Key Components of Reactive Power Compensation and PFI Design Training

1. Introduction to Reactive Power

   • Definition and Importance: Understanding reactive power and its significance in AC power systems.
   • Real vs. Reactive Power: Differentiating between real power (active power) and reactive power.
   • Power Factor: Definition and importance of power factor in electrical systems.

2. Effects of Low Power Factor

   • Increased Losses: How low power factor leads to higher losses in the electrical system.
   • Reduced Capacity: Impact on the capacity of cables, transformers, and generators.
   • Voltage Regulation: Effects on voltage stability and regulation.
   • Financial Implications: Penalties imposed by utilities for low power factor.

3. Reactive Power Compensation Methods

   • Capacitor Banks: Use of fixed and automatic capacitor banks for reactive power compensation.
   • Synchronous Condensers: Operation and application of synchronous condensers.
   • Static VAR Compensators (SVCs): Principles and applications of SVCs.
   • STATCOMs: Introduction to Static Synchronous Compensators and their benefits.
   • Distributed Compensation: Reactive power compensation at different points in the network.

4. Design of Capacitor Banks

   • Sizing Capacitors: Calculating the required size of capacitors for specific applications.
   • Placement: Determining optimal locations for capacitor banks in the network.
   • Connection Methods: Series and parallel configurations of capacitors.
   • Switching Devices: Types of switching devices used with capacitor banks, such as contactors and circuit breakers.

5. Automatic Power Factor Correction (APFC) Panels

   • Components: Understanding the components of APFC panels, including controllers, capacitors, and reactors.
   • Operation: How APFC panels automatically adjust to maintain a desired power factor.
   • Design Considerations: Key factors to consider when designing APFC panels.
   • Installation and Commissioning: Best practices for installing and commissioning APFC panels.

6. Advanced Reactive Power Compensation Techniques

   • Dynamic Compensation: Techniques for real-time reactive power compensation.
   • Harmonic Filtering: Addressing harmonics in the system while compensating reactive power.
   • Hybrid Solutions: Combining different compensation methods for optimal results.

7. Monitoring and Control

   • Power Quality Analyzers: Tools for monitoring power quality and power factor.
   • SCADA Systems: Using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for remote monitoring and control.
   • Data Analysis: Analyzing data to identify trends and issues in reactive power management.

8. Standards and Regulations

   • IEEE Standards: Overview of relevant IEEE standards for reactive power compensation and power factor improvement.
   • IEC Standards: International standards applicable to reactive power and PFI design.
   • Utility Requirements: Understanding specific requirements and regulations imposed by utilities.

9. Economic Considerations

   • Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluating the economic benefits of reactive power compensation and power factor improvement.
   • ROI Calculations: Calculating return on investment for PFI projects.
   • Energy Savings: Quantifying energy savings achieved through improved power factor.