What is Reactive Power Compensation?
Reactive power compensation is a method of regulating and adjusting reactive power in an alternating current system to increase performance, stability and efficiency.
It works by using reactive power devices such as capacitor banks to offset inductive loads and so improving the power factor that stabilizing voltage, lowering transmission losses and decreasing the cost of electricity.
Reactive power compensation improves
- Power factor in electrical systems,
- Reduces losses,
- Enhances voltage stability and
- Optimizes energy consumption.
Why is it important in Power Systems?
Compensation equipment such as
- Capacitors and
- Reactors
contribute to a balanced flow of actual power by giving or absorbing reactive power, reducing wasted energy and maintaining a dependable power supply.
Without Capacitor Bank
Without a capacitor bank, large losses occurs affecting the system’s power factor and also voltage.
With Capacitor Bank
The capacitor bank lowers system losses.
The capacitor bank injects reactive power to the load and improves the power factor on the source side.
The primary disadvantage of using fixed capacitor banks is that they only inject the maximum amount of reactive power not the required amount.
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