‘ar, 1149 AM (Variable) Shunt Reactor - ENTSO-E
(Variable) Shunt Reactor
Shunt reactors (SRs) are used in high voltage energy
transmission systems to control the voltage during load
variations. Depending on the voltage requirement needs, shunt
reactors are switched on or off to provide reactive power
compensation. With increasing load variations in today’s system,
variable shunt reactors (VSR) are developed as a means to
provide more controllability for grid operators in reactive power
management by continuously adjusting the compensation
according to the load variation. This technology uses a tap
changer, of the same type used in power transformers, to vary
the inductance by changing the number of electrical turns in the
reactor windings. It is now possible to finetune the system
voltage and provide regulation capability. The transmission
system benefits from improved power quality, optimised grid
operation and the possibility of interaction with other regulation
devices, such as SVCs (Static Var Compensators).
Technology Types
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Shunt reactors can be classified in two types according to the fixed or variable nature of
the rating: =
* Fixed rating SRs, either dry or oil-filled, and variable shunt reactors (oil-filled)
« Fixed rating SRs is a traditional technology with no means of regulation. Controllability
is ensured by a switched in and out to follow the load variations, which can result in
step changes in the system voltage level and induce more stress on system
components. This drawback can be mitigated either by the combined use of several
smaller SRs, smoothing these step variations and facilitating controllability, or by the
use of VSRs that enable a continuous compensation of reactive power through the use
of a tap changer to change the inductance of the power line or cable it is connected to.
The regulation of a variable reactor is accomplished by a separate regulating winding, or
windings, located outside the main winding. The regulating range is limited by the maximum
step voltage and voltage range of the tap changer in combination with the specific design
concept used. The regulation range typically varies between 50-100% of rated reactive power,
e.g. a VSR with a rating of 150 MVAr at 300 KV can today be regulated between 80 MVAr and 150
Mvar.
Components & enablers
Typical components of a VSR are:
* One or three phase, iron-core with fixed air gap
* Tap changer
* Windings
* Insulation material
* Insulating oil
* Bushing
* Cooling system
Advantages & field of application
VSRs combine the proven design of SRS and tap changers that have been used successfully for
decades in power transformers.
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They are used in high voltage transmission to compensate reactive power and thereby secure.
voltage stability according to the load variations: VSR enable grid operators to optimise —
reactive power compensation and benefit from improved voltage control. Main technical
benefits of variability compared to a fixed reactor include the smoothing of the voltage jumps,
the flexibility to the load, the ability to interact with a SVC, the possibility of relocation to
another part of the grid, and the footprint reduction of a VSR replacing several fixed rating
shunt reactors and circuit breakers.
Typical network conditions which favour the application of VSRs are:
* Networks with distributed generation (e.g. solar, wind, etc.) may not always provide full
control over their electrical output which may create problems of increased flow of
reactive power due to the varying reactive power of both generation and consumption.
* Strongly varying loads powered through relatively long overhead lines or underground
cables. The application of a VSR will relieve the source line from reactive current and
thereby mitigate the line losses and improve the voltage quality.
* Changing networks as additional transmission infrastructure is being installed to
improve overall system reliability and support the loss of base load generating facilities
(e.g. coal, nuclear)
* Grids where in- and out- switching ofa fixed shunt reactor will lead to power quality
problems in terms of voltage steps.
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 9 - System ready for full scale deployment
Research & Development
Current fields of research: Analysis and studies on the dynamic behaviour of the shunt
reactor are being performed as well as on the ‘ageing’ of such equipment. Moreover, tests on
geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) are being done to compensate reactive power and
control the voltage level
Innovation Priority: Manufacturers are seeking improvements in their production processes
to address the challenge of the general layout of the winding arrangement, the lead concept to
the tap changer and the huge shunt reactor dimensions.
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Best practice performance
Three-phase VSRs:
(Variable) Shunt Reactor - ENTSO-E
* They include the 550 kV range and commercial products which are available at ratings
up to 300 MVAr
* Large regulation ranges from 20% to 100%
For the sake of comparison, SRs are able to compensate reactive power up to 300 MVAr and be
operated at voltage levels up to 765 kV, whereas reactive power compensation for single-phase
shunt reactors reaches up to 320 MVAr and maximum voltage levels of 1000 kV.
