23/10/2019 Capacitor Banks In Power System (part four)

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Capacitor Banks In Power System (part four)

Home / Technical Articles / Capacitor Banks In Power System (part four)

Alternator capability curve - Green area is normal operating range of a

typical synchronous machine, yellow is abnormal but not damaging and
operating in red regional will cause damage or misoperation.

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Continued from technical article: Capacitor Banks In Power System (part

three)

PF correction for loads connected on captive Diesel

Generator (DG)
Let us consider that there is a captive diesel generator the rating of which is
specified as 1000kVA and PF 0.85. Rating in kVA specifies the maximum current
the alternator can deliver at the system voltage.

In the previous parts of this article we have seen that the role of power
capacitors in improving the power factor and reducing total cost of electricity in
an industrial installation is well established with regard to supply of power from
the Utilitys/utilities.

Hence it seems logical to extend the above application of power capacitors when
power is drawn from captive diesel generator to optimize their performance.

It is however a common practice that DG set users generally switch off

capacitors or do not install capacitors at all when the DG set is in use because
of the following reasons:

1. Apprehension that the DG set may get over loaded due to the fact that the
kVA rating or current delivered by the DG set is generally considered as the
indicator of output of DG set. It is well known that use of capacitors will
reduce the kVAR requirement from DG and hence kVA requirement will go
down which in turn will reduce the current drawn from the DG set and could
thus tempt the to add more loads on a given DG set.
.
2. The other reason for such an opinion is related to the risks arising due to
sustained leading power factor conditions that would occur with the use of
fixed capacitors in variable load situations.

However with meticulous application of PF correction capacitor we can improve

the overall efficiency of DG set operation and result in considerable economic
benefits to the DG set user.
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This article tries to analyze the same in the following paragraphs.

Diesel Generator Set Rating in kVA

As we have considered 1000kVA DG. This way of specifying the DG rating is

very logical because specifies the maximum current the alternator can deliver at
the system voltage.

DG set Rating in kVA at a particular PF

The diesel generator which we had assumed was of 1000kVA at 0.85PF. The
relevance of PF in case of DG rating is as follows:

1. To find mechanical power rating of a diesel engine for a particular diesel

generator, first convert kVA to kW and thereafter kW to BHP. This can only
be done if we assume a certain average Power Factor (PF) under which the
DG set would operate.
.
2. The power factor so assumed should be in line with the average power
factor prevalent in the industry. A typical industrial load comprises of
induction motors (typical PF of 0.8 to 0.85), non-linear loads (typical PF of
0.5 to 0.6) and combination of unity PF loads (Resistive heating and
incandescent lighting). Hence assuming an average power factor of 0.85 for
typical industrial loads is considered acceptable by convention.
.
3. Consequently a power factor of 0.85 is used for calculating the kW, which is
then converted to the BHP rating of the prime mover. BHP rating so
obtained is the output of the prime mover. Considering suitable engine
losses it becomes possible to calculate the power rating of the engine.

Now after understanding the DG set name plate rating parameter, let us come
back to the question should we connect the Capacitor Banks in parallel to the
loads conned to DG? Answer is YES, It is however, important to ensure that
under actual operating conditions the kW loading and current loading should not
be exceeded.
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Power Factor of loads supplied by DG sets can therefore be improved closer to

unity by use of suitable Reactive Power Compensation Systems keeping in view
the rated current loading is not exceeded.

Let us consider an example for the same:

** Any industry has a 1000 kVA DG set which is loaded at an average of 600 kW
at 0.7 PF. In addition, there are 125 kW of other loads within the same
installation, which are not loaded on the DG set due to capacity restrictions that
arise during occurrence of short-term peak loads, such as motor starting, and
intermittent welding load. Due to this, productivity in the Industry is lowered when
the DG Set is in operation.

During the period when Utility supply is available all loads can be operated. Is it
possible to improve productivity when DG Set is in operation?

** A well designed power factor correction capacitor bank panel can improve the
cost of electricity consumed from utility as well as improve productivity when DG
Set is in operation.

