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Reactive Power and Compensation Solutions Basics For Students (photo credit: eltrex.ro)
Reactive power is generated when power is drawn from the supply network and then fed back into the
network with a time delay.
This way it oscillates between consumer and generator. This constitutes an additional load on the network and
requires greater dimensioning in order to take up the oscillating reactive power in addition to the active power made
available. As a consequence, less active power can be transported.
Reactive power has zero average value because it pulsates up and down , averaging to zero. Reactive power is
measured as the maximum of the pulsating power over a cycle. It can be positive or negative, depending on whether
current peaks before or after voltage.
By convention, reactive power, like real power, is positive when it is supplied and negative when it is
consumed. Consuming reactive power lowers voltage magnitudes, while supplying reactive power
increases voltage magnitudes.
Figure 2 Principle of reactive power compensation using low voltage power capacitors
Transmission losses and energy consumption are reduced and expensive expansions become unnecessary as the
same equipment can be used to transmit more active power owing to reactive power compensation.
Figure 3 Power diagram for a non-compensated (1) and a compensated (2) installation
To simplify the calculation of Q c, Table 1 states the conversion factors F when a measured cos 1 is to be
compensated in order to attain a power factor cos 2 in operation.
Single compensation
In single compensation, the capacitors are directly connected to the terminals of the individual power consumers
and switched on together with them via a common switching device. Here, the capacitor power must be precisely
adjusted to the respective consumers. Single compensation is frequently used for induction motors (Figure 4).
Group compensation
With group compensation, each compensation device is assigned to a consumer
group. Such a consumer group may consist of motors or discharge lamps, for example,
which are connected into supply together through a contactor or switch. In this case,
special switching devices for connecting the capacitors are not required either (Figure 5).
Figure 4 Single
compensation
Central compensation
Reactive power control units are used for central compensation , which
are directly assigned to a switchgear unit, distribution board, or sub-distribution
board and centrally installed there. Control units contain switchable capacitor
branch circuits and a controller which acquires the reactive power present at
the feed-in location.
If it deviates from the set-point, the controller switches the capacitors on or off step by step via
contactors.
The capacitor power is chosen in such a way that the entire installation reaches the desired cos (Figure 6).
Central compensation is recommended in case of:
Many small power consumers connected into supply
Different power demands and varying ON times of the power consumers
References //
Planning of Electric Power Distribution by SIEMENS
Principles for Efficient and Reliable Reactive Power Supply and Consumption by Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission