Simfacts: A Flexible AC Transmission Systems Software Package for Teaching and Research

This paper describes an educational case study approach to FACTS controllers on an electric power network. Application software, SIMFACTS, was developed by the authors with the GUIDE tool from Matlabtrade in order to simulate the power system effects resulting from the inclusion of FACTS controllers. The studied topologies were: series, shunt and combined compensators. A simple explanation of several controllers, mainly STATCOM, SVC, TCSC, SSSC and UPFC is made in order to understand the singular concepts behind FACTS technology. A case study showing the main results regarding the impact of FACTS controllers on a steady-state operation of a test power network is presented. It is also included an example of the power flow solutions using one of SSSC controller. A sudden bus load change with a coupled STATCOM controller is also presented.