Best practice application
The objective of the SINCRO.GRID - Phase 1
project is to provide for more efficient use of
the existing electricity grid in Slovenia and
Croatia, which will enable the existing
infrastructure to accept larger quantities of
electricity from renewable sources and ensure
more reliable electricity supply. In June 2020,
the ELES substation in Divaéa equipped with a
variable shunt reactor, successfully made a
trial connection of the VSR to the electricity grid
in the substation
Design
VSR manufactured by Siemens in Austria
Results
This will solve problems of overloads in the
long-term and with a positive effect on grid
stability and security of supply for customers
htps:www-ontsoe.eu/Technopediatechshectsiariable-shunt-eactor
Slovenia United Kingdom
2020 2020
Description Description
Located off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea One
project will span a huge area of approximately
407 square kilometres. The offshore wind farm
will use 7 MW wind turbines, with each one
190 metres tall
Design
The powerful shunt reactor used within the
project features a rating of 120-300 MVAr and
a rated voltage of 220 kV. The relatively low
sound emissions of less than 84 dB(A) at 300
MvAr also adds to the environmental
compatibility of the units,
Results
‘VSR will cater for the fluctuating demand of
reactive power compensation, resulting from
the volatile nature of wind power and improve
environment compatibility (low sound
emission)
406‘ar, 1149 AM
(Variable) Shunt Reactor - ENTSO-E
Norway
2013 and 2018
Description
‘An extensive program aimed to invest in
deploying VSRs (as well as SVCs) in the grid to
compensate for loss of reactive power
compensation resulting from the capacitive
power lines (Mid-Norway grid reinforcement).
Design
Out of the VSRs in operation, 10 are of voltage
class 420 kV, 90/120-200 MVAr and two of
of reactive power compensation
Results
Less voltage drop/rise with low short circuit
capacity and slow tuning of the reactor
guaranteed that reactive reserves in SVC and
and given optimal headroom.
generation at low power flow from the installed
voltage class 300 kV, 80-150 MVAr with the goal
rotating synchronous compensator are secured
Germany
2016
Description
A large variable shunt reactor has been
developed and applied with a regulation range
of 80% at 400 kV Germany transmission grid
Design
‘Tap changer is designed with 33 tappings to
cover a rating from 50 to 250 MVAr for a 400 kV
three-phase unit.
Results
Improved control of voltage, reduced reactive
power loading of the grid which results in
decreased losses in the lines and in the VSR
itself as compared to a fixed shunt reactor.
Expensive SVC equipment is also reduced.
References
hitps:www-ontsoe.ou/Technopediatechshectsiariable-shunt-eactor
[1] ABB. Variable shunt reactors, Alternative for controlling network voltage stability. (Link]
[2] Trench. Variable Shunt Reactors for Reactive Power Compensation. [Link]
(3] Cigre. Variable Shunt Reactors: Applications and System Aspects. [Link]
[4] Siemens. Shunt reactors and series reactors. [Link]‘nang, 1149 AM (Variable) Shunt Reactor -ENTSO-E
[5] IEEE, Protecting PFC Capacitors from Overvoltage Caused by Harmonics and System
Resonance Using High Temperature Superconducting Reactors [Link]
6] G. Andersson, R. Levi and E. Osmanbasic. Dynamic tap-changer testing, reactors and
reactance. [Link]
[7] B. Gustavsen, M. Runde and T. M. Ohnstad. Wideband Modeling, Field Measurement, and
Simulation of a 420-KV Variable Shunt Reactor. [Link]
[8] Siemens. World's first GIC-tested shunt reactor in operation. [Link]
[9] Cigre, WG A2.48, Technical Brochures, Technology and utilisation of oil-immersed shunt
reactors, Reference 655. [Link]
[10] TSCNET Services. Variable shunt reactor for SINCRO.GRID. [Link]
[11] TSCNET Services. HOPS commissions variable shunt reactor. [Link
[12] SINCRO.GRID website, Successful trial connection of the variable shunt reactor in Divata
substation. (Link)
[13] SIEMENS. Variable Shunt Reactor with 80 percent regulation range. [Link]
[14] ABB. Shunt reactors - Proven history for future success. [Link]
[15] ABB, Ensuring power quality and reliability in Norway.
[16] SIEMENS. World's most powerful variable shunt reactor successfully tested. [Link]
[17] Hornsea project. [Link]
Caen
ue
Conia
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