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Thus the number of capacitors is identical to the number of steps: six capacitors controlled by six steps.
How to calculate number of steps & reactive power of the capacitor banks (photo credit: Janitza
electronics)
However, compensation banks with unequal steps, for example 50 kvar and 25 kvar (see Figure 1), enable
compensation in fine-stepping mode. Smaller units up to 150 kvar approximately have combinations of
different-sized capacitors for economic reasons.
A compensation unit with a total of 110 kvar for instance is assembled with four capacitors of 10, 20 and 2
40 kvar (ratio 1:2:4:4) to enable control in 11 steps. Older power factor relays control with a fixed switching
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Modern relays pick out the correct capacitor size by referring to the actual demand of reactive power directly.
After determination of the total demand of reactive power to be compensated, it is then decided which types of
compensation units (see this article) should be used. With regard to their locations, it should be kept in mind
that the leads should be unburdened from reactive power at all time.
The power losses (kWh) along the leads increase in a squared manner with the apparent power (I2R).
In smaller installations often one central-type compensation is quite sufficient. The power factor requested by
the electricity supplier is to be kept on average within one billing period. Brief deviations from the power
factor target must not be controlled quickly. Thus switching time delays per step of 30 to 40 s are quite
sufficient.
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Where:
During the projecting period, a possible extension in future should be taken into consideration. This is to plan
for enough space for the extension unit and furthermore to install a power factor relay with the additional
control exits.
Most of the electronic power factor relays on the market are able to recognize unengaged steps automatically
and take them out of operation. If the extension unit is installed, the existing compensation must be
volt-free including the power factor relay.
On completion of the installation, the extended compensation unit will be re-energized. First of all, the power
factor relay checks all exits from the outset and recognizes the new capacitor steps (see Figure 4a and 4b).
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Older power factor relays still working in many plants around the world follow a strict switching program, for
example switching step 1 up to 6 or down from 6 to 1 or 0 (see Figure 2, arithmetic sequence).
This program contains a major disadvantage with regard to the operating hours per step: In the worst case step
1 is energized all the time compared with step 6 which had never been switched in!
Therefore modern power factor relays have changed to the so-called rotational or circular switching program
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as shown
in Figure
5. This
program
Figure 5 Circular or
rotational switching
program, illustrated as
desired
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However, modern
microprocessor-controlled
power factor relays always
pick out the relevant
capacitor, depending on the
actual deviation of reactive
power.
Most compensation banks are controlled stepwise. For this purpose it is essential to know when it is allowed
to (de)activate a capacitor step by the power factor relay.
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. If so, 40 kvar
would hang over to the other side of the line representing the power factor target (see Figure 6).
The relay would switch off due to the level of 10 kvar. This procedure, called hunting (oscillating), would
repeat steadily. This danger occurred in older power factor relays with manual C/k adjustment when it was
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preset
wrongly, or
too low.
Two-thirds
(66%) of a
step size at
least must
exist as
deviation to
enter the
control
procedure.
The
percentage
may vary
between 65
and 85% with
reference to
realistic
tolerances of
the capacitor,
current
transformer
and power
factor relay
itself.
If the sensed apparent current vector lies within the bandwidth, any control of reactive power is to be
stopped.
If the vector exceeds the threshold level to the right, the power factor relay has to switch in capacitor
steps.
If the vector exceeds the threshold level to the left, capacitor steps have to be disconnected in order to
bring the vector within the bandwidth again.
All power factor relays have to follow the mathematical description accordingly in order to avoid any
hunting:
Where:
C/k necessary level of reactive current to enter control procedure (Ar = amperes reactive)
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In modern microprocessor-
controlled relays the correct C/k
adjustment ensues automatically.
They succumb to the minimum of
sensibility of 1% as well; at lower
values the relays are not able to
recognize capacitor steps.
Therefore the C/k value and its
meaning are very important to aid
understanding.
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About Author //
8 of 9 17.05.2017, 08:55
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Edvard Csanyi
Edvard - 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 fascilities. Professional in AutoCAD
programming. Present on Google+
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