International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

Hardware Implementation and Simulation of

Single Phase TCSC at Laboratory Scale Level
Nirav Patel
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Vadodara Institute of Engineering, Kotambi,
Vadodara-India.
[email protected]

Series capacitive and inductive compensation is a very

$%675$&7ಧ The aim behind writing this paper is to efficient technique to increase and to cut the power transfer
understand the significance of thyristor controlled series capability of a transmission line respectively [3] [4]. In early
capacitor (TCSC) in the transmission line for the augmentation 90’s fixed series capacitors had been used for increasing the
of active power and to reduce the transmission line losses up to a real power transfer capacity of the transmission line by
possible extent. The TCSC device (Member of FACTS family) is canceling a part of the inherent inductive reactance [5]. If
responsible for the enhancement of active power by 70% line inherent inductive reactance is canceled, then it can
compensating the need of reactive power, improving the be said that 70% compensation is there in line and hence the
transmission line stability, and reducing the heavy loading of the degree of series compensation (K) is 70% [6]. More than 70%
transmission line. TCSC is a series controlled device which is
applied to the AC transmission in order to acquire smooth
compensation will increase a risk of subsynchronous
control of series reactance and direct control of power Àow. In resonance problem in the power systems. So typically, up to
this paper simulation and hardware of single phase, TCSC has 70% of compensation is done in the transmission line. The risk
been described. Least square identification method has been of subsynchronous resonance (SSR) problem is higher in
performed to decide the value of inductor and resistor of a series capacitive compensation technique than inductive
constructed air-core winding. Laboratory model for the single- compensation technique.
phase TCSC system is implemented using Arduino Uno and it is
further tested by loading the pulse generation programme in Because of fixed series compensation technique which was
Arduino Uno. The Pi transmission line has been constructed and used in early 90’s, two subsynchronous problems were
implemented for single-phase voltage level. The simulation of occurred in the year 1970s, at the Mojave in southern Nevada,
single phase TCSC has been compiled in MATLAB R2014a and further, as a consequence of SSR, the shaft of the
software. Finally, the validation was done by comparing the generator was damaged and that shaft damage had taken
results of simulation and hardware. months to be repaired. Hence later in 1981 NGH damping
technique for series compensators was given by N.G.
Keywords— FACTS, TCSC, Arduino Uno, Hingorani, and it is named as thyristors controlled series
MATLAB/SIMULINK, Pi-transmission line. capacitor (TCSC) by which SSR mitigation became too easy.
I. INTRODUCTION In 1999 the world’s first TCSC was installed for the purpose
of SSR mitigation in 400 kV transmission line which is
located in Sweden [7].
The use of Flexible alternating current transmission system
(FACTS) devices has been increased in last two decade due to Due to capacitor and inductor parallel combination in
its flexibility and ability to reduce the many power system TCSC device, it has been observed that there is a possibility of
problems like (overloading of the transmission line, stability parallel resonance problem apart from series and sub-
issues, voltage regulation etc.) The FACTS devices are synchronous resonance problem [8]. Hence it is required to
becoming more popular because it provides high-speed select the value of inductor and capacitor in such a way that
operation with considering minimum maintenance by using a parallel and series resonance problem can be minimized
wide range of power electronics devices [1]. There are many significantly. The main benefit of using TCSC is that it offers
FACTS devices out of which use of TCSC has been increased only single resonance point in its working region which is in
in last one decade because it provides smooth control over between 90º to 180º of firing angle. For further analysis, this
power flow in the transmission line [2]. Incorporation of paper starts with a basic description of TCSC device and its
TCSC in the transmission line provides a number of bene¿ts reactance vs. firing angle characteristic curve.
like it emphasizes on the enhancement of dynamic and The paper is organized as follows. Section II presents a
transient stability and its control, it also diminishes the working principle and operation of the thyristor controlled
damping of SSR (sub synchronous resonance) and loop Àow. series capacitor. Section III describes, how TCSC performance

