CAPACITOR BANK SWITCHING

摘要

The invention features a system (30) and approach for minimizing the step voltage change as seen by the utility customer as well minimizing transients imposed on the fundamental waveform of a normal volage carried on a utility power network when a reactive power source (31) (e.g., capacitor bank) is instantaneously connected to the utility power network. The reactive power source (31) is adapted to transfer reactive power of a first polarity (e.g., capacitive reactive power) to the utility power network. The system includes a reactive power compensation device (32, 44, 52) configured to transfer a variable quantity of reactive power of a second, opposite polarity to the utility power network, and a controller (60) which, in response to the need to connect the shunt reactive power source (31) to the utility power network, activates the reactive power compensation device (32, 44, 55) and, substantially simultaneously, causes the shunt reactive power source (31) to be connected to the utility power.