Selection of TCSC Parameters: Capacitor and
Inductor
S. Meikandasivam1, Rajesh Kumar Nema2, and Shailendra Kumar Jain3
Abstract-- Thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC)
device is a series compensator to govern the power flow by
compensating the reactance of the transmission line. Both
capacitive and inductive reactance compensations are possible by
proper selection of capacitor and inductor values of the TCSC
device which can be realized through reactance equation. This
paper presents a conceptual study to adopt an apt value for the
capacitor and inductor of a TCSC device. Degree of Series
compensation (K) brings an idea of selecting the TCSC capacitor.
The Reactance characteristic curve is analyzed with resonant
point for different values of  which defines the square root of
ratio between capacitive and inductive reactance. The study is
helpful in selecting an appropriate value for TCSC inductor
which has influence on multi resonance point in TCSC device.
Additionally, power flows in the transmission line are discussed
with tabulation to realize the operating span of the TCSC for
various values of . While designing, TCSC parameters can
also be selected as per requirement on end side demands and for
safe operating span of a TCSC.
Index Terms-- TCSC device, Degree of series compensation,
Reactance Characteristics Curve, Resonance point, Power
Transfers.
I. INTRODUCTION
S ERIES Capacitive Compensation is an old and economic
technique to increase the power transfer capability of a
long transmission line. Since 1950, fixed series capacitors
were installing in long alternating-current transmission lines to
cancel a part of the inherent inductive reactance [1]. If 70%
line inductive reactance is canceled, then line is said to have
70% of series compensation and degree of series
compensation (K) is 70%. 100% compensation will raise a
problem of series resonance in the system. Usually, up to 70%
of compensation is chosen for transmission line compensation.
Moreover, series capacitive compensation technique may
inadvertently increase the risk of subsynchronous resonance
(SSR) problem [1-3].
Because of fixed series compensation, two series SSR
problems were occurred in the year 1970s, at the Mojave in
southern Nevada, experienced shaft damage that required
1
Research Scholar meikandasivams@gmail.com
2
Associate Professor rk_nema@yahoo.com
3
Associate Professor sjain68@gmail.com
Department of Electrical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of
Technology, Bhopal, INDIA
978-1-4244-7882-8/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE
several months of repairs [4]. In 1981 N.G. Hingorani
proposed a NGH damping scheme for series compensators,
named as thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) which
has been proven to provide effective SSR mitigation. The
worlds first TCSC was commissioned in 1999 for SSR
mitigation in 400 kV grid in Sweden, [2, 3].
Apart from series resonance and SSR problem, there is a
possibility of parallel resonance due to presence of capacitor
and inductor in TCSC device. Hence optimal selection of
TCSC capacitor and inductor is very important.
Guowen H U referred a factor , in reactance equation,
should be less than 3 [5]; there will be only one resonance
point in the work region between 90o to 180o of firing angle.
Also it was explained that for larger/smaller values of
inductance how the capacitance operating region shifts in the
characteristics curve. For further investigation, this paper
starts with basic discussion of TCSC device and its reactance
characteristic curve. Securely pointing out the measures for
selecting the TCSC parameters and explains about shifting of
resonance region for different values of . Considering
Kanpur Ballabhgarh TCSC project as a case study, possible
range of power flows are tabulated for various values of .
The main purpose of this paper is to optimally choose the
capacitor and inductor for a TCSC device. Section II, brings
out the operation of TCSC along with numerical equations.
Section III gives a reactance characteristics curve of a TCSC
device and specifies the range of inductance and capacitance
region. Section IV, V and VI discusses the condition for
selecting the TCSC parameters with single & multiple
resonance points by simulation. Section VII analyzes the
power transfers on transmission line for different values of 
under various firing angles of TCSC.
II. OPERATION OF TCSC
Fig. 1 shows a TCSC which consists of a series
compensating capacitor (C) shunted by a thyristor controlled
reactor (TCR). TCR is a variable inductive reactor (XL())
tuned at firing angle , as shown in Fig. 2. The variation of XL
with respect to  can be given as [2, 3]

X L ()=X L (1)
-2-sin2
1
XC = (2)
2fC
 C Thus, reactance characteristics of TCSC shows, operation
in both capacitive and inductive regions through variation of
T1
firing angle () as shown below
Range of firing angle () Region
L 90 <  < Llim Inductive region
Clim <  < 180 Capacitive region
T2
Llim <  < Clim Resonance region
Fig.1 A schematic diagram of TCSC device.

