PSCAD WIND POWER TRAINING

Tutorial 1

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: April 2008
Revision:
1
Date:

dm / Tutorial_01

1/4

Tutorial 1 Effect of variable wind on grid operation..

T1.1 Create a new case by using either the Menu or Toolbar. A new case should
appear in the Workspace settings entitled noname [psc]. Right-click on this
Workspace settings entry and select Save As and give the case a name.
NOTE: Do not use any spaces in the name!
Create a folder called
Wind_variation_01.psc

c:/PscadTraining.

Save

the

case

as

T1.2 Open the main page of your new case. Build a case representing a
simplified two area power system as shown in the figure below. A 145 km
transmission system connects a small wind farm to the 345 kV transmission
system. All connections to Bus 1 are represented by an equivalent 345 kV
source. The equivalent source impedance is derived from a steady state fault
study at 60 Hz.
The wind farm has 10 generators, each 0.75 MW at 0.69 kV. The voltage is
stepped up to 13.8 kV at each machine before connecting to the 13.8/115 kV
transformer. The 10 wind generator installations are modeled as an equivalent
machine of 7.5 MW and a 5 MVA transformer.
All required network data are provided in Appendix 1.
Bus 1
Bus 2

#1

#2

P = 5.485
Q = -3.064
V = 115.9

RRL

A
V

T
TLine_02

T
TLine_01

Ia

P = 3.639
Q = -2.344
V = 13.48
#1

#2

A
V

Wind
Generators

45 km line
100 km line

RL

Ea

345 kv
'Weak system

P+jQ

Fig1. Single line diagram of the system

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Timed
Breaker
Logic
Closed@t0

BRK1

1.00499

IM

TIME

Tin

P = 3.648
Q = -1.908
V = 0.6438

Transformer 2

A
V

#1

#2

BRK1

TL

*
-1

Fig2. Details of the wind farm

T1.3 Discuss different components of the system model and the input data with
the instructor.
T1.4 Run the case with a constant -0.5 pu torque input to the machine. Observe
power and reactive power in different line sections.
1
T1.5 The power in the wind (Pw) is Pw = . A. .C p .V 3 . Implement this equation
2
using the control blocks available in the PSCAD Master Library. Assume a
constant Cp value of 0.35 for the exercise.

Wind turbine rotor radius 23.5 m

Air density 1.22 kg/m3

23.5
Rotor Radius

X2
Constant Cp assumed
Cp = 0.35

0.35

3.14159
PI

0.5
Constant

Pw

1.22
Air Density
*

N
Pw

N/D

750000.0 D
Wind Source
Mean
Gust

N/D

Tin

D
W

0.75 MW = 750000 W
Vw

x
10

Convert Power to Torque

3.0

Wind Speed

log X

Fig 3. Using the wind model in a PSCAD simulation.

T1.6 Run the simulation with a mean wind speed of 10 m/s. This will result in a
torque of approximately 0.5 pu.

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T1.7 Use the wind model to study the response of the system to a sudden wind
gust. The gust should be applied when the system is in a steady state.
Gust duration 2 s
Peak gust 2 m/s
Change the gust magnitude and duration to different values and observe results.
Note the voltage fluctuations at the 115 kV load bus.
Note the possible overloading of lines and transformers.
T1.8 Use the wind model to study the response of the system to noise
(turbulence) in the wind.
Note the voltage fluctuations at the 115 kV load bus.
Can the voltage fluctuations be controlled using FACTS solutions?

T1.9 Discuss how field data of wind can be used in a simulation. The data in
windvariation.txt is from a field recording. Use this data in the simulation study.

2
w indvariation.txt

windvariation.txt

D + +
4.0

Ws

Fig 4. Reading recorded data of wind speed.

T1.10 Discuss how field data of wind can be used in a simulation. The data in
windvariation.txt is from a field recording. Use this data in the simulation study
(Fig 4).
T1.11 Load the PSCAD case Wind_variation_02.psc. A STATCOM is
connected at the 115 kV load bus. Observe the voltage variations at the 115 kV
load bus during wind speed variations. FACTS devices can be used to solve
power quality problems resulting from wind speed fluctuations.

