COORDINATION OF A DISTRIBUTION LEVEL CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLED COMPENSATION DEVICE WITH EXISTING SUBSTATION EQUIPMENT FOR LONG-TERM VAR MANAGEMENT

The implementation of a continuously-controlled reactive compensation device, such as an SVC or a ''static condenser'' (STATCON) [1], in a d istribution-level substation provides opportunities to improve power q uality and reliability due to the speed of response of such a device. Further benefits can be gained by coordinating the reactive compensati on device and its related controls with other substation voltage contr ol equipment, such as load tap changing (LTC) transformers and mechani cally-switched capacitors. The results presented in this paper illustr ate the impact that a +/-12 Mvar STATCON can have on a 150 MW, 12.5 kV load bus, in the Commonwealth Edison power system. Three control conc epts for various levels of integration of the substation STATCON, LTCs , and mechanically-switched capacitors are presented. With broader app lication of SVCs and STATCONs at distribution substations, various oth er control strategies may also evolve.