Innovative Wide-Area and Local Voltage Control of Dynamic Shunt Compensation Devices to Prevent Voltage Collapse

摘要

Hydro-Quebec has identified Wide-Area Control System (WACS) as a key smart grid initiative able to significantly increase the voltage stability of its grid. In this context an innovative project for wide-area and local voltage control of shunt compensators was initiated. This project is part of Hydro-Quebec's WACS and Wide-Area Measurement Systems (WAMS) smart grid innovation initiatives. Its main objective is to implement a complete closed loop control system on Hydro-Quebec's network to optimize the reactive power support from the installed dynamic shunt compensator fleet, which includes Static Var Compensators (SVCs) and Synchronous Condensers (SCs), following major disturbances. Once put into operation, this solution can prevent voltage drop in the load area. The outcome of this fruitful project is the so-called 《Global and Local Control of Compensators》 (GLCC) control system which is based on IEEE C37.118 synchrophasor technology and Intelligent Electronics Devices (IEDs). Applied to each shunt compensator of Hydro-Quebec's network, this robust voltage control system consists in measuring major voltage variations in the load area and adjusting the set point operation of each shunt compensator accordingly, thus avoiding voltage collapse resulting from extreme contingencies. The complete GLCC control solution was intensively tested in simulation using PSSE software. Moreover, an experimental pilot project was commissioned on a test bench replica of the system and also tested in real time using Hydro-Quebec's Hypersim digital simulator. In 2014, field tests of the GLCC in closed loop were conducted on a -230/+660 MVars SVC. The results of this pilot project were deemed conclusive and the deployment of this new voltage control system to all shunt compensators of Hydro-Quebec's grid has been initiated.