Delegates are invited to meet and discuss with the poster presenters in this topic directly after the session 'Storage & grid integration' taking place on Wednesday, 12 March 2014 at 16:30 -18:00. The meet-the-authors will take place in the poster area.

Carlos Cubero Elinsa, Spain
Co-authors:
Carlos Cubero (1) ^{F P} Oriol Sarmiento Diez (1)
(1) Elinsa, La Coruña, Spain

Reactive power compensation in wind parks

Introduction

Improvements in the quality of the electric power generated in wind farms have been a constant interesting question for properties and technologists. The different Governments have different bonuses and penalties for reactive power compensation (in Spain a penalty of 3 % depending on the power factor regulation). New turbines haven't this problem but It's necesary to reserach best solution for old technologies.

Approach

If a park makes a reactive power compensation to eliminate the penalties can get very interesting annual profits. Most parks with old technologies have already some form of regulation but sometimes is not enough. For reactive power compensation the proposal is installing dynamic compensation equipment with power electronic systems like thyristors.


Main body of abstract

If a park makes a reactive power compensation to eliminate the penalties can get very interesting annual profits. Most parks with old technologies have already some form of regulation but sometimes is not enough.

We can can get very interesting annual profits but it's also very interesting to know about the improvement in the electrical installation that the facilities that install this system get.

The facilities that install this system get an improvement in the electrical installation:

- Avoid oversizing of existing elements such as transformers , switches , lines, ...
- Reduce losses on power lines .
- Reduce the voltage drop on the line.
- Prevent voltage spikes that can damage the electrical generators.
- Increase the power available .

This system performs dynamic compensation with thyristors at the point of measurement of high voltage electrical substation of the park by the signals of a controller located in the substation. The system is easily integrated into the turbine because it has dimensions specifically designed for each project and a weight for quick and easy assembly inside the turbine.

Conclusion

For reactive power compensation in wind parks with old technologies the best proposal is installing dynamic compensation equipment with power electronic systems like thyristors.
We can study a practical case: A project designed, manufactured and installed in 2013 in Pico Gallo, a 24.5 MW wind farm (Asturias, Spain) owned by E –ON Renewables. Includes monitoring and control engineering and communications with a wireless network to monitor and control.


Learning objectives
For reactive power compensation in wind parks with old technologies the best proposal is installing dynamic compensation equipment with power electronic systems like thyristors.
We can can get very interesting annual profits but it's also very interesting to know about the improvement in the electrical installation that the facilities that install this system get.