Converters for VAr Compensation

Utilities and industrial consumers are very conscious of the quadrature power, because this is determined by how the voltage on the grid (drops or fluctuations behave). To obtain a stable voltage conditions the produced reactive power must be compensated. For the consumer of electric power, the optimization of an existing power system can increase productivity, reduce energy costs and increase the reliability of the system.

The most advanced solution to compensate the reactive power is to use a voltage controlled power converter with fast semiconductor switches, which can provide fast and variable reactive power to the grid. The STATCOM converter (based on the PCS familiy) is monitoring the line current and voltage in order to promptly provide the lagging or leading current. The STATCOM converters can be considered as advanced static VAr compensator (SVC), another product of ABB's net stabilization. The ultimate goal is to stabilize the voltage in order to avoid any interference.