Power System Operation and Control Iq PREV NEXT. Chapter 9. Reactive Power CO ap uy P deling of Prime Movers a. 10 Voltage Control cossectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to + obtain an overview of voltage control + discuss the parameters or equipments causing reactive power * understand the methods of voltage control and + calculate the rating of synchronous phase modifier 10.1 INTRODUCTION A power system must be designed in such a way so as to maintain the voltage variations at the eonsumer terminals within specified limits. In practice, all the equipments on the power system are designed to operate satisfactorily at the rated voltages or within specified limits, at most 6% at the consumer terminals. The main reason for the variation in * voltage at the consumer terminals is the variation in load on the supply power system. In case load on the supply system inereases, the voltage at the consumer terminals decreases due to an inerease in voltage drop in power system components and vice versa when load is decreased. Most of the electronic equipments are sensitive to voltage variations; hence, thevoltage must be maintained constant. It can be maintained within the limits by providing voltage-control equipment, 10,2 NECESSITY OF VOLTAGE CONTROL ‘The voltage at the consumer terminals changes with the variation in load ‘on the supply system, which is undesirable due to the following reasons: 1. In ease of lighting load, for example, incandescent lamp is acutely sensitive to voltage changes. Fluctuations in voltage beyond a certain level may even decrease the life of the lamp. 2. In case of power load consisting of induction motors, the voltage variations may cause a variation in the torque of an induction motor, as the torque is proportional to the square of the terminal voltage. Ifthe supply voltage is low, then the starting torque of the motor will be too low. 3. If the voltage variation is more than a specified value, then the performance of the equipments suffers and the life of the ‘equipment is reduced, 4. The picture on a television set starts rolling ifthe voltage is below a certain level because the fluorescent tube refuses to glow at low voltages. Hence, voltage variations must be regulated and kept toa minimum level, Before discussing the various methods of voltage control, itis very important to know about the various sources and sinks of reactive power in a power system. Test Yourself ‘Why is voltage tolerance more than frequency tolerance? 10.3 GENERATION AND ABSORPTION OF REACTIVE POWER 1. Synchronous machine: ‘These can be used either to generate or absorb reactive power. The ability to supply reactive power is determined by the short-circuit ratio 1 synchronous reactance An overexeited synchronous machine generates kVAr and acts as a shunt capacitor, while a underexeited synchronous machine absorbs it and acts as a shunt reactor. The machine is the main source of supply to the system of both positive and negative VArs, 2, Overhead lines: When fully loaded, lines absorb reactive power ‘with a current J amperes for a line of reactance per phase X ohms, the VArs absorbed are X per phase. On light loads, the shunt capacitances of longer lines may become predominant and the lines then become VAr generators. 3. Transformers: Transformers absorb reactive power. The mathematical expression for the reactive power absorbed by a transformer is @p= 311 Xp VAr. where Xp is the transformer reactance per phase in ohms and IZ is the current flowing, through in amperes, 4, Cables: Cables act as Var generators because they have a very ‘small inductance and relatively very large capacitance due to the ‘nearness of the conductors.5. Loads: A load at 0.8 p-f. implies a reactive power demand of 0.75, KVAr per kW of power, whieh is more significant than the simple ‘quoting of the p-f. In planning power systems, it is required to consider reactive power requirements to ascertain whether the «generator is able to operate any range of pf. 10.4 LOCATION OF VOLTAGE-CONTROL EQUIPMENT ‘The consumer apparatus should operate satisfactorily. This is achieved by installing voltage-control equipment at suitable places. ‘The voltage-control equipment is placed in two or more than two places in ‘a power system because of the following reasons: 1. The power system is a combination of wide-ranging networks and there isa voltage drop in different sections of the distribution and transmission systems. 2, The various cireuits of a power system have different load characteristics. ‘The voltage-control equipment is placed at: 1. Generating stations. 2, Transformer stations, 3. The feeders. When power is supplied to a load through a transmission line keeping the sending-end voltage constant, the receiving-end voltage varies with ‘magnitude of load and pt. of the load. The higher the load with smaller af, the greater is the voltage variation, 410.5 METHODS OF VOLTAGE CONTROL ‘The different voltage-control methods are: 1. Excitation control 2. Shunt capacitors. 3, Series capacitors. 4, Tap-changing transformers. Boosters. w Synchronous condensers. 10.5.1 Excitation control ‘This method is used only at the generating station. Due to the voltage Grop in the synchronous reactance of armature, the alternator terminal voltage changes and hence the load on the supply system also undergoes a change. This can be maintained constant by changing the field current of the alternator. This process is called excitation control. By using an automatic or a hand-operated regulator, the excitation of the alternator can be controlled. In modern systems, automatic regulator is preferred, The two main types of automatic voltage regulators are: 1. Tirril regulator. 2. Brown-Boveri regulator (a) Tirril automatic regulator: Tirril regulator isa fast-acting electromagnetical regulator and it gives + 0.5% regulating deviation,