Aswin R, Jo Joy
Traditionally shunt and series compensation is used to maximize the transfer capability of a transmission line. By using FACTS controllers one can control the variables such as voltage magnitude and phase angle at chosen bus and line impedance. There are five well known FACTS devices utilized by the utilities for this purpose. These FACTS devices are Static Var Compensator (SVC), Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC), Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) and Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). The voltage collapse occurs when a system is loaded beyond its maximum loadability point. Many analysis methods have been proposed and currently used for the study of this problem. Most of these techniques are based on the identification of system equilibrium where the corresponding jacobians become singular. These equilibrium points are typically referred to as points of voltage collapse and can be mathematically associated to saddle-node bifurcation. The voltage collapse points are also known as maximum loadability points.