Analysis of Electromagnetic Disturbances with or

without SVC Device

Oana CEAKI
University Politehnica
of Bucharest,
Power Engineering
Faculty,
ceaki.oana@yahoo.co
m

Ramona VATU
University Politehnica
of Bucharest,
Power Engineering
Faculty,
vatu.ramona@gmail.co
m

Monica MANCASI
University Politehnica of
Bucharest,
Power Engineering
Faculty,
monica.mancasi@gmail.
com

Abstract- Considering that the electrical power system is

designed to operate in sinusoidal mode, the waveforms of voltage
and current shows distortion compared to sinusoidal wave. For
allowing limitation of all kinds of disturbance an effective
technical solution is based on power electronics. The smart grid
paradigm is encompassing an increasingly adoption of
distributed generation all over the world. The flexible
alternative current transmission systems (FACTS) devices, can
be used to increase transmission capacity, improving stability
and dynamic behavior, and ensure a better power quality at
distribution level by controlling several key-parameters. The
purpose of this paper is to deal with issue of power quality
alteration, by assessing the power electronics equipment
behavior on a real-network example, in order to create a general
image of issues and solutions.
The first section identifies the current state-of-the art of
FACTS technologies and their influence on power quality. An
example was designed in ETAP software, starting from a real
electric distribution system using PV generation in order to
create a general image of issues and solutions. After the SVC
device connection to the system, an analysis over voltage
variation was performed and interesting conclusions have been
drawn.
Index Terms-- Distribution systems, FACTS, power quality,
power systems, smart grid.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The issue of power quality is currently extremely actual

considering diversity of the systems and all the risks induced
by deviations from normal operating conditions. During the
power system operation the frequency varies due to changes
of electrical power. At the same time, due to the voltage dips,
it is impossible to keep the nominal voltage in all nodes and
to keep an ideal sinusoidal curves of voltage or current [1].
Given the fact of disturbances occurrence in the power
system is inevitable, to maintain the normal operating
voltage, the system operator has a number of resources, like
capacitor batteries, power system reconfigurations or modern
systems called FACTS. A modern FACTS system based on
power electronics and other static equipment used for
improving the power quality and control the reactive power is
static var compensator (SVC) [4].

978-1-4673-9682-0/15/$31.00 2015 IEEE

Radu PORUMB
University
Politehnica of
Bucharest,
Power Engineering
Faculty,
radu.porumb@upb.
ro

George SERITAN
University
Politehnica of
Bucharest,
Electrical
Engineering
Faculty
george.seritan@upb
.ro

Solving power quality problems is a complex process

which required a close collaboration between electricity
operators and users. To limit electromagnetic disturbance to
an acceptable level, was and is one of the major concerns of
specialists in the energy sector [7].
II. DEVICES FOR POWER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
One of the major problems arising in power system is the
continuously increasing use of the power electronic devices.
Used in both industrial and residential case, requires a very
good power quality to function correctly, but also are
responsible for reducing power quality [1].
It is believed that classical sources of electricity generation
are designed to lead to an insignificant distortion of the
voltage curve at the terminals. Renewable energy sources
connected to the public network through electronic converters
can cause significant distortion of the voltage curve generated
[2].
Connecting photovoltaic plants to power system present
some peculiarities in his normal operation, for what power
quality concerns.
Photovoltaic systems are characterized by a modular
structure built from a photovoltaic generator, an energy
conversion system and safety elements [3].
For improving power system stability, is need to increase
the safety of supply. For an efficient supply are used FACTS
(Flexible AC Transmission Systems) devices who reached in
recent years a well-known term for better handling all supply
through devices with power electronics. In the last few years
have been developed various types of FACTS device
connected in series or shunt to compensate the reactive
power. The shunt regulators are mainly used for controlling
the amount of reactive power flowing through the system.
The most used FACTS device is Static Var Compensator
and is shunt connected with the network and provides
reactive power necessary to control power transmission and
system stability [4], [5].
The configuration of a Static Var Compensator is described
in fig. 1. Is realized with a fixed capacitor (FC) or a harmonic
filter and a thyristor-controlled reactor (TCR).

