A significant portion of electrical equipment within the power grid operates based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. During energy conversion, these devices generate an alternating magnetic field. Over the course of a single cycle, the power consumed equals the power released. This type of power is referred to as reactive power. In a power system, just like active power, reactive power must also be balanced to ensure stable operation.
As illustrated in Figure 1, there is a clear relationship between active power, reactive power, and apparent power. From the power triangle, we can see that under a fixed active power level, the lower the power factor (cosφ) of a power-consuming enterprise, the higher the reactive power requirement becomes. If this reactive power isn’t provided by capacitors, it will need to be supplied by the power transmission system. To meet such demands, the capacity of power supply lines and transformers would have to be increased. This results in higher investments, reduced equipment efficiency, and increased line losses. Therefore, national electricity regulations mandate that reactive power should be balanced locally. Consumers are required to design and install reactive power compensation equipment while adjusting according to load and voltage fluctuations to avoid reverse reactive power flow. Furthermore, users must maintain a power factor that meets the specified standards; otherwise, power supply departments may decline to provide service. For both power suppliers and consumers, automatically compensating for reactive power to enhance the power factor and prevent reverse reactive power flow is crucial for saving energy and improving operational efficiency.
The fundamental principle behind reactive power compensation involves connecting devices with capacitive and inductive power loads to the same circuit. Through this setup, energy is exchanged between the two types of loads. Consequently, the reactive power needed for inductive loads can be offset by the reactive power generated by capacitive loads.
Currently, parallel capacitors are extensively utilized as reactive power compensation devices worldwide due to their ease of installation, shorter construction periods, lower costs, straightforward operation and maintenance, and minimal self-losses. However, despite these advantages, proper planning and implementation are essential to maximize benefits and minimize potential drawbacks. For instance, overcompensation could lead to issues such as harmonic resonance or voltage instability, which might necessitate additional measures like filtering or dynamic adjustment strategies. Additionally, regular monitoring and maintenance are critical to ensuring long-term reliability and performance.
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