Iraq Network 400kV, 50Hz Interconnect with Iran,

Turkey and Syria Inter-area Oscillation Damping

and Voltage Regulation by Using SVC
Qasim Kamil Mohsin, Xiangning Lin, Zhicheng Wang, M.Shoaib Khalid, Zhen Zhou, Peiwen Zheng
State Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Engineering, Huazhong University of
Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei Province, China
Abstract Electromechanical oscillations one of the most
important stability limits constraining power transfer between
two countries. This paper presents different power system
electromechanical oscillation types, and focuses on inter-area
oscillation, where SVC is chosen to be installed at the midpoint
of long tie line between Iraq and Turkey, so as to be more
effective for two options: the first option is to use the SVC for
inter-area oscillation damping, in case of system oscillation
occurring in a 3-ph-to-ground short circuit fault at the tie
transmission line between countries near the exporting area
which is removed after100ms, and the second option is to use it
as a voltage regulator of this long transmission line. The control
operation of the SVC is accomplished with the control signal
from remote control unit such as WAMS. By using Matlab and
Simulink, different simulation results are presented based on
various scenarios.
Index
Termselectromechanical
oscillation,
inter-area
oscillation, power system stabilizer (PSS), static var
compensator (SVC), matlab simulink.

I. INTRODUCTION
Iraq would be extending 400kv, 50Hz network by
interconnection with neighbor countries Iran, Turkey, and
Syria. The reliability demand of the inter-area power transfer
between two countries grows higher as load increases.
Constraints of unwanted power transfer limits are determined
from power system security considerations like thermal over
load, and voltage or stability limits [1]. Among them the
stability limit is the most important; the disturbances
occurring in a power system induce electromechanical
oscillations
of
the
electrical
generators.
These
Electromechanical oscillations can be classified in four main
categories [2]-[4]:(i) Local oscillations: between a unit and
the rest of the generating station and between the latter and
the rest of the power system. Their frequencies typically
range from (0.8 to 4.0) Hz. (ii) Interplant oscillations:
between two electrically close generation plants. Frequencies
can vary from (1 to 2)Hz. (iii) Inter area oscillations: between
two major groups of generation plants. Frequencies are
typically in a range of (0.1 to 0.8) Hz. (iv) Global oscillation:
characterized by a common in-phase oscillation of all
generators as found on an isolated system. The frequency of
such a global mode is typically under 0.2Hz.

978-1-4799-7537-2/14/$31.00 2014 IEEE

Inter-Area oscillations result from system events coupled

with a poorly damped electric power system. The oscillations
are observed in the large system with groups of generators, or
generating plants connected by relatively weak tie lines. The
low frequency modes (0.1 to 0.8 Hz) are found to involve
groups of generators, or generating plants, on one side of the
tie oscillating against groups of generators on the other side
of the tie. These oscillations are undesirable to result
instability of operation grid system. To damp such
electromechanical oscillations, traditionally Power system
stabilizers are used on generator excitation control system. A
PSS can be considerable as an additional block of a generator
excitation control, added to improve the overall power system
dynamic performance, especially for the control of
electromechanical oscillations. Thus, the PSS uses auxiliary
stabilizing signals such as generator speed, terminal voltage
and frequency or power to change the input signal of the
AVR. This is a very effective method to enhancing smallsignal stability performance on a power system network
[2].PSS are widely used through the excitation system of
generator to improve the stability of power system, which has
been becoming more complicated in recent year. However, in
case of two-area power systems connecting by long weak tie
line to be poorly damped and the control of PSS may be
ineffective to damp oscillation [5].Although Power System
Stabilizers exist on many generators, there effect is only on
the local area and do not effectively damp inter-area
oscillations. To overcome the inter-area oscillation, new
equipment such as various Flexible AC Transmission System
(FACTS) devices and Static Var Compensator (SVC) are
being increasingly used. SVC is considered as a lower cost
comparison to STATCOM, although in some case of
performance the required SVC ratings are larger than
required STATCOM [6], [7]. In such system the application
of SVC, which are placed at midpoint of tie line, are most
effective to damping inter-area oscillation of the system [8].
Generally, SVC is placed in a power system for maintaining
bus voltage at or near a constant level. A significant
contribution to system oscillation damping can be achieved
when an SVC is controlled by some auxiliary signals
superimposed over its voltage control loop [9].With high
performance communication infrastructure; WAMS provides

