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Home / Technical Articles / Specific capacitor installations & reactive compensation of asynchronous motors / transformers

1. Finding optimum location

Although in general, the calculation of the reactive power to be installed is initially carried out globally, it is advisable not to be swayed by the apparent simplicity of this process, and to look further for the optimum locations for more targeted compensation, referred to as “sector” or even “individual” compensation.

Tips for specific capacitor installations for reactive compensation
Tips for specific capacitor installations for reactive compensation

The choice of capacitors and the type of operation of the bank (fixed or automatic) can then be adapted to provide better efficiency and a quicker return on investment.

In all cases, the active and reactive powers must be determined first of all and as far as possible the profile of the consumptions at the various places in the installation where capacitors may be located. The analysis of this data enables the values of the minimum, average and maximum reactive powers to be supplied at each point studied to be determined.

Installing compensation depends on the minimum reactive power to be supplied locally compared with the global power that would be necessary for the whole installation. In other words, there is no point in compensating an entire installation if only one receiver or one sector consumes reactive energy, especially if this demand is variable.

A dedicated automatic capacitor bank would be much more effective in this case.

A local or individual reactive energy demand that is greater than 50% of the global demand can be considered to justify specific compensation.

Contents:

  1. 1. Finding optimum location
    1. Global compensation
    2. Sector compensation
    3. Individual compensation
  2. Reactive compensation of asynchronous motors
  3. Reactive compensation of transformers

1.1. Global compensation

When the load does not vary, global compensation is suitable and provides the best savings and performance compromise.


High voltage global compensation

The capacitor bank is connected upstream of the HV/lV transformer.

High voltage global compensation
High voltage global compensation

The additional cost connected with high voltage insulation rules out any benefit of using this for low power compensation (apart from in the case of individual requirements).

The median value of 1000 kvar is the level above which the installation of an HV capacitor bank can be considered, as the supply currents and ratings of the associated protection devices can become prohibitive in low voltage at this level.


Low voltage global compensation

Low global voltage compensation
Low global voltage compensation

The capacitor bank is connected to the main distribution board and provides compensation for the whole installation. It remains in operation permanently, at least during the reactive energy billing period for normal operation of the site.


Mixed compensation

This can combine the advantages of high voltage global compensation with low voltage sector compensation. But it may also concern high voltage compensation (on a specific receiver) combined with global compensation that may be low voltage.

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1.2. Sector compensation

The capacitor bank is connected in the distribution board at the head of a circuit or a group of circuits, or better still in the distribution switchboard of the sector concerned, and supplies the reactive energy required by one sector of the installation.

A large part of the installation is thus freed from the consumption of reactive power.

As with any compensation, the important point is to eliminate the penalties for excessive consumption of reactive energy and increase the transformer’s available active power.

At the same time, the currents carried upstream of the compensated sector and the associated ohmic losses are reduced. The active power availability (kW) is increased. But a risk of over-compensation if there are significant load variations must be taken into account. this risk can be eliminated by installing step capacitor banks.

Sector compensation
Sector compensation

Sector compensation is recommended when the installation covers a large area and when it contains sectors with high or mixed reactive energy consumption. High voltage compensation can also be used in sectors when it is applied to very high power motors for example, which are often supplied with high voltage.

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1.3. Individual compensation

In this configuration, the capacitor bank is connected directly to the terminals of the receiver (motor, variable control unit, furnace, etc.). the compensation produces the right amount of reactive energy at the location where it is consumed.

This is the type of compensation that offers the most advantages but which is the most costly.

Individual compensation
Individual compensation

as well as eliminating the penalties for excessive consumption of reactive energy and increasing the transformer’s available active power, the main advantage of this type of compensation is the limitation of the currents carried in the busbars located upstream of the receiver, thus reducing the heat losses (kWh) and voltage drops in the busbars.

If capacitor banks with harmonic filters are used, eliminating the harmonics as close as possible to their source will prevent them circulating in the whole installation, reducing the losses due to the distorting power as well as reducing the risk of possible resonance with another capacitor bank installed further upstream.

Consideration of the layout of the capacitor banks and their distribution is of primary importance. The savings made and achieving the required flexibility of operation will depend on these choices.

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2. Reactive compensation of asynchronous motors

(compensation at the motor terminals)

Reactive compensation of asynchronous motors (compensation at the motor terminals)
Reactive compensation of asynchronous motors (compensation at the motor terminals)

The table below gives, for information purposes only, the maximum capacitor power that can be connected directly to the terminals of an asynchronous motor without any risk of self-excitation. It will be necessary to check in all cases that the maximum current of the capacitor does not exceed 90% of the magnetising current (off-load) of the motor.

The maximum capacitor power that can be connected directly to the terminals of an asynchronous motor without any risk of self-excitation
Table 1 – The maximum capacitor power that can be connected directly to the terminals of an asynchronous motor without any risk of self-excitation

If the capacitor power required to compensate the motor is greater than the values given in the previous table or if, more generally:

Qc > 0.9 × I0 × √3 U

compensation at the motor terminals will however remain possible by inserting a contactor (c2), controlled by an auxiliary contact of the motor contactor (c1), in series with the capacitor.

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3. Reactive compensation of transformers

In order to operate correctly, a transformer requires internal reactive energy to magnetize its windings. the table opposite gives, for information purposes only, the value of the fixed capacitor bank to be installed according to the powers and loads of the transformer.

These values may change, depending on the technology of the device. Each manufacturer can provide their own precise values.

Reactive compensation of transformers
Table 2 – Reactive compensation of transformers

When defining a reactive energy compensation installation, it is advisable to provide a fixed capacitor corresponding to the internal reactive consumption of the transformer at 75% load.

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Reference // Electrical energy supply by Legrand

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

3 Comments


  1. Syed Adil Hussain
    Oct 14, 2020

    Sound good, Thank you for sharing


  2. Misghina zeray
    Jan 01, 2020

    I want to know in details installation of power factor improver for 500kva industry and setting of the controller


  3. Choi85
    Mar 10, 2018

    Please send File or Video for Me, ThanksYou very much

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