T1
XL

Capacitive region
L L
Clim to 180
Varies from XL to infinity
T2

Firing ang Resonance region Firing ang

Fig: 2 Equivalent circuit of TCR
90 180
For the variation of  from 0 to 90, XL() varies from
actual reactance (XL) to infinity. This controlled reactor is Inductive region
connected across the series capacitor, so that the variable 90 to Llim
capacitive reactance, as shown in Fig. 3, is possible across the
TCSC which modify the transmission line impedance.
XC
Effective TCSC reactance XTCSC with respect to alpha () can
be given as [6-8] -
Fig: 4 Reactance Vs firing angle characteristic curve.
X TCSC ()=-X C +C1 (2(-)+sin(2(-)))
-C2 cos 2 (-)(tan((-))- (3) IV. SELECTION OF CAPACITOR AND INDUCTOR VALUES
tan(-)) An appropriate value for capacitor and inductor of a TCSC
Where device is based on the net reactance of the transmission line
X C +X LC and expected power demands in future.
C1 = (4) Capacitor value is chosen by a degree of series

compensation (K). Normally up to 70% of line reactance is
X 2LC chosen for compensation. Sub section A gives an idea of
C2 = 4 (5)
XL selecting the degree of series compensation.
XC X L Choice of Inductor depends on the length of operating area
X LC = (6) required for inductive and capacitive region. It is perfectly
X C -X L
decided by a factor , given in (7) by shifting the position of
XC resonance region. In further sections, more about the effect of
= (7)
XL variation of  and multi resonances are analyzed.
For selecting a capacitor and inductor for a TCSC device,
C C
three main significant measures have to be considered,
T1 C A. Degree of series Compensation (K)
Degree of series compensation (K) is a ratio of effective
L L
Varies from XL to infinity
reactance of TCSC [XTCSC()] to net reactance of transmission
T2 line [XTL].
Fig: 3 Equivalent circuit of TCSC X TCSC ( )
K= (0 < K < 1) (8)
X TL
III. REACTANCE CHARACTERISTIC
Fig. 4 shows the reactance characteristics curve of a TCSC While choosing K, 100% compensation should not be
device. It is drawn between effective reactance of TCSC and provided to avoid series resonance in transmission line.
firing angle . The effective reactance (XTCSC()) of TCSC Practically up to 70% of series compensation is chosen for
operates in three region, inductive region, capacitive region line reactance compensation [1, 2].
and resonance region. Inductive region starts increasing from B. Inductive reactance, XL should be sufficiently smaller than
TCR reactance XL||XC value to infinity (parallel resonance capacitive reactance, XC [2]
condition, XL() = XC), and decreasing from infinity to
For selecting the TCSC inductor value, XL should be
capacitive reactance XC for capacitive region. Between the
sufficiently smaller than the XC to get both effective inductive
two regions, resonance occurs.
and capacitive reactance region in the TCSC device.
 Consider an example of shunt network, XC smaller than XL section IV.B. Thus  1 are not permissible to get
and from the principle of circuit theory the effective reactance combined effect of inductive and capacitive region in TCSC.
(Xeff) of the shunt combination follows the smaller value of
the two reactances as shown in Fig. 5a and (-) sign shows Xeff TABLE I
is in capacitive nature. Hence only one capacitive region is SHIFT IN RESONANCE REGION FOR VARIOUS VALUES OF OMEGA
possible between 90o to 180o of firing angle in the reactance
characteristics curve. Resonance Region CAPACITIVE REGION
BETWEEN THE FIRING
= sqrt( X C / X L ) between the Firing
XC= -10
Angles (degrees) ANGLES (DEGREES)