• DG rated capacity = 1000 kVA

• kW of load connected to DG = 600 kW
• Average load power factor in industry where DG is installed = 0.7
• kVA drawn at normal condition = 600 / 0.7 = 857 kVA

Hence percentage load on DG without Capacitor bank = 857 /1000 = 85.7%

Now if we connect the suitably sized and designed (already discussed in part1
to 3) capacitor bank in parallel to the loads connected to DG and improve the
average overall load power factor from 0.7 to 0.85 than for the same percentage
loading of 85.7% that is 857kVA the active power that can be drawn is = 857 x
0.85 = 728.45 kW

Hence one can see the moment capacitor bank is connected in parallel to the
loads connected to the DG the additional requirement of 125kW is comfortably
met without exceeding the percentage loading on DG.

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During the period when the Industry is using supply from the Utility the Capacitor
banks system can ensure consistently high PF, thereby achieving demand
savings and reduction in losses and elimination of any PF penalty. Consequently,
cost of electricity consumed from the EB will be minimized.

The same Capacitor banks system can be also used when the Industry is using
supply from the DG set. The fast acting property of the Capacitor banks system
will reduce the peak load requirements that are to be met from the DG set. This
is achieved by providing instantaneous compensation from the Capacitor banks
system during conditions when motors are started and / or welding machines are
being operated. This will enable the Industry to transfer the 125 kW of additional
load on to the DG set and ensure that productivity is improved when the DG set
is in operation.

Due to better loading, the DG set efficiency will improve as for same 857 kVA;
Active power now delivered is now 728.45 kW instead of 600 kW.

REACTIVE POWER COMPENSATION SYSTEMS by Capacitor Banks can

enable D.G set users to reconfigure their loads / D.G sets to achieve better
percentage loading and efficiency on the machines. As a result reduction in cost
/ kWh can be attained.

Impact of leading kVAR on generators

Now since we have very well established that a suitably designed Capacitor
Banks can be connected in parallel to the loads connected to DG. However what
is the impact if one keeps on improving the power factor and the power factor
goes on leading side.

Some inherent characteristics of an alternator limit the amount of leading kVAR

that can be absorbed by a DG. We cannot go on switching ON the Capacitor
Banks as and when required, this can create over voltage condition in DG and
subsequently over fluxing.

There is a reverse kVAR limit of every generator.

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The ability of any generator to absorb the kVAR is termed as reverse kVAR limit.
This ability is defined as reactive capability curve. Below figure shows typical
generator reactive capability curve. X axis is the kVAR produced or absorbed
(positive to the right). Y axis indicates the kW (positive going up). kVAR and kW
are shown as per unit quantities based on the rating of the alternator (not
necessarily the generator set, which may have a lower rating.

The normal operating range of a generator set is between zero and 100 percent
of the kW rating of the alternator (positive) and between 0.8 and 1.0 power factor
(green area on curve). The black lines on the curves show the operating range of
a specific alternator when operating outside of normal range. Notice that as
power factor drops, the machine must be de-rated to prevent overheating. On the
left quadrant, you can see that near-normal output (yellow area) can be achieved
with some leading power factor load, in this case, down to about 0.97 power
factor, leading. At that point, the ability to absorb additional kVAR quickly drops
to near zero (red area), indicating that the AVR is “turning off” and any level of
reverse kVAR greater than the level shown will cause the machine to lose control
of voltage.

A good rule of thumb for generators is that it can absorb about 20% of its rated
kVAR output in reverse kVAR without losing control of voltage. However, since
this characteristic is not universal, it is advisable for a system designer to specify
the reverse kVAR limit used in his design, or the magnitude of the reverse kVAR
load that is expected.

Note that this is not specified as a leading power factor limit, but rather as a
maximum magnitude of reverse kVAR.

Asif Eqbal

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics engineering, from Manipal

University, (Karnataka), India in 2006. Presently involved in the design of EHV
outdoor substation and coal fired thermal power plants for more than seven
years. Motto of joining EEP as a contributor is to share my little engineering
experience and help the budding engineers in bridging the conspicuous gap
between academics and Industrial practice. “If you have knowledge, let others
light their candles with it, so that people who are genuinely interested in helping

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one another develop new capacities for action; it is about creating timeless
learning processes".

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