Comparative Analysis of Shunt Capacitor Banks and Static Var Compensators Performance on Distribution Network

Abstract

Power system losses and voltage stability are twin challenges utilities all over the world are
scrambling to tackle especially in places like Africa and Asia. This research is centered on
the comparison of Shunt Capacitor Bank (SCB) and Static Var Compensator (SVC)
performance in terms of power system loss reduction. It grades in percentage their efficiency
in loss reduction which translate to system voltage stability and reliability. A 33/0.415 kV,
thirty-four (34) distribution system substations network was modelled and simulated using
Newton Raphson load flow method on ETAP 14.6 environment for the investigation and
analysis, combined with SCB and SVC as FACTS/ network improving devices. The results
showed that there were power system losses, violations, and overloading in the distribution
network. Total power losses of 79.6 kW and 171.0 kVAR were observed in the network.
Critical alert of overloading of 101.2% was observed at Udeme and 100.5% was experienced
at Opuala Charles substations. SCB and SVC were separately applied to reduce the losses
and improve the existing network by injecting and consuming the reactive power where
necessary. SCB reduced the losses in the network from 79.6 kW and 171.0 kVAR to 65.1 kW
and 151.0 kVAR while SVC did reduce them better to 57.8 kW and 144.1 kVAR respectively.
Also, the results from the simulation showed that SVC was more sensitive than SCB and had
losses reduction efficiency of 27.6% and 18.1% for active and reactive power while SCB has
18.4% and 14.2% for active and reactive power.

Keywords: power system losses, Newton Raphson, electrical transient analysis program
(ETAP), shunt capacitor banks, static var compensators, distribution system, losses
reduction, active, reactive power