Synchronous Condenser

The estimated market size for the synchronous condenser is USD 591 million at a 2.6% CAGR, by 2028. It is a synchronous machine used to improve power factors to regulate voltage variation.  A machine with a DC-excited synchronous motor added shaft that spins independently. It can easily adjust the power factor. The improvement in power factor can reduce the power consumption, voltage drop in long wires, power loss in transformers, and more. It can provide the full strength of the power plant to supply electricity with full capacity and reduce the current demand from the supply. Through the excitation limiters, the synchronous condenser can regulate current and voltage stability in the system. Which is used in the modern-day power grids or renewable resources sites like Solar Farms, Wind Farms, hydropower farms, nuclear power plants, and coal-fired plants, where electricity is created or electricity distribution networks.

The scope of the synchronous market is under the high voltage equipment market, STATCOM market, power transformer market, synchronous motor market, synchronous generator market, Static VAR compensator market, and Shut reactor market. The synchronous condenser market is segmented into three cooling types air-cooled, hydrogen-cooled, and water-cooled.

Synchronous Condenser Excitation

Under Excitation – when the motor is operated as a lagging power factor, it draws a lagging current from the system and provides a leading current and it acts as an inductor. It is used to prevent the field current values lower than the stability.

Over Excitation – when the motor is working at a leading power factor where the motor draws a leading current, and it acts as a capacitor. It is caused by the high field current for a long time and caused by the high temperature in the system.

Why do we use Synchronous Condenser?

We use Synchronous Condenser to regulate voltage variation and for power factