Reactive Power Compensation by using FACTS Devices under Non-Sinusoidal Condition by using MATLAB Simulation

Actual generation process requires the working of many components of the power system in tandem to maximize the output. One of the main components to form a major part is the reactive power in the system. It is required to maintain the voltage to deliver the active power through the lines. Loads like motor loads and other loads require reactive power for their operation. To improve the performance of ac power systems, we need to manage this reactive power in an efficient way and this is known as reactive power compensation. Reactive power can be best described as the quantity of “unused� power that is developed by reactive components, such as inductors or capacitors in the AC circuit or system. In a DC circuit, the product of “volt-amps� gives the power consumed in watts by the circuit. However, while this formula is also true for purely resistive AC circuits, the situation is slightly more complex in a AC circuit containing reactive components as this “volt-amps� product can change with frequency. There are two aspects to the problem of reactive power compensation: load compensation and voltage support. Load compensation consists of improvement in power factor, balancing of real power drawn from the supply, better voltage regulation, etc. of large fluctuating loads. Voltage support consists of reduction of voltage fluctuation at a given terminal of the transmission line. Two types of compensation can be used: series and shunt compensation. These quite satisfactorily do the job of absorbing or generating reactive power with a faster time response and come under Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS).