How to Control Reactive Power In Larger Electrical

Plants With Multiple Incomers

Controlling reactive power

Most compensation banks are controlled step wise. For this purpose, it is
essential to ‘know’ when it is allowed to (de)activate a capacitor step by
the power factor relay (controller).

How To Control Reactive Power With Multiple Incomers In Larger Electrical

Plants (on photo: Fraunhofer IISB’s building complex with advanced power
monitoring system by Siemens; credit: Siemens)
The so-called C/k value is calculated by the step size C divided by the ratio
k of the current transformer. It is clear that a capacitor with, for instance, 50
kvar may not be switched in if the power factor relay measures a deviation of
just 10 kvar reactive power with regard to the preadjusted power factor
target.

This technical article explains two ways of controlling reactive power in

plants with with multiple incomers:
1. Measuring by Means of Summation Current Transformer
2. Parallel Operation of Compensation Banks for Each Incoming Supply
3. Summary

1. Measuring by Means of Summation Current Transformer

Larger electrical plants have multiple feed-ins with two or more power
transformers usually working in parallel. Regarding the control of reactive
power, there are two solutions possible.

The first solution is, according to Figure 1, to measure the load via three
current transformers of 1500 A/5 A with each incoming supply fed by one
power transformer of 1000 kVA. The three current paths are summed in a
summation current transformer with three input paths, of 5 A each, and one
output path of 5 A too.
This output is wired to the current path of the power factor relay controlling a
12-step central compensation bank of 600 kvar.

Figure 1 – Central-type compensation by means of summation current

transformer
The method has a big disadvantage: for proper control of reactive power it
is necessary to keep the two coupling circuit breakers 1 and 2 closed all the
time! In case of any short circuit, all three power transformers generate a
very high power as a rule.

Suppose coupling circuit breaker 1 is opened – then the power factor relay is
not able to compensate the reactive power of consumers connected to the
busbar to the left. However, the relay notes a higher request for capacitors to
be switched in.

This could lead to overcompensation at transformers 2 and 3 – it means

that the capacitive reactive power goes up to the busbar of the MV level and
via transformer 1 to the consumers to be compensated. This transmission of
reactive power causes additional active power losses along the cables and in
the transformers of course.
The third disadvantage is that the power factor relay is not able to ‘see’ in
which area reactive power arises, due to the summation current transformer
and the central-type compensation connected to the busbar in the middle.
Despite this, it is essential to discuss how to calculate the C/k value for
correct adjustment.

For this purpose, Equation 1 is used:

Factor k is to be determined separately:

The first term symbolizes the total ratio of the three current transformers, and
the second, symbolizing the summation transformer to be multiplied, results
in a very high total ratio of k = 900. It is then necessary to check whether the
relay’s minimum sensibility of 1% will not be undersized.

Finally the C/k value is to be calculated according to Equation 1:

This value is adjustable at most power factor relays by manual C/k setting or
at relays with half-automatic adaption. The market offers power factor relays
to set the parameters ‘current transformer ratio’ and (smallest) ‘step size’
digitally. Wrong settings may lead to ‘hunting’ a capacitor step!
Suppose a fourth incoming supply with an additional power transformer of
1000 kVA increases the total ratio referring to four current transformers to be
summarized up to k = 1200 and the C/k value decreases down to 0.038
approximately.

This value decreases the 1% level distinctly.

There would be only the possibility of varying the factor of 0.65 up to 0.85 or,
in another calculation, to show at which percentage of the step size (50 kvar)
a power factor relay with fully automatic C/k adaption would start to control:

The relay would re-energize the capacitor at a level of 85% referring to 50

kvar, or 42.5 kvar only. Proper control of the capacitors is no longer
guaranteed due to the tolerances of the relay and the capacitor as well.

Regarding factor k, it does not matter whether all power transformers are in
operation or not. Factor k is just a characterizing constant of the entire
electrical plant.

This method of controlling reactive power has some disadvantages, as noted

above. To install individual compensation banks for each incoming
supply is much more suitable, as described in the following paragraphs .

2. Parallel Operation of Compensation Banks for Each

Incoming Supply
Referring to Figure 2, the advantages can be seen at once. Control of
reactive power runs individually for each incoming supply with the help of
its own compensation bank, each controlled by an automatic reactive power
controller.
Figure 2 – Central-type compensation for each incoming supply
It does not matter if the position of the coupling circuit breakers 1 and 2 is
open or closed. If they are open, the compensation banks operate
individually. If they are closed, one encounters the parallel operation, to be
discussed next. All three power factor relays working in parallel are preset to
the identical power factor target between each other.

Regarding the switching time delay per step, there is no need to preset the
same value, just an approximate one, for example in the range between 35
and 40 s per step.
The C/k calculation from Equation 1 again is simple as no summation current
transformer must be considered.

Thus the ratio of the current transformer amounts to:

This C/k value is to be preset at each relay with manual or half-automatic C/k
adaption identically in the case of open coupling circuit breakers. But what
is the situation with closed coupling circuit breakers?

The step size of 50 kvar is only one-third measured by the current

transformers, supposing the same impedance voltage at the power
transformers operating in parallel.

This would mean the preset C/k value depends on the position of the
coupling circuit breakers and is to be corrected all of the time. This is indeed
a major disadvantage if using power factor relays with manual or half-
automatic C/k adjustment.
Thus, the best solution would be to use power factor relays with the feature
of ‘full automatic C/k adaption’.
They always register the so-called compensation effect for each step
independently of the position of the coupling circuit breakers 1 and 2. Even if
breaker 2 is open and 1 is closed, the current transformer of compensation
bank C registers the full size of the capacitor, but the current transformers of
compensation banks A and B only half the size.

It is not necessary to discuss the disadvantages of power factor relays with

manual or half-automatic C/k adaption further.

During the installation of large electrical plants with currents of more than
1000 A approximately occurring attention should strictly be paid that, for
example, cables from the power transformers to the busbars are of the
same length in order to ensure symmetrical load distribution.

Another situation it is essential to mention is the case when one power

transformer, for example no. 3, is out of operation due to maintenance and,
provided that the coupling circuit breakers are closed of course, that the
power factor relay of compensation C is energized but does not get any
signal from the current transformer.
Figure 3 – Function between cos φd line and C/k line With regard to Figure
3 there is no vector existing that exceeds the C/k threshold level. Older
relays would ‘stand by’ with the number of capacitors switched in as before.
They would not be able to establish control until maintenance is finished.
Not all brands of power factor relays have the capability to disconnect the
capacitor(s) after a defined measurement time of ‘no current’ or ‘I = 0’ is
displayed. Thus it is essential to get information on this from the
manufacturer.