Voltage Control
• Voltage control refers to the regulation and management of
voltage levels within an electrical power system to ensure they
remain within acceptable limits for proper operation of electrical
equipment and devices.
• Voltage control is crucial for maintaining the stability, reliability,
and efficiency of power systems. It involves various techniques
and devices to regulate voltage levels under different operating
conditions. Here are some key aspects of voltage control:
Voltage Control
• Voltage Regulation Devices: These devices are used to adjust voltage
levels at different points in the power system. Examples include
voltage regulators, tap changers on transformers, and static VAR
compensators (SVCs).
• Reactive Power Control: Reactive power is required for the
operation of inductive loads such as motors and transformers.
Proper management of reactive power helps control voltage levels.
Capacitors and reactors are commonly used to generate or absorb
reactive power as needed to maintain voltage stability.
Voltage Control
Load Management: Voltage levels can be controlled by managing the
distribution of loads across the power system. Load shedding or load
shifting strategies may be employed to prevent voltage fluctuations
during peak demand periods.
Voltage Monitoring and Control Systems: Advanced monitoring and
control systems continuously monitor voltage levels across the power
grid and automatically adjust voltage regulation devices to maintain
optimal voltage conditions.
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Integration: The integration of
DER and energy storage devices into the grid requires careful
voltage control measures to manage voltage fluctuations caused by
variable generation and load patterns.
NECESSITY OF VOLTAGE CONTROL
i.In case of lighting load, such as incandescent lamp, which is
acutely sensitive to voltage changes, fluctuations in voltage
beyond a certain level may even decrease the life of the lamp.
ii.In case of power load consisting of induction motors, voltage
variations may cause variation in the torque of an induction
motor as the torque is proportional to the square of the terminal
voltage. If the supply voltage is low, the starting torque of the
motor will be too low.
NECESSITY OF VOLTAGE CONTROL
iii.If the voltage variation is more than a specified value,
performance of the equipment suffers and the life of the
equipment is reduced.
iv.The picture on a television set starts rolling if the voltage is
below a certain level because the fluorescent tube refuses to glow
at low voltages. Hence, voltage variations must be regulated
and kept to a minimum level.
LOCATION OF VOLTAGE CONTROL EQUIPMENT
The voltage control equipment is placed at
i. Generating stations
ii. Transformer stations
iii. Feeders
METHODS OF VOLTAGE CONTROL
The different voltage control methods are:
1. Excitation Control Or Voltage Regulators At Generating Stations
2. Shunt capacitors and reactors
3. Series capacitors
4. Tap changing transformers
5. Boosters
6. Synchronous condensers
Excitation Control Or Voltage Regulators At
Generating Stations
• This method is used only at the generating station.
• Due to voltage drop in the synchronous reactance of armature,
the alternator terminal voltage changes and hence the load on
the supply system also undergoes a change. This can be
maintained at a constant by changing the field current of the
alternator.
• This process is called excitation control. By using an automatic
or a hand-operated regulator, the excitation of the alternator
can be controlled
• Voltage regulators are integrated into the excitation system of
the generator, which typically includes components such as
exciters, rectifiers, and the field winding. The voltage regulator
controls the output of the exciter, which supplies the DC
current to the generator's field winding.
SHUNTCAPACITORS AND REACTORS
-Shunt capacitors can provide voltage support by supplying
reactive power to mitigate voltage drops in distribution systems,
particularly during periods of high demand.
-Shunt reactors are particularly useful in high-voltage
transmission systems to regulate voltage levels and prevent
voltage rise beyond acceptable limits, especially under light load
conditions
SERIES CAPACITORS
• Series capacitors are components used in electrical power
systems to improve transmission efficiency and increase the
power transfer capability of transmission lines.
• They act as reactive compensation devices, providing capacitive
reactance to the transmission line. This capacitive reactance
offsets the inductive reactance of the line, improving its
impedance characteristics.
• By reducing the line's total impedance, series capacitors increase
the line's capability to carry active power (real power) and
reduce the voltage drop along the line, especially during heavy
load conditions or long-distance transmission.
SERIES CAPACITORS
• Series capacitors are typically installed on long transmission
lines, especially those with high inductive reactance or low power
factor, where voltage drops and reactive power losses are
significant.
• They are commonly used in extra-high-voltage (EHV) and ultra-
high-voltage (UHV) transmission systems to improve the power
transfer capability and efficiency of long-distance transmission
lines.
• The series capacitor response as a voltage regulator is faster and
smoother than the regulators.
SERIES CAPACITORS
The main drawback of this capacitor is the high voltage produced
across the capacitor terminals under short circuit conditions.
SERIESCAPACITORS
SERIESCAPACITORS
TAP CHANGING TRANSFORMERS
• A tap changing transformer is a static device having a number
of tap settings on its primary side for obtaining different
secondary voltages.
• The basic function of this device is to change the
transformation ratio, whereby the voltage in the secondary
circuit is varied making possible voltage control at all voltage
levels at any load. The supply may not be interrupted when
tap changing is done with and without load.