1.4 115-116 116-180

1.6 123-124 124-180
Xeff= -20
1.8 129-131 131-180
XL=20  (a) 2.0 134-136 136-180
XC= -10 2.2 139-140 140-180
2.4 142-143 143-180
2.6 145-146 146-180
Xeff=  2.8 147-148 148-180
(b) 3.0 149-151 151-180
XL=10 
XC= -10
Further analyzing the factor  from 1.4 (slightly greater
than 1) to 3, resonance region shifts from its position and span
Xeff=2.5 
of capacitive region; shrinks. Table I shows occurrence of
XL=2 
(c)
resonance and capacitive regions between 90o to 180o of firing
Fig: 5 Reactance Variation in shunt network.
angles on the TCSC for different values of . Because of
If XL is equal to XC value as shown in Fig. 5b; then shifts in resonance region, operating area of inductive region
resonance occurs that result in infinite reactance which is an and capacitive region varies. For  = 1.4, capacitance region
unacceptable condition. is larger i.e., from 180o to 116o of firing angle and for  = 3,
Finally by choosing XL smaller than XC; makes effective capacitance region shrinks to small i.e., from 180o to 151o of
reactance has inductive reactance as like Fig. 5c. Therefore firing angle. As mentioned in [5] i.e.,  > 3, multi resonance
XTCSC() varies from inductive region to capacitive region points occur in the reactance characteristics curves which
with respect to 90o to 180o of firing angle. reduces the operating span of TCSC device.
While varying the XTCSC(), the condition should not be
allowed to occur XL() = XC, a resonance condition . VI. SIMULATIONS FOR SINGLE RESONANT POINT REACTANCE
CHARACTERISTIC CURVE.
C. Occurrence of multi resonance condition 50
TCSC Reactance Characteristic Curve for w =1.4 to 3.0
w=1.4
Between the inductive and capacitive region, a resonance 40
w=1.6
w=1.8

region occurs. Occurrence of resonance in TCSC device is 30

w=2.0
w=2.2
w=2.4

unavoidable. However, only one resonant region, explicitly 20

w=2.6
w=2.8
w=3.0
one capacitive range and one inductive range, is allowable.
TCSC Reactance in %

10

Multiple resonant points will reduce the operating range of the 0

TCSC. Thus, while selecting TCSC parameters, some -10

measures have to be taken to ensure only one resonant point -20

between 90o to 180o of . -30

Apart from these three factors, thermal loading limit of a -40

transmission line, maximum allowable current, etc., are also -50

considered while choosing capacitor and Inductor. But the -60

90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

study concentrates only on the above three factors. Firing angle in Deg.

Fig: 6 Single Resonance Reactance characteristic curve for  = 1.4 to 3

V. ANALYSIS OF RESONANCE POINT
From (7), it is clear that factor  decides the range of
inductive and capacitive region in TCSC and numerous
resonance points which decrease the operating range of TCSC.
From [5], author referred that factor  should be less than 3.
XC
= <3 (8)
XL
If both XC and XL are same, then factor  becomes 1 and
meets resonance condition. When it is less than 1, XC is lesser
than XL, only capacitance region is possible as mentioned in
Once the capacitive compensation for a transmission line is
specified through degree of series compensation (K), the main
factor influencing Inductor value and resonance in the TCSC
is . To verify the above theoretical analysis, the simulation
has been carried out by considering Kanpur-Ballabhgarh
TCSCs Capacitor; C = 306F and for different values of .
For =1.4 to 3, creates Single resonant point in Reactance
characteristic curves as shown in Fig. 6. As per the
requirement of degree of series compensation or power flows
in the line, optimum value of  is selected from 1.4 to 3 for
choosing the TCSC inductor value.
Fig. 7 shows only the capacitive region for  is less than
1. Reactance varies from -28.9 to -10.4 ohms. Negative sign
indicates for capacitive reactance.
Fig. 8 shows multi resonance points in reactance curve, for K 27% of FC B
 is greater than 3. Between the firing angles 90o to 180o,
two resonance points occurred which reduces the span of the 8% - TCSC XTL
TCSC operation.

TCSC Reactance Curve for w < 1

-8 Fig. 9 Transmission line between Kanpur Ballabhgarh with TCSC.
-10
Only Capac itive Re gion TABLE II
POWER FLOW PKB AT TRANSMISSION ANGLE 90O WITH FC
-12

Net Transmission Net Reactance

Line Reactance PKB (MW) including FC PKB (MW)
TCSC Reactance in %

-14

(ohms) (ohms)
-16
131.1929 406.5 96.0981 555.0
-18
KB Transmission Line Power Angle Curves With & Without FC
600
Without FC
-20 With FC
X: 90
Y: 552.2
500
-22

X: 90
Y: 405.1
-24 400
90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
Firing angle in Deg.