978-1-5386-1887-5/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

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 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

can be understood by reactance characteristic. Section IV ୘ୌେሺ஑ሻ =െେ ൅ „ଵ (2(Ɏ െ Ƚ)+sin(2(Ɏ െ Ƚሻሻ െ
presents a modeling and compilation of TCSC circuit in „ଶ  ‘• ଶ (Ɏ - Ƚ) ൫ɘ –ƒ൫ɘ(Ɏ - Ƚ)൯ െ –ƒ(Ɏ - Ƚ)൯ (3)
MATLAB/SIMULINK software. Section V shows a
simulation results in MATLAB/SIMULINK software for both Where,
the cases when TCSC device is not incorporated and when ௑೎ ା௑ಽ಴
TCSC device is incorporated in series with the transmission ܾଵ = (4)
గ
line. Section VI shows steps to design and development of మ
௑ಽ಴
TCSC hardware circuit which includes the Test circuit of ܾଶ = 4 (5)
௑ಽ గ
TCSC and its hardware implementation along with the
inductor and capacitor parameter’s identification. Section VII ܺ௅஼ =
௑೎ ௑ಽ
(6)
shows the experimental results of TCSC system again for both ௑೎ ି௑ಽ
cases, when it is not connected and when it is connected with ௑಴
the Pi transmission line. ߱ =ට , and it should not be more than 3. (7)
௑ಽ

The degree of series compensation (K) is a ratio of the

II. OPERATION OF TCSC
effective reactance of TCSC [ ୘ୌେሺ஑ሻ ] to the net reactance of
transmission line [୘୐ ]. And hence K is given in mathematical
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of TCSC device which form as
consists of two anti-parallel thyristors in series with one
inductor (L) and this two combination is in parallel with one
capacitor (C). The combination of the inductor in series with K = ்ܺ஼ௌ஼ሺఈሻ Ȁ ்ܺ௅ * 100, 0<K<1 (8)
two antiparallel thyristors is also called as thyristors controlled
reactor (TCR). TCR is a variable inductive reactor (ܺ௅ (Į))
tuned at firing angle Į [3]. While choosing the value of K, it should be kept in mind
that compensation should not be more than 70% in order to
avoid the sub synchronous resonance problem in transmission
line.

III. REACTANCE CHARACTERISTIC

Fig. 2 shows the characteristics curve of TCSC device. It is

drawn between effective reactance of TCSC ୘ୌେሺ஑ሻ and
firing angle (Į). The effective reactance (்ܺ஼ௌ஼ (Į)) of TCSC
operates in three regions, inductive region, resonance region,
capacitive region. In inductive region ܺ௅ starts increasing from
90º to infinity (parallel resonance condition, ܺ௅ (Į) =ܺ஼ ), and
decreasing from infinity to capacitive reactance ܺ஼ for
capacitive region. Between this two regions resonance region
Fig. 1 TCSC device schematic diagram
is exists, where resonance occurs.
The variation of ୐ with respect to Į can be given as
஠
୐ ሺȽሻ=୐ (1) TABLE I. Comparison between range of firing angle (Į) and operating
஠ିଶ஑ିୱ୧୬ଶ஑ region of TCSC
ଵ
Here,஼ = and୐ =2ߨfl (2) Range of ¿ring angle (Į) Operating region
ଶ஠୤ୡ

For the variation of Į from 0º to 90º, the inductive ߙ = 90º ൑ ߙ ൑ ߙ௅ ሺ௟௜௠ሻ  Inductive region
reactance ୐ (Į) varies from actual reactance (୐ ) to infinity. ߙ௅ሺ௟௜௠ሻ ൑ ߙ ൑ ߙ஼ሺ௟௜௠ሻ Resonance Region
This thyristor controlled reactor is connected in parallel with
ߙ஼ሺ௟௜௠ሻ ൑ ߙ ൑ ߙ = 180º Capacitive region
the series capacitor so that the variable capacitive reactance
େ (Į), is possible across the TCSC which modify the
transmission line impedance. Effective TCSC reactance ୘ୌେ
with respect to alpha (Į) can be given as

