Static synchronous compensator

When AC won the War of Currents in the late 19th century, and electric grids began expanding and connecting cities and states, the need for reactive compensation became apparent.[2] While AC offered benefits with transformation and reduced current, the alternating nature of voltage and current lead to additional challenges with the natural capacitance and inductance of transmission lines. Heavily loaded lines consumed reactive power due to the line's inductance, and as transmission voltage increased throughout the 20th century, the higher voltage supplied capacitive reactive power. As operating a transmission line only at it surge impedance loading (SIL) was not feasible,[2] other means to manage the reactive power was needed.

A mercury-arc Valve used for high-voltage power electronics.

Synchronous Machines were commonly used at the time for Generators, and could provide some reactive power support, however were limited due to the increase in losses it caused. They also became less effective as higher voltage transmissions lines moved loads further from sources. Fixed, shunt capacitor and reactor banks filled this need by being deployed where needed. In particular, shunt capacitors switched by circuit breakers provided an effective means to managing varying reactive power requirements due to changing loads.[3] However, this was not without limitations.

Shunt capacitors and reactors are fixed devices, only able to be switched on and off. This required either a careful study of the exact size needed,[4] or accepting less than ideal effects on the voltage of a transmission line. The need for a more dynamic and flexible solution was realized with the mercury-arc valve in the early 20th century. Similar to a vacuum tube, the mercury-arc valve was a high-powered rectifier, capable of converting high AC voltages to DC. As the technology improved, inverting became possible as well and mercury valves found use in power systems and HVDC ties. When connected to a reactor, different switching pattern could be used to vary the effective inductance connected,[5] allow for more dynamic control. Arc valves continued to dominate power electronics until the rise of solid-state semiconductors in the mid 20th century.[6]

As semiconductors replaced vacuum tubes, the thyristor created the first modern FACTs devices in the Static VAR Compensator (SVC).[7] Effectively working as a circuit breaker that could switch on in milliseconds, it allowed for quickly switching capacitor banks. Connected to a reactor and switched sub-cycle allowed the effective inductance to be varied. The thyristor also greatly improved the control system, allowing an SVC to detect and react to faults to better support the system.[8] The thyristor dominated the FACTs and HVDC world until the late 20th century, when the IGBT began to match its power ratings.[9]

With the IGBT, the first voltage-sourced converters and STATCOMs began to enter the FACTs world. A prototype 1 MVAr STATCOM was described in a report by Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation in 1987.[10] The first production 100 MVAr STATCOM made by Westinghouse Electric was installed at the Tennessee Valley Authority Sullivan substation in 1995 but was quickly retired due to obsolescence of its components.[11]

The basis of a STATCOM is a voltage source converter (VSC) connected in series with some type of reactance, either a fixed Inductor or a Power Transformer. This allows a STATCOM to control power flow much like a Transmission Line, albeit without any active (real) power flow.[12] Given an inductor connected between two AC voltages, the reactive power flow between the two points is given by:

A STATCOM consisting of a VSC (bottom) and a fixed inductor (top). The inductor is connected on the other side to an AC system.

${\displaystyle Q={\frac {V_{S}*(\Delta V)}{X}}*\cos(\delta )}$

where

${\displaystyle Q}$: Reactive Power

${\displaystyle V_{S}}$: Sending-End Voltage

${\displaystyle \Delta V}$: Magnitude difference in ${\displaystyle V_{S}}$ and receiving end voltage ${\displaystyle V_{R}}$

${\displaystyle X}$: Reactance of the Inductor or transformer

${\displaystyle \delta }$: Phase-Angle difference between ${\displaystyle V_{S}}$ and ${\displaystyle V_{R}}$

With ${\displaystyle \delta }$ close to zero (as the STATCOM provides no real power and only consumes a small amount as losses[13]) and ${\displaystyle X}$ a fixed size, reactive power flow is controlled by the difference in magnitude of the two AC voltages.[14] From the equation, if the STATCOM creates a voltage magnitude greater than the system voltage, it supplies capacitive reactive power to the system. If the STATCOM's voltage magnitude is less, it consumes inductive reactive power from the system. As most modern VSCs are made of power electronics that are capable of making small voltage changes very quickly,[15] a dynamic reactive power output is possible. This compares to a traditional, fixed capacitor or inductor, that is either off (0 MVar) or at its maximum (for example, 50 MVar). A similarly sized STATCOM would range from 50 MVar Capacitive to 50 MVar Inductive, in as small as 1 MVar steps.

