FACTS (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System) նշանակում է էլեկտրոնային սարքավորումների հիմնացած համակարգ, որը օգտագործում է ստացիոնար սարքեր հղումների փոխանցման հնարավորության և կոնտրոլի բարձրացման համար ԱՀՀ փոխանցման ցանցերում:
Այդ էլեկտրոնային սարքերը ինտեգրվում են սովորական ԱՀՀ ցանցերի մեջ՝ բարձրացնելով հիմնական կառինգային ցուցանիշները, ներառյալ.
Էլեկտրոնային սարքավորումների սահմանափակումների հայտնվելուց առաջ ռեակտիվ հզորության անհավասարակշռության և կայունության հարցերը լուծում էին մեխանիկական սարքերով կապում կոնդենսատորներ, ռեակտորներ կամ սինխրոնային գեներատորներ։ Բայց մեխանիկական սարքերը ունեին կրիտիկական թերություններ. դանդաղ պատասխանը, մեխանիկական պարունակություն և պակաս աξագրողություն, որոնք սահմանափակում էին դրանց արդյունավետությունը փոխանցման գծերի կոնտրոլի և կայունության օպտիմիզացիայում:
高压电力电子开关(如晶闸管)的发展使得FACTS控制器的创建成为可能,彻底改变了交流电网的管理。
Why Are FACTS Devices Needed in Power Systems?
A stable power system requires precise coordination between generation and demand. As electricity demand grows, maximizing the efficiency of all network components becomes essential—and FACTS devices play a key role in this optimization.
Electrical power is categorized into three types: active power (useful/true power for end-use), reactive power (caused by energy-storing elements in loads), and apparent power (vector sum of active and reactive power). Reactive power, which can be inductive or capacitive, must be balanced to prevent it from flowing through transmission lines—uncontrolled reactive power reduces the network’s capacity to transmit active power.
Compensation techniques (to balance inductive and capacitive reactive power by supplying or absorbing it) are therefore critical. These techniques improve power quality and enhance transmission efficiency.
Types of Compensation Techniques
Compensation techniques are classified based on how devices are connected to the power system:
1. Series Compensation
In series compensation, FACTS devices are connected in series with the transmission network. These devices typically act as variable impedances (e.g., capacitors or inductors), with series capacitors being the most common.
This method is widely used in EHV (Extra High Voltage) and UHV (Ultra High Voltage) transmission lines to significantly improve their power transfer capability.

The power transfer capacity of a transmission line without using compensation device;

Where,
V1 = Sending end voltage
V2 = Receiving end voltage
XL = Inductive reactance of transmission line
δ = Phase angle between V1 and V2
P = Power transferred per phase
Now, we connect a capacitor in series with the transmission line. The capacitive reactance of this capacitor is XC. So, the total reactance is XL-XC.So, with a compensation device, the power transfer capacity is given by;

The factor k is known as the compensation factor or degree of compensation. Generally, the value of k is lies between 0.4 to 0.7. Let’s assume the value of k is 0.5.

Thus, it is evident that the use of series compensation devices can increase power transfer capacity by approximately 50%.When series capacitors are employed, the phase angle (δ) between voltage and current is smaller compared to an uncompensated line. A smaller δ value enhances system stability—meaning, for the same power transfer volume and identical sending-end and receiving-end parameters, a compensated line offers significantly better stability than an uncompensated one.
Shunt Compensation
In a high voltage transmission line, the magnitude of receiving end voltage depends on the loading condition. The capacitance performs an important role in the high voltage transmission line.

When a transmission line is loaded, the load requires reactive power, which is initially supplied by the line’s inherent capacitance. However, when the load exceeds the SIL (Surge Impedance Loading), the heightened reactive power demand leads to a significant voltage drop at the receiving end.
To address this, capacitor banks are connected in parallel with the transmission line at the receiving end. These banks supply the additional reactive power needed, effectively mitigating the voltage drop at the receiving end.

An increase in line capacitance leads to a rise in the receiving end voltage.
When a transmission line is lightly loaded (i.e., the load is below SIL), the reactive power demand is lower than the reactive power generated by the line’s capacitance. In this scenario, the receiving end voltage becomes higher than the sending end voltage—a phenomenon known as the Ferranti effect.
To prevent this, shunt reactors are connected in parallel with the transmission line at the receiving end. These reactors absorb the excess reactive power from the line, ensuring the receiving end voltage remains at its rated value.
