PRINCIPLES OF SHUNT COMPENSATION

Figure 25.1 shows the principles and theoretical effects of shunt reactive power compensation in a basic ac system, which comprises a source V₁, a transmission line, and a typical inductive load. Figure 25.1 a shows the system without compensation, and its associated phasor diagram. In the phasor diagram, the phase angle of the current has been related to the load side, which means that the active current (I_P) is in phase with the load voltage V₂.

Since the load is assumed inductive, it requires reactive power for proper operation, which must be supplied by the source, increasing the current flow from the generator and through the lines. If reactive power is supplied near the load, the line current is minimized, reducing power losses and improving voltage regulation at the load terminals. This can be done with a capacitor, with a voltage source, or with a current source. In Fig. 25.1 b, a current-source device is being used to compensate the reactive component of the load current (I_Q). As a result, the system voltage regulation is improved and the reactive current component from the source is almost eliminated.

A current source or a voltage source can be used for reactive shunt compensation. The main advantages of using voltage or current source VAR generators (instead of inductors or capacitors) are that the reactive power generated is independent of the voltage at the point of connection and can be adjusted in a wide range.

Since shunt compensation is able to change the power flow in the system by varying the value of the applied shunt equivalent impedance, changing the reactive power flow in the system, during and following dynamic disturbances, the transient stability limit can be increased and effective power oscillation damping can be provided. Thereby, the voltage of the transmission line counteracts the accelerating swings of the disturbed machine and therefore damps the power oscillations.

Independent of the source type or system configuration, different requirements have to be taken into consideration for a successful operation of shunt compensators. Some of these requirements are simplicity, controllability, time response, cost, reliability, and harmonic distortion.