National Power & Energy Conference (PECon) 2004 Proceedings, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 148

A STATCOM Simulation Model to Improve

Voltage Sag Due to Starting of High Power
Induction Motor
A. F . Huweg, S . M. Bashi- and N. Mariun

sags as shown in Fig .1 may cause tripping, production

Abstmct--A simulation model of static synchronous disturbances and equipment damages. The concern for
compensator (STATCOM) has been constructed on mitigation voltage sag has been gradually increasing due to the
Matlab/simulink software t o examine its capability for voltage sag huge usage of sensitive electronic equipment in modem
mitigation due to starting high power induction motor. i n this industrial.
paper, the main structure of simulink (STATCOM) model is
described briefly. Its capability to compensate reactive power to
the system when the voltage sag occurs was described. A phase
control thyristor (SCR) based voltage source inverter (VSI) is
employed for this appIication. The influences of the initial
operation point and DC capacitance are considered. The behavior
of this system during voltage sag caused by starting of motor load
has been examined.
Simulation result shows the fast response and the STATCOM
capability for mitigate voltage sag.

Index Termr--voltage sag, voltage sag mitigation, static

synchronous compensator, voltage source inverter.

I. INTRODUCCION Fig.1. Typical waveform of voltage sag

I n the past, equipment used to control indushal process was

mechanical in nature, which was rather tolerant of voktage
disturbances. Nowadays, modern industrial equipment
typically uses a large amount of electTonic components, such
as program logic control (PLCs), adjustable speed drives and
optical devices, which can be very sensitive to such voltage
disturbances.
The must majority disturbance that causes problems for
electronic equipments is voltage sags.
Voltage sag is defined as a decrease between 0.1 and 0.9 p.u.
in the m voltage at the network fundamental frequency with
duration from 0.5 cycles to few seconds. This defrnition
assumes that the sag can be defined by a magnitude and
duration. The duration is usually associated with the time taken
by the protection system to clear the fault,
Voltage sags are huge problem for many industries [1,2]
&d they have been found especially troublesome because h e y
are random events lasting only a few cycles.
However, they are probably the most pressing power quality
problem facing many industrial customers today [33. Voltage
A. F . Huweg, S. M. Bashi and N. Mariun are with Depamnent of
Electrical and Elecmnic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Univcrsiti
P u h Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia (e-mail: senan@
eng.upm.edu.my).
This paper engaged with voltage sag caused by induction
motor. The induction motors are subjected to the voltage sag
slow down, but usually do not stop operating, if not tripped by
contactors. Problems can occur due to torque oscillations that
can be associated with very deep sags or to tripping of over
current reIays, due to the high currents drawn by the motor.
During the voltage sag, an induction motor siows down and
requests higher current. If the sag is unbalanced, it is also
subjected to a negative sequence voltage and therefore it
absorbs a large negative-sequence current component, because
the negative-sequence impedance of the motor is usu$y low.
High is also the current drawn by the motor after the voltage
has recovered, necessary to rebuild the air-gap flux and
reaccelerate the machine [5]. This phenomenon causes
extended post-fault sag with a long duration (one second or
more) if the motor load is large with respect to the system
impedance. In [4] it has been shown that the induction motors
influence to the voltage sags during faults.
Some solution approached for compensation of voltage sag a
shunt injection of reactive current and a series injection of
voltage.
Ambra Sannino, et a1 f5], in their paper has carried out
research to examine of the operation of a series connected

0-7803-8724-4104/$20.00 02004 IEEE.


