1. Why does power factor matter Make-up of distribution capacitor banks
Discussion Topics
Why does power factor matter
Make-up of distribution capacitor banks
Benefits of power factor correction
Switching considerations
Conventional switching
Synchronous switching

2. Why does Power Factor matter?

3. Why does Power Factor matter?
We can visualize power delivery as being analogous to a glass of beer from a bar tap. Think of the beer as being real power, while the foam on top is reactive power. We only really care about the beer, but the less careful the person pouring is, the more of the glass will be filled with foam. Since the glass can only hold so much of anything, more foam means less beer. A small amount is OK, but too much foam means you’re not getting beer you paid for!
Power distribution systems work the same way. The grid can only provide a certain amount of power, so when someone consumes lots of reactive power, it reduces the amount of real power available to sell to other customers.
kVAr kW

4. Scope: Some causes of poor power factor

5. Scope: Components of a Distribution Pole bank
For Power Factor Correction applications
Pole banks (or pad-mounted banks)
Frames free standing and self supporting
5kV thru 35kV
Capacitor kVAr ratings from 150 to 3600
Shunt connected
Fixed (no switches) or Switched
Arresters
Switches, junction boxes + wiring, frames
Single phase or three phase measurement
Control power transformer
Controllers

6. Question: Name 3 major benefits of capacitor banks:
Power Factor correction
I2R loss reduction
Voltage improvement

7. Power Factor Correction
Decreases system reactive demand
Shave peak demand to decrease energy costs

8. Placement example: Distribution feeder 300kW load at end of feeder
500 kVA

9. Power factor correction not applied
Placement example:
Distribution feeder
Power factor correction not applied
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
500 kVA

10. Power factor correction not applied
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
Placement example:
Power factor correction not applied
500 kVA
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Feeder Demand

11. 300kVAr switched bank applied
Placement example:
300kVAr switched bank applied
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
300kVAr
switched
Cap Bank
500 kVA
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Feeder Demand

12. 300kVAr switched bank applied
Placement example:
300kVAr switched bank applied
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
300kVAr
switched
Cap Bank
500 kVA
Feeder Demand
316 kVA
100 kVAr
0.95 pf
300 kW

13. Correction example: 450kVAr not applied 500 kVA Metered Demand
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
Correction example:
450kVAr not applied
450kVAr
switched
Cap Bank
500 kVA
Feeder Demand
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr

14. Unity pf (slightly exceeded)
Correction example:
450kVAr bank applied
Unity pf (slightly exceeded)
500 kVA
300 kW
0.6 pf
400 kVAr
Metered Demand
450kVAr
switched
Cap Bank
500 kVA
304 kVA
300 kW
-0.99 pf
50 kVAr
Feeder Demand

15. Boost Voltage
Achieve voltage improvement by distributed placement of reactive compensation to:
Reduce feeder reactive impedance
Reduce feeder load, I2R drop, and voltage sags

16. Typical Voltage Sag

17. Voltage sag with 1 capacitor bank closed

18. Voltage sag with 2 capacitor banks closed

19. Voltage sag with 3 capacitor banks closed

20. Question: Name 3 major benefits of capacitor banks:
Trinetics Capacitor Switches
Question:
Name 3 major benefits of capacitor banks:
Power Factor correction
I2R loss reduction
Voltage improvement

21. Question: Name 3 major benefits of capacitor banks:
Trinetics Capacitor Switches
Question:
Name 3 major benefits of capacitor banks:
Power Factor correction
I2R loss reduction
Voltage improvement
Conservation voltage reduction

22. Conservation voltage reduction
Switch reactive compensation upon demand to:
Inject voltage during system controlled kVA reduction programs.
Reduce supply side metered demand peaks while maintaining service capacity and continuity.
Dispatch capacity gains to serve new markets

23. Normal voltage level

24. Normal voltage level
Reduced voltage level