Dr. Claes Bengtsson, Global Product Manager, Reactors.

PowerGen Europe June 2010

Variable Shunt Reactors

Optimize Transmission Systems

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 1
Matured products ??

 Is transformer- and
shunt reactor
technology matured?

 Some basics around

reactive power
compensation
 New opportunities in
reactive power
compensation
 Applications and
benefits

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 2
Voltage at line end increases at low load

P2, Q2

U1 U2
Q

Voltage profile at no or low load (P2),”Ferranti effect”

1,0 pu

U1 U2

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 3
The shunt reactor stabilize the system voltage

P2, Q2

U1 U2
Q

Voltage profile at no or low load (P2), with connected SR

1,0 pu

U1 U2

The shunt reactor consumes reactive power

generated by the transmission line
© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 4
The shunt reactor stabilize the system voltage

P2, Q2

U1 U2
Q

Voltage profile at no or low load (P2), with connected SR

1,0 pu

U1 U2

Switching in the reactor gives a step change in the

voltage on the transmission line
© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 5
The voltage profile is load dependent

(R) + X
P2, Q2

U1 U2
Q

Increased load (P2), voltage profile with connected SR

1,0 pu

U1 U2

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 6
Fundamental challenge

 The is an optimum reactor rating at

a certain load
 Load varies with time
 Seasonal variations
 Daily variations
 Shunt Reactors are by tradition fixed in rating
 Switching fixed reactors in and out leads to
 Voltage steps
 Wear on breakers
 Non-optimal compensation

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 7
ABB is the world leader on HV shunt reactors

 >1000 reactors delivered to >40 countries

 Complete range
 <800 kV, <300 Mvar
 Full 3-phase testing capabilities
 Outstanding performance
 Field reliability
 Low sound and vibrations
 Leading the technology development
 World’s largest 3-phase reactors (300 Mvar)

 So why selling static reactors when the

need of reactive power compensation is
dynamic?
© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 8
There are new solutions today

 A new product class: Variable Shunt Reactors

 VSR provides dynamic compensation of
reactive power
 Regulation range around 100%
(e.g. 50-100 Mvar)
 Ratings up to 200 Mvar, 500 kV
 ABB is the world leader for VSRs
 So far 16 VSRs sold to US, Norway,
Denmark, Sweden and Africa
 The world’s largest VSR now in safe operation
 120-200 Mvar, 400 kV

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 9
VSR applications: Wind parks

 Unpredictable and fluctuating active

power exchange
 The variations in reactive power
consumption with varying wind-power
production require control:
 SVC
 Regulated shunt reactor
 Switched shunt reactor
 Grid codes specify the amount of
reactive power exchanged with the main
grid

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 10
VSR applications: Large and long cable networks

 Large and long AC cable networks in

EHV network systems, e.g. USA and Italy.
 Extended use of cables put higher
demand on reactive power
compensation
 Daily and season load variation in
highly populated areas
 Power quality is important

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 11
VSR applications: Daily load variations in regular
networks

 Transmission systems with time variation

of load, generation and power exchange
with other networks
 Interaction with other types of
installations, e.g. SVCs, HVDC
transmission links
 Controllability of the system increase
in importance or is uncertain
 Increased demands on flexibility
 Power quality is important

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 12
Summary of VSR benefits

 Reduced voltage jumps during switching operation

 Voltage stability at varying loads
 Flexibility for new future load conditions
 Improved interaction with other equipment
 Coarse tuning of SVC equipment for best
dynamical operation
 Reactive power compensation related to loading
of HVDC links (a HVDC converter consumes
reactive power)
 No parallel fixed reactors, reduction of number of
breakers, reduced footprint and maintenance
 Flexible spare unit possibility and flexibility to move a
© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 13
VSR to other location
Conclusions

 Transmission networks have time varying loads

 Transmission networks have time varying needs for
compensation of reactive power
 VSR is a new product type that provides this

 Do we know the load- and generation patterns of

tomorrow?
 A shunt reactor with fixed rating have a life time of
30+ years...

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 14
Gallery

120-200 Mvar,
400 kV
Statnett,
Norway

50-100 Mvar, 242 kV

Dominion, USA

Active part
50-100 Mvar, 242 kV

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 15
Why to be careful when buying a reactor?

 It should withstand the

load of 40 cars, applied
100 times per second for
30 years continuous
without rattling and high
noise
 Long time field reliability
is a key issue
 Shunt reactors are
difficult

© ABB Group
February 24, 2020 | Slide 17