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PSCAD WIND POWER TRAINING

Tutorial 2

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: April 2008
Revision:
1
Date:

dm / Tutorial_02

1/3

Tutorial 2 Wind turbine characteristics and pitch control

T1.1 Load the case used in Tutorial 1(Wind_variation_01.psc). Save the case
as Wind_pitch_control_01.psc before making changes.
T1.2 Figure 1 shows the connection of wind related models to be used in a study.
The output torque Tin will be the input to the wind generator.
Discuss each model with your instructor.
T1.3 The data and the details of the wind turbine characteristics are listed in a
MathCAD worksheet included with your course material. Use the data in this
MathCAD sheet (Turbine_characteristics_V52)
T1.4 What is the purpose of the signal CNT?
T1.5 At a steady wind speed of 15 m/s, what would be the required pitch angle to
regulate the turbine power to 0.5 pu of its rating? (Hint: use the MathCAD
worksheet)
T1.6 Implement the wind system shown in Figure 1. Study the response of the
system to wind gusts and ramps.
T1.7 Study the response of the system to wind noise. Does the blade pitch
actuator respond to noise.
T1.8 Once the simulation is in a steady state (with 15 m/s wind), apply a step
change in wind speed of 2.5 m/s (15 m/s to 17.5m/s). Does the pitch angle settle
at the expected value?
T1.9 Apply a larger step change in wind speed (3 m/s). Discuss results.

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Wind Source
Mean

Vw

Tin
P

Actual hub speed

of machine

Ctrl = 1

Beta

1.0

Tm

Vw

Noise

Wind Turbine
MOD 2 Type

Vw

N/D

Ctrl
D
3.0
Pole pairs

CNT
*
60.0

2 Pi

BETA

A 6 Pole Machine
Mechanical speed =
W(pu)*2*pi*f/(pole paris)

Beta
P1

*
0.133

Ctrl = 1

0.5

Pg

Ctrl
TIME

Wind Turbine
Governor
MOD 2 Type

CNT

Fig1. Wind system models

BRK1

1.00499

W
S

TIME

Tin

*
-1

IM

P = 3.648
Q = -1.908
V = 0.6438
A
V

Timed
Breaker
Logic
Closed@t0

Transformer 2

#1
BRK1

#2
A

TL

Fig2. Details of the wind farm

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PSCAD WIND POWER TRAINING

Tutorial 3

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: April 2008
Revision:
1
Date:

dm / Tutorial_03

1/3

Tutorial 3 Voltage sourced converters

T1.1 Load the case used PWM_inverter_01.psc.
0.5968 [H]

2.5 [ohm]

0.5968 [H]

2.5 [ohm]

Idc

R=0

26000

gt5

gt3

gt1

dcVltg

P = 147.8
Q = -0.8703
V = 173.3

Eab

26
Einv

R=0

Ebc

26000

6
gt2

0.5968 [H]

2.5 [ohm]

0.5968 [H]

4
gt6

A
V

R=0
#1

#2

4
gt4
Ec Eb Ea

2.5 [ohm]

T1.2 Use this case to understand the basic operation of voltage sourced
converters.
T1.3 In a sinusoidal PWM scheme, a high frequency (triangular) carrier signal is
compared with a low frequency modulating sinusoidal signal to generate the
firing pulses. The resulting voltage at the converter terminals will have a strong
voltage component of the same low frequency. The phase and the magnitude
(modulation) of the modulating signal will shape the phase and the magnitude of
the dominant low frequency voltage component at the converter.
Main : Graphs
1.25

Trig

sine1

1.00
0.75
0.50

0.25
0.00
-0.25
-0.50
-0.75
-1.00
7.7950

7.8000

7.8050

7.8100

7.8150

7.8200

7.8250

7.8300

7.8350

Fig 1. PWM signals used to generate the firing pulses.

T1.4 Verify the correct operation of the control system. (i.e. P and Q should settle
to the set points)
T1.5 Observe the frequency spectrum of the inverter voltage.

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T1.6 Change the control settings (Kp and Ki) and observe the response. At high
gains, will the system become unstable?
T1.7 A more detailed VSC based system is given in the PSCASD case
VSCTrans_wind_01.psc. The synchronous machine on the sending end may
represent wind generation.

C
Cable2

SE

RE

Sending End

Fig 2. VSC transmission example.