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 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)


Fig. 2 Characteristic curve of Firing angle vs. Reactance


IV. MODELING OF TCSC SIMULATION CIRCUIT

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows MATLAB/SIMULINK model

without TCSC and with TCSC for the open-loop controlled Fig. 4 MATLAB/SIMULINK model with incorporation of TCSC
system. SIMULINK is used to model, analyze and simulate
dynamic systems using block diagrams [9]. Fig. 4 Shows MATLAB/SIMULINK model with
incorporation of TCSC device for a single-phase transmission
line.
V. SIMULATION RESULTS IN MATLAB

Fig. 3 MATLAB/SIMULINK model without incorporation of TCSC

Fig. 5 Active Power flow without TCSC device

Fig. 3 Shows MATLAB/SIMULINK model without
incorporation of TCSC device for a single-phase transmission
line. The value of inductor and capacitor is 9mH and 220 ȝF.

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 International Conference on Energy, Communication, Data Analytics and Soft Computing (ICECDS-2017)

TABLE III. Components used to construct TCSC hardware and its ratings

Components Ratings
Transformer 230/3 volts
TXN/TYN 604,
Thyristor Voltage - 600 V,
Current - 4 A,
Temperature –110 ºC
Inductor 9 mH
Ferrite core inductor
Capacitor 220 ȝF
Arduino uno Max current – 50 mA
Max voltage – 5 V

Different components and its ratings are tabulated in

TABLE III. The ratings are standard and taken from the
datasheet given for individual components [10]. Here Arduino
Uno has been used for generating pulses to trigger anti-parallel
thyristors. TXN/TYN 054-604 category thyristors have been
Fig. 6 Active Power flow with TCSC device
used and implemented in TCSC module. The reason behind
TABLE II. Comparison between measured values of active power choosing these thyristors is that it can sustain maximum
Without TCSC and with TCSC device voltage up to 600 volts, maximum current up to 4 A and
maximum temperature up to 110º C. 9 mH ferrite core
Measured Parameters of Transmission Measured inductor has been used for proving the inductive effect in
Line when TCSC device is not Values TCSC module and capacitor rating is 220 ȝF. Here 230/3 volt
connected
(3 volt is RMS value * 1.41 = 4.23 volt) step-down
Active power at Receiving End side
when single phase TCSC device is not 62.47 Watt transformer has been used to give the AC supply to the
connected in series with the transmission Arduino Uno’s input. It is not advisable to supply more than 5
line volts to the Arduino Uno and if it is supplied then there may
Active power at Receiving End side be chances of heat up of Arduino Uno board and board may
when single phase TCSC device is 70.02 Watt get damage [11].
connected in series with the transmission
line Fig. 8 depicts implemented TCSC hardware circuit on
printed circuit board (PCB). On the extreme left-hand side, the
VI. HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF SINGLE PHASE TCSC port is for supplying 230 V AC supply and two more ports are
there on the right side which is for giving the pulses to the two
antiparallel thyristors by arduino uno controller.
Fig. 7 depicts the test circuit of TCSC. It can be seen from
the circuit that 230 V AC supply is applied to the TCSC
device which consists of two antiparallel thyristors in series
with one ferrite core inductor (L) and this two combination is
in parallel with one capacitor (C) [12]. One 30 ȍ resistor is
connected with the AC source to limit the current. The internal
resistance of inductor is 1 ȍ. Here the value of inductor is
fixed and it is 9 mH while in real practice variable inductor is
used to get the desired output.

