CELEC EP, the owner and operator of Ecuador’s national grid, was taking steps to increase the grid power supply capability to meet significant power consumption rises throughout the entire country. After a huge hydro power CCS power plant had been built at the northeast part of Ecuador, CELEC EP started to build their first500kV transmission corridor leading from northeast to southwest, transmitting bulk electricity along the corridor and to the load center around Guayaquil.

The newly built 500kV power grids (marked as red lines) from the CCS hydro power plant to Guayaquil load center includes four major 500kVJ230kV substations, which had connected the new 500kV corridor to the existing national230kV power grids, feeding the existing grids with a sufficient power supply. This project had greatly enhanced the power transmission capability of CELEC EP. However, a system study before the project shows that the loads variations as well as possible line faults may badly influence the grid stability, particularly at the load center at Guayaquil.

Based on a system study of the Ecuador national grids (equal or higher than 69kV), RXPE obtained a clear picture of the network equivalents, including both existing 230kV grids and the new 500kV corridor. Possible line faults details had been defined cooperating with CELEC EP. Based on these inputs, RXPE had performed a thorough system study in which the simulation shows a 230kV/ -30Mvar-- +120Mvar SVC at Chorrillos substation will be able to solve the problem.

The SVC was designed with multiple branches including one TCR (Thyristor Controlled Reactors) branch one TSC (Thyristor Switched Capacitors) branch and the FC branches (Filler Capacitors).

The thyristor valves were designed as horizontal layout with water/air cooling method. Redundant circulating pumps were used to improve its reliability and availability. A control & protection system were also designed as fully redundant.

Chorrillos SVC had successfully enhanced the transmission stability of the Ecuadorian grid’s first 500kV corridor. The corridor has been operating safely ever since it was first energized in 2017. With an SVC in service, this 500kV transmission corridor has significantly improved the electricity supply conditions throughout the entire country with both sufficient electric power and robust operations.