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Voltage and Reactive Power Planning and Control

Reactive power provides voltage regulation necessary for active power transmission. Voltages are controlled through shunt compensation, dynamic compensation, and generator voltage schedules. Reactive power management is critical for system stability, as voltages must remain within acceptable ranges to prevent equipment issues. Sources and sinks of reactive power must be coordinated to ensure adequate voltages under all system conditions.

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48 views14 pages

Voltage and Reactive Power Planning and Control

Reactive power provides voltage regulation necessary for active power transmission. Voltages are controlled through shunt compensation, dynamic compensation, and generator voltage schedules. Reactive power management is critical for system stability, as voltages must remain within acceptable ranges to prevent equipment issues. Sources and sinks of reactive power must be coordinated to ensure adequate voltages under all system conditions.

Uploaded by

salahelgabo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Voltage and Reactive Power

Planning and Control


What is Reactive Power?

• While active power is the energy supplied to run a


motor, heat a home, or illuminate an electric light
bulb, reactive power provides the important function
of regulating voltage.

• If voltage on the system is not high enough, active


power cannot be supplied.

• Reactive power is used to provide the voltage levels


necessary for active power to do useful work.

• Reactive power is essential to move active power


through the transmission and distribution system to
the customer.
How Are Voltages Controlled?

• Voltages are controlled by providing sufficient


reactive power control margin to “modulate”
and supply needs through:
1. Shunt capacitor and reactor compensations
2. Dynamic compensation
3. Proper voltage schedule of generation.

• Voltages are controlled by predicting and


correcting reactive power demand from loads.
Reactive Power Management and Control is
Critical for Overall System Stability
Voltage Must be Maintained Within Acceptable Levels

• Under normal system conditions, both peak or off


peak load conditions, the voltages need to be
maintained between 95% and 105% of the nominal.

• Low voltage conditions could result in equipment


malfunctions:
1. Motor will stall, overheat or damage
2. Reactive power output of capacitors will be
reduced exponentially
3. Generating units may trip.

• High voltage conditions may:


1. Damage major equipment – insulation failure
2. Automatically trip major transmission equipment.
Reactive Power System Sources & Sinks

Sources Transmission System Sinks

Line Charging (Source)

Synchronous Condensers Synchronous Condensers


& Generators & Generators
Reactive Losses (Sink)

Reactors
Capacitors Reactive Load
Reactive
flow across
interconnections Reactive
flow across
interconnections
Maintain Proper Stability of the Power System

Line i e Lines
g T
Ca p acitors Chargin
ous Generators
Synchron
ers
Condens

ors
Generat Losses
gulato rs
Loads Re
s Reactors
Tie Line
Voltage Collapse Phenomenon

Inadequate reactive support

Which results in:


Voltage drops

Which results in:


Reduced reactive power from capacitors and line charging

Which results in:


Less reactive power support
Which results in:
Greater voltage drops
Which results in:

Tripping of generating units due to low auxiliary


voltage level or TCUL actions or generator field
current limiters
VOLTAGE COLLAPSE
August 14, 2003 Blackout

Conclusion:
• The August 2003 Blackout study team
concluded that inadequate voltage and
reactive power planning were contributing
factors to the incident.

Recommendation:
• National Electric Reliability Council
specifically recommended stricter voltage
and reactive planning and assessment
practices to be implemented by electric
utilities.
Transmitting Reactive Power

High
Impedan
ce
Mountain

s
VAR
M

Reactive power cannot be effectively


transmitted across long distances or through
power transformers due to high I2X losses.
Reactive Power Location

High
Impedan
ce
Mountain

MVARs

s
VAR
M

Reactive power should be located in close


proximity to its consumption.
Voltage Coordination

• The reactive sources must be coordinated to ensure


that adequate voltages are maintained everywhere
on the interconnected system during all possible
system conditions.

• Maintaining acceptable system voltages involves


the coordination of sources and sinks which
include:
1. Plant voltage schedules
2. Transformer tap settings
3. Reactive device settings
4. Load shedding schemes.
Voltage Coordination

• The consequences of uncoordinated operations


would include:
1. Increased reactive power losses
2. A reduction in reactive margin available for
contingencies and extreme light load
conditions
3. Excessive switching of shunt capacitors or
reactors
4. Increased probability of voltage collapse
conditions.
Load Shedding Schemes

• Load shedding schemes must be implemented


as a “last resort” to maintain acceptable
voltages.

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