Documentation

# Unified Power Flow Controller (Phasor Type)

Implement phasor model of three-phase unified power flow controller

## Library

Simscape / Electrical / Specialized Power Systems / FACTS / Power-Electronics Based Facts

## Description

The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is the most versatile member of the Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) family using power electronics to control power flow on power grids [1]. The UPFC uses a combination of a shunt controller (STATCOM) and a series controller (SSSC) interconnected through a common DC bus as shown on the figure below.

Single-line Diagram of a UPFC and Phasor Diagram of Voltages and Currents

`$P=\frac{{V}_{2}{V}_{3}\mathrm{sin}\delta }{X},Q=\frac{{V}_{2}\left({V}_{2}-{V}_{3}\mathrm{cos}\delta \right)}{X}$`

This FACTS topology provides much more flexibility than the SSSC for controlling the line active and reactive power because active power can now be transferred from the shunt converter to the series converter, through the DC bus. Contrary to the SSSC where the injected voltage Vs is constrained to stay in quadrature with line current I, the injected voltage Vs can now have any angle with respect to line current. If the magnitude of injected voltage Vs is kept constant and if its phase angle ϕ with respect to V1 is varied from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, the locus described by the end of vector V2 (V2=V1+Vs) is a circle as shown on the phasor diagram. As ϕ is varying, the phase shift δ between voltages V2 and V3 at the two line ends also varies. It follows that both the active power P and the reactive power Q transmitted at one line end can be controlled. The UPFC controllable region in the P-Q plane is the area enclosed by an ellipse, as shown on the figure below.

Controllable Region for a 100 MVA UPFC Connected on 500 kV, 200-km line

This figure was obtained with a 100 MVA UPFC controlling active and reactive power at one end of a 500 kV, 200-km transmission line. The following parameters have been used:

• Line: length = 200 km; reactance = 0.35 Ω /km

• System voltage: 500-kV infinite sources V1 and V3; V1=1.0 pu, 0 degrees; V3= 1.0 pu,−7.22 degrees

• Series and shunt converter rating: 100 MVA

• Series converter: nominal injected voltage = 10% of nominal line-to-ground voltage (28.9 kV); impedance (transformer leakage reactance and filters) = 0.15 pu

With V3 lagging V1 by 7.22 degrees, the natural power flow without compensation is 450 MW or 50% of the line surge impedance loading (SIL=900 MW). With an injected voltage Vs = 0.1 pu any operating point inside the larger ellipse can be obtained and active power can be varied by approximately +/- 300 MW.

In addition to allow control of the line active and reactive power, the UPFC provides an additional degree of freedom. Its shunt converter operating as a STATCOM controls voltage V1 by absorbing or generating reactive power.

Both the series and shunt converters use a Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC) connected on the secondary side of a coupling transformer. The VSCs use forced-commutated power electronic devices (GTOs, IGBTs, or IGCTs) to synthesize a voltage from a DC voltage source. The common capacitor connected on the DC side of the VSCs acts as a DC voltage source. Two VSC technologies can be used for the VSCs:

• VSC using GTO-based square-wave inverters and special interconnection transformers. Typically four three-level inverters are used to build a 48-step voltage waveform. Special interconnection transformers are used to neutralize harmonics contained in the square waves generated by individual inverters. In this type of VSC, the fundamental component of voltage is proportional to the voltage Vdc. Therefore Vdc has to vary for controlling the injected voltage.

• VSC using IGBT-based PWM inverters. This type of inverter uses Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) technique to synthesize a sinusoidal waveform from a DC voltage with a typical chopping frequency of a few kilohertzes. Harmonics are cancelled by connecting filters at the AC side of the VSC. This type of VSC uses a fixed DC voltage Vdc. Voltage is varied by changing the modulation index of the PWM modulator.

The UPFC (Phasor Type) block models an IGBT-based UPFC. However, as details of the inverter and harmonics are not represented, it can be also used to model a GTO-based UPFC in transient stability studies.

### Control System

The shunt converter operates as a STATCOM. For a description of its control system, refer to the Static Synchronous Compensator (Phasor Type). In summary, the shunt converter controls the AC voltage at its terminals and the voltage of the DC bus. It uses a dual voltage regulation loop: an inner current control loop and an outer loop regulating AC and DC voltages.

