300 MVAR Static VAR Compensator at Jacksonville, NC

Testing and Commissioning Experiences

Paper # 14TD0242 By: John O’Connor Gregory F. Reed

Dan Sullivan Nobuki Shimokaji

Joseph Birsa

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+300/-100 SVC CONFIGURATION

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SVC CONTROL BLOCK DIAGRAM

General Testing Consideration

• Location on weak part of system

• High Delta-V/Delta Q

• Testing during light system load conditions

• System Operator (and Plant Operator) “comfort level”

• Both the manufacturer and utility would like to test as much of the range of the SVC as is possible

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PERFORMANCE TESTING GOALS

• Initial Energization

• Component Integrity Checks

– Control logic

– Cooling system

– Thyristor switching and blocking

– Full load testing for individual components

– Thermography

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PERFORMANCE TESTING GOALS

• Testing individual components

– Thyristor Controlled Reactor

– Harmonic Filter Capacitors

– Thyristor Switched Capacitors

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+300/-100 SVC at -100 MVARS 7

+300/-100 SVC at +100 MVARS 8

PERFORMANCE TESTING GOALS

• Response rate testing of overall SVC

• PSSE (or PSLF) simulations to determine expected grid and plant response

– Static power flow simulations sufficient to predict testing results (dynamic simulations not necessary)

• Knowing the Thevenin Equivalent Impedance (available short circuit current) is helpful

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TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• Equipment over voltage considerations

– SVC side: step up transformer over-voltage rating is much higher than a typical T/D transformer

– Grid side: stay below 1.05 per unit and most transmission equipment voltage limits are not an issue

• Transmission circuit breaker interrupting capability voltage ratings

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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• Distribution voltage limits

– Utility limit of 126 volts (on a 120 volt basis)

• Distribution voltage regulator margin

• Distribution capacitor bank status/operation

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GENERATING PLANTS

• Generator voltage limits

• Generator minimum MVAR limits

• Generator MVAR changes during testing

• Plant Operator understanding

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SYSTEM OPERATORS

• System Operator understanding

• System Operator in control of testing

– Include time for Operators to “play” with the SVC

• Contingency plans for testing problems or unforeseen occurrences

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COORDINATION OF TESTING

• Utility Transmission System Operator

• Utility Maintenance Technicians

• Utility Field Support Engineer

• Utility Transmission Planning Engineer

• Supplier Field Test Engineers

• Utility Distribution System Operator

• Utility Generating Plant Operators

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Thyristor Stack (One Phase)

Thyristor Stack Installed

Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC)

Thyristor Switched Capacitor (TSC)

Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR)

Filter Capacitor

Transformers (3 single phase + spare)

SVC Control Panels in Bldg

QUESTIONS ?

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