Kalyan K. Sen

The power industry’s quest for the most economic way to transfer bulk power along a desired path can only be achieved through the independent control of active and reactive power flow in a transmission line. Traditional solutions, such as shunt inductor/capacitor, phase-shifting transformer, and series inductor/capacitor affect both the active and the reactive power flow in the transmission line simultaneously. With the use of Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC)-based Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC), the active and the reactive power flow in the line can be regulated independently. Since the field demonstration of the world’s first UPFC in 1998, another FACTS controller, namely Sen Transformer (ST), has been proposed. In contrast to the UPFC, which uses a large number of solid-state switching devices, the ST uses time-tested components, such as transformer and load tap changers, but provides the same independent active and reactive power flow control as the UPFC at a much lower cost.

The objectives are to give a background on traditional power transmission technology and discuss new techniques that utilize the transmission lines most effectively. The workshop covers various types of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) controllers and their usefulness in power system applications. Various modeling techniques of FACTS controllers are briefly discussed. The results from the simulation are compared with those from the field measurements.

This presentation is of particular interest to all power-engineering professionals. The required background includes an electrical engineering degree with familiarity in power engineering terminology.

The workshop is organized in the following way.

• Introduction
• Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC)
• Installation of World’s First UPFC
• VSC-based technology
• Simulation and field results
• Special applications of VSC-based technology
• Sen Transformer

Kalyan K. Sen received B.E.E, M.S.E.E, and Ph.D degrees, all in Electrical Engineering, from Jadavpur University, India, Tuskegee University, USA, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA, respectively. He has spent 20 years in academia and industry. He was a member of the FACTS development team at Westinghouse Science & Technology Center in Pittsburgh, USA. He contributed in all aspects (conception, simulation, design, and commissioning) of FACTS projects at Westinghouse. Dr. Sen conceived some of the basic concepts in FACTS technology. He has many publications in the areas of FACTS and power electronics. Currently, he is a Fellow Engineer at the Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation (formerly Westinghouse) in USA where he is engaged in power electronics applications research. His interests are in Power Converters, Control, Electrical Machines, and Power System Simulations and Studies. He is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Dr. Sen, a Senior Member of IEEE, has served the organization in many positions. In 2003, he re-established the Pittsburgh Chapters of the Power Engineering Society and the Industry Applications Society. Both Chapters received the "Outstanding Large Chapter" awards for the year 2004. Under his Chairmanship, the Pittsburgh Section received the "Outstanding Large Section" award for the activities in 2005. For the last six years, he has been serving as an Editor of the Transactions and a Distinguished Lecturer.