Since a STATCOM varies its voltage magnitude to control reactive power, the topology of how the VSC is designed and connected defines how effectively and quickly it can operate. There are numerous different topologies available for VSCs and power electronic based converters, the most common ones are covered below. IGBTS are listed as the power electronics device below, however older devices also used GTO Thyristors.

Two-Level Converter

Single phase of a three-phase bridge rectifier, showing 2 levels possible. Bottom right shows the switch equivalent of the IGBT operation.

One of the earliest VSC topologies was the two-level converter, adapted from the three-phase bridge rectifier. Also referred to as a 6-pulse rectifier, it is able to connect the AC voltage through different IGBT paths based on switching. When used as a rectifier to convert AC to DC, this allows both the positive and negative portion of the waveform to be converted to DC. When used in a VSC for a STATCOM, a capacitor can be connected across the DC side to produce a square wave with two levels.

This alone offers no real advantages for a STATCOM, as the voltage magnitude is fixed. However, if the IGBTs can be switched fast enough, Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) can be used to control the voltage magnitude. By varying the durations of the pulses, the effective magnitude of the voltage waveform can be controlled.[16] Since PWM still only produces square waves, harmonic generation is quite significant. Some harmonic reduction can be achieved by analytical techniques on different switching patterns; however, this is limited to controller complexity.[17] Each level of the two-level converter is also generally comprised of multiple series IGBTs, to create the needed final voltage, so coordination and timing between individual devices becomes challenging.

Three-Level Converter

Single phase of a three-level converter topology. Bottom right shows the switch equivalent of the IGBT operation.

Adding additional levels to a converter topology has the benefit of more closely mirroring a true voltage sine wave, which reduces harmonic generation and improves performance. If all three phases of a VSC utilize its own two-level converter topology, the phase-to-phase voltage will be three levels (as while the three phase have the same switching pattern, they are shifted in time relative to each other). This allows a positive and negative peak in addition to a zero level, which adds positive and negative symmetry and eliminates even order harmonics.[18] Another option is to enhance the two-level topology to a three-level converter.

By adding two additional IGBTs to the converter, three different levels can be created by have two IGBTs on at once. If each phase has its own three-level converter, then a total of five levels can be created. This creates a very crude sine wave, however PWM still offer less harmonic generation (as the pulses are still on all five levels).

Three-level converters can also be combined with transformers and phase shifting to create additional levels.[19] A transformer with two secondaries, one Wye-Wye and the other Wye-Delta, can be connected to two separate three-phase, three-level converters to double the number of levels. Additional phase-shifted windings can be used to turn the traditional 6 pulses of a three-level to 12, 24, or even 48 pulses.[20] With this many pulses and levels, the waveform better approximates a true sine wave, and all harmonics generated are of a much higher order that can be filtered out with a low-pass filter.

Modular Multi-level Converter

MMC topology for a single phase, with a DC bus. The diagram shows switches, which would be replaced with some type of IGBT arrangement in a VSC.

While adding phase shifting to three-level converters improves harmonic performance, it comes at the cost of adding 2,3, or even 4 additional STATCOMs. It also adds little too no redundancy, as the switching pattern is too complex to accommodate the loss of one STATCOM.[21] As the idea of the three-level converter is to add additional levels to better approximate a voltage sine wave, another topology called the Modular Multi-level Converter (MMC) offers some benefits.

The MMC topology is similar to the three-level in that switching on various IGBTs will connect different capacitors to the circuit. As each IGBT "switch" has its own capacitor, voltage can be built up in discrete steps. Adding additional levels increases the number of steps, better approximating a sine wave. With enough levels, PWM is not necessary as the waveform created is close enough to a true voltage sine wave and generates very little harmonics.

The IGBT arrangement around the capacitor for each step depends on the DC needs. If a DC bus is needed (for an HVDC tie or a STATCOM with synthetic inertia) than only two IGBTs are needed per capacitor level. If a DC bus is not needed, and there are benefits to connecting the three phases into a delta arrangement to eliminate zero sequence harmonics, four IGBTs can be used to surround the capacitor to bypass or switch it in at either polarity.[22]

The VI characteristics of typical STATCOM

As a STATCOM's VSC operation is based on changing current flow to affect voltage, its voltage-current (VI) characteristics control how it operates.[23] The VI characteristic can be divided into two distinct parts: a slopped region between its inductive and capacitive maximums, and its maximum operating points. While in the slopped region between its maximums, the STATCOM is said to be in voltage regulation mode, where it either supplies capacitive vars to increase the voltage or consumes inductive vars to lower the voltage. The rate at which it does this is set by the slope, which functions similar to a generator's droop speed control. This slope is programmable and can be set to a high value (to have the STATCOM regulate voltage like a traditional fixed reactive device) or to near zero, producing a very flat line and reserving the STATCOMs capacity for dynamic or transient events. The maximum slope is generally around 5%, to keep the system voltage within 5% of its nominal value.