VSC for voltage sag mitigation. Static series compensator SSC
IS depending on a'qutt large dc source.
STAICOM is one o f the available shunt compensation
devices. The STATCOM obtained by a voltage source
convericr (VSC), DC baiik charged via bridgc rcciilicr and
proper control, as shown in Figure 2. The proposal of
S'I'A'I'COM is to injection reactive power io the syp~t when
voltage sag occurs. I h e amount of reactive power could be
corilrol by change firing angle of the thyristor 01 the DC valuc.
This paper investigates in, the performance of the
S'I'APCOM verified wlien supplying an induction motor. The
aim of this work is to develop STATCOM module based on
thyristor (SCR) and studies the compensation capability of this
module due to starting an induction motor.
11. STATCOM MODEL
In general, STATCOM use to generate or absorb reactive
power. The active power generation or absorption capability of
the STATCOM is normally used under special circumstances
such as to enhance the steady state and transient voltage
control, to improve the sag elimination capability.
A . Bosic operation
The basic electronic block of the STATCOM is the voltage-
sourced inverter that converts an input dc voltage into a three-
phase output voltage at fundamental frequency.
In its simplest form, the STATCOM is made up o f a
coupling transrormer, a voltage-sourced inverter and a dc
capacitor. In this arrangement, the steady-state power
exchange between the device and the ac system is mainly
reactive. A functional model of the STATCOM i s shown in
Figure 2.
I X is the equivalent impedance between STATCOM and the
DC Voltage
S0rUre 7
1 (
- with a series device, a s a shunt devices can simultaneously be
Fig. 2. STA'I'COM futictionnl model
Regulating the amplitude of the STATCOM output voltage
controls the reactive power exchange of the STATCOM with
tfie ac system. If the amplitudes of the STATCOM output
voltage and the ac system voltage are equal, the reactive
current is zero and the STATCOM does not generatel absorb
149
reactive power. If the amplitude of the STATCOM output
voltage is increased above ihe amplitude of the ac system
voltage, the current flows through the transrormer reactance
from the STATCOM to the ac system, and the device
gcncralcs reactive powcr (capacitivc). l r the atnpIitutlc or Lhc
STATCOM output voltage is decreased to a level below Ihat
of the ac system, then the current flows kom tfie ac system tu
tll'e ' STATCOM, resulting in the device absorbing reactive
power (inductive). Since tlie STA'I'COM IS gerieialiiig/
absorbing only reactive power, the output voltage and the ac
systeni voltage are in phase, when neglecting ciicuit losses.
The current drawn from the STATCOM is 90'- shifted with
respect to the ac system voltage, and it can be leading
(generates reactive power) or lagging (absorbs reactive
power).
A capacitor is used to maintain dc voltage to the inverter.
An uticonlrolled rectifier based six diorlcs uscd lo kccp lltc
capacitor charged to the required levels.
B. PrincipIe of reactive power control
The principle of control reactive power via STATCOM is
well known that the amount of type (capacitive or inductive) of
reactive power exchange between the STATCOM and the
system can be adjusted by controlling the magnitude of
STATCOM output voltage with respect to that o f syslem
voltage. The reactive power supplied by the STATCOM is
given by
Where
Q i s the reactive power.
VsrAXOhfis the magnitude of STATCOM output voltage.
Vs is the magnitude of system voltage.
system.
When Q is positive the STATCOM supplies reactive power
to the system. Otherwise, the STATCOM absorbs reactive
power from the system.
C. Sag mitigation
The application of a shunt device such as a STATCOM for
mitigation of voltage sag has some advantages when compared
used for steady-state voltage control, load power oscillation
damping and as a back up power source [6].Some applications
of STATCOM for niitigation voltage sag are preseiilcd in
16 - 81.
D. Simulution Modeling
A three plIase voltage-sourced inverter is typically niade o f
six thyristor switches (SRC)to shape the output waveform and
it is the heart of the STATCOM compensator. There are also
 150

six uncontrolled switches (diodes) to maintain dc source
energy charged. The inverter bridge and diodes bridge are
connected together and connected to the grid via eansfonner
as show inFigure 4.
The inverter bridge, which is the heart of the STATCOM, is
typicaliy injection current to the system When the STATCOM
voltage i s greater than that of the system voltage the
STATCOM will supply VARs to the system Otherwise, the
STATCOM will absorb VARS from the system as show in
Figure 3.
m. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The circuit shown in fig .4 was implemented in the
Matlablsimulink software. The system was operated hvice.
Once Without STATCOM and the second time with the
STATCOM. In both condition the motor started working after
voltage when the STATCOM was operation with the system.
The voltage sag improvement clearly shown in fig 5b it is 91%
in magnitude and 0.13 sec. figure Sa RMS voltage without
STATCOM
Figure 6 summarized the active and the reactive power
injection by the STATCOM to the system when the voltage
sag event. The figure illustrates the active and reactive powers
are positive. That means the load absorbs both active and
reactive power during voltage sag.
bmdmprlholllh8TATCUd
500

v WT Absorbs "Q"
do01 I
0 O i 02 03 D4 0.3 06 0.1 Ob 09 1
Mu.e
Fig .3. Generation and absorption reactive power Fig 5a ,Line voltage without STATCOM

Where V is the STATCOM voltage. Bvr~ffhhSTAlCOb!

600, I
VT is the terminal voltage.