Control of the series branch is different from the SSSC. In an SSSC the two degrees of freedom of the series converter are used to control the DC voltage and the reactive power. In case of a UPFC the two degrees of freedom are used to control the active power and the reactive power. A simplified block diagram of the series converter is shown below.

Simplified Block Diagram of the Series Converter Control System

The series converter can operate either in power flow control (automatic mode) or in manual voltage injection mode. In power control mode, the measured active power and reactive power are compared with reference values to produce P and Q errors. The P error and the Q error are used by two PI regulators to compute respectively the Vq and Vd components of voltage to be synthesized by the VSC. (Vq in quadrature with V1 controls active power and Vd in phase with V1 controls reactive power). In manual voltage injection mode, regulators are not used. The reference values of injected voltage Vdref and Vqref are used to synthesize the converter voltage.

The UPFC block is a phasor model which does not include detailed representation of the power electronics. You must use it with the phasor simulation method, activated with the Powergui block. It can be used in three-phase power systems together with synchronous generators, motors, dynamic loads, and other FACTS and Renewable Energy systems to perform transient stability studies and observe impact of the UPFC on electromechanical oscillations and transmission capacity at fundamental frequency.

## Parameters

The UPFC parameters are grouped in three categories: `Power data`, `Control parameters (shunt converter)`, and ```Control parameters (series converter)```. Use the Display listbox to select which group of parameters you want to visualize.

### Power Tab

Nominal voltage and frequency

The nominal line-to-line voltage in Vrms and the nominal system frequency in hertz. Default is `[ 500e3, 60 ]`.

Shunt Converter rating

The nominal rating of the shunt converter in VA. Default is `100e6`.

Shunt Converter impedance

The positive-sequence resistance R and inductance L of the shunt converter, in pu based on the nominal converter rating and nominal voltage. R and L represent the resistance and leakage inductance of the shunt transformer plus the resistance and inductance of the series filtering inductors connected at the VSC output. Default is ```[ 0.22/30, 0.22 ]```.

Shunt Converter initial current

The initial value of the positive-sequence current phasor (Magnitude in pu and Phase in degrees). If you know the initial value of the shunt current corresponding to the UPFC operating point you may specify it in order to start simulation in steady state. If you don't know this value, you can leave [0 0]. The system will reach steady-state after a short transient. Default is `[0, 0 ]`.

Series Converter rating

The ratings of the series converter in VA and the maximum value of the injected voltage V_conv on the VSC side of the transformer (see single line diagram), in pu of nominal phase-to-ground voltage. Default is `[ 100e6, 0.1]`.

Series Converter impedance

The positive-sequence resistance and inductance of the converter, in pu, based on the converter rated power and voltage. R and L represent the resistance and leakage inductance of the series transformer plus the resistance and inductance of the series filtering inductors connected at the VSC output. Default is ```[ 0.16/30, 0.16 ]```.

Series Converter initial current

The initial value of the positive-sequence current phasor (Magnitude in pu and Phase in degrees). If you know the initial value of the series current corresponding to the UPFC operating point you may specify it in order to start simulation in steady state. If you don't know this value, you can leave [0 0]. The system will reach steady-state after a short transient. Default is `[ 0 0]`.

The nominal voltage of the DC link in volts. Default is `40000`.

The total capacitance of the DC link in farads. This capacitance value is related to the UPFC converter ratings and to the DC link nominal voltage. The energy stored in the capacitance (in joules) divided by the converter rated power (in VA) is a time duration which is usually a fraction of a cycle at nominal frequency. For example, for the default parameters, (C=750 µF, Vdc=40 000 V, Snom=100 MVA) this ratio $1/2\cdot C\cdot {V}_{\text{dc}}^{2}/{S}_{\text{nom}}$ is 6.0 ms, which represents 0.36 cycle for a 60 Hz frequency. If you change the default values of the nominal power rating and DC voltage, you should change the capacitance value accordingly. Default is `750e-6`.

### Shunt Converter Tab

Mode

Specifies the shunt converter mode of operation. Select either ```Voltage regulation``` (default) or `Var Control`.

Reference voltage Vref

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Var Control`.

Reference voltage, in pu, used by the voltage regulator. Default is `1.00`.

External

When External is selected, a Simulink® input named Vref appears on the block, allowing you to control the reference voltage from an external signal (in pu). The Reference voltage Vref parameter is therefore unavailable. Default is cleared.

