Distribution Switched Shunt Reactor

[anteg]

Does anyone know of a Distribution Switched Shunt Reactor application at 33kV? I did search the forum and found a thread from two years ago with this question but no answer was determined.

The problem comes from new 33kV generator projects requesting interconnection. These would cause overvoltage on the system. The 33kV voltage regulator that we use have a few ongoing problems and are basically too small thermally to address many of the issues.

I believe that a shunt reactor in the distribution circuit will offer a better voltage profile.

Any ideas, thoughts would be appreciated.
If you know of any manufacturers that might have some experience on this let me know.

 

[redfurry]

Can you explain why you can't use a regulator to correct the voltage profile of the feeder? Standard regulators should be able to handle 20+ MW of flow.

The drawback to using a shunt reactor is that this will increase losses along the feeder (with a normal p.f.).

 

[dpc]

I have seen them applied on very long underground distribution circuits. Basically look like a pad-mounted transformer.

http://www.gilbertelectrical.com/products/shunt.reactors/shunt.reactors.htm

"Theory is when you know all and nothing works. Practice is when all works and nobody knows why. In this case we have put together theory and practice: nothing works... and nobody knows why! (Albert Einstein)

 

[anteg]

redfurry,
I am no expert on voltage regulators but my understanding is that the units that we use are unreliable and have not performed as desired plus these are believed to be small thermally to address some issues and may not fix voltage profile as effective as a reactor would. Regulators will cause up/down stairstep where a reactor will be more flat, if you know what I mean.

You bring a valid point in increasing losses along the feeder but this is exactly what will need to be done in order to lower the overvoltage...right?

Thank you

 

[anteg]

dpc,

Thank you for the link. I will contact the company on Monday and find out if they have experience in the type of application we are looking for.

 

[scottf]

If you're in the US, the reactor manufacturers for this kind of reactor are:

AREVA
Trench
Kilbert K&M as mentioned (but their reactor scope is limited...they do buy reactors from AREVA and Trench as needed)

 

[anteg]

Scottf,

I looked into the AREVA website and it gave me the impression that they were mainly into large reactors for substation applications. Do they have smaller reactors (2000kVar-4000kVar) for Overhead and/or Padmount application on distribution circuits at 33kV?

Thank you

 

[scottf]

Anteg-

Sure they do. What they don't do much of (at least up to about 2 yrs ago when I was the US sales mgr for that division) is sell the reactors packaged with other apparatus. That very well may have changed. I know they are investing a lot of resources into the US reactor market. Call their operation in Waynesboro, GA (706-554-8800) and ask to speak to their application engineer for reactors and he can set you straight.

We supplied a lot of reactors for distribution applications. A 2-4MVAr, 33 kV shunt reactor is not that small.

 

[anteg]

Scottf,
Thank you. I will follow your advice and give them a call.