The DC link voltage is used as the reference to control the power flow into the
network. Discuss this principle.
T1.8 Apply a step change in torque (0.15 pu step at 2.5 s). Observe the response
of the system.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Note the following signals:

Machine power and reactive power
Machine speed
Power flow into the network.
Angle order and its limits of the sending end PWM modulating signal.

T1.9 The control of the converters can be used to optimize the performance of
the wind system.
Can you think of a simple method to limit the power flow into the network during a
wind gust?(hint: angle of the PWM modulating signal influences power flow)
T1.10 Limit the angle order of the sending end PWM signal. This will limit the
power flow in some way (provided the angle limits are reached).
Observe the machine speed. Does the machine speed settle down after
transients?

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DFIGAssignment:

LoadtheincompletePSCADcasenameddfig_case_01_inc.psc.Usethiscaseasthestartingpointto
buildtheDFIGcontrolsoftherotorside.

1) Usecurrentsourcestorepresenttherotorsideconverter.

Irc_ref

Irb_ref

Ira_ref

Irot

W
S

IM
V

TL

2) Usingcontrolblocks,implementaschemetodeterminethepositionofthestatorfluxvector.
D
+
Va
C
Isa

*
0.037

A
alfa

D
+
Vb
C
Isb

*
0.037

Isc

*
0.037

D
+
Vc
C

Valfa
B 3 to 2
Transform
beta Vbeta
C

1
sT
G

1
sT

sT
1 + sT

sT
G
1 + sT

phisx
X

M
M

Vsmag

phsmag

X
Y

phis

phisy

phis

3) Determine the slip angle. This is the angle between the rotor Aaxis and the position of the
statorfluxvector.
phis
C
ang +
D

slpang

Angle
Resolver

4) ThefollowingblockcanbeusedtoconverttheDandQaxisrotorcurrentstorespectivephase
currents.
slpang

Ird
Irq

5)
6)
7)

8)

alfa
Rotor
to Stator
Q
beta
D

alfa
2 to 3 B
Transform
beta
C

Irb_ref Irbb
Irc_ref Ircc

UsesliderstoassignvaluesforIrdandIrq.(Note:StartwithIrd=0.05andIrq=0.2)

NotetheresponseofthemachinepowerandthereactivepowerwhenIrdandIrqarechanged.

Themachineissettorunat1.1puspeed.Inarealsetup,thesignalIrqwillcontrolthemachine
speed.Canwechangethemachinespeedsetpointandmaintainunchangedsteadystatepower
andreactivepower?

ConstructasimplecontrolcircuitthatwillmaintainPandQatdesiredlevels.

25.0

A
B
P1

Ctrl = 1

Ctrl

D + -

30.0

A
B
Q1

*
0.25

Irq

F
P1

CNT

1.0

Ctrl = 1

Ctrl
CNT

Ira_ref Iraa

F
Q1

*
0.25

Ird

I
1.0

9) DiscussthedetailsofamoredetailedDFIGmodelDFIG_Model_Feb_07_*.psc

PSCAD WIND POWER TRAINING

Tutorial 5

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: April 2008
Revision:
1
Date:

dm / Tutorial_05

1/3

Tutorial 5 Low voltage fault ride through

T1.1 Open a new PSCAD case and build the circuit shown in fig 1. (see attached
sheet for data)
Wind Farm

33/230 kV, Z = 0.1 pu

IM

A
V

Stot
-0.5

Station A

100 MVA Transformer

#1

55 km line
230 kV

#2
0.037 [H]

0.037 [H]

TL
100 MVA/ 33 kV

RL

Timed
Breaker
Logic
Open@t0

BRK

BRK

RRL

1.004

Add fault
impedance here

Fig 1.Induction machine connected to the system through a step-up transformer.

T1.2 Using the breaker (BRK), apply a fault at the 230 kV bus. The fault
impedance should be selected so that the voltage drop near the wind generator
is around 80%. The fault should be cleared after 2 sec.
T1.3 Observe the response of the machine.
a. During the fault
b. After the fault clearance.
Note the speed change during the event.
Note the reactive power requirement of the machine soon after the fault is
cleared.

