A novel approach for modeling voltage-sourced converter-based FACTS controllers

Due to their ability to provide reactive power support and control active power flow, voltage-sourced-converter (VSC)-based flexible ac transmission system controllers can be used to improve the power transfer capability of congested transmission lines. A converter-based controller structure has the inherent feature to be used to provide shunt or series compensations. This inherent feature is utilized in the convertible static compensator installed at the New York Power Authority's Marcy substation, which can operate in 11 configurations of shunt and series compensations. Moreover, each configuration can be operated in different control modes. The paper presents a novel approach to model converter-based transmission controllers for load-flow calculations. The paper focuses on modeling converter-based controllers when two or more VSCs are coupled to a dc link (e.g., unified power-flow controller (UPFC), interline power-flow controller, and a generalized unified power-How controller). This approach also allows efficient implementation of various VSC operating limits, where one or more VSCs are loaded to their rated capacity. A computer program incorporating this approach is developed to illustrate the maximum dispatchability of UPFC and IPFC in a large power system.