Simulator and field testing of Forbes SVS

The paper reports on the power system simulator tests that were performed on the actual control system of the Forbes static VAr system (SVS). This SVS, commissioned in May 1994, is one of the major components of the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Upgrade (MMTU) project. The MMTU project and the need for a SVS at Forbes are first discussed. The main characteristics of the SVS and the testing methodology used on the simulator are also presented. The main results of tests performed to evaluate the steady-state and dynamic performance of the SVS controller, as well as the control-based protections are presented. Field tests are also discussed and typical test results are compared with those obtained on the simulator. Finally, the paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of simulator testing to optimize control systems, and to identify and resolve potential problems which would be extremely difficult to resolve in the field.