T1.4 Load the case frt_case_SM.psc that is included in with the course material.
In this case, the induction machine is replaced by a synchronous machine (fig 2)

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S/H
in out
hold
S2M

Vref0 Vref
Exciter_(AC1A)
VT
Ef0
IT 3
Ef
If
3
Ef0

Ef If

A
V

Te
Tm

w Tm
Tm0
W

S/H
out in
hold
L2N

Fig 1.Synchronous machine with the exciter.

T1.5Observe the response of the machine.

c. During the fault
d. After the fault clearance.
Note the speed change during the event.
Note the reactive power requirement of the machine soon after the fault is
cleared.
Note the response of the exciter and the field voltage.

T1.5 In the induction machine example, change the transformer impedance to

0.14 pu and observe results. This highlights the weakened fault recovery in
weak interconnections.

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PSCAD WIND POWER TRAINING

Tutorial 6

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: April 2008
Revision:
1
Date:

dm / Tutorial_06

1/3

Tutorial 6 Power quality issues

T1.1 Open the PSCAD case Wind_rot_sample_01.psc.
The mean wind speed is modulated by a sinusoidal signal to include the tower
shadow (rotational sampling) effect. This is the turbulant effect felt by the blades
when they cross the turbine tower.
What is the frequency of the sinusoidal signal?
The turbine drives a 6 pole machine. The gear boc ratio is 60. What is the
modulating signal frequency (approximate) if the machine operates close to its
rated speed.?

N
Wm

N/D

60.0

1
sT

Clear

3.0

Gear Ratio

No. of Blades

Cos

*
0.05

'shadowing index'

Vw

Wind

F
Vw

mean wind speed

A
Compar- B
ator

2 Pi

Fig 1.Implementing the rotational sampling effect

T1.2 Observe the voltage at the load bus and at the terminal of the wind
generator.
T1.3 Verify that the voltage fluctuation at the bus is influenced by the network
characteristics (e.g. short circuit level).

T1.4 Open the PSCAD case Wind_startup_01.psc.This case simulates the

starting process of a direct connected induction generator. The wind turbine
brings the generator to a set speed (eg. 0.7 pu) before the main generator
breaker is closed. The machine speeds up, acting as a motor before it settles
down to its generating mode.
T1.5 Observe the power flow during this process and verify the motoring action.
Observe the increased reactive power requirement and the starting current
during the start-up process.

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T1.6 The high starting current will cause prolonged voltage dips in other parts of
the network. Discuss the soft starting technique that can be used to limit the
starting current and hence the voltage dips.

0.0
Twind A

Ctrl = 1

B
Ctrl

0
-1.0
*

W
S
T

IM
Motor

A
V

Breaker

2.5 MVA Machine

TIME

Fig 1.Thyristor based soft starting of the wind generator.

T1.7 Open the PSCAD case svc_wind_01.psc.This case simulates the soft
starting process of a direct connected induction generator. Observe the starting
currents when the generator is started with and without the thyristors.
Note the timings of the thyristor breaker and the main breaker of the wind
generator.
Can a FACTS device improve the situation?
T1.8 Open the PSCAD case svc_wind_02.psc.This case simulates the soft
starting process with an SVC (Static VAR compensator). How do you determine
the approximate size of the required SVC (to improve the voltage profile during
start-up)?
Verify the operation of the start-up process with the SVC in place.
T1.9 Open the PSCAD case Wind_startup_01.psc.With the generator
disconnected from the system, perform a generator transformer energization
investigation.
Note: Inrush depends on the point on wave of switching. How do you perform a
batch mode simulation to capture the worst case?

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NetworkData:
Bus 1
Bus 2

Transformer 1

#1

#2

P = 5.485
Q = -3.064
V = 115.9

RRL

A
V

Transformer 2

T
TLine_02

T
TLine_01

Ia

#1

#2

P = 3.639
Q = -2.344
V = 13.48
A
V

Wind
Generators

45 km line
100 km line

'Weak system'
RL

345 kV

Ea

Per phase load/voltage

P+jQ

3 MW / 1 MVAR
66.4 kV/phase

Equivalentsource:
345kV
Z+=35Ohms@85degrees
Z0=32Ohms@80deg

Transformer1:
50MVA,345/115kV
Impedance14%(0.14pu)
Losses(noload/cupper):0.001pu/0.002pu
Noload(ormagnetizing)current1%

