Abstract
The purpose of commissioning is to establish that the installed FACTS controller performs as expected and complies with the specified and expected performance requirements, culminating with grid compliance testing. Successful completion of the commissioning tests is generally a prerequisite for unrestricted operation.
Commissioning tests require testing of the plant, starting from individual equipment items, sub-systems, and up to the entire integrated system. The commissioning will also validate model data by comparison of test results with studies performed beforehand. Accurate modelling of the FACTS controller is fundamental to ensuring that future power system studies adequately demonstrate the network behavior, including the FACTS controller.
This chapter discusses the entire suite of commissioning tests conducted as part of commissioning a new or upgraded FACTS controller.
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Notes
- 1.
Note that modern digital instruments such as digital oscilloscopes do not have adaptive cutoff filters built into the instrument. If in such a system the sweep time is increased, high-frequency noise can easily be captured and lead to aliasing of the data.
- 2.
Power system analysis programs are typically using just the positive-sequence systems as defined by Fortescue in the calculations.
- 3.
This might be classified as installation tests by some owners.
- 4.
All descriptions including the term “dc capacitor” apply to voltage source converter (VSC) based FACTS controllers such as STATCOMs.
- 5.
Electrolytic capacitor reforming is performed on the dc link capacitors within the STATCOM. When an electrolytic capacitor is left discharged for an extended period of time, e.g., between the FAT and commissioning, the oxide layer within the dc capacitors begins to degrade. The oxide degradation can reduce the dielectric strength between the capacitor terminals and may result in a short-circuit/large inrush current upon applying rated dc voltage when restarting the FACTS controller. Capacitor reforming is accomplished by slowly ramping up the dc voltage over time to reestablish the oxide layer.
- 6.
The risk of static electrification of large transformer may require that only a subset of the cooling pumps for the transformers are operated until the transformer has reached normal operating temperatures.
- 7.
For a TCSC controller, this would mean to energize the capacitors but to keep the TCR branch open, which might lead to SSR. Therefore, prior to making this test, studies have to be made to make sure that, in this mode, no SSR can arise.
- 8.
For TCSC controllers, this would mean keep the valves blocked.
- 9.
For TCSC controllers, this would mean increase of boost level in small steps (e.g., 5%) up to design levels.
- 10.
For TCSC controllers, this would mean decrease the boost level an appropriate amount for each step.
- 11.
For TCSC and UPFC controllers, a bypass breaker needs to be closed to bypass the series sections.
- 12.
See the Environmental Considerations for FACTS Controllers chapter in this book for more information.
- 13.
Loss determination tests are not performed on all FACTS installations but may be performed in cases where the customer requires measurements of the losses to confirm a functional specification.
- 14.
Similar test sequences will be adopted for TCSC and UPFC tests.
- 15.
As they occur more often on a transmission network, single-line-to-ground faults should be preferred. Also their asymmetry will likely exercise more functions of the control and protection systems.
- 16.
The step sizes required should be determined by power system simulation studies. Smaller steps may need to be applied depending on the size of FACTS controller and system strength.
- 17.
FACTS controllers in close proximity to each other may require exchange of operating states between the controllers to operate optimally. If not, the control characteristics must be tuned assuming that all of the controllers are operating normally, which may lead to suboptimal performance of the controllers.
- 18.
This is not feasible for wind power park systems where multiple turbines are installed.
- 19.
Online transfer function tests may be performed but may adversely trigger oscillatory modes in the power system at points far from where the FACTS controller is installed (Piwko et al. 1994).
- 20.
This is not applicable to all STATCOM designs.
- 21.
This is an application example and does not imply that this type of FACTS controller is the preferred system for integration of FACTS controllers and solar power systems.
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Badrzadeh, B. et al. (2019). Commissioning of FACTS Controllers. In: Nilsson, S. (eds) Flexible AC Transmission Systems . CIGRE Green Books. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71926-9_22-1
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