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A synchronous condenser is a conventional solution that has been used for decades for regulating reactive power before there were any power electronics compensation systems. A conventional synchronous condenser is an AC synchronous motor that is not attached to any driven equipment.
What is synchronous condenser and its function?
A synchronous condenser or a synchronous compensator is a synchronous motor running without a mechanical load. It can generate or absorb reactive volt-ampere (VAr) by varying the excitation of its field winding. Under excitation causes it to operate at a lagging power factor.
What are the advantages of synchronous condenser?
Advantages of synchronous condenser: The reactive power can be adjusted continuously. They are giving better performance than the static capacitor in the high voltage system. Maintenance-free. A high degree of safety can be maintained. Higher life as compared with a capacitor bank.
Which of the following defines a synchronous condenser?
In electrical engineering, a synchronous condenser is a device identical to a synchronous motor, whose shaft is not connected to anything but spins freely. Its purpose is not to convert electric power to mechanical power or vice versa, but to adjust conditions on the electric power transmission grid.
What is the difference between synchronous motor and synchronous condenser?
The only difference between a synchronous motor and a synchronous condenser is the synchronous condenser shaft is not connected to anything—it simply spins unimpeded. The sole purpose of a synchronous condenser is to adjust conditions (power factor) on the electric power transmission grid.
How does a synchronous condenser work?
The synchronous condenser aids voltage regulation by drawing leading current when the line voltage sags, which increases generator excitation thereby restoring line voltage. A capacitor bank does not have this ability.
How much does a synchronous condenser cost?
Normally, the mean cost for a synchronous condenser is between $10 to $40 per kVAR and the maintenance cost ranges from about $0.4 to $0.8/kVAR per year.
What is the application of synchronous compensator?
Explanation: The main application of the synchronous compensators is to control the reactive powers. They are designed to speeds upto 3000 rpm.
What do you mean by synchronous speed?
: a definite speed for an alternating-current machine that is dependent on the frequency of the supply circuit because the rotating member passes one pair of poles for each alternation of the alternating current.
What is the application of synchronous motor?
Synchronous motors are normally used in applications in which a constant and precise speed is required. Typical applications of these low power motors are positioning machines. They are also used in robot actuators. Synchronous motors are also used in ball mills, watches, record players, and turntables.
Where are synchronous condenser installed?
Installed at strategic intervals along a transmission system, synchronous condenser systems are either new electrical rotating equipment or existing turbogenerators reconfigured to perform as reliable grid stabilizers.
Is a synchronous condenser a generator?
Synchronous condensers are considered as motors without any connected load or generators without prime movers. They produce or absorb reactive power.
Why Statcom is used?
The Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) is used in an HVDC system to provide reactive power compensation. It makes use of the Voltage Source Converter (VSC) to synthesize a controllable sinusoidal voltage at the fundamental frequency.
What is the ideal power factor?
The ideal power factor is unity, or one. Anything less than one means that extra power is required to achieve the actual task at hand. All current flow causes losses both in the supply and distribution system. A load with a power factor of 1.0 results in the most efficient loading of the supply.
Why synchronous motors are not self starting?
Above a certain size, synchronous motors are not self-starting motors. This property is due to the inertia of the rotor; it cannot instantly follow the rotation of the magnetic field of the stator. Once the rotor nears the synchronous speed, the field winding is excited, and the motor pulls into synchronization.
What power factor means?
Power factor (PF) is the ratio of working power, measured in kilowatts (kW), to apparent power, measured in kilovolt amperes (kVA). PF expresses the ratio of true power used in a circuit to the apparent power delivered to the circuit. A 96% power factor demonstrates more efficiency than a 75% power factor.
What is the main disadvantage of synchronous motors?
Disadvantages or Demerits: Synchronous motors requires dc excitation which must be supplied from external sources. Synchronous motors are inherently not self starting motors and needs some arrangement for its starting and synchronizing. The cost per kW output is generally higher than that of induction motors.
What is the principle of synchronous machine?
The principle of operation of a synchronous motor can be understood by considering the stator windings to be connected to a three-phase alternating-current supply. The effect of the stator current is to establish a magnetic field rotating at 120 f/p revolutions per minute for a frequency of f hertz and for p poles.
What are the main parts of synchronous motor?
The Construction of Synchronous Motors A synchronous motor is generally made up of two parts, a stator the stationary part of the machine that carries the armature winding in which the voltage is generated, and a rotor the rotating part of the machine that produces the main field flux.
What is the principle of shunt controller?
Shunt Compensation (continued…) To control the receiving end voltage a bank of capacitors (large number of capacitors connected in parallel) is installed at the receiving end and suitable number of capacitors are switched in during high load condition depending upon the load demand.
How power factor is improved?
What can I do to improve power factor? You can improve power factor by adding power factor correction capacitors to your plant distribution system. When apparent power (kVA) is greater than working power (kW), the utility must supply the excess reactive current plus the working current .
What is synchronous motor speed?
The synchronous speed is the speed of the revolution of the magnetic field in the stator winding of the motor. It is the speed at which the electromotive force is produced by the alternating machine. A machine that runs at synchronous speed is called a synchronous machine.