these signals within proper time to control damping

oscillation [1].
This paper presents the coordinated effect of SVC for
inter-area oscillation damping for the multi-generator power
system. Firstly, introduction of electro-mechanical
oscillation, inability of PSS, and effect of SVC for inter-area
oscillation damping are presented. In Section II, SVC model,
and the V-I characteristics are presented. In Section III, a case
study is demonstrated. In Section IV, two areas are simulated
using MATLAB and the effect of SVC on the system under
three phase fault is simulated. Section V, concludes this paper
based In Simulink Result.
II. STATIC VAR COMPENSATOR (SVC) MODEL
SVC is a shunt device of the Flexible AC Transmission
Systems (FACTS) using power electronics to control power
flow and improve transient stability of power grids [2]. One
of the major purposes of installing an SVC is to improve
dynamic voltage control, and it also increases system load
ability. An additional stabilizing control signal, on the SVC
voltage control loop can provide damping of system
oscillation. SVC is injecting/absorbing reactive power, by
exchanging capacitive or inductive current to maintain or
control specific power system variables such as the SVC bus
voltage. In this paper, the SVC is represented by a variable
reactance with capacitive limits by TSC and inductive by
TCR to control the SVC bus voltage, with an additional
remote control signal to damp oscillations [10]. Fig.1 shows
the single-line diagram of an SVC and its control system. The
variation of reactive power is performed by switching
between three-phase capacitor banks and inductor banks
connected on the secondary side of a coupling transformer.
Each capacitor bank is switched on-off by two thyristor
switches capacitor (TSC). Reactors switched on-off by two
thyristor control reactor (TCR) [2]-[4], [11]-[14].
A. SVC control circuit
The circuit diagram of Fig.1 consists of the following
stages: A voltage measurement stage for measuring the
voltage to be regulate at oscillation state (Vm) then added
with Vref which can be selected by signal from WAMS
/SCADA, then voltage regulator stage that uses the voltage
error from the adder to determine the value of the SVC
susceptance Bsvc needed to keep the system voltage constant,
distribution unit stage, determines that the TSC or TCR must
be switched on or off, and computes the firing angle of TCRs,
And at last stage synchronizing system using a phase-locked
loop (PLL) to synchronize the voltage and generate pulses
that send appropriate firing signals to the thyristors to activate
capacitor and reactor for damping oscillation.

Fig.1 Single-Line Diagram of a Static Var Compensator with Control

System.

B. SVC operation principle

The particular SVC modeled in the Fig.2 consists of a two
thyristor controlled reactor TCR to provide the lagging
VARs, and a two thyristor switched capacitor TSC to provide
the leading VARs. The lagging reactive power amplitude can
be controlled continuously by changing the thyristor firing
angle of TCR between 90 and 180 and can provide smooth
reactive power supply to the system. The leading reactive
power is provided by switching on or off a different number
of capacitor bank units in steps by TSC, it is faster and more
reliable than capacitor switching. By combining the two
operations, switching capacitor in steps and controlling
reactor continuously, a suitable variation in reactance can be
achieved [15].
The SVC is represented as a variable susceptance Bsvc
From the view point of power system operation, an SVC is
equivalent to a shunt capacitor and a shunt reactor that can be
adjusted to operate in voltage regulation mode.
C. SVC V-I Characteristic
Implements the following V-I characteristics in Fig.3 [2].

Fig.2 Static VAR compensation using TSC and TCR.

Fig.3 V-I Characteristics of the SVC.

As long as the SVC susceptance (B) stays within the

maximum and minimum susceptance values imposed by the
total reactive power of capacitor banks (Bcmax) and reactor
banks (Blmax), the voltage is regulated at the reference voltage
Vref.
The principle of SVC voltage regulation is to deal with
the increase or decrease reactance of transmission line
whereby SVC installed at middle point .The SVC effect on
the dynamic behavior of a power system can be investigated
by a single-machine system with a SVC as shown in Fig.4.a,
represented as a variable susceptance Bsvc in the equivalent
circuit of Fig4.b. The equivalent circuit is transferred to
connection circuit as shown in Fig4.c.Where the transfer
reactance X12 is as follows [16]:

X 12 = X 1 + X 2 BSVC X 1 X 2
(1)
From equation (1), when the SVC is capacitive, BSVC > 0 ,
X 12 < X 1 + X 2 and when the SVC is inductive, BSVC < 0 ,
X 12 > X 1 + X 2 .

