Development and implementation of FACTS (flexible AC transmission systems) devices in distribution networks

The power electronics-based FACTS technology, applied to transmission systems, can also be useful in distribution systems. To this end, it is necessary to follow a consolidation procedure of the utilization and performance of this technology so that they can be applied with no risks. The application of this technology will bring along several benefits for the expansion of the distribution systems, namely: flexibility in the networks´ utilization, interconnection of feeders allowing the manipulation of energy blocks without the need of disconnecting them, continuous adjustment of reactive power during the operation, and a dynamic control of the power flow. In this work, two aspects for the application of this technology in distribution systems, will be studied. The first aspect is referred to the application of a FACTS device that acts as a series compensator and which offers the possibility of making feasible the continuous control of the series reactance. The second aspect is referred to its utilization in the interconnection of two feeders, where active power between them is dynamically controlled. The simulation program used was the ATP (alternative transients program).