Transformer2:
10MVA,115/13.8kV
Impedance1%(0.1pu)
Losses(noload/cupper):0.001pu/0.002pu
Noload(ormagnetizing)current1%


Transmissionlines:

3conductorflattower

Mid-Span Sag:
5.486 [m] for Conductors
3.81 [m] for Ground Wires
G1

G2

2.438 [m]
5.0292 [m]
C1

C2

C3
4.724 [m]

.378 [m]

15.316 [m]

Tower: TH-10
Conductors: Penguin
Ground_Wires: 3/8" EHSS
0 [m]

115kVLoad:

Per phase load/voltage

P+jQ

3 MW / 1 MVAR
66.4 kV/phase

WindSystemdata:

BRK1

1.00499

W
S

TIME

Tin

*
-1

IM

P = 3.648
Q = -1.908
V = 0.6438
A
V

Timed
Breaker
Logic
Closed@t0

Transformer 2

#1

#2

BRK1

TL

Thissystemrepresents10inductionmachines(woundrotor)operatinginparallel.Themachinesandthestepuptransformers
arerepresentedbyasingleequivalentmachine/transformer.

Machinedata:
MVA0.75MW*10=7.5
Voltage0.69kV
Turnsratio0.2805
Inertia3.694
Mechanicaldamping1%(0.01pu)
Resistance:(stator/rotor):0.0053[p.u.]/0.007[p.u.]
Magnetizinginductance4.0209
Leakageinductance:(stator/rotor):0.1060[p.u.]/0.1216[p.u.]

Transformer3:
5MVA,13.8/0.69kV
Impedance1%(0.1pu)
Losses(noload/cupper):0.001pu/0.002pu
Noload(ormagnetizing)current1%

Data:

External rotor
resistance

1.004

IM

A
V

Stot
-0.5

100 MVA Transformer

33/230 kV, Z = 0.1 pu

#1

Station A
55 km line
230 kV
230 kV Eq. source

#2
0.037 [H]

0.037 [H]

TL
100 MVA/ 33 kV

RL

BRK

BRK

Timed
Breaker
Logic
Open@t0

Z+ = 10 Ohms @ 88 deg
Z0 = 7 Ohms @ 82 deg
RRL

Rrotor
+

Rrotor
+

Rrotor

Wind Farm
W

Add fault
impedance here

Machinedata:
Turnsratio2
Inertia1.7
Mechanicaldamping00.0001pu
Resistance:(stator/rotor):0.0034[p.u.]/0.00607[p.u.]
Magnetizinginductance3
Leakageinductance:(stator/rotor):0.0202[p.u.]/0.021[p.u.]

Modeling and Application of

FACTS Devices

Tutorial
Basic operation of a Thyristor Controlled
Reactor

Prepared by:
Dr. Ani Gole
Dr. Dharshana Muthumuni
Date: May 2007
Revision:
Date:

dm / Tutorial-TCR FACTS Course

1/7

Objective(s):

Getting familiar with PSCAD.

Getting familiar with different sections of the Master Library.
Different ways to access the master library.
Creating a simple case.
Data entry.
Plotting and control.
Interactive controls.
Basic operation of a TCR (Thyristor controlled reactor)

T1.1 Create a new case by using either the Menu or Toolbar. A new case should appear in the
Workspace settings entitled noname [psc]. Right-click on this Workspace settings entry and
select Save As and give the case a name.
NOTE: Do not use any spaces in the name!
Create a folder called c:/PscadTraining/Tutorial_01. Save the case as T_01.psc
T1.2 Open the main page of your new case. Build a case to study the operation of a thyristor
controlled reactor as shown in fig.1.
The applied voltage is 7.03 kV rms line-neutral at 60 Hz.
The reactor is rated at 33 MVAR (per phase or 100 MVAR 3 phase). What is the required
inductance?
Ia
Vas
FP
T

0.00393 [H]

7.03 kV rms (l-n)

0.001 [ohm]

FP

33 MVAR (Max)

Fig.1 Single phase TCR circuit.

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T1.3 Plot the currents (Ia) and voltages (Vas) on the source side of the circuit.

Fig.2 Basic steps to create a graph with a selected signal.