Maximum rate of change of reference voltage

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Var Control`.

Maximum rate of change of the reference voltage, in pu/s, when an external reference voltage is used. Default is `0.1`.

Droop

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Var Control`.

Droop reactance, in pu/shunt converter rating Snom, defining the slope of the V-I characteristic. Default is `0.03`.

Vac Regulator gains: [Kp Ki]

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Var Control`.

Gains of the AC voltage PI regulator. Specify proportional gain Kp in (pu of I)/(pu of V), and integral gain Ki, in (pu of I)/(pu of V)/s, where V is the AC voltage error and I is the output of the voltage regulator. Default is `[5, 1000]`.

Reactive power setpoint Qref

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Voltage regulation`.

Reference reactive power, in pu, when the shunt converter is in ```Var Control``` mode. Default is `0`.

Maximum rate of change of reactive power setpoint

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Voltage regulation`.

Maximum rate of change of the reference reactive power, in pu/s. Default is `2`.

Vdc Regulator gains: [Kp Ki]

Gains of the DC voltage PI regulator which controls the voltage across the DC bus capacitor. Specify proportional gain Kp in (pu of I)/Vdc, and integral gain Ki, in (pu of I)/Vdc/s, where Vdc is the DC voltage error and I is the output of the voltage regulator. Default is `[0.1e-3, 20e-3]`.

Current Regulators gains: [Kp Ki]

Gains of the inner current regulation loop. Default is ```[0.5, 25]/3```.

Specify proportional gain Kp in (pu of V)/(pu of I), integral gain Ki, in (pu of V)/(pu of I)/s, where V is the output of the d or q current regulator and I is the Id or Iq current error.

The current regulator is assisted by a feed forward regulator. The feed forward gain in (pu of V)/(pu of I) is the shunt converter reactance (in pu) given by parameter L in the Shunt converter impedance [R L] parameters.

### Series Converter Tab

Bypass Breaker

Specifies the status of the bypass breaker connected inside the block across terminals A1, B1, C1 and A2, B2, C2. Select either `External Control`, `Open` (default) or `Closed`. If the bypass breaker is in external control, a Simulink input named Bypass appears on the block, allowing to control the status of the bypass breaker from an external signal (0 or 1).

Mode

Specifies the series converter mode of operation. Select either ```Power flow control``` (default) or `Manual voltage injection`.

Reference powers

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Manual voltage injection`.

Specify references values, in pu. Default is `[5.87 -0.27]`.

External

When External is selected, a Simulink input named PQref appears on the block, allowing you to control the active and reactive powers from an external signal (in pu). The Reference powers parameter is therefore unavailable. Default is cleared. When External is selected, a Simulink input named Vdqref appears on the block, allowing you to control the injected voltage from an external signal (in pu). The Reference voltages parameter is therefore unavailable.

Maximum rate of change of reference powers

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Manual voltage injection`.

Specify maximum rate of change of Pref and Qref, in pu/s. Default is `1`.

Power Regulator gains: [Kp Ki]

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Manual voltage injection`.

Gains of the PI regulators which control the line active power and reactive power. Specify proportional gain Kp in (pu of Vdq)/(pu of PQ), and integral gain Ki, in (pu of Vdq)/(pu of PQ)/s, where Vdq is the Vd or Vq injected voltage and PQ is the P or Q voltage error. Default is `[0.025, 1.5]`.

Reference voltages

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Power flow control`.

Specify the direct-axis and quadrature-axis components of the voltage injected on the VSC side of the series transformer, in pu. Default is `[0.05, 0.05]`.

Maximum rate of change for references voltages

This parameter is not enabled when the Mode parameter is set to `Power flow control`.

Specify maximum rate of change of the Vdref and Vqref voltages, in pu/s. Default is `0.2`.

## Inputs and Outputs

`A1 B1 C1`

The three input terminals of the UPFC.

`A2 B2 C2`

The three output terminals of the UPFC.

`Trip`

Apply a Simulink logical signal (0 or 1) to this input. When this input is high the shunt converter is disconnected and the series converter is bypassed. In addition, when the trip signal is high the shunt and series control systems are disabled. Use this input to implement a simplified version of the protection system.

`Bypass`

This input is visible only when the Bypass Breaker parameter is set to `External Control`.

