OREANDA-NEWS. Reactive power compensation is one of the priority guidelines for increasing the reliability of the IDGC power grid complex.

Analysis shows that one of the reasons of power grid complex operation malfunction leading to limitations of power supply to customers, is the imbalance of reactive power in the grids, value increase of the idle component in the power flow. This will reduce the voltage level on connections of power receiving devices as well as the carrying capacity of distribution lines; power energy losses increase and the transformers being overloaded.

Considering these factors, in RGC of JSC “IDGC of Center and North Caucasus” service area the target programs on reactive power operation have been developed till 2011, in the framework of which the “Reactive power - losses-economics-power supply reliability” basic project was launched last year. All activities held within the project were aimed to increase the reliability of power supply. This can be achieved by power grids unloading redundant power flows of reactive power due to which the carrying capacity of the grid is increased for active power, the power equipment is unloaded and the transformer capacity is released. New customers can be connected where as such a possibility is presently unavailable.

In the companies of IDGC-1 service area the active and reactive power analyses were conducted in the main grids, the inspection of metering devices and installation of compensating devices at grid substations were carried out. ”The previous year can be regarded as a turning point due to solving the reactive power problem, said Andrei Volgin, Technical Director of JSC "Tverenergo”. - First of all, the Russian Government issued a decree “On Adopting the Regulations For the Functioning of the Electric power Retail Market During the Transitional Period of Power Industry Reformation”, which requires the customer to adhere to the set value of active and reactive power consumption. The most popular way to compensate for reactive power in grids is the installation of static compensation devices (capacitor bank). The main economic justification is the possibility to connect new customers.”

In IDGC-1 grid companies workshops for departmental managers and customers were held. “The idea of workshops which we started to hold in March, said Danila Lebedev, the Director of Services of JSC “Astrakhanenergo”, - is to create an interest among the customers, introduce them to normative documents. It is important to show our customer that adhering to the reactive power compensation mode will allow to increase grid reliability, the carrying capacity of the equipment and reduce power energy losses, and finally to improve economic ratio. In the near future guidelines on determining the inflation index and reduction factor for calculating the consumed energy are to be issued in accordance with the regulations of the power energy retail market and which will enhance the economic interest at the customer”.