T1.4 The control circuit shown in Fig.3 is used to generate the thyristor firing pulses. Implement
the circuit in the PSCAD case.

cos(th)

A
FP

Vc

120.0

VCO

th

*
.5

B Comparator

sin(th)

Main : Controls
Alfa
Ia1
180

Alpa_Order
90

120

2.61419

Alpa_Order
Alfa

Fig.3 Control circuit for firing pulse generation.

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Understand the functions of different control blocks in Fig.3. This simple circuit forms the building
block of more complex thyristor controlled FACTS devices.

Main : Controls
Alfa
Ia1
180

90

120

2.61419

Alpa_Order
Alfa

Fig.4 Interactive controls: A slider is used to set the firing order.

T1.5 The results in Fig.5 are for a firing order of 120 degrees. Discuss the results and understand
the basic operation of the device.

Main : Graphs

Voltage (kV)

10.0

Vas

5.0
0.0
-5.0
-10.0
Load cur

Current (kA)

4.0
2.0
0.0
-2.0
-4.0

Firing pulse

FP1
0.80
0.40
0.00

180

Alfa_order

thetA

120
60
0
0.310

0.320

0.330

0.340

0.350

Fig.5 Simulation results. The firing order is 120 degrees.

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T1.6 The variation of the fundamental component of the reactor current with the firing angle is
given by the following equation.
I( ) :=

1 2 ( ) 1 sin ( 2 ( ) )

w L

Where,
( ) := ( 90) deg

:= 90, 100.. 180

Verify the PSCAD results with the calculations outlined in the accompanying MATHCAD
worksheet (TCR.mcd). You may use the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) model in the Master library
to extract different frequency components.
Mag
(7) 1

FFT

Ph
(7)

Ia
F = 60.0 [Hz]

dc

Fig.6. FFT component.

T1.7 Discuss the reasons for any differences.

Discuss the Phase angle error due to the time step delay inherent to the
simulation.

Your instructor will explain the calculation program structure of EMTDC and the definition of
electric and control type models.
T1.8 Observe the harmonic spectrum of the source current. Note the absence of higher order
harmonics. The results shown in Fig.7 are for a firing angle of 120 deg.

Ia_
4.0

0.0

[1] 2.62733

Fig.7 Harmonic spectrum

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Note: The harmonic content of the current is given by:

In( , n ) :=

4 V
L w

( sin ( ( ) ) cos (n ( )) n cos ( ( )) sin (n ( )) )

n n 1

where n := 3 , 5 .. 15

Fig.8 Variation of harmonic contant with firing angle

The example discussed so far uses a simplified control setup to generate the firing pulse.
T1.9 Load the case TCR_2.psc.
The firing pulses are generated based on a Phase Locked loop (PLL) based control system. The
phase locked loop generates a sinusoidal signal that is locked in phase to the system voltage
Vs. Understand the various blocks of the PLL.
T1.10 Observe the internal signals of the PLL.
T1.11 Verify the correct operation of the TCR under the following situations.

Sudden change in the system voltage phase angle (possible due to load changes
in the system etc.)

Change in system frequency.

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Appendix:
Peak current (theoretical) at different firing angles (results from Mathcad)

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Tutorial
Simple Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC)
This tutorial highlights the operation of a TSC and show the detrimental effect of
misfiring.
LC tuned to

157.55E-6 [H]

Fp
7.0 kV (l-g)
Source

VQ

Fp
1786.43 [uF]

Vs

100000.0 [ohm]

0.001 [ohm]

Ph

300 Hz

33 MVAR

Vc

Max

There are two different types of firing modes.

Voltage crossing based firing
Forced firing
In TSC firing systems, the Voltage Crossing Based Firing is automatically selected when
the capacitor voltage is larger than the system voltage (usually due to capacitor voltage
amplification due to the series inductor). In this tutorial, we select each of them manually.
a) The TSC stage can be switched On/OFF by the buttons provided on the control
panel. With the parallel discharge resistor (R) set to 100 Ohms, implement the
capacitor On/Off operations. Observe the transients.

Misfire Sw.