Bus
Q=Qcap-Qin
-Qin
+Qcap
Capacitor

Thyristor valve
Reactor

Fixed capacitor

Thyristor-controlled reactor

Harmonic distortions corresponds to the situation where

measures are regular but non-sinusoidal. In this case,
distorted curves can be decomposed in Fourier series of
sinusoidal curve [8-10].
Power quality represent a set of indicators that define the
nature of the supply sources who fed the users in normal
conditions in terms of continuous supply and voltage and
frequency values.
The power quality impact of PV plants and SVC device
connected can be evaluated through the indicator THD (Total
Harmonic Distortion). Total harmonic distortions are
measured as a percentage of standard frequency.
Considering that THD indicator can be expressed as:

Fig. 1. Static Var Compensator configuration

One of the components of SVC is thyristors-controlled

reactor (TCR) who have connected tyristors in antiparallel
with choke in series. Tyristors can be switched in any point of
a half cycle (from 90 to 180 electric degrees after the voltage
waveform) to provide an adjustable control between 0 and
100% of the reactive absorbed power. During the control
process are generated odd harmonics. Complete conduction is
achieved for a 90 control angle and a partial conduction is
performed for a control angle between 90 and 180.
Harmonic filters are devices made of passive components
used to limit distortion of voltage and current curves. The
filters are dimensioned based on specific information about
the features grid, sources of harmonics and total harmonic
distortion factor [4-6].
Installing a static var compensator to a right point of the
grid, may increase the transfer capability and reduce losses
while maintaining a smooth profile under different grid
conditions. These devices are characterized by a large area of
application, high reliability and a fast response [2], [4].

THD =

2
h

h=2

(1)

U1

where Uh is harmonic voltage and U1 is the fundamental

component of voltage [7], [11].
IV. CASE STUDY
A network as close as possible to a real situation was
designed to analyse the electromagnetic disturbances. We
built the network using ETAP 12.6 software, as presented in
fig. 2, there we designed two PV systems and a SVC device
connected to the network via 250 kVA 0.4/20 kV
transformer.

III. POWER QUALITY

Nowadays electronics are designed to absorb current in
pulses not in a smooth manner, sinusoidal, such as an older
non-electronic equipment. These pulses can cause distorted
current curves, producing after distortions of the voltage
curves [7].
Assessment of the current and voltage distortion curves
have a special interest because the generation, transmission,
distribution systems are sized for sinusoidal curves.
Deviations from sinusoidal form are accompanied by damage
to the users and by reducing the performance of production,
transport and distribution operators.
Harmonics of voltage or current curves are alternative
frequencies that distort sinusoidal waveform, being the result
of todays modern equipment and are defined according to
the corresponding spectral components of stationary regime
operation [7-9].
Some examples of problems caused by harmonics in the
power system are overheating of the cables, connections,
motors and transformers and can cause accidental triggering
of circuit breakers.

Fig. 2. The tested distribution network

First the network has been modelled and simulated without

SVC device and renewable sources connected using ETAP
software, resulting a robust network without power quality
problems.

We built two cases, first case when we have connected

only the two PV plants and the second case when we
connected the two PV plants and SVC device.
After we connect the two PV plants in the first case to bus
9, in fig. 3 is presented the power flow simulation of the
network and in the fig. 4 is presented the harmonic flow
simulation.

Bus 1 (20 kV)

Bus 7 (0.4 kV)

Bus 6 (20 kV)

Bus 9 (0.4 kV)

U [%]
100
50
0
50
100
150

Time (cycle)
Fig. 5. Voltage curves
Bus 1 (20 kV)
Bus 7 (0.4 kV)

Bus 6 (20 kV)

Bus 9 (0.4 kV)

Uh [%]
1.5

1
0.5
Fig. 3. Power flow simulation without SVC

10

15

20

25
Harmonic rank (h)

Fig. 6. Harmonic spectrum of voltage curves

In the second case of the case study we connect a SVC

device in order to observe the control of this device on
reactive power and harmonics distortions. Fig. 7 present the
power flow simulation after we connect SVC device to
compensate the reactive power.