Fig. 8 TCSC hardware circuit

Fig. 7 Test circuit of TCSC

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VII. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

TABLE V. Experimental Results, when TCSC device is connected

in series with the transmission line

Measured Parameters of Transmission Measured

Line when TCSC device is connected Values
Voltage at sending end sideሺࢂࡿሻ 235.17 Volts
Current at sending end side (ࡵࡿሻ 0.46 Amps
Voltage at receiving end side ሺࢂࡾ ሻ 235.02 Volts
Current at receiving end side ሺࡵࡾ ሻ 0.46 Amps
Power factor at sending end side ሺ࡯࢕࢙]ࡿ ሻ 0.65
Power factor at receiving end side ሺ࡯࢕࢙]ࡾ ሻ 0.64
Active power at sending end side (ࡼࡵࡺ) 70.31 Watt
Active power at receiving end side ሺࡼࡻࢁࢀ ሻ 69.18 Watt

The different parameters like sending end side active

power, sending end side voltage, sending end side current,
power factor at sending at the side and same way receiving
end side active power, receiving end side voltage, receiving
Fig. 9 Measurements of Pi transmission line parameters end side current and power factor at receiving end side are
measured by power factor meter in the laboratory. ABCD
TABLE IV. Experimental Results, when TCSC device is not parameters are also calculated from the measured parameters
Connected in series with the transmission line
values and the value of A, B, C, D are 1.03, 385.55, 2.07 *
Measured Parameters of Transmission Measured ͳͲିଷ mho, 0.7704 respectively.
Line when TCSC device is not connected Values
Voltage at sending end sideሺࢂࡿሻ 235.19 Volts VIII. CONCLUSION
Current at sending end side (ࡵࡿሻ 0.47 Amps
Voltage at receiving end side ሺࢂࡾ ሻ 227.05 Volts
This paper is specifically concerned about the
Current at receiving end side ሺࡵࡾ ሻ 0.53 Amps
implementation of TCSC module at laboratory scale level with
Power factor at sending end side ሺ࡯࢕࢙]ࡿ ሻ 0.642
all related analysis. This paper also demonstrates the
Power factor at receiving end side ሺ࡯࢕࢙]ࡾ ሻ 0.51
information about the operation of TCSC, reactance
Active power at sending end side (ࡼࡵࡺ) 70.96 Watt
Active power at receiving end side ሺࡼࡻࢁࢀ ሻ 61.37 Watt characteristic, operating modes of TCSC and actual behavior
of the TCSC module with and without incorporation of TCSC
module in series with the transmission line. Initially
performance of single phase TCSC module is checked in
MATLAB/SIMULINK software and noted the results. The
step by step procedure is given to implement and to develop a
lab-scale prototype of single-phase TCSC. It is also possible to
implement a three-phase TCSC device for series compensation
by using voltage sourced converters.
By compiling the TCSC simulation circuit in
MATLAB/SIMULINK software, the noted value of active
power at receiving end side without TCSC device is 62.47
Watt and with TCSC device is 70.02 Watt respectively.
Case I - Results when TCSC is not implemented in the Pi
transmission line: Parameters for the Pi transmission has been
calculated when TCSC is not connected with the pi
transmission line and it has been noted that active power at
sending end is 70.96 Watt and active power at receiving end is
61.37 Watt. It can be clearly observed from the acquired
Fig. 10 Compete setup of single phase system after incorporation of TCSC
module in series with the Pi-Transmission line
results that there is loss of 9.23 Watt.

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[3] Nirav J Patel, Chanakya Bhatt, and Shailesh Modi “Implementation of

single-phase tcsc at laboratory scale level” 4th International Conference
on Futuristic Trends in Engineering and Technologies, Vol. 3, Issue. 4,
Case II - Results when TCSC is implemented in the Pi pp. 18-22, 2016.
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calculated when TCSC is connected with the Pi transmission an interconnected power systems modeling, analysis, and interfacing”
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Electronics Engineering, Vol. 2, Issue. 3, pp. 26-30, 2016.
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The author of this paper wishes to acknowledge Mr. Technology Engineering and Technology International Journal of
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