Power flow controller responsive to power circulation demand for optimizing power transfer

A method of controlling power flow in a transmission line using a power flow controller operated at rated capacity, comprising:

• determining if a power flow controller coupled to the transmission line is operating at rated capacity;
• determining a circulating power demand in response to the power flow controller operating at rated capacity;
• and
• configuring the power flow controller based on the circulating power demand to control power flow in the transmission line,
• wherein the configuring includes setting the power flow controller to include power circulation set point control between at least two coupled voltage-sourced converters if the transmission line is operating at rated capacity.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor in a power flow control system coupled to a transmission line, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

• determining a desired voltage-stability margin for a bus on the transmission line;
• determining a power flow adjustment that will maintain the desired voltage-stability margin on the bus;
• and
• determining a circulating power demand that will provide the maximum power flow adjustment while maintaining the desired voltage-stability margin on the bus,
• wherein the determining the circulating power demand includes power circulation set point control between at least two coupled voltage-sourced converters.

A system for controlling power flow in a transmission line using a power flow controller operated at rated capacity, comprising:

• means for determining if a power flow controller coupled to the transmission line is operating at rated capacity;
• means for determining a circulating power demand in response to the power flow controller operating at rated capacity;
• and
• means for configuring the power flow controller based on the circulating power demand to control power flow in the transmission line,
• wherein the power flow controller is configured to include power circulation set point control between at least two coupled voltage-sourced converters if the transmission line is operating at rated capacity.