On Switch

2:
Reset

Forced Firing
0Xing Forced

Retard
1

-1

b) Set R = 100000 Ohms (infinite). Note that the voltage crossing based switching
will not work as the capacitor voltage is higher than the system voltage (due to
voltage amplification in the L-C circuit).
Set the switch to the forced firing position. The logic is set to fire the thyristor at a
voltage peak. In a real system, they should fire at the peak where the difference

between the capacitor and the system voltage is minimum. However the logic
does not ensure this. This gives you the opportunity to investigate what happens
when you accidentally fire at the wrong peak.
Investigate the waveforms with forced firing at the correct as well as the
incorrect instant. Also, observe the magnitude of the voltage amplification. Does
it agree with theory?
c) A pushbutton is provided to initiate a single thyristor misfire. Investigate the overvoltages seen by the thyristors following misfires at different instances.
A metal oxide arrestor (MOV) is usually placed across the thyristor to prevent
over-voltage damage. As its protection level is set rather low, the arrestor is often
triggered following an over-voltage. It does not conduct during normal operation.
d) Place a surge arrestor across the thyristors and observe the reduced over-voltage
following the misfire.

PSCAD TUTORIALS
Power Quality Examples

Tutorial 5
Simulation of flicker due to an Arc Furnace load.

Prepared by: Dharshana Muthumuni

Date: September 2008
Revision:
Date:

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Objective(s):

Modelinganarcfurnace
Modelingflickerduetotheoperationofarcfurnace
MitigationofflickerusingaSTATCOM.

Loadthecaseeaf_statcom.psc.

Thiscaseillustratesthestartingoperationofanarcfurnace.Arcfurnaceloadsarehighly
nonlinearandrandominnature.Thisgivesrisetofluctuatingcurrentsandresultsin
voltagefluctuations.

Discuss the arc furnace model and different parameters.

Run the case and observe the currents and voltages at different points in the network.
Observe the flicker level. Discuss the flicker meter and other methods used to estimate
flicker.
Loadthecasestatcom_6pls_pwm.psc.

This case illustrates the basic features of a STATCOM. Discuss with the instructor and
understanddifferentcomponentsofaSTATCOManditscontrols.

RunthearcfurnacecasewiththeSTATCOMinoperationandverifythattheflickerlevel
isreduced.

Change the STATCOM transformer rating and determine the minimumrating required
toreducetheflickerlevels.

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Electric arc furnace model

The developed EAF model is based on the non-linear differential equations as
outlined in [1], which models the non-linear characteristics of the electric arc as
pictured in Fig. 1a. The equations representing the arc voltage (v) to arc current
(i) are shown below, where r is the arc radius:
dr
n
k 2
k1 r + k 2 r dt = r m+32 i
v=

k
r

3
m +2

The parameters ki, r and n characterize the arc under a given operating
condition. In reality, this V-I characteristic shows much more noise due to the
unpredictable and chaotic nature of the load. Fig. 1b shows a more realistic EAF
V-I characteristic.
Main : XY Plot
X Axis

Y Axis

I2

V2

100

+y

75

50

25

-x

+x

-25

-50

-75

-100
-1.50

-1.00

-0.50

-y
0.00

0.50

Aperture

(a) Ideal

1.00

1.50

Width 2.5550660793
0.000s

20.000s

Position 11.661

(b) Actual

Fig. 1 Ideal and actual V-I characteristic of an EAF

Arc Data Setting:
Parameters k1 to k3 can be selected to obtain the EAF settings, such as active
power, reactive power and power factor close to what were measured in the
practical system. As the EAF model is sensitive to the system connected,
parameters k1 to k3 may need to be re-tuned if the system configuration changes.
The EAF model is designed to be able to take the inputs parameters as variables
so the optimization routines of PSCAD can be used to expedite the process.
Modulation Type setting:
The randomness feature of the EAF model is simulated by adding certain
sinusoidal and Gaussian noise. The magnitude/frequency of sinusoidal
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modulation and the standard deviation of Gaussian function can be specified.

Each phase can be independently controlled.

It is important to note that it is impossible to get a simulation case to match the

observed results perfectly due to the nature of the problem. The important thing
is to capture the essential features and the trends of a practical arc furnace.
Reference:
[1] A Harmonic Domain Computational Package for Non-Linear Problems and its
Application to Electric Arcs, E. Acha, A. Semlyen, N. Rajakovic. IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery,Vol 5, No.3, July 1990.

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