Transcript Title Subtitle

Dr. Claes Bengtsson, Global Product Manager, Reactors. PowerGen Europe June 2010
Variable Shunt Reactors
Optimize Transmission Systems
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 1
Matured products ??
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 2

Is transformer- and
shunt reactor
technology matured?

Some basics around
reactive power
compensation

New opportunities in
reactive power
compensation

Applications and
benefits
Voltage at line end increases at low load
P2, Q2
U1
U2
Q
Voltage profile at no or low load (P2),”Ferranti effect”
1,0 pu
U1
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 3
U2
The shunt reactor stabilize the system voltage
P2, Q2
U1
U2
Q
Voltage profile at no or low load (P2), with connected SR
1,0 pu
U1
U2
The shunt reactor consumes reactive power
generated by the transmission line
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 4
The shunt reactor stabilize the system voltage
P2, Q2
U1
U2
Q
Voltage profile at no or low load (P2), with connected SR
1,0 pu
U1
U2
Switching in the reactor gives a step change in the
voltage on the transmission line
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 5
The voltage profile is load dependent
(R) + X
U1
P2, Q2
U2
Q
Increased load (P2), voltage profile with connected SR
1,0 pu
U1
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 6
U2
Fundamental challenge
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April 8, 2015 | Slide 7

The is an optimum reactor rating at
a certain load

Load varies with time
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Seasonal variations
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Daily variations
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Shunt Reactors are by tradition fixed in rating
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Switching fixed reactors in and out leads to
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Voltage steps
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Wear on breakers
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Non-optimal compensation
ABB is the world leader on HV shunt reactors
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>1000 reactors delivered to >40 countries
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Complete range
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<800 kV, <300 Mvar
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Full 3-phase testing capabilities
Outstanding performance
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Field reliability
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Low sound and vibrations
Leading the technology development
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© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 8
World’s largest 3-phase reactors (300 Mvar)
So why selling static reactors when the
need of reactive power compensation is
dynamic?
There are new solutions today

A new product class: Variable Shunt Reactors
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VSR provides dynamic compensation of
reactive power
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Regulation range around 100%
(e.g. 50-100 Mvar)
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Ratings up to 200 Mvar, 500 kV
ABB is the world leader for VSRs

So far 16 VSRs sold to US, Norway,
Denmark, Sweden and Africa
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The world’s largest VSR now in safe operation
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© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 9
120-200 Mvar, 400 kV
VSR applications: Wind parks

Unpredictable and fluctuating active
power exchange
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The variations in reactive power
consumption with varying wind-power
production require control:
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© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 10
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SVC
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Regulated shunt reactor
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Switched shunt reactor
Grid codes specify the amount of
reactive power exchanged with the main
grid
VSR applications: Large and long cable networks
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April 8, 2015 | Slide 11
Large and long AC cable networks in
EHV network systems, e.g. USA and Italy.
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Extended use of cables put higher
demand on reactive power
compensation
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Daily and season load variation in
highly populated areas
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Power quality is important
VSR applications: Daily load variations in regular
networks
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© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 12
Transmission systems with time variation
of load, generation and power exchange
with other networks

Interaction with other types of
installations, e.g. SVCs, HVDC
transmission links
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Controllability of the system increase
in importance or is uncertain
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Increased demands on flexibility
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Power quality is important
Summary of VSR benefits
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 13
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Reduced voltage jumps during switching operation
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Voltage stability at varying loads
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Flexibility for new future load conditions
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Improved interaction with other equipment
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Coarse tuning of SVC equipment for best
dynamical operation
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Reactive power compensation related to loading
of HVDC links (a HVDC converter consumes
reactive power)
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No parallel fixed reactors, reduction of number of
breakers, reduced footprint and maintenance
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Flexible spare unit possibility and flexibility to move a
VSR to other location
Conclusions
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Transmission networks have time varying loads
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Transmission networks have time varying needs for
compensation of reactive power
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VSR is a new product type that provides this
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Do we know the load- and generation patterns of
tomorrow?
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© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 14
A shunt reactor with fixed rating have a life time of
30+ years...
Gallery
120-200 Mvar,
400 kV
Statnett,
Norway
50-100 Mvar, 242 kV
Dominion, USA
Active part
50-100 Mvar, 242 kV
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 15
Why to be careful when buying a reactor?
© ABB Group
April 8, 2015 | Slide 17
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It should withstand the
load of 40 cars, applied
100 times per second for
30 years continuous
without rattling and high
noise
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Long time field reliability
is a key issue
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Shunt reactors are
difficult