reactive power compensation

Reactive power is generated at reactances, inductances and capacitances and is characterized by the fact that the current flowing through it is not in phase with the applied voltage. There is a phase angle between the two.

In power supply networks, this phase shift causes problems in that it leads to network unbalance, triggers repercussions in the network, places a higher load on the power network and causes a skewed load. These problems can be solved by power factor correction.

Reactive power compensation is about compensating the phase shift caused by a reactance by a reactance with opposite phase rotation. If the phase shift is caused by inductive loads, then the reactive power compensation is done by adding capacitances, and vice versa.

Since reactive power is also caused by short-time loads and becomes noticeable in the form of voltage dips or overvoltage peaks, reactive power compensators must respond to the shortest voltage or current changes. To compensate for reactive power, static reactive power compensators, Static VAR Compensator( SVC), are used, among others, which operate with passive and active filters to attenuateharmonics and can also switch in mechanically or thyristor-controlled reactances and capacitances, Thyristor Controlled Reactor ( TCR) and Thyristor Switched Capacitor( TSC).