Power in MW
Fig: 7 Reactance characteristic curve for  < 1(only capacitive region)
300

w>3 - Multi Resonance Point-TCSC Reactance Characteristics

100 200

O c c uranc e of Two
Res onanc e Points 100
50

X: 105
TCSC Reactance in %

Y: 0.05824
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
0 Delta in Deg.
X: 104
Y: -0.07175

Fig. 10 Power angle curves of KB transmission line with and without FC.
-50 O c c uranc e of c ross ove r be twee n
Capac itanc e to Induc tanc e Power angle curves for Kanpur-Ballabhgarh transmission
line and along with FC are shown in Fig. 11. Table III shows
-100
the possible power flows for various values of  from 1.4 to
3 and also Kanpur-Ballabhgarh line power flows are also
-150
90 100 110 120 130 140
Firing angle in Deg.
150 160 170 180 mentioned at  = 2.7432. Data which are highlighted in
Fig: 8 Multi Resonance Reactance characteristic curve for  > 3 Table III are in capacitive mode of TCSC and rests are in
inductive mode. From the analysis, capacitive mode power
VII. CASE STUDY ON KANPUR - BALLABHGARH TCSC flows are greater than 555 MW (power at which line along
PROJECT with FC) and inductive modes are lesser, also shown in same
Fig. 10. Data specified in bold are power flows nearer to
First TCSC project commissioned in India is between
resonance region which are not to trigger on those firing
Kanpur-Ballabhgarh 3-phase, 400 kV, 400 km long
angles.
transmission line to increase the power flow, approximately
from 400 MW to 600 MW[10]. Fig. 9 shows the single phase
equivalent to Kanpur-Ballabhgarh transmission line. The TABLE III.
POWER FLOW PKB AT TRANSMISSION ANGLE 90O WITH FC +TCSC
transmission line has line reactance of 1.044 mH/km, fixed
Power Transfer PKB at transmission angle 90o with FC
series compensation of 27% (Capacitor of 90.7F) and TCSC and TCSC (MW)
of 8 to 20% of compensation (Capacitor is 306 F and =
Firing Firing Firing Firing Firing Firing
Inductor is 4.4 mH) was chosen [12] with factor  is 2.7432. XC/XL angle angle angle angle angle angle
Considering Kanpur-Ballabhgarh transmission line for 90o 108o 126o 144o 162o 180o
1.4 498.7 396.0 818.0 644.0 624.4 622.4
TCSC characteristics study, Table II shows the net reactance 1.6 519.0 479.8 -363.2 655.8 625.2 622.4
and power flow PKB between the transmission line with and 1.8 529.4 508.7 36.7 675.8 626.0 622.4
without fixed capacitor [9]. Maximum Power transfer on the 2.0 535.7 523.2 469.8 715.6 627.0 622.4
line without any compensation is 406.5 MW (approximately) 2.2 539.8 531.9 505.0 831.2 628.3 622.4
2.4 542.7 537.6 522.7 441.6 629.7 622.4
and along with fixed series compensation (FC) is 555 MW. 2.6 544.8 541.7 533.3 31.4 631.5 622.4
Also shown through power angle curves in Fig. 10 2.743 546.3 544.9 540.4 458.0 633.7 622.4
2.8 546.3 544.9 540.4 458.0 633.7 622.4
3 547.6 547.5 545.5 502.9 636.3 622.4
 Table III shows maximum power flows between 90o to thyristor controlled series compensation, 30th Annual Conference
IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, vol. 2, pp. 1128- 1132, 2004.
180o of firing angles for various values of . For  = 1.4, [6] C. R. Fuerte-Esquivel, E. Acha, and H. Ambriz-PBrez, A Thyristor
possible variation of capacitive mode power flows are from Controlled Series Compensator Model for the Power Flow Solution of
622.4 MW to 818 MW between 180o to 126o of firing angle Practical Power Networks, TEEE Transactions on Power Systems. vol.
15, no. 1, pp. 58- 64, February 2000.
and change in power with respect to firing angle is smaller. At
[7] Geng juncheng, Tong luyuan, and Wang Zhonghong, and Ge Jun,
 =3, variation is from 622.4 MW to 636.6 MW for 180o to Mathematical Model for describing characteristics of TCSC, IEEE
162o of firing angle and change in power is greater. From the 2002 PP- 14981-502
analysis, fine tuning for improving the power flow is possible [8] L. F. W. de Souza, E. H. Watanabe, J . E. R. Alves, and L. A. S.
Pilotto, Thyristor and Gate Controlled Series Capacitors Comparison of
at  is small, but effect of harmonics has to be considered. Components Rating, IEEE, 2003, pp: 2542-2547.
Also firing angle at 90o, inductive mode power flow is varied [9] Bijoy Kumar Sahoo and Narendra Kumar, Power Flow Control Using
from 498.7 MW to 547.6 MW for various values of ; 1.4 to TCSC, M.Tech dissertation, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Delhi
college of Engineering, 2005-2006.
3. From the discussion, depends on the requirement of end [10] Arunachalam M, Ghamandi Lal, Rajiv C G, BHEL, Bangalore Babu
side demands,  has been selected. Narayanan MM, CPRI, Bangalore, India, performance verification of
2200
Power Angle Curves with TCSC K=8%, w=1.4 TCSC control and protection equipment using RTDS, 15th PSCC, Liege,
X: 90
Y: 2169
2005,pp 22-26.
2000

