Distribution (Power Factor Correction) Studies
Utilities today are faced with ever more stringent reactive requirements from wholesale power and transmission delivery providers. The need to increase system capacity, improve voltage profiles, increase efficiency, and reduce losses necessitates that utilities provide needed reactive compensation at economic voltage levels to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of existing facilities. Proper reactive power compensation is also at the core of Volt/VAR and Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) schemes.
Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE) can lead or assist your utility with preparing reactive compensation studies, commonly referred to as power factor correction studies, to:
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Provide a review of the distribution system reactive power requirements
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Determine the optimum location and size of capacitor installations to achieve desired goals
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Determine the necessary mix of fixed and switched capacitor installations to provide only the necessary reactive compensation required during peak and low load times
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Review potential issues with new and exisiting capacitor installations such as impacts on AMR/AMI systems, harmonics, interference with communication systems, and potential power quality concerns due to capacitor switching
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Integrate the results with other planning studies, including Volt/VAr and CVR studies
Real Cost Savings
Proper review of reactive compensation needs and educated investment in capacitor installations can result in very real cost savings to utilities that will continue month after month. The professionals at PSE have assisted many utilities with this type of review and have the tools and knowledge to help your utility realize cost savings, improved voltage levels, reduced losses, improved efficiency and increased system capacity.
