Voltage Control 383
When polyphase currents flow through the primary wind-
ings, a rotating field is set up which induces an e.m.f. in each
phase of rotor winding. As the rotor is turned, the magnitude of
the rotating flux is not changed; hence the rotor e.m.f. per phase
remains constant. However, the variation of the position of the
rotor will affect the phase of the rotor e.m.f. w.r.t. the applied
voltage as shown in Fig. 15.11. The input primary voltage per
phase is V p and the boost introduced by the regulator is V r. The
output voltage V is the vector sum of V p and V r. Three phase
induction regulators are used to regulate the voltage of feeders
and in connection with high voltage oil testing transformers.
15.11 Voltage Control by Synchr
Control onous Condenser
Synchronous
The voltage at the receiving end of a transmission line can be controlled by installing specially
designed synchronous motors called *synchronous condensers at the receiving end of the line. The
synchronous condenser supplies wattless leading kVA to the line depending upon the excitation of the
motor. This wattless leading kVA partly or fully cancels the wattless lagging kVA of the line, thus
controlling the voltage drop in the line. In this way, voltage at the receiving end of a transmission line
can be kept constant as the load on the system changes.
For simplicity, consider a short transmission line where the effects of capacitance are neglected.
Therefore, the line has only resistance and inductance. Let V 1 and V 2 be the per phase sending end
and receiving end voltages respectively. Let I2 be the load current at a lagging power factor of cos φ2.
(i) Without synchronous condenser. Fig. 15.12 (i) shows the transmission line with resis-
tance R and inductive reactance X per phase. The load current I2 can be resolved into two
rectangular components viz Ip in phase with V 2 and Iq at right angles to V 2 [See Fig. 15.12
(ii)]. Each component will produce resistive and reactive drops ; the resistive drops being in
phase with and the reactive drops in quadrature leading with the corresponding currents.
The vector addition of these voltage drops to V 2 gives the sending end voltage V 1.
(ii) With synchronous condenser. Now suppose that a synchronous condenser taking a lead-
ing current **Im is connected at the receiving end of the line. The vector diagram of the
circuit becomes as shown in Fig. 15.13. Note that since Im and Iq are in direct opposition and
that Im must be greater than Iq, the four drops due to these two currents simplify to :
* By changing the excitation of a synchronous motor, it can be made to take a leading power factor. A
synchronous motor at no load and taking a leading power factor is known as a synchronous condenser. It
is so called because the characteristics of the motor then resemble with that of a condenser.
o
** Neglecting the losses of the synchronous condenser, Im will lead V 2 by 90 .
384 Principles of Power System
(Im − Iq) R in phase with Im
and (Im − Iq) X in quadrature leading with Im
From the vector diagram, the relation between V 1 and V 2 is given by ;
OE = (O A + A B − DE) + (BC + CD)
2 2 2
V 1 = [V 2 + IpR − (Im − Iq) X ] + [IpX + (Im − Iq) R]
2 2 2
or
From this equation, the value of Im can be calculated to obtain any desired ratio of V 1/V 2 for a
given load current and power factor.
3 V2 Im
kVAR capacity of condenser =
1000
Synchronous Condenser
Example 15.1. A load of 10,000 kW at a power factor of 0·8 lagging is supplied by a 3-phase
line whose voltage has to be maintained at 33kV at each end. If the line resistance and reactance per
phase are 5 Ω and 10 Ω respectively, calculate the capacity of the synchronous condenser to be
installed for the purpose. Comment on the result.
Solution.
10,000 × 103
Load current, I2 = = 218 A
3 × 33 × 103 × 0 ⋅ 8
∴ Ip = I2 cos φ2 = 218 × 0·8 = 174·4 A
Iq = I2 sin φ2 = 218 × 0·6 = 130·8 A
R = 5 Ω ; X = 10 Ω
Voltage Control 385
Sending-end voltage/phase, V 1 = Receiving end voltage/phase (V 2)
3 3 × 10
3
= = 19,053 V
3
Let Im be the current taken by the synchronous condenser. Referring to Fig. 15.13,
(19,053)2 = [19,053 + 174·4 × 5 − 10 (Im − 130·8)]2
+ [174·4 × 10 + (Im − 130·8)5]2
Solving this equation, we get, Im = 231 A
3V2 Im 3 × 19,053 × 231
Capacity of synchronous condenser = kVAR = kVAR
1000 1000
= 13,203 kVAR
Comments. This example shows that kVA capacity of the synchronous condenser is consider-
ably greater than the kVA capacity of the load viz 13203 against 10000/0·8 = 12,500. Since the cost
of synchronous condenser is usually very high, it would not be an economical proposition to have the
same sending end and receiving end voltages. In practice, the synchronous condenser is operated in
such a way so as to allow a small drop in the line.
Example 15.2. A 3-phase overhead line has resistance and reactance per phase of 5 Ω and 20
Ω respectively. The load at the receiving end is 25 MW at 33 kV and a power factor of 0·8 lagging.
Find the capacity of the synchronous condenser required for this load condition if it is connected at
the receiving end and the line voltages at both ends are maintained at 33 kV.
Solution.
25 × 106 = 546 ⋅ 8 A
Load current, I2 =
3 × 33000 × 0 ⋅ 8
∴ Ip = I2 cos φ2 = 546·8 × 0·8 = 437·4 A
Iq = I2 sin φ2 = 546·8 × 0·6 = 328·1 A
R = 5 Ω ; X = 20 Ω
Sending end voltage/phase, V1 = Receiving end voltage/phase, V 2
33 × 103 = 19053 V
=
3
Let Im be the current taken by the synchronous condenser. Then,
V 1 = [V 2 + IpR − (Im − Iq) × X ] + [IpX + (Im − Iq) R]
2 2 2
or (19053)2 = [19053 + 437·4 × 5 − (Im − 328·1) × 20]2
+ [437·4 × 20 + (Im − 328·1) × 5]2
On solving this equation, we get, Im = 579·5 A
3 V2 Im 3 × 19,053 × 579 ⋅ 5
Capacity of synchronous condenser = 6 MVAR = 6
= 33·13 MVAR
10 10
TUTORIAL PROBLEMS
1. A 3-phase line having an impedance of (5 + j 20) ohms per phase delivers a load of 30 MW at a p.f. of
0·8 lagging and voltage 33 kV. Determine the capacity of the synchronous condenser required to be
installed at the receiving end if voltage at the sending end is to be maintained at 33 kV.
[42·78 MVAR]
2. A 12500 kVA load is supplied at a power factor of 0·8 lagging by a 3-phase transmission line whose
voltage is to be maintained at 33 kV at both ends. Determine the capacity of the synchronous condenser
to be installed at the receiving end. The impedance of the line is (4 + j 12) ohms per phase.
[11490 kVAR]
