What is Reactive Power Compensation？

What is Reactive Power Compensation?

 • Control of reactive power (kVAR) in power systems. 

• Aims to maintain efficient energy flow.

• Improves power factor by reducing reactive demand.

• Enhances voltage stability and system performance.

• Achieved using devices like capacitors or synchronous Machines.

----> Why do we need it?

• To improve power factor.
• To reduce losses in cables and transformers.

• To stabilize voltage levels.

• To avoid penalties from utility companies.

• To increase capacity of existing infrastructure.

-----> How is it done?

• Capacitor Banks (supply kVAR).

• Reactors (absorb kVAR).

• Synchronous Condensers.

• Static VAR Compensators (SVC).

• STATCOMs(fast electronic compensation).

It goes both ways especially with underground EHV cables generating large amounts of VARs. We had shunt reactors switched in at night on substations with lots of Ehv cables usually close to city load centres where overhead EHV 330kv changed to 132kv and went underground as the load drops and VAR absorbing from the load decreases voltage starts to raise shunt reactors or even better SVC,s switch in and adsorb the excess.