An efficient tool for planning and operation of reconfigurable converter-based transmission controllers

Because of their flexible performance, converter-based transmission controllers such as unified power flow controller (UPFC) can be very effective in improving power transfer capability over congested transmission paths. In most published literature, a shunt converter is set to control the bus voltage and a series converter is to control the line power flow. In practical operations, however, there are other control modes that are more appropriate. In the case of the convertible static compensator (CSC) installed at the New York Power Authority's Marcy substation, CSC can operate in 11 configurations of different shunt and series connections. A simulation program capable of dispatching in 49 different control modes associated with these 11 configurations is being developed. The paper discusses how these control modes can be efficiently implemented and used.