Apply a Simulink logical signal (0 or 1) to this input. When this input is high the bypass breaker is closed.

`Vdqref`

This input is visible only when the External control of injected voltage Vdref _Vqref parameter is checked.

Apply a Simulink vectorized signal specifying the reference voltages Vdref and Vqref, in pu.

`PQref`

This input is visible only when the External control of power references Pref _Qref parameter is checked.

Apply a Simulink vectorized signal specifying the reference powers Pref and Qref, in pu.

`m`

Simulink output vector containing 34 UPFC internal signals. These signals are either voltage and current phasors (complex signals) or control signals. They can be individually accessed by using the Bus Selector block. They are, in order:

Signal

Signal Group

Signal Names

Definition

1-3

Power Vabc1 (cmplx)

Va1 (pu)
Vb1 (pu)
Vc1 (pu)

Phasor voltages (phase to ground) Va, Vb, Vc at the UPFC input terminals A1, B1, C1 (pu)

4-6

Power Iabc_SH (cmplx)

Ia_SH (pu)
Ib_SH (pu)
Ic_SH (pu)

Phasor currents Ia, Ib, Ic flowing into the shunt converter (pu)

7

Power

Vdc (V)

DC voltage (V)

8-10

Power Vabc2 (cmplx)

Va2 (pu)
Vb2 (pu)
Vc2 (pu)

Phasor voltages (phase to ground) Va, Vb, Vc at the UPFC output terminals A2, B2, C2 (pu)

11-13

Power Vabc_Inj (cmplx)

Va_Inj (pu)
Vb_Inj (pu)
Vc_Inj (pu)

Phasors of injected voltages
Vs=V2-V1 (pu)

14_16

Power Iabc_SE (cmplx)

Ia_SE (pu)
Ib_SE (pu)
Ic_SE (pu)

Phasor currents Ia, Ib, Ic flowing in the series transformer from ABC1 to ABC2 (pu)

17

Control
(Shunt)

Vm (pu)

Positive-sequence value of the measured voltage (pu)

18

Control
(Shunt)

Vref (pu)

Reference voltage (pu)

19

Control
(Shunt)

Qm (pu)

Shunt converter reactive power. A positive value indicates inductive operation.

20

Control
(Shunt)

Qref (pu)

Reference reactive power (pu)

21

Control
(Shunt)

Id (pu)

Direct-axis component of current (active current) flowing into the shunt converter (pu). A positive value indicates active power flowing into shunt converter.

22

Control
(Shunt)

Iq (pu)

Quadrature-axis component of current (reactive current) flowing into the shunt converter (pu). A positive value indicates capacitive operation.

23

Control
(Shunt)

Idref (pu)

Reference value of direct-axis component of current flowing into shunt converter (pu)

24

Control
(Shunt)

Iqref (pu)

Reference value of quadrature-axis component of current flowing into shunt converter (pu)

25

Control
(Shunt)

modindex

The modulation index m of the shunt converter PWM modulator. A positive number 0<m<1. m=1 corresponds to the maximum voltage which can be generated by the VSC without overmodulation.

26

Control
(Series)

P (pu)

Measured active power flowing out of terminals A2, B2, C2 (pu)

27

Control
(Series)

Q (pu)

Measured reactive power flowing out of terminals A2, B2, C2 (pu)

28

Control
(Series)

Pref (pu)

Reference active power (pu)

29

Control
(Series)

Qref (pu)

Reference reactive power (pu)

30

Control
(Series)

Vd_conv (pu)

Direct-axis injected voltage on VSC side of series transformer (pu)

31

Control
(Series)

Vq_conv (pu)

Quadrature-axis injected voltage on VSC side of series transformer (pu)

32

Control
(Series)

Vdref (pu)

Reference value of direct-axis
injected voltage (pu)

33

Control
(Series)

Vqref (pu)

injected voltage (pu)

34

Control
(Series)

modindex

The modulation index m of the series converter PWM modulator. A positive number 0<m<1. m=1 corresponds to the maximum voltage V_conv which can be generated by the series converter without overmodulation.

## Examples

See the `power_upfc` example, which illustrates the use of a UPFC controlling power on a 500 kV, 60 Hz, system.

## References

[1] N. G. Hingorani, L. Gyugyi, “Understanding FACTS; Concepts and Technology of Flexible AC Transmission Systems,” IEEE Press book, 2000