FACTS devices vs Power Factor

[raazi_91]

Stable voltage and a decent power factor are both desired in a power system. FACTS devices only consider the stability of the voltage. Do FACTS devices not worsen the power factor of the power system while improving the voltage stability? How is power factor kept in a decent range while using the FACTS devices?

 

[HamburgerHelper]

FACTS devices are really expensive for power factor correction. Regular cap bank are like eight times cheaper on a $/kvar basis. Unless, you need small step sizes or full range, I don't know how you justify FACTS devices for just power factor correction. Even then, synchronous condensers are significantly cheaper than FACTS devices and provide many of the same benefits.

 

[crshears]

But are not synchronous condensers more expensive to maintain? And do they not in fact have much higher operating losses?

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[HamburgerHelper]

Not from what I have seen. GE was offering us a package were they maintained the synchronous condenser for 50-60k a year so we wouldn't have to do it and it still was much cheaper.

This 2006 paper puts synchronous condensers in the $10 - 40/kvar range and statcom in the $55-70 /kvar range. When SVCs and STATCOM are used for power factor correction, I believe the decision is made without respect to economics.

http://www.energycollection.us/Ener...tion/Distributed-Energy-as-reactive-Power.pdf

 

[cuky2000]

Do FACTS devices not worsen the power factor of the power system while improving the voltage stability? No
How is power factor kept in a decent range while using the FACTS devices? See the info below

 

[raazi_91]

Hey @hamburgerhelper, I am not justifiying their use for PF correction. I am just asking that we use FACTS to inject reactive power in the system for voltage support, Do we not result in a worse PF of the system?

Maybe my basic concept is weak. I am assuming that the more the reactive power in the system the worse is the power factor.

 

[waross]

You add capacitive KVARs to the system to raise the voltage. This first cancels the affect of any inductive KVARs in the line.
One problem with inductive KVARs is a reactive voltage drop. With capacitive KVARS, you have a reactive voltage rise.

Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter