AC-1

by Jos Arrillaga and Bruce Smith

The power industry throughout the
world is looking for ways to increase
the capacity of transmission paths as
well as means that allow better control
of power flow on existing transmission
equipment. One means that is becom-
ing more prevalent is the use of dc
transmi ssi on. AC-DC Power System
Analysis, a book published by the Insti-
tution of Electrical Engineers QEE), UK,
as part of thei r Power and Energy
Series, continues a fine tradition of text-
books on power system analysis from
Canterbury, New Zealand [ 1,2].
The text deals with analytical meth-
ods for the analysis of power systems
that contai n ac-dc converters and
inverters. Inparticular, the books main
emphasis is on the use of these tech-
niques for system studies where the
power system contains or is influenced
by ac-dc converters. The techniques
covered include power flow (both con-
ventional positive sequence and three
phase power flow), harmonic analysis,
analysis of the switching circuits using
electromagnetic transient simulation
software, and electromechanical stabili-
ty analysis. Inaddition, the authors pro-
vide a complete set of appendices that
cover the necessary numerical analysis
background.
The topics are all aimed at giving the
reader an understanding of the meth-
ods necessary for the analysis of acdc
power system components. These
methods are necessary if engineers are
to properly design the acdc converters,
the necessary equipment that must be
added outside the converters, and the
effects of these converters on the
remainder of the system.
The first and second chapters start
by introducing the reader to circuits
with controlled valves that are drawn
as diodes but have the important prop
erty of having their firing controlled by
an external signal. The second chapter
C Power System Anc
shows how the valves are connected
and fired so as to effect either a rectifi-
cation fromacto dc or inversion fromdc
to ac. This isdone for both balanced and
unbalanced conditions. The reader is
introduced to the harmonic analysis
problem that must be dealt with in any
circuitry with switching elements.
Chapter three begins the introduc-
tion of the numerical methods neces-
sary to carry out the simulation of the
acdc converters within a conventional
power flow. Common power flow
numerical techniques such as Newton-
Raphson and Decoupled Newton meth-
ods are used, but in quite different ways
for analysis of voltages and currents in
the power system versus the converter
itself. The capability limitations of the
converters must be added to the analy-
lysis
sis, much as var limiting capability for
generator units must be added to a con-
ventional power flow.
Chapter four covers the techniques
needed to allow one to study the har-
monic currents and voltages that are
generated by the converter action. The
analytical techniques, though not fun-
damentally different from those for sin-
gle frequency analysis, present very
interesting matrix sparsity problems of
their own, as shown by the text.
In References 1 and 2, a full treat-
ment of three-phase power flows was
given. In chapter five of AC-DC Power
System Analysis, the authors deal with
the inclusion of the acdc converters in
a three-phase power flow and extend it
to harmonic analysis as well, so that
one can study the influence of unbal-
AC-DC power system analysis (J. Anillaga and B.C. Smith)
Scope: Few power systems are isolated fromtheeffects of hgh voltageDC
transmission, and this technology figures prominently in their planrung and operation.
This new text, written by oneof the worlds lea- authorities on the subject, covers
the incorporation of AC-DC converters and DC transmission inpower system
analysis. In addition to conventional power flows, faults and stability, AC-DC power
systemanalysis describes thesimulation of power systemsteady-state waveform
distortion and transient behaviour. Computer modelling of power electronic devices is
given prominenceas theseprogrammes are central to power systemdes@, The
concepts and methods described in thebook are atso ready applicable to FACTS
(flexibleAC transmission systems) technology.
Contents: 1: Introduction; 2: TheAC-DC converter in steady state; 3: Thepower
flow solution; 4: Theharmonic solution; 5: Three-phasepower and harmonic flow; 6:
Electromagnetic transient simulation; 7: Electromechanical stab&@, 8
Electromechanical stabiliv withtransient converter simulation, Appendices:
Newton-Raphson method; Theshort-circuit ration (SCR); Test systems; State-space
analysis; Numerical integration; Curve-fitting algorithm; Index
Readership: Electrical engineers; researchers; advanced level students
Level: Professional; graduate; reference
PO 027.406pp.. ISBN 0 85296 934 1. 1998, f55 JUS $90
B
54 IEEE Computer Applications in Power
ances in the power system on the har-
monics generated.
Chapter six is titled electromagnetic
transient simulation; however, it does
not deal with fast transients in the
nanosecond or microsecond range that
occur on a transmission line, but rather
with the simulation programs, princi-
pally EMTP that are used to simulate
the converters in detail when this is
necessary. In addition to EMTP, the
authors refer to the NETOMAC and the
powerful PSCAD/EMTDC simulator.
These simulators are able to provide
highly detailed analysis of the voltages
and currents within the converters as
they are operated.
The final two chapters deal with the
inclusion of ac-dc converters in the
analysis of what power engineers usu-
ally refer to as transient stability (the
authors use the more exact term
electromechanical stability). In this
analysis, one must not only deal with
the time step integration of the differ-
ential equations of the generator rotat-
ing mass in i nteracti on with the
electrical network to which it is con-
nected, but must also deal with the
effect of the time changing voltages on
the operation of the ac-dc converters
themselves.
The authors have not included
methodologies in this book that cover
the analysis of other devices that use
high power el ectroni c switching
devices within a power system. These
include FACTS devices, static var com-
pensators (SVRs), or the many power
conversion technologies that use high
power electronic interfaces directly
connected to the power system, such
as found in some wind turbine-genera-
tor sets and in fuel cell interfaces. The
increased use of high power electronics
certainly indicates a need for a text
dealing with system studies in which
these additional devices are present.
The reviewer suspects that Arrillaga
and Smith will be among those that
write such a text, if in fact they have not
done so already.
Reviewed by Bruce F. Wollenberg
University of Minnesota
References
1. Arrillaga, J., Arnold, C. P. , and Harker, B. J .
Computer Modeling of Electrical Power Sys-
terns, Wiley, 1983, New York
2. Arrillaga, J . and Arnold, C. P., Computer
Analysis ofPower Systems, Wiley, 1990, New
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