Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

Abstract

A setback arising from the pressure of increasing power transmission and distribution capacity could easily be resolved by expanding the network and/or installing more transmission lines. However, environmental and economic factors oppose the use of this resolution. These factors have engineered the onward research on designing power networks to provide maximum transmission capacity at minimum cost. The aftermath of the continuous research resulted in the use of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), which is solely built on power electronics, to increase transmission capacity, improve stability & dynamic behavior of the system and ensure better power quality. This paper will discuss basically the importance of FACTS in our networks, its components, the earliest technology used – Static VAR Compensator (SVC), and the most recent technology used – Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC).