IEEE Bombay Section

A new technology termed as "FACTS" is in the forefront of electrical power systems. FACTS stands for flexible ac transmission system. When we send ac electrical power across a transmission system, its capacity to handle power is limited by the inductance of the system. For a given cross-section of a transmission conductor, a dc, or rather HVDC, carries much more power than its equivalent ac.

Capacitors have been used in the past to overcome the reactive effects. However, the capacitors come us fixed blocks. Their use is made flexible with the use of thyristor switches. Thyristor switch development has been the keyword in making rigid ac system into flexible ac systems. Many more applications have developed under FACTS.

One such attractive development for us in India has been development of "custom power" for very sensitive customers. Reactive power is generated & controlled in such measures - in a software park for example, that irrespective of the quality of the power supply system from the outside, the supply within the park stays within standard limits - latest, say set for harmonics distortions by IEEE / CIGRE, & those set for voltages under "CBEMA". Individual customers do not depend on UPS within the park. Needless to say, individual UPS eat a sizeable chunk of an entrepreneurs funds.

India's performance under software services has been exceptionally good. During the last year, it generated Rs.24350/- Crores worth of services (US $bn 6.3) Out of above the export accounted for Rs.17150 Crores (US $bn 4) Every state capital in India is rushing forward for establishing sizeable software parks. "Custom Power" is a live issue for our planners, designers & consultants.

Dr. N. Hingorani is considered the father of "FACTS" technology. Major developments in FACTS have taken place under him in EPRI in USA. We attach separately a note on his background & the synopsis of a speech, which we were able to arrange in Mumbai.

Role of power electronics is rapidly increasing in all aspects of electric energy i.e., generation, transmission, distribution and end use. The speaker will convey the reasons for this rapid growth.

One of the major areas of growth in power electronics relates to the issue of Power Quality for Industrial and commercial customers. For increasing number of these customers, it is no longer an issue of buying a few un-interruptible power supplies (UPS) for control circuits. It is an issue that involves maintaining power for a variety of drives, processes, robotics and database systems. A voltage dip of a few cycles, a common occurrence in utility systems, can result in a considerable loss of production and business. The speaker will provide some insight in to these losses.

Until recently, the customer's problems are solved downstream within parts of their system through UPS's. However increasing number of customers need front-end correction at feeder level, based on power electronics. To address this issue, author pioneered the concept of Custom Power. This power electronics based technology offers a portfolio of products that combined with storage and stand by generators, enable value-added reliable power supply to industrial and commercial customers. The concept can be extended to serve industrial parks or even high tech cities. Regardless of the downstream or feeder-level Custom Power solutions, the distribution utilities serving the customers are invariably involved in finding the best solutions for their customers. Otherwise they stand to get a bad reputation and lose customers to competition.

For most industrial and commercial customers, migration to the Custom Power concept of reliability, which accounts for voltage dips and not just long-term outage, is inevitable.

While the speaker will relate his speech with reference to the United States, he will attempt to relate to the conditions in India.

RESUME

In 1995, following a twenty year career at EPRI, including last 5 years as Vice President of Electrical Systems, Dr. Hingorani retired from EPRI and started his own consulting, to help utilities in studies and purchase of power electronics technology, particularly HVDC, FACTS and CUSTOM POWER. Prior to joining EPRI, Dr. Hingorani spent 6 years at Bonneville Power Administration; his responsibilities included the commissioning of the Pacific DC Intertie and series capacitors. He has helped many utilities in specifying, purchase and commissioning of HVDC, and business organizations in opportunities in the power electronics. Presently Dr Hingorani provides consulting services in the area of development and application of power electronics to transmission, distribution and industrial power.

Dr. Hingorani is credited with originating the concepts of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) and Custom Power, which are expected to revolutionize future ac power transmission and distribution systems, respectively. He has authored over 150 papers and articles on HVDC and ac transmission, and co-authored two books, one on HVDC power transmission (1960) and the other on Flexible AC Power Transmission (1999).

Dr. Hingorani received a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Baroda University in India, and M.Sc., Ph.D. and Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in England.

In 1985, Dr. Hingorani was presented the Uno Lamm Medal by the IEEE Power Engineering Society for outstanding contributions in High Voltage Direct Current Technology, and later received the prestigious 1995 IEEE Lamme Medal for leadership and pioneering contributions to the transmission and distribution of electric power. Dr. Hingorani has just been selected as a recipient of the IEEE Third Millenium Medal. He is a Life Fellow of IEEE.

In 1988, Dr. Hingorani was elected to the National Academy of Engineering of the USA. From 1988 to1996, he was Chairman of CIGRE Study Committee on DC Links and Power Electronics, was a member of the Editorial Board of IEEE Spectrum1993-95, a member of the Engineering Review Board for the Bonneville Power Administration 1988-94, and a member of the Editorial Board of IEEE Proceedings 1991-93. Since 1998, he has been a member of the IEEE Foundation Board. His many achievements were highlighted in an individual profile in the December 1990 issue of IEEE Spectrum.