Electrical panels for reactive power compensation
Transformers, electric motors, ballast coils, air conditioning systems etc, comsume reactive energy. Reactive energy circulation leads to:
- increased costs in electricity bill
- increased equipment costs by increasing the installed power
- additional losses of active and additional voltage drops in conductors
- decrease available power in the secondary of the transformer
Reducing the above mentioned equipments is made via automatic compensation of reactive power, made with the following basic components:
- compensation capacitors
- contactors for connection / disconnection of capacitors
- power factor controller
The compensation is achieved by calculating the reactive power consumed permanently, based on direct measurement of phase voltage / line voltage and phase using an external current transformer. Depending on the calculated value of power factor regulator control circuit inserting or removing the gear compensation after a predetermined adjustment program.
Main technical characteristics of switchboards for reactive power compensation:
- Rated power: – 22.5 … 100 kVAr in enclosure – 300 -100 enclosure kVAr in kVAr in cabinet
- Nominal voltage: – 230 … 240 V / 50 … 60 Hz – 400 … 415 V / 50 … 60 Hz
- Number of speed control: – 1 … 6 with R6 Varlogic regulator – 1 … 12 with R12 Varlogic regulator
- Panel size: – 500x500x250 mm minimum – maximum 600x800x2000 mm
- Working temperature: 0 … + 45 grd.C
- Protection level: IP30 – IP55
EETim SA implemented equipment for reactive power compensation:
- VarPlusCan pole capacitor modules / VarPlusBox – Schneider Electric, or Enerlux
- Power factor controllers: Varlogic R6 / R12 Varlogic (Schneider Electric)
- Contactors: LC1-DK Series (Schneider Electric)