AEP UPFC PROJECT - INSTALLATION, COMMISSIONING AND OPERATION OF THE +-160 MVA STATCOM (PHASE-I)/

American Electric Power (AEP) has selected its Inez Substation in east ern Kentucky for the location of the world's first Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) installation. Comprising two +/-160 MVA voltage-sour ced GTO-thyristor-based inverters, this installation is not only the f irst practical demonstration of the UPFC concept, but also by far the highest power GTO-based Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) equip ment ever installed. The installation will be the first demonstration of this type of equipment connected in series with a transmission line . The project is a collaborative effort between AEP, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) , and has been divided into two phases corresponding to the installati on of the shunt- and series-connected inverters respectively. Phase I (installation and commissioning of the shunt inverter (STATCOM)) was c ompleted successfully in July, 1997, and the STATCOM is now operationa l. Phase II is scheduled for completion in early 1998. This paper give s a brief background to the project, describes the installation and sp ecial features of the equipment, and reports on the Phase I commission ing and STATCOM operation.