III. CASE STUDY

The Electric utilities between two Areas be most reliable
after applying two of stability limits, first is voltage
regulation and second inter-area oscillation damping. To
study these two cases for The Iraq 400KV, 1000MVA, 50Hz
interconnectors with its neighboring countries Iran, Turkey,
and Syria. Suppose Iraq as Area3 with load 5000MW
supplied from Iraq transmission networks itself, with
4000MW supposed to be Area2 and 1000 MW supplied from
any one of the neighboring countries, and here it is supposed
to be Turkey at Area2.The system parameters of the
interconnection are shown below:

Fig.4 Single-machine system with SVC.

Transmission line parameters: 400KV, 1000MVA, 50Hz,

with R1=0.034 /km, X=0.315/km , R0=0.300 /km,
X0=0.976 /km

SVC is +300MVAR/-300 MVAR 400KV, 50Hz with

thyristor control reactor (TCR) and thyristor control
capacitor (TSC) mode.
Three case studies were presented using Matlab/Simulink
to demonstrate the active power flow from Turkey to Iraq
with inter- area oscillation damping and voltage regulation in
next section.

BSVC = BC BL

IV. SIMULATION WITH RESULT AND DISCUSSION

BSVC =
BL ( ) =

1
BL
XC

2 2 + sin ( 2 )

XL

(2)
(3)

SUB (3) and (2)

BSVC =

Where V denotes the positive sequence voltage, I denotes

the reactive current (I > 0 indicates inductive current I < 0
indicates capacitive current); Xs denotes the slope or droop
reactance; Bcmax denotes the maximum capacitive susceptance
with all TSCs in operation, and BL max denotes the maximum
inductive susceptance with TCR in operation with max firing
angle ().

1
XC X L

X C 2 ( ) + sin 2
XL

The Simulink done for 400KV, 1000MVA, 50HZ,

transmission line from Area1 with distance 400km supply
1000 MW to the load 5000MW at Area3 and Area2 supplies
4000 MW to the load of Area 3, assume the load is pure
resistive, the effects of three phase short circuit to ground
fault on the transmission line between Area2, 3 close to
Area2 with and without SVC are as shown below:

(4)

Where
XC =

, X L = L , is firing angle of TCR.

the V-I characteristic has the slope indicated in the Fig.3 is

described by the following three equations [2, 3, and 4]:
V = Vref + X S I

(5)

SVC is in regulation rang ( BC max < B < BL max )

V =
V=

I
, SVC is fully capacitive ( B = BC max )
BC max
I

BL max

, SVC is fully inductive ( B = BL max )

(6)
(7)

Fig.5 Simulink diagram circuit.

