“TRAINING ON ELECTRICAL POWER

SYSTEM STUDIES USING PSS/E”

REACTIVE POWER COMPENSATION (RPC)

BASIC COURSE (WEEK 1 DAY 2-C)

USAID’s SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR

PAKISTAN (SEP) PROJECT
 Reactive Power Compensation (RPC)
• The reactive power are always produced in the large
network.
• To make transmission network operate within desired
voltage limit, the reactive power should be controlled.
 Reactive Power Compensation (RPC)
• The purpose of the reactive-power control are:
➢ To increase power transfer capability
➢ To maintain voltage stability
• To keep the voltage in the network at nearly the rated
value, two control actions seem possible:
➢ Load compensation
➢ System compensation
 Basic Understanding of the RPC
jXL VS
IL
jIrXL

Vs Zf Vr0o

 jIxXL
Ir
f Vr
V1
Ix
Il V2
• Consider a simple case of a lossless short-transmission line
connecting a source Vs to a load Z∟f
• The voltage drop in the line reactance is ΔV1 = jIxXL, due to the
reactive component of load current IL
• The voltage drop in the line reactance is ΔV2 = jIrXL, due to the
active component of load current IL
 The Load Compensation
• The RPC can be implemented to maintain the voltage in the
network (Vr) is nearly to the source voltage (VS)
• It is possible to compensate for the reactive current Ix of the
load by adding a parallel capacitive load so that Ic = -Ix.
• The result causes the effective power factor of the combination
to become unity.
• The absence of Ix eliminates the voltage drop ΔV1, bringing Vr
closer in magnitude to Vs
• Loads compensated to the unity power factor reduce the line
drop but do not eliminate it, the drop still experiences due to
ΔV2 from jIrXL
 The System Compensation
jXL VS
IL
jIrXL
Ic + Ic
Zf Ic
Vs Vr0 o

Ic Ir Vr
f
Il
Ix V2 = I c X l

• To regulate the receiving-end voltage at the rated

value, the RPC may be installed as given in the above
figure.
 The System Compensation
• This RPC overcome both components of the voltage
drop ΔV1 and ΔV2 as a consequence of the load current
IL through the line reactance.
• To compensate ΔV2, an additional capacitive current
ΔIc, over and above Ic that compensates for Ix, is drawn
by compensator.
• When ΔIcXL = ΔV2, the receiving-end voltage, Vr, equals
the sending-end voltage Vs.
Types of Reactive Power Compensation

• Series compensation
➢ Capacitor bank
• Shunt compensation
➢ Capacitor bank
➢ Reactor bank
➢ Static VAR compensation
• Transmission network load tap changing transformer
➢ Provides voltage/reactive power control
 Series Capacitors
• A static electrical device which is connected in-line with
a transmission circuit that allows for higher power
transfer capability by reducing the circuit's overall
impedance.
• Used to compensate for the inductive reactance of the
transmission line.
• In some applications, it is considered as useful tools in
improving system efficiency and power transfer
capability.
 Shunt Capacitors Banks

• Shunt capacitors are a source of MVAR that are

installed in close proximity to the point at which the
extra MVAR is needed.
 Shunt Reactor Banks

• Shunt reactor banks are used to absorb excessive

reactive power from the power system and thereby
reduce system voltage
• Normally used when to reduce overvoltage caused by
lightly loaded high voltage lines
• Also found on transformer tertiary windings
 Static VAR Systems

• Static VAR systems is a static VAR compensator with

the compensator also controlling mechanical switching
of shunt capacitor banks or reactors
Static Var Compensation (SVC) Systems
Three Basic Forms of SVC

a) TCR - b) SR-FC - c) TSC -

Thyristor Controlled Saturable Reactor- Thyristor Switched
Reactors Fixed Capacitor Capacitors
 Synchronous Condenser
• In sub - transmission and transmission voltage levels, it is
used to improve stability and maintain the voltage within
desired limits under varying load conditions.
• Mainly been used to supply a portion of the converter
reactive power requirements and provide necessary system
reinforcement where the AC receiving system short circuit
capacity is low.
• Got advantage over capacitors for emergency voltage
support in maintaining or increasing their output at
reduced voltage.
 Transmission Network LTC Transformer
• LTC Transformer are used to accommodates adjustment of
the voltage ratio while operating under load.
• Also been used to ‘trim’ 500 kV and 230 kV voltage.
• LTC transformer can only be used when 115KV voltages are
on the higher side and 230KV and above voltages are low
(or vice versa).
• In practice, the LTC transformers are only allowed to switch
one tap at a time and no more than a few taps each day.
Load Tap Changing Transformer
Characteristics
Characteristic Typically
Voltage Set-Point Adjustable
Bandwidth  2-3%
Voltage Output  10%
Steps 32
Raise 16
Lower 16
Tap Movement 1 step
Time Delay 30 sec
The Load Tap Changing Transformer

Load
Fixed tap Tap side

Tap

Tap = Tap side voltage x Fixed side base

Tap side base Fixed side voltage
 The LTC Transformer – 3 Winding

Load
Fixed tap 1 Tap side

Tap

Fixed tap 2

Tap = Tap side voltage x Fixed side 1 voltage x Fixed side 2 voltage
tap side base fixed side 1 base fixed side 2 base
 LTC Rules of Thumb

Controlling
To Raise V To Lower V
Voltage

Tapped-side Raise tap Lower tap

Fixed-side Lower tap Raise tap