When operating at either of its maximums, the STATCOM is said to be in a VAR control mode, where it's supplying or consuming its maximum reactive output. Unlike a traditional SVC, whose capacitive reactive output is linearly dependent on the voltage, a STATCOM can supply its maximum capacitive rating for any voltage.[24] This offers an advantage over SVCs, as a STATCOM's effectiveness is not dependent on the voltage drop caused by the fault. While technically capable of responding to near zero voltage magnitudes, typically a STATCOM is set to ride through voltage drops of around 0.2 pu and lower,[25] to prevent the STATCOM from causing a high over-voltage when the fault clears, and the voltage returns to normal. A STATCOM may also have a transient rating, where it can provide above its maximum current for very short time, allowing it to help the system better for larger faults. This rating depends on the specific design, but can be as high as 3.0 pu.[26]

A simplified PID regulator used for a voltage control mode in a STATCOM

To control the operation of a STATCOM when in voltage control mode, a closed loop, PID regulator is typically used, which allows for feedback on how changing the current flow is affecting the system voltage. A simplified PID regulator is shown, however a separate closed loop is sometimes used to determine the reference voltage with respect to the slope and any other modes a STATCOM may have.[27] A full PID system can be used, but typically the derivative component is removed (or set very low) to prevent noise from the system or measurements from causing unwanted fluctuations.[28]

A STATCOM may also have additional modes besides voltage regulation or VAR control, depending on specific needs of the system. Examples being active filtering of system harmonics[29] or gain control to accommodate system strength changes due to outages of generation or loads.[30]

STATCOM application as a mid-point compensation device.

As a fast, dynamic, and multi-quadrant source of reactive power, a STATCOM can be used for a wide variety of applications, however they are better suited for supporting the grid under fault or transient events or contingency events.[31] One popular use is to place a STATCOM along a Transmission Line, to improve system power flow.[32] Under normal operation the STATCOM will do very little, however in the event of a fault of a nearby line, the power that was being served is forced onto other transmission lines. Ordinarily this results in voltage drop increases due to increased power flow, but with a STATCOM available it can supply reactive power to increase the voltage until either the fault is removed (if temporary) or until a fixed capacitor can be switched in (if the fault is permanent). In some cases, a STATCOM can be installed at a substation, to help support multiple lines rather than just one, and help reducing the complexity of the protection on the line with a STATCOM on it.[33]

Depending on available control function, STATCOMs can also be used for more advanced applications, such as active filtering, Power Oscillation Damping (POD), or even limited active power interactions. With growth of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Energy Storage, there has been research into using STATCOMs to aid or augment these uses.[34][35] One area of recent research is virtual inertia: the use of an energy source on the DC side of a STATCOM to give it an inertia response similar to a synchronous condenser or generator.[36]

Fundamentally, a STACOM is type of static VAR compensator (SVC), with the main difference being that a STATCOM is a voltage-sourced converter while a traditional SVC is a current-sourced converter. Historically, STATCOM have been costlier than an SVC, in part due to higher cost of IGBTs), but in recent years IGBT power ratings have increased, closing the gap.

The response time of a STATCOM is shorter than that of a SVC,[10] mainly due to the fast-switching times provided by the IGBTs of the voltage source converter (thyristors cannot be switched off and must be commutated). As a result, the reaction time of a STATCOM is one to two cycles vs. two to three cycles for an SVC.[37]

The STATCOM also provides better reactive power support at low AC voltages than an SVC, since the reactive power from a STATCOM decreases linearly with the AC voltage (the current can be maintained at the rated value even down to low AC voltage), as opposed to power being a function of a square of voltage for SVC.[38] The SVC is not used in a severe undervoltage conditions (less than 0.6 pu), since leaving the capacitors on can worsen the transient overvoltage once the fault is cleared, while STATCOM can operate until 0.2-0.3 pu (this limit is due to possible loss of synchronicity and cooling).[39]

The footprint of a STATCOM is smaller, as it does not need large capacitors used by an SVC for TSC or Filters.[40]

• Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTs)
• Static VAR Compensator (SVC)
• Synchronous Condenser
• High-Voltage DC (HVDC)
• Static synchronous series compensator (SSSC)
• Unified power flow controller (UPFC)