Legacy shunt capacitors may fail dynamic demands: NRPC

Srinagar, Jul 28: The Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) has noted that Jammu and Kashmir’s 570 Mega Volt-Amperes Reactive (MVAR) shunt capacitor banks are largely legacy installations, with obsolete control systems that may fail to respond effectively to dynamic grid demands.
According to the official documents available, JKPTCL in a recent meeting with NRPC has mentioned that at present, the intra-state transmission network of JKPTCL is equipped with shunt capacitor banks aggregating approximately 570 MVAR at various 33 kV Grid Substations.
“Most of these installations were commissioned several years ago and are presently operating with conventional control and protection systems,” it reads.
Reviewing the reactive power compensation and voltage profile improvement in J&K Grid, NRPC also said that many installations have become technologically obsolete and require refurbishment, replacement and modernization, including associated switchgear, protection systems and control equipment.
In addition, reactive power support is also available through various ISTS substations connected with the Northern Grid. “However, a comprehensive assessment of the adequacy of existing reactive compensation, both at ISTS and intra-state levels, has not been undertaken in recent years in view of changing network conditions.”
MVAR is a unit of measurement for reactive power in AC electrical systems.
NRPC said that JKPTCL stated that there is a need for a detailed system study to assess the present voltage profile across the J&K transmission network and reactive power flow patterns under various operating scenarios.
It also said that there is a need for a detailed system study to assess the existing and future reactive power compensation requirements and the requirement of capacitor banks, reactors, dynamic reactive compensation devices and other voltage control measures.
The committee also said that in order to address the identified gaps, JKPTCL has formulated a programme for refurbishment, replacement and augmentation of reactive power compensation facilities within its transmission network. (KNO)