ABB's new Qpole pole-mounted capacitor banks reduce voltage drop over long distribution feeder lines, so utilities get the best quality power from their existing supply network.
Increased demand for power is pushing power distribution networks to their upper limits and beyond. But the more power flows through a distribution network, the more voltage drop becomes excessive and power quality seriously declines.
In addition, reactive power losses cause vast amounts of energy to be wasted unnecessarily when power is distributed to end-users.
"The simplest and most cost-effective solution is to install shunt capacitor banks at selected points along the distribution lines," says Birger Drugge, global product manager for capacitors at ABB.
More power through existing infrastructure
Capacitors reduce the voltage drop locally, freeing system capacity all the way back to the generator while stabilizing the grid, reducing reactive power losses and securing quality power for customers.
Low-weight, compact Qpole is an ideal, cost-effective capacitor solution on power line poles for long, regional distribution feeders. The idea behind ABB's technology is to deploy small distribution banks along distribution lines instead of a few large ones at the substation.
"Utilities can supply significantly more power through their existing infrastructure by using ABB's Qpole pole-mount capacitor banks, while achieving excellent returns on investment," Drugge explains.
The first complete, pole-mounted capacitor solution
ABB's latest generation of pole-mount capacitor banks includes a self-developed, specially designed vacuum switch and optional load-sensitive controller. Customers can automatically control banks to switch on or off, based on programmable setpoints like time of day, temperature, voltage and reactive (var) demand, to reflect load conditions at any given time.
This intelligent device contains diagnostic features, and in the future will be able to communicate status information, so that each individual capacitor bank can be remotely controlled and monitored from a central control center or SCADA system.
Deployed to increase reliability
Switched, pole-mounted banks help to more effectively control power quality by preventing the voltage from dropping to harmful levels. By placing banks closer to the load, operational flexibility of the grid is improved and the risk of blackouts during peak loading periods is reduced.
"Pole-mount capacitor banks are the optimum solution when the load is relatively stable, as in the case of long distribution feeders," says Drugge. "Under these conditions, there is less need for sophisticated solutions such as the SVC (Static Var Compensator)."
The introduction of the new switch and controller allows ABB to offer for the first time a complete pole-mount capacitor solution.
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By Editorial services
© Press Release 2005
