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Technical Description of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC)

Flexible AC Transmission Systems

Part of the book series: CIGRE Green Books ((CIGREGB))

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Abstract

Thyristor-controlled series compensation (TCSC) systems and thyristor switched series compensation (TSSC) systems are power electronic systems developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s in response to the anticipated need for better utilization of existing high voltage overhead transmission lines because of the difficulties in getting approval for building new lines. The actual experience has been that TCSC systems are primarily being applied in areas with high growth rates where there is a need for long, high voltage ac transmission lines. However, even in areas with existing high power lines imbedded in the ac power system, the load carrying capacity of the lines can be improved by using fixed or switched series capacitor compensation systems. The inherent risks associated with increased loading of existing lines is that if the power system were to be subjected to severe disturbances, there might be a wide spread blackout. TCSC systems represent a tool to manage disturbances and to avoid blackouts by quickly rerouting the power flows from the high stressed lines to lines with the ability to carry higher loads and thereby avoiding blackouts. TCSC systems have been applied to enable construction of long ac lines, which would be unstable if the TCSC systems were not installed. That is, TCSC systems have been proven to be a powerful tool to enhance the stability of the ac systems and even to provide damping of subsynchronous oscillations where the use of fixed series capacitor (FSC) installation could have caused subsynchronous resonance endangering the reliability of large steam turbine generators.

The design requirements for the TCSC FACTS controller are discussed in this chapter. The fundamental operating principles of TCSC systems, the key TCSC design aspects, standards, and other documents, which would be useful to have by those who procure, maintain, or operate a TCSC system are also discussed in this chapter.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The stated objective of EPRI’s FACTS initiative was to provide utilities in the USA with methods for systems analysis, design, and operation that would enable better utilization of the existing transmission facilities and improve the operational flexibility (EPRI EL-6943 1991).

  2. 2.

    In the same way as for a fixed series capacitor bank, the voltages on either side of the TCSC system will, however, need to be considered to avoid creating line voltages that will overstress the insulation of the line.

  3. 3.

    A comprehensive treatise specifically for the TCSC but also for some aspects of FACTS technology applications in general can be found in Ängquist 2002.

  4. 4.

    See, for example, data sheet for a device 5STP 42U6500. https://library.e.abb.com/public/c92a9062c3392b1f83257c63004dbb1d/5STP%2042U6500_5SYA1043-07%20Mar%2014.pdf, accessed November 11, 2018.

  5. 5.

    Hydrogenerators and turbines are less susceptible to subsynchronous generators because of the high inertia of these systems and the inherent damping provided by the waterwheel Kundur (1994).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering Practice, Exponent, Sedona, AZ, USA

    Stig Nilsson

  2. ABB, Västerås, Sweden

    Marcio Oliveira

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  1. Stig Nilsson
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  2. Marcio Oliveira
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Nilsson, S., Oliveira, M. (2019). Technical Description of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC). In: Flexible AC Transmission Systems . CIGRE Green Books. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71926-9_26-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71926-9_26-1

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  1. Latest

    Technical Description of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC)
    Published:
    11 March 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71926-9_26-2

  2. Original

    Technical Description of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC)
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    19 April 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71926-9_26-1

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