II

Fig 5b Line voltage with STATCOM

Fig.4. STATCOM simulation circuit

0.25 second of switching on the system Fig. 5 shows the

system RMS voltage with and without STATCOM. Fig. 5
shows the result obtained during voltage sag. of 76% in
magnitude and 0.53 sec duration Fig 5a shows the RMS
voltage at load terminal during voltage sag before the
STATCOM connected to the system Fig 5b shows the R M S
 151

Looking at figure 7b, from 0.25 sec up to 0.65 sec during this
interval tlie voltage sag is occurring and also it is at this
interval that the STATCOM in making currcnl iiijectioti into
the system as shown in figure 8. Comparing figure 7b with 7a
the interval of voltage sag occurs between 0.25 up Lo 0.78.

yn!
o 0.1 01
AI_j
_

03
_J__I
04 05
bm.,
OB or
I-
om os
i
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ! ~ ~ ~ i ~ , ~ , ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ , ~ i ~ ~ i i , ~ , ~

Fig f~ilie aclivc and rcsctivc power gcncratcd by tlic SI'ATCOM

Tlic Pigtircs 7a, 7b and 8 show Ilic efTcct or corinuc~iiig

STATCOM to the system, the first figure shows the system I . I . ,
helbre connecting STATCOM .the second figuic shows the
0 RI 02 01 1.4 05 Gb O! Ud Ft 1
system immediately the STATCOM was connected, atid third
figure shows the current which drawn by the STATCOM. At
tm. I
Fig 8 S'IA'I'COM current
this time the STATCOM voltage is higher than system voltage.
I t can also be seen there is a small current drawn by the Hence, it can be seen that the addition o f STATCOM increases
STATCOM that it has no effect on the system. the response of the systcm by 0.13 secoiitl. Tlic adtlilion o f
STATCOM can thus improve the transient stability of the
system
The dc voltage during sag events is sliown iti Fig 9. It is show
that the capacitor discharged during voltage sag.

,--- .--~~
oc Wd.W
I .

I I

IV. CONCLUSION
In this paper, the simulation model of static synchronous
compensator STATCOM based thyristor has been constructed
on Matlab/simulink software. Reactive power generation was
achieved by charging and discharging the energy storage
capacitor. T h e amount of reactive power is depending upon the
thyristor-firing angle as shown in'tables. 1
 152

TABLE 1 V. REFERENCES
CHANGES,OF REACTIE POWER WITH RESPECT TO F W G
ANGLE
M . M c h a g a n : “Egecfs of Volfuge Sags In Prucers Indusiry
Applicnfiom”, Invited paper SPT IS 01-2, presented at thc IEEL‘KTH
Stockholm Power Tech C o n f m c e , Stockholm, Sweden, June 18-22
Firing angle (degrees) Reactive power WAR) 1995.
J. Lamom,D. Mueller, P. Vine& and W.Jones: “Voltage sug analysis
cme studies”. IEEE Transactions on.Indusq Applications, volume 30,
140 380 No4, July- August 1994. Pages: 1083- 1089.
M. H. 1. Bollcn :”Voltage sugs: e-ects, rnirigufion w d prediction”
145 700 Power Engineering Joumal. Volume: 10,3 June 1996,Pages: 129 -135.
Yaleinkaya, G.;Bollen, M.H.J.; Crossley, P.A.:”Characterization of
voltage sags in indusaial distribution systems” Industry Applications,
150 960 IEEE Transactions on, Volume: 34, Issue: 4. July-Aug. 1998 Pages: 682
- 688
155 1180 [51 Sannino, A.; Svmsson, J.;” Application of converter-based series device
for voltage sag mitigation to induction motor load”, Power Tech
PraceedinB, 2001 IEEE Porto,Volume: 2, 10-13 Sept. 2001 Pages: 6
160 1360 pp. v01.2
Atputharajah A, Ekanayake J, Jenkins N “Application study of a
165 1560
STATCOM with energy storage”, IEE Proceedings Generation
Transmission and Distribution, Vol. 150. No 3 May 2003 pp 368-373
P. Wang, N. Jenkins, M.H.J.Bollen, “Experimental investigation of
170 1780 voltage sag mitigation by an advanced static var Compensator“, IEEE
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175 2000
PI M v i n a Uzunovic, Claudio A. Canizares,
John Reeve, “Fundamental
Frpquency Model of Static Synchronous Compensator”, Waterloo, ON,
Canada N2L 3G1.
The magnitude of the STATCOM terminal voltage was
controlled w ith respect to the system voltage. STATCOM
model Tested on. Matlabisimulink has shown that it can
improve the voltage sag vector (magnitude and duration).
Furthermore, it has shown the fast response of the STATCOM
to voltage sag phenomena. Simulation resdts shown that the
voltage sag improvement offered by a STATCOM may
significantly reduce the number of trips in the sensitive
equipments.