Advantages of voltage sourced converter (VSC) based design concepts for FACTS and HVDC-link applications

The application of FACTS and HVDC technologies, in the form of voltage sourced converter (VSC) based designs; continue to be implemented throughout North America and other parts of the world for improved transmission system control and operation. FACTS and HVDC-link technologies allow more efficient utilization of existing transmission networks and help to better facilitate needed transmission system expansion. The wide-scale application of these technologies leads to numerous benefits for electrical transmission system infrastructure, including increased capacity at minimum cost; enhanced reliability increased capacity at minimum cost; enhanced reliability through proven performance; higher levels of security by means of sophisticated control & protection; and improved system controllability with state-of-the-art technology concepts. Both conventional and advanced forms of FACTS and HVDC transmission technologies exist and are in operation today. Advanced solutions are in the form of VSC based designs, including configurations for static synchronous compensators (STATCOM), unified power flow controllers (SSSC), and VSC-based back-to-back DC links (VSC-BTB), to name a few. This paper highlights the advantages provided by the VSC design concept for FACTS ad HVDC-link system applications.