A. active power supply to load without fault /without SVC

effect
As in the simulation diagram Fig.5 without fault /without
SVC effect, the Simulink result of Fig.6, It can be seen that
the voltage level at B1 is 0.96p.u and that of B2 is 0.8p.u in
Fig.7, the voltage drop on the transmission line because it is
long and highly loaded. In Fig.8, B3 voltage is 1p.u with no
voltage drop. And from Fig.9, 10. Inter-area oscillation
frequency is 0.0Hz, and active power transfer from Area2 to
Area3 is 1000MW without oscillation. From Fig.11.a voltage
angles different of generators G1, G2, little oscillation would
be damped by PSS of generators. From Fig.12.a, Fig.13.a the
speed and the terminal voltages of generators G1, G2 are
identical.
B. active power supply to load with fault / without SVC
As in the simulation diagram Fig.5, by applying a 3-ph-toground fault near Area2 at 0.1s and removing it after 100ms.
From the Simulink result of Fig.6, 7, 8. The bas bars voltage
system B1, B2, B3 is oscillation, and not damped. And from
Fig.9, and Fig.10 inter-area oscillation frequency is 0.16HZ,
and active power transfer from Area2 to Area3 oscillation
between (1000 and -1000) MW and from Fig.11.b the
difference between the voltage angles of generators G1,G2
will be high. From Fig.12.b, speeds of one generator will
increase and another will be decrease. From Fig.13.b, there
will be oscillation at terminals of generators.
C. active power Supply to load with fault /with SVC effect
As in the simulation diagram Fig.5, with SVC connection
at the middle of transmission line connecting Area2 and
Area3. By applying a 3-ph-to-ground fault at 0.1s and
removed after 100ms and using remote control signal from
WAMS/SCADA to control voltage mode of SVC. the
Simulink result of Fig.6,7,8. Shows the bas bars voltages
system B1,B2,B3 oscillations are damped and voltages of
B1and B2 improved to be 1p.u . And from Fig.9,10 inter-area
oscillation is damped at 0.5 sec, and active power transfer
from Area2 to Are3 oscillation is damped at 2sec.and from
Fig.11.c the oscillation of voltage angles difference of
generators G1,G2 is damped at 2sec.From Fig.12.c, speed of
one generator has a little oscillation and damped at 2sec, and
then speeds of generators become identical. From Fig.13.c
voltage terminals of one generator have a little oscillation
damped at 2 sec.

FIG.7 Voltage at B2 in (p.u) with/without SVC effect.

FIG.8 Voltage at B3 in (p.u) with/without svc effect.

Fig.9 Inter-area oscillation frequency in (Hz) with/without SVC effect.

Fig.10 Active power value (MW) transfer from Area2 to Area3 with/without
SVC effect.

a) Without fault without SVC effect.

Fig.6 Voltage at B1 in (p.u) with/without SVC effect.

a) Without fault without SVC effect.

b) With fault without SVC effect.

c) With fault with SVC effect.

b) With fault without SVC effect.

Fig.11 Different between angles of G1 at Area1 & G2 at Area2 in (degree).

c) With fault with SVC effect

a) Without fault without SVC effect

b) With fault without SVC effect

c) With fault with SVC effect

Fig.12 Speeds of G1 at Area1 & G2 at Area2 in ( p.u)

Fig.13 Terminal voltage of G1 & G2 at in (p.u)

a) Voltage measure value in ( p.u)

b) Susceptance value add to regulate voltage in (p.u)

Fig.14 SVC voltage measure and susceptance values for damp oscillation

The Simulink result of Fig.14, represent

the
performances of SVC, the susceptance values (BSVC) of
Fig.14.b changes according to Equations (1), (5), (6), (7), at
time 0.02s it is at its maximum value +2.5p.u when voltage

measure(Vm) of Fig.14.a, is minimum value - 0.52p.u, the

Bsvc is work as capacitive mode, and at 1s the voltage
measure (Vm) become more than 1 p.u , the susceptance
values becoming minimum value - 0.7p.u, the Bsvc is work
as inductive mode, after 1.3s voltage measure value (Vm) is
less than 1p.u, the susceptance value becoming 0.6p.u, the
Bsvc is work as capacitive mode to improvement the voltage
drop.
Its clear from the simulation results of Fig.6, 7 that
voltage oscillation of bas bars system B1, B2 is damped with
improvement of voltage drop to be 1p.u, which suggests that
SVC can accomplish two main objects: one is inter-area
oscillation damping and the other is voltage regulation .
V. CONCLUSIONS
This paper presented different types of electromechanical
oscillation and discussed about the ability of power system
stabilizer (PSS) in local oscillation damping and inefficient to
low frequency inter area-oscillation damping of two area
connected by tie line ,and proposed the usage of SVC at the
middle of at the middle of this line between two areas.
Simulation results have proved SVC of more efficiency in
accomplishing two objects: one is inter area-oscillation
damping by remote control signal, and the other is voltage
regulation, which can provide robustness connection among
Iraq with neighboring countries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank everyone at the HUST/department of Electrical
& Electronic Engineering who participated in this research
for many stimulating discussions. Also special thanks
Ministry of electricity of Iraq /Energy Transmission of
Euphrates Medill region.
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