1800
X. BIOGRAPHIES
1600 Powe r c urve s with
& without FC
Power in MW

1400

1200

Induc tive Mode Capac itive Mode

1000
Powe r Curve s Power Curves

800

X: 90
Y: 552.2
600
X: 90
Y: 405.1
400

X: 90
200 Y: 333

0
0 20 40 60
Fig. 11 Power angle curves at firing angle 108 and 162 for various 
VIII. CONCLUSION
This paper discusses about the operation, reactance
characteristic and resonance condition of TCSC. It
investigates the condition of single and multi resonance points
for different values of . From the report of resonance
behavior, it is concluded that  should be optimum between
1.4 to 3 to select an appropriate value of inductor and
capacitor.
For the selected value of , study has been conducted to
simulate power transfers over KanpurBallabhgarh
transmission line. Possible power flows on the Transmission
line are tabulated in both capacitive and inductive modes of
TCSC for various values of .
This focus an idea for selecting the TCSC parameters:
inductor and capacitor as per the requirement of power
demands on end side. Above study is based on consideration
of degree of series compensation and , but not considering
the thermal loading of the transmission line, maximum
allowable current limit and TCSC loop current limit etc.
80 100 120 140 160 180
Delta in Deg.
o
S. Meikandasivam was received the Bachelor Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering in 2002 and Master Degree (Power Systems) in 2005.
He also worked as a Lecturer in EEE dept. of Sri Chandrasekharendra
Saraswati Viswa Mahavidyalaya (Deemed University), Kanchipuram. Now he
is pursuing the PhD Degree at Maulana Azad National Institute of
Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, India. Currently he is working as Assistant
Professor in VIT University, Vellore.
Rajesh Kumar Nema was received his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering
from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India in 2004. He is currently AP at the
Depart. of Electrical Engg., MANIT, Bhopal, India. His current research
interest include power conditioning unit for Renewable Energy storage system
particularly Solar Energy, Hybrid Energy Systems, Grid Interconnection of
Renewable Energy sources.
Shailendra Kumar Jain received his B.E.(Elect.), M.E.(Power Elex), Ph.D.
degree in 1990, 1994 and 2003 respectively and his PDF at UWO London,
ON, Canada in 2007. He is currently working as Assistant Professor at the
Department of Electrical Engineering, NIT, Bhopal, India. He has been
awarded Career Award for Young Teachers by AICTE New Delhi, India for
the year 2003-2004. His research interests include power electronics and
electric drives, power quality improvement, active power filters, high-power
factor converters and fuel cell based distributed generation.

IX. REFERENCES
[1] Arthur R. Bergen Vijay Vittal, Power System Analysis, Second
Edition, Pearson Education Asia, pp 528-529.
[2] N. G. Hingorani and L. Gyugyi, Understanding FACTS Concepts and
Technology of Flexible AC Transmission Systems, IEEE Press,
[3] R. M. Mathur and R.K. Varma, Thyristor based FACTS controllers for
Electrical transmission systems, John Wiley & Sons Inc.,
[4] http://www.answers.com/topic/subsynchronous-
resonance?cat=technology
[5] Guowen H U, Ming CHENG, and Guilong CAI, Relation between
Fundamental Frequency Equivalent Impedance and Resonant Point for