A PRESENTATION ON REACTIVE POWER

COMPENSATION

BY
K.S.S VENKATA SATYA NAVEEN
S.MANOJ KUMAR
 CONTENTS
Introduction
Reactive power
Need for reactive power
Need for reactive power compensation
Shunt compensation
Series compensation
Static VAR compensators (SVC)
Static compensators (STATCOM)
Synchronous Condensor
Conclusion
References
 INTRODUCTION

Reactive power (VAR) compensation is defined as the

management of reactive power to improve the performance
of ac systems. There are two aspects:-
a) Load Compensation The main objectives are to :-
i) increase the power factor of the system
ii) to balance the real power drawn from the system
iii) compensate voltage regulation
iv) to eliminate current harmonics.
b) Voltage Support The main purpose is to decrease the
voltage fluctuation at a given terminal of transmission line.
Therefore the VAR compensation improves the stability of ac
system by increasing the maximum active power that can be
transmitted.
 WHAT IS REACTIVE POWER ?

Power is referred as the product of voltage and current

i.e. power = V x I
The portion of electricity that establishes and sustains the
electric and magnetic fields of alternating-current
equipment. Reactive power must be supplied to most types
of magnetic equipment, such as motors and transformers.
In an ac transmission, when the voltage and current go up
and down at the same time, only real power is transmitted
and when there is a time shift between voltage and current
both active and reactive power are transmitted.
 ANALOGY OF REACTIVE POWER
Why an analogy? Reactive Power is an essential aspect of
the electricity system, but one that is difficult to comprehend
by a lay man. The horse and the boat analogy best describe
the Reactive Power aspect. Visualize a boat on a canal, pulled
by a horse on the bank of the canal.
In the horse and boat analogy, the horses objective (real power)
is to move the boat straightly.

The fact that the rope is being pulled from the flank of the
horse and not straight behind it, limits the horses capacity to
deliver real work of moving straightly.

Therefore, the power required to keep the boat steady in

navigating straightly is delivered by the rudder movement
(reactive power).

Without reactive power there can be no transfer of real power,

likewise without the support of rudder, the boat cannot move in a
straight line.
 POWER TRIANGLE

Power factor = cos

= real power / apparent power
= kW/ kVA
Whenever there is a phase shift

between V and I we have:-

a) real power (kW)
b) reactive (imaginary ) power (kVAR)
c) The combination is a complex or
apparent power (kVA)=(kW) + (kVAR)

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WHY DO WE NEED REACTIVE POWER?

In resistive loads the current produces the heat

energy which produces the desired output but incase
of inductive loads the current creates the magnetic
field which further produces the desired work.
Therefore reactive power is the non working power
caused by the magnetic current to operate and
sustain magnetism in the device .
Reactive power (vars) is required to maintain the
voltage to deliver active power (watts)through
transmission lines. When there is not enough reactive
power the voltage sags down and it is not possible to
deliver the required power to load through the lines.
Need for Reactive Power Compensation

Reactive power generated by the ac power source

is stored in a capacitor or a reactor during a
quarter of a cycle and in the next quarter of the
cycle it is sent back to the power source. Therefore
the reactive power oscillates between the ac
source and the capacitor or reactor at a frequency
equals to two times the rated value (50 or 60 Hz).
So to avoid the circulation between the load and
source it needs to be compensated .
Also to regulate the power factor of the system
and maintain the voltage stability we need to
compensate reactive power .
 Methods of Reactive Power
Compensation
Shunt compensation
Series compensation
Synchronous condensers
Static VAR compensators
Static compensators
Shunt compensation

The device that is connected in parallel with the

transmission line is called the shunt compensator. A
shunt compensator is always connected in the
middle of the transmission line. It can be provided by
either a current source, voltage source or a capacitor.
An ideal shunt compensator provides the reactive
power to the system.
Shunt-connected reactors are used to reduce the line
over-voltages by consuming the reactive power,
while shunt-connected capacitors are used to
maintain the voltage levels by compensating the
reactive power to transmission line.
Transmission line with shunt compensation
 Series compensation

When a device is connected in series with the

transmission line it is called a series compensator. A
series compensator can be connected anywhere in
the line.
There are two modes of operation capacitive mode
of operation and inductive mode of operation.

A simplified model of a transmission system with

series compensation is shown in Figure .The voltage
magnitudes of the two buses are assumed equal as
V, and the phase angle between them is .
Transmission line with series compensation
 Static VAR compensators
Astatic VAR compensator(orSVC) is anelectrical device
for providing reactive poweron
transmissionnetworks.The term "static" refers to the fact
that the SVC has nomoving parts(other thancircuit
breakersand disconnects, which do not move under normal
SVC operation).
The SVC is an automated impedance matching device,
designed to bring the system closer to unitypower factor. If
the power system's reactive load iscapacitive(leading), the
SVC will use reactors (usually in the form ofthyristor-
Controlled Reactors) to consumevarsfrom the system,
lowering the system voltage.
Underinductive(lagging) conditions, the capacitor banks
are automatically switched in, thus providing a higher
system voltage.
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 ADVANTAGES

a) Static VAR compensation is not done at line

voltage; a bank of transformers steps the
transmission voltage (for example, 230 kV)
down to a much lower level (for example, 9.5
kV).This reduces the size and number of
components.
b) They are more reliable .
c) Faster in operation .
d) Smoother control and more flexibility can be
provided with the help of thyristors.
 Static Compensator

The devices use synchronous voltage sources

for generating or absorbing reactive power. A
synchronous voltage source (SVS) is
constructed using a voltage source converter
(VSC). Such a shunt compensating device is
calledstatic compensator or STATCOM.
A STATCOM usually contains an SVS that is
driven from a dc storage capacitor and the SVS
is connected to the ac system bus through an
interface transformer. The transformer steps
the ac system voltage down such that the
voltage rating of the SVS switches are within
specified limit.
Structure of STATCOM

Basically, the STATCOM system is

comprised of
Power converters,
Set of coupling reactors or a
step-up transformer,
Controller
COMPARISON OF VI CHARACTERISTICS
OF SVC AND STATCOM

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Advantages of STATCOM

The reactive components used in the STATCOM are

much smaller than those in the SVC.
The characteristics of STATCOM are superior.
The output current of STATCOM can be controlled up to
the rated maximum capacitive or inductive range.
Reduction of the capacity of semiconductor power
converter and capacitor bank to one half of those for
the conventional SVC.
Better transient response of the order of quarter cycle.
Reduction of harmonic filter capacity.
Reduction of size of high value air-cored reactor.
Reduction of equipment volume and foot-print.

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 Synchronous Condensor
A device whose main function is the
improvement of pf of the electrical system is
known as the synchronous condensor. It is
installed at the receiving end of the line .
When a synchronous condensor is introduced it
supplies the kVAR to the system , and hence the
current is reduced .
Therefore the losses are reduced and provides a
better efficiency . Hence more power can be
delivered to the load and improves the pf of the
system.

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 CONCLUSION
From all the previous discussion we can
conclude reactive power compensation
is a must for improving the performance
of the ac system. By reactive power
compensation we can control the power
factor and reduce the consumption of
electricity.

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 References
[1] Juan Dixon and Luis Moran - Reactive Power
Compensation Technologies.
[2] Yongan Deng - Reactive Power Compensation
Of Transmission Lines.
[3] Hong Chan- Practices of Reactive Power
Management and Compensation.
T.J Millen- Reactive Power Control in Electrical
Systems.
Canadian Electrical Association-Static
Compensators For Reactive Power Control.
THANK YOU!!