Power Quality Solutions

STATCOM, 100kVAr to 30MVAr

Dynamic reactive power compensation
Dynamic Reactive Compensation
Providing stability, security, and reliability to the grid
Installing a STATCOM at one or more suitable points on the network
is a powerful and cost effective method to increase grid transfer
capability and enhance voltage stability.
What is a STATCOM?
A STATCOM (or Static Synchronous Compensator) is a voltage
regulating device. It is based on a power electronics voltage-source
converter and can act as either a source or sink of reactive AC
power. It is a member of the Flexible AC transmission system
(FACTS) family which detects and instantly compensates for voltage
fluctuations or flicker, as well as controls power factor.
As a fully controllable power electronic device, the STATCOM is
capable of providing both capacitive and inductive VARs. ABB’s LV
STATCOMs can be rated at up to +/-30 MVAR although larger sizes
are possible.
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STATCOM Applications
Electrical utilities and heavy industries face a number of challenges
related to reactive power. Electrical utilities may be confronted with
voltage sags, poor power factor and even voltage instability. Heavy
industrial applications can cause disturbances like voltage
unbalance, distortion or flicker on the electrical grid. Reactive power
control can resolve these issues by improving the power factor or
compensating for the voltage instability. In many cases, the
traditional solutions of switching capacitors is too coarse and slow
to stabilize a weak network.
The most advanced solution to compensate reactive power is to
incorporate a Voltage Source Converter (VSC) as a variable source
of reactive power. These systems offer advantages compared to
standard reactive power compensation solutions in demanding
applications, such as wind farms and arc furnaces, where normal
reactive power control generated by generators or capacitor banks
alone are too slow for the sudden load changes.
Typical STATCOM applications:
3 phase grid
–– Utilities with weak grids or fluctuating
reactive loads
–– Unbalanced loads
–– Arc furnaces
–– W ind farms
–– Wood chippers
–– Welding operations
–– Car crushers & shredders
–– Industrial mills
–– Mining shovels, hoists and mills
–– Harbor cranes
ABB’s STATCOM Solution
Engineered for user simplicity

Benefits
- Improves power quality and plant reliability
- Increases network stability and transmission capacity
- Delivers grid compliance when necessary for renewable energy
- High availability and reliability

Features
- Power factor control
- Voltage regulation
- Independant phase control
- Flicker compensation
- Active harmonic filtering (application specific)
- Multiple system parallel control
- High and low voltage ride through
- Modular inverter blocks for simple long term maintenance
- Medium voltage transformer included in footprint as option
minimizes installation costs
- 200-300% overload capacity

ABB Power Electronics - STATCOM 3

STATCOM product portfolio

Configurations 625 kVar Cabinet 360 - 1900 kVar Rack / NEMA

Protection class NEMA 1 NEMA 3R

Unit Continous kVar Rating (+ / - ) 80-970 350-1900

MVAr System applied All configurations can be paralleled to obtain higher ratings needed
AC Grid
AC Grid Voltage Connection 480 V to 46 kV 480 V to 46 kV
Output Frequency 50 / 60 50 / 60
Harmonic Distortion, Current IEEE compliant IEEE compliant
Transient Overload Rating D
200% 200%

Extended overload rating (30 s) 150% 150%

Environmental Limits
Cooling Forced Air Forced Air
Ambient Temperature Range (nominal) A
0°C to 40°C -40°C to 50°C
Seismic Rating Zone 4 Zone 4
Housing Options - Dimensions & Weights
32Wx32Dx85H (809x804x2154); 128Wx32Dx97H
A) OEM Package, in (mm) 0°C to 40°C B
88Wx32Dx97H (2241x800x2464) (3241x800x2464)
60Wx40Dx97H (1524x1016x2464); 149Wx40Dx97H
B) Indoor Package, in (mm) 0°C to 40°C
110Wx40Dx97H (2794x1016x2464) (3785x1016x2464)
60Wx60Dx97H (1524x1524x2464); 149Wx60Dx97H
C) Outdoor Package, in (mm) -30°C to 40°C
110Wx60Dx97H (2794x1524x2464) (3785x1524x2464)
Weights, lbs (kg) 3000 (1361); 4100 (1860) 5500 (2495)
Includes grid-tie transformer in footprint No No
Communication Protocol
Ethernet connectivity, Modbus, TCP, DNP-3, SCADA, others possible

A - System temperature rating depends on housing selection; systems require derating for ambients over 40°C
B - OEM 625 kVar Cabinet solution control cabinet mounted in cabinet if space permits, otherwise separate mounting required
C - 20kV maximum inside enclosure, higher voltage ratings require external installation
D - Application specific overload ratings and duration

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20’ / 40’ / 53’ Enclosure

20’ Enclosure 40’ Enclosure

2,500-5,000 5,000-10,000
All configurations can be paralleled to obtain higher ratings needed

46 kV 46 kV
50 / 60 50 / 60
IEEE compliant IEEE compliant
200%/250% 200%/250%

150% 150%

Forced Air or HVAC Forced Air or HVAC

-40°C to 50°C -40°C to 50°C
Zone 4 Zone 4

N/A N/A

N/A N/A

240Wx96Dx102H 480Wx96Dx102H
(6096x2438x2591) (12192x2438x2591)
30000 (13608) 45000 (20412)
Yes C Yes C

Ethernet connectivity, Modbus, TCP, DN3-P, SCADA, others possible

ABB Power Electronics - STATCOM 5

Value added solutions
Standard or engineered products

ABB’s containerized solution combines rugged construction

with industry leading engineering providing a system that can
operate under the harshest environments common in utility,
industrial and renewable applications.

ABB’s standard and engineered systems include:

– – Scalable building block design
– – Redundant inverter design increases reliability and
availability
– – Inverter is used in a family of ABB products globally
– – Containerized solution reduces installation time and
provides mobility
– – Customer assistance in sizing and modeling of systems
–– Internal transformer design minimizes installation costs,
optimizes footprint and simplifies testing and commisioning
–– Modular construction provides for a simplified spare parts
package and fast exchange

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Service and support
Installation, commisioning and life cycle management

Services for ABB‘s STATCOM product Life cycle management

– – Supervision of installation and commissioning ABB’s life cycle management model maximizes the value of the
– – 24 x 365 local support line equipment and maintenance investment by maintaining high
–– Worldwide service network availability, eliminating unplanned repair costs and extending the
–– Spare parts and logistics network lifetime of the whole system. Life cycle management includes:
–– Training –– spare parts and expertise throughout the life cycle
–– Customized maintenance contracts –– efficient product support and maintenance for improved
–– Engineering studies reliability
–– Remote monitoring –– functionality upgrades to the initial product

Installation and commissioning Global network, local presence

Proper installation and commissioning of the equipment, done by
qualified and certified commissioning engineers, reduces start-up
time, increases safety and reliability and decreases life cycle costs.
In addition, operators can be given practical training by experienced
specialists on site.
After-sales service is an integral part of providing the customer
with a reliable and efficient STATCOM system. The ABB Group
of companies operates in more than 100 countries and has a
worldwide network of service operations.

ABB Power Electronics - STATCOM 7

Contact us

ABB Inc.

Copyright 2012 ABB. All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice. PESTATCOM-PHPB01U-EN REV A1
Power Electronics
16250 W. Glendale Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151
Tel: 262-785-3200
E-Mail: pes@us.abb.com

www.abb.com/powerelectronics