REACTIVE POWER

Voltage must be maintained within Acceptable Levels

Under normal system conditions, both peak or off peak load conditions, the voltages need to be
maintained between 95% and 105% of the nominal.
-Low voltage conditions could result in equipment malfunctions:
Motor will stall, overheat or damage
Reactive power output of capacitors will be reduced exponentially
Generating units may trip.
High voltage conditions may:
Damage major equipment insulation failure.
Automatically trip major transmission equipment.

REACTIVE POWER LIMITATIONS

- Reactive power does not travel very far.
- Usually necessary to produce it close to the location where it is needed
- A supplier/source close to the location of the need is in a much better position to provide
reactive power versus one that is located far from the location of the need.
- Reactive power supplies are closely tied to the ability to deliver real or active power.
THE ABSENCE OF REACTIVE POWER
-Lack of reactive power causes a blackout-absence of electrical supply in a country.
-In reality such things have already happened a number of times. One of the reasons leading to a
blackout is reactive power that went out of the control.
-Insufficient reactive power leading to voltage collapse has been a causal factor in major
blackouts in the worldwide.