IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2019 - 46

for a three-phase fault at the high-voltage side of the synchronous condenser's transformer.

Modeling Issues
To simulate the dynamic behavior of the synchronous condensers, models for the synchronous condenser and its excitation system must be developed, with either IEEE standard
library models or user-written models. In our case, the synchronous condenser model was a standard model, and the
excitation system was a user-written model.
Synchronous Condenser Model

The synchronous machine for modeling the synchronous
condenser is a Siemens Generator type SGen6-100A-2P
108-48 M07, a round-rotor type of generator. It was modeled
by a standard six-order positive sequence load flow (PSLF)
model, which includes one field winding and one damper
winding in the direct axis and two damper windings in the
quadrature axis.
Excitation-System Models

The excitation system consists of several regulating devices
and limiters that operate in combination to control the reactive power output, field current, and magnetic flux of the synchronous condensers. The excitation system chosen for the
synchronous condensers is Siemens's rotating AC RG3-S7,
which includes the following:
✔ automatic voltage regulator (AVR)
✔ field current regulator
✔ exciter
✔ excitation current limiter
✔ stator current limiter
✔ under excitation limiter
✔ V/Hz limiter.
The excitation system, excluding the limiters for the synchronous condensers, was modeled as a variant of the standard IEEE model AC7B in PSLF. The user-written model
includes input parameters to the standard model and limiters.
Model Response Tests

The test system consists of a synchronous condenser, a GSU,
and an equivalent system bus. The synchronous condenser
response tests include the following:
✔ offline AVR voltage reference step response
✔ online AVR voltage reference step response
✔ dynamic response tests for limiters
✔ fault response test.

Summary
Synchronous condenser technology provides a possible solution to addressing system variability issues resulting from
high penetrations of fluctuating renewable generation and
the retirement of conventional generation. Synchronous con-

ieee power & energy magazine

densers support the grid by meeting reactive power needs,
improving voltage regulation, increasing levels of short circuit availability, and providing inertia to the system.
As part of a synchronous condenser installation project,
a number of technical studies are required. These technical
studies ensure the proper dimensioning of the synchronous
condenser and auxiliary equipment of the installation and
demonstrate compliance with the regulatory and operational requirements of the system. In general, these types
of studies are also required for adding any other type of
transmission equipment.

For Further Reading
California Energy Commission, "California Energy Commission-Tracking progress," Dec. 2018. [Online]. Available: http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/tracking_prog
ress/documents/renewable.pdf
P. Diehl, "SDG&E juicing up substation," San Diego
Union-Tribune, Feb. 1, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www
.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/
sd-no-substation-upgrade-20170130-story.html
M. Belden, "2016 SDG&E grid assessment results,"
Sept. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.caiso.com/
Documents/SDGE_Presentation-2016-2017Transmission
PlanningProcess.pdf
Siemens, "The stable way-Synchronous condenser
solutions." [Online]. Available: https://w3.usa.siemens.com/
smartgrid/us/en/events/Documents/IEEE%202016/TS
_Synchronous_Condenser.pdf
Siemens, "A stable grid in the era of renewables." [Online].
Available: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/
energy/high-voltage/facts/portfolio/syncon.html

Biographies
George Zhou is with Siemens Power Technologies International, Foster City, California.
David Wang is with the San Diego Gas and Electric
Company, San Diego, California.
Adham Atallah is with Siemens Power Technologies
International, Erlangen, Germany.
Frank McElvain is with Siemens Power Technologies
International, Foster City, California.
Ram Nath is with Siemens Power Technologies International, Foster City, California.
John Jontry is with the San Diego Gas and Electric
Company, San Diego, California.
Christopher Bolton is with the San Diego Gas and Electric Company, San Diego, California.
Huang Lin is with the San Diego Gas and Electric Company, San Diego, California.
Andreas Haselbauer is with Siemens AG, Erlangen,
Germany.
p&e

july/august 2019

https://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/tracking_progress/documents/renewable.pdf https://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/tracking_progress/documents/renewable.pdf https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-substation-upgrade-20170130-story.html https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-substation-upgrade-20170130-story.html https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-substation-upgrade-20170130-story.html https://www.caiso.com/Documents/SDGE_Presentation-2016-2017TransmissionPlanningProcess.pdf https://www.caiso.com/Documents/SDGE_Presentation-2016-2017TransmissionPlanningProcess.pdf https://www.caiso.com/Documents/SDGE_Presentation-2016-2017TransmissionPlanningProcess.pdf https://w3.usa.siemens.com/smartgrid/us/en/events/Documents/IEEE%202016/TS_Synchronous_Condenser.pdf https://w3.usa.siemens.com/smartgrid/us/en/events/Documents/IEEE%202016/TS_Synchronous_Condenser.pdf https://w3.usa.siemens.com/smartgrid/us/en/events/Documents/IEEE%202016/TS_Synchronous_Condenser.pdf https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/energy/high-voltage/facts/portfolio/synchronouscondenser.html https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/energy/high-voltage/facts/portfolio/synchronouscondenser.html

IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - July/August 2019

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