology has multi-dimensional applications to control power system parameters in
steady state and dynamic system conditions.
STATCOM is used for power quality improvements, reactive power control, voltage regulation,
power swings or oscillations damping, damping torsional oscillations or SSR damping,
transmission line capacity enhancement, dynamic stability improvement including steady state,
transient and voltage stability, and for application under power system faults.
Energy storage applications; some manufacturing processes require absolute continuity of
supply to maintain product quality and/or safety, for example, float glass, paper, semiconductor devices, and some chemical and nuclear processes.
The cost of disruption may be so great that auxiliary or emergency power sources are
economically justified In distribution system, this controller is named as D-STATCOM being
widely used for power quality improvement, custom power, voltage regulation, compensation
and balancing of nonlinear loads and/or unbalanced loads, load power factor improvement,
harmonic elimination and so on.
Other applications of smaller STATCOMs, in service or under consideration, are for the reduction
of lamp flicker due to arc furnaces, for voltage control for wind farms and for balancing of
single-phase traction loads. These smaller units generally use PWM to obtain a satisfactory
harmonic performance.

STATCOM back-to-back inter-tie is a relatively new area of application to exchange power

between two inter-ties and to improve voltage stability. It is analogous to HVDC back-to-back
system named as HVDC light with inherent MVAR supporting feature.