Fig. 4. Harmonic flow simulation without SVC

The second step of the first case was to calculate, identify

and assess the voltage curves and harmonic spectre of voltage
curves. In fig. 5 is presented the voltage curves distortion of
the network when we connect the two PV plants and fig. 6
present the harmonic spectrum of voltage curves where we
can see the significant values of harmonic rank 5, 7, 11 and
13.

Fig. 7. Power flow simulation with SVC

Fig. 8 present the harmonic flow simulation after

connecting the SVC device and we observe a reduction of
THD indicator from 2.23 % in the PV plants connected point
to 1.93 % and from 1.44 % in SVC device, PV plants and
load connected point to 1.23 %.

Bus 1 (20 kV)

Bus 7 (0.4 kV)

Bus 6 (20 kV)

Bus 9 (0.4 kV)

Uh [%]
1.5

1
0.5

10

15

20

25
Harmonic rank (h)

Fig. 10. Harmonic spectrum of voltage curves with SVC

The analysis of the test-network shows some interesting

results (even if not entirely unexpected). The harmonic
distortion of the voltage shows a significant decrease at lowvoltage busbars (Bus 7 and Bus 9), whereas it remains almost
unchanged at high-voltage busbar (Bus 1).

Fig. 8. Harmonic flow simulation with SVC

In fig. 9 is presented the voltage curves after the connection

of SVC device to network and we can see a restitution of the
voltage curves to the sinusoidal form caused by connecting
the photovoltaic systems.
Bus 1 (20 kV)
Bus 7 (0.4 kV)

Bus 6 (20 kV)

Bus 9 (0.4 kV)

U [%]
100

Fig.11 Evolution of harmonic voltages for different harmonic ranks at Bus 7,

without and with SVC influence

50

The figures 11 and 12 are depicting the SVC influence on

LV busbars for various voltage harmonic ranks.

0
50
100
150

Time (cycle)
Fig. 9. Voltage curves with SVC

Fig. 10 show the harmonic spectrum of voltage curves after

the SVC device is connected and we can see a reduction of
harmonic level in each bus of the network.

Fig.12 Evolution of harmonic voltages for different harmonic ranks at Bus 7,

without and with SVC influence

The 3-rd order harmonic was excluded, due to the triangle

winding of MV/LV transformer which attenuates all the 3-rd
order harmonics, if the loads are symmetrical.

POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132395,
POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132398,
and by the financing contract for construction projects no.
241 I/1.10.2013, the name of program PN II: CAPACITY,
Type:
module
III-project
Co-financing
Romanian
participation at the program PC 7, project title: large-scale
Integration of Renewable resources, Smart and sustainable
Electrical type Insular-SiNGULAR.
REFERENCES
[1]

Fig.13 Evolution of SVC influence on harmonic voltage attenuation for

different harmonic ranks at Busses 7 and 9

The absolute attenuation for each harmonic rank was

presented in figure 13, for both LV busbars (7 and 9). It is
obvious that the presence of PV panels on bus 9 will increase
the harmonic presence on the busbar, while SVC presence on
Bus 7 will attenuate the voltage harmonic ranks.
CONCLUSIONS
For all kinds of known electromagnetic disturbances that
affect the power quality in power supply point we can adopt
specific solutions that ensure the limitation of distortion to an
accepted level, and currently the effective solutions are based
on power electronics.
This work has been focused on a possible solution to
improve power quality and ensure the continuity of supply in
a network with PV plants connected and a complete picture
was achieved by integrate a SVC device, in order to achieve a
sinusoidal curves of voltage and a low level of THD
indicator. When we connect the two PV systems the harmonic
distortion was 1.44 % and after we connect the SVC device
the value of this indicator was decrease to 1.93 %.
The presence of SVC may bring a sensible improvement in
power quality, due to its ability in reducing harmonic voltages
which may cause electronic devices and protective devices
malfunction.
Integrating the SVC device proved to be significant to
improve the harmonic distortion indicator and the restoration
of voltage curves to sinusoidal form, and its position on the
low-voltage side of the network has no influence on the 20
kV side of the network. This proves that its influence is good
in restrained areas prone to grid reconfiguration and operating
like microgrid.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The work has been funded by the Sectoral Operational
Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013 of
the Ministry of European Funds through the Financial
Agreement
POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132397,

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