The types of tap changing transformers are:
1. Off-load tap changing transformer
2. On-load tap changing transformer
TAP CHANGING TRANSFORMERS
• Off-load Tap-changing Transformer The simple tap changing
arrangement of a transformer is shown as below .
• The voltage can be varied by varying a number of tapping's on
the secondary side of the transformer.
TAP CHANGING TRANSFORMERS
The output of the secondary side of the transformer changes with the change in tap
position of the secondary winding. The secondary voltage is minimum when the
movable arm makes contact with stud 1; whereas it is maximum when it is in position
N. When load on the transformer increases, the voltage across secondary terminals
decreases. This can be increased to the desired value by adding the number of turns on
the secondary terminal of the transformer by changing taps.
TAPCHANGINGTRANSFORMERS
Thus, in the case of tap changing transformers, the main
drawback is that the taps are changed only after the removal of
the load. This can be overcome by using an on-load tap changing
transformer with reactors.
TAPCHANGINGTRANSFORMERS
On-load Tap-changing Transformer To supply uninterrupted
power to the load (consumer), tap changing has to be performed
when the system is onloaded. The secondary winding, in a tap-
changing transformer consists of two identical parallel windings
with similar tappings.
TAPCHANGINGTRANSFORMERS
On-load Tap-changing Transformer The voltage at the secondary terminal
decreases with an increase in the load. To compensate for the decreased voltages, it is
required to change switches from positions 1 and 1/, to positions 2 and 2/(number of
turns on secondary is increased). For this, open any one of the switches Sa and Sb, and
assume Sa is opened. At this instant, the secondary winding controlled by switch Sb
carries full load current through one winding.
TAPCHANGINGTRANSFORMERS
This method has the following disadvantages:
•It requires two winding with rated current carrying capacity
instead of one winding.
• It requires two operations for change of single step.
•Complications are introduced in the design in order to obtain a
high reactance between the parallel windings.
BOOSTER TRANSFORMERS
The booster transformer performs the function of boosting the
voltage. It can be installed at a substation or at any intermediate
point of line.
BOOSTER TRANSFORMERS
In the circuit shown, P and Q are the two relays. The secondary of
the booster transformer is connected in series with the line whose
voltage is to be controlled and the primary of the booster
transformer is supplied from a regulating transformer with on-
load tap changing gear. The booster can be brought in to the
circuit by the closure of relay Q and the opening of relay P, and
vice versa
BOOSTER TRANSFORMERS
Advantages:
• It can be installed at any intermediate point in the system.
•Rating of booster transformer is about 10% of that of the main
transformer (product of current and injected voltage).
Disadvantages:
When used in conjunction with main transformer:
• More expensive than a transformer with on-load tap changes.
• Less efficient due to losses in booster.
• Requires more space
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
A synchronous condenser (synchronous phase modifier) is a
synchronous motor running without mechanical load. It is
connected in parallel with the load at the receiving end of the line.
Depending upon its excitation, it generates or absorbs the reactive
power. It takes leading current when its field is overexcited, i.e.,
above normal speed and takes lagging current when it is under
excited.
A synchronous phase modifier has a smaller shaft and bearing,
and higher speed as compared to a synchronous motor used for
mechanical loads. A synchronous phase modifier has higher
overall efficiency
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
Advantages:
•Flexibility for use in all load conditions because when the
machine is under-excited it consumes reactive power.
•There is a smooth variation of reactive VAR’s by synchronous
capacitors.
• It can be overloaded for short periods.
Disadvantages:
• Possibility of falling out of control in case of sudden changes in
voltage.
• These machines add to short-circuit capacity of the system
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
CHAPTER AT A GLANCE
1.Sources and sinks of reactive power are synchronous machine,
overhead lines, transformers, cables and loads.
2.The voltage-control equipment is located at generating stations,
transformer stations and feeders.
3.The various methods for voltage control are: excitation control,
shunt capacitors, and series capacitors, by using tap changing
transformers, boosters and synchronous condensers.
CHAPTER AT A GLANCE
4.Excitation control :This method is used only at the generating
station. Due to the voltage drop in the synchronous reactance of
armature, whenever the load on the supply system changes, the
terminal voltage of the alternator changes. This can be kept
constant by changing the field current of the alternator according
to the changes in load. This is known as excitation control.
5.Shunt capacitors and reactors: Shunt capacitors are used for
lagging power factor circuits; whereas
reactors are used for leading power factor circuits such as created
by lightly loaded cables.
CHAPTER AT A GLANCE
6.Series capacitor: It is installed in series with transmission lines
to reduce the frequency of voltage drops.
7.Tap changing transformers: The basic operation of tap
changing transformer is by changing the transformation ratio;
the voltage in the secondary circuit is varied.
8. Booster transformers: The booster transformer performs the
function of boosting the voltage. It can
be installed at substation or any intermediate point of line.
CHAPTER AT A GLANCE
9. Synchronous condensers: It is connected in parallel with the
load at the receiving end of the line.
It can generate or absorb reactive power by varying the excitation
of its field winding.
