You are on page 1of 2

FACTS

TCSC for stable transmission of surplus power


from Eastern to Western India

two Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) from ABB.


The banks were installed on the Rourkela-Raipur double circuit
400 kV power transmission interconnector between the
Eastern and Western regions of the grid. The length of the
interconnector amounts to 412 km. The main purpose of this
major AC interconnector is to enable export of surplus energy
from the Eastern to the Western regions of India during norPower Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has purchased
mal operating conditions, and also during contingencies. The
two Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) from
TCSC are located at the Raipur end of the lines.
ABB. The banks were installed on the Rourkela-Raipur
double circuit 400 kV power transmission interc onnector
The TCSC enable damping of interarea power oscillations
between the Eastern and Western regions of the grid. The
between the regions, which would otherwise have constituted
length of the interconnector amounts to 412 km.
a limitation on power transfer over the interconnector.
Dynamic simulations performed during the design stage, and
The main purpose of this major AC interconnector is to enable
subsequently confirmed at the commissioning and testing
export of surplus energy from the Eastern to the Western
stage, have proved the effectiveness of the Raipur TCSC as
regions of India during normal operating conditions, and also
power oscillation dampers.
during contingencies. The TCSC are located at the Raipur end
Furthermore, system studies performed showed no risk for
of the lines. The TCSC enable damping of interarea power
Sub-Synchronous Resonance (SSR) in the Indian network.
oscillations between the regions, which would otherwise have
constituted a limitation on power transfer over the interconand Western regions. As a solution to these interarea low
nector. Dynamic simulations performed during the design
frequency power swings, the studies proposed two fixed
stage, and subsequently confirmed at the commissioning and
Series Capacitors, each with 40% degree of compensation
testing stage, have proved the effectiveness of the Raipur
of the Rourkela-Raipur line, and two TCSCs, each with 5%
TCSC as power oscillation dampers. Furthermore, system
degree of compensation of the Rourkela-Raipur line. For
studies performed showed no risk for Sub-Synchronous
power oscillation damping (POD), by control of the boost facResonance (SSR) in the Indian network.
tor, the TCSCs introduce a component of modulation of the
effective reactance of the power lines. During power swings
Power oscillation damping
the inserted TCSC reactance can be changed between 20.5
Low frequency interarea oscillations are a well-known pheno
capacitive, corresponding to a boost factor of 3.0, and 1.3 ,
menon arising between distinct groups of rotating machines,
corresponding to TCSC bypass. By suitable system control,
interconnected by a weak or heavily loaded AC tie. The
this modulation of reactance counteracts the oscillation of
interarea oscillation frequency is typically in the range below
active power, thereby quickly damping it out. The Rourkela1 Hz. Previous studies carried out by PGCIL had identified
Raipur TCSCs have proven effective as power oscillation
poorly damped behaviour of the power grid manifesting itself
dampers.
in low frequency interarea oscillations between the Eastern

Thyristor valve
For controlled series capacitors, a thyristor valve is used for
controlling the apparent reactance of the capacitor. This is
done by adding charge to the capacitor through the thyristor
valve, i.e. boosting the capacitor voltage. The valve, located
on platform level, is water-cooled and equipped with two
vertically mounted, antiparallel stacks of thyristors. Each valve
string consists of 14 thyristors in series connection, each with
a wafer diameter of four inches. All communication between
valve and the ground mounted control system is done via fibre
optics. The thyristor valve is rated for a continuous current of
1850 A and a voltage of 12.7 kVrms. It is furthermore rated to
withstand short-circuit currents up to 55 kApeak, safely above
any plausible fault situation that the valve may have to endure
in operation.

For more information please contact:


ABB AB
FACTS
SE-721 64 Vsters, Sweden
Phone: +46 21 32 50 00
Fax: +46 21 32 48 10
www.abb.com/FACTS

Application Note A02-0185 E, 2011-03

Power oscillation damping

Power Transfer = 1500 MW

1050

Power Transfer = 1500 MW

1050
1000

Power Transfer = 1500 MW

1050
1000
950
1000
950

900
900
950
850
850
900

P [MW]

Current measurements for the control and protection functions are attained by use of Optical Current Transformers
(OCT). The OCT consists of a current transducer in the high
voltage busbar and an optical interface module in the control
room. Signal transmission between transducer and interface
is carried out by means of an optical fibre system including
platform links, high voltage signal columns and fibre optic cables. When power oscillations are detected, the POD control
function changes the reactance reference in such a way that
the power oscillations are damped out.

400
400kV
kV
400 kV
400 kV

P [MW] P [MW]

Control and protection


The control system is based on the ABB MACH 2 concept,
which is a hardware and software system specifically developed for power applications. The MACH 2 system is built
around an industrial PC with add-in boards and I/O racks
connected through standard type field busses like CAN and
TDM. This has facilitated very high performance together with
small dimensions of the hardware. The TCSC can be control
led from two different locations. In the local control room there
is an Operator Work Station (OWS), based on a personal
comp uter. The TCSC can also be remotely controlled via a
Remote Work Station (RWS) from the substation control room.

Single-line diagram

800
800
850
750
750
800
700
700
750
650
650
700
600
600
650
550
550
6000 0

550
0

TCSC
2 2

10

10

15
15
time [s]
time [s]

10

20

20

15
time [s]

FSC
FSC
TCSC
TCSC
25
30
30
FSC
TCSC

25

20

25

Power
Transfer
= 1500
Transfer
= 1500
MW MW
reactancePower
response

2 2
2

30

FSC FSC
TCSC TCSC

Power Transfer = 1500 MW

FSC
TCSC

-2 -2
2
-4 -4
-2
-6 -6
-4
-8 -8
-6
-10 -10

Xc [Ohm] Xc [Ohm]
Xc [Ohm]

The graphs show a 1500 MW power transfer situation from


Eastern to Western regions, with a single-phase to ground
fault at Raipur s/s, cleared after 100 ms. A severe 0.35 Hz
power oscillation is triggered over the interconnector and actively damped out by means of the TCSC. The damping effect
of the TCSC is very distinct as shown in the Power oscillation
damping graph to the right in this page.

-8
-12

-10
-14
-12
-16

-12
-14

-16
-14
-18
0-18
-16 0
-18
0

10

10

10

15
time [s] 15
time [s]

20

15
time [s]

20

20

25

25

25

30

30

30

Main technical data (per one TCSC)


Parameter

Fixed Segment TCSC Segment

Nominal system voltage

400 kV

400 kV

Rated line current

1550 A

1550 A

Line current overload, 30 minutes 2093 A

2093 A

Line current overload, 10 minutes 2325 A

2325 A

Physical capacitor reactance

54.7

6.83

Nominal capacitive boost factor

1.0

1.2

Boost factor range

1.03.0

Rated capacitor reactive power

394 Mvar

71 Mvar

Rated capacitor bank voltage

84.8 kV

12.7 kV

Degree of compensation

40%

5% (@ 1.0 boost factor)

ZnO rating (incl. redundancy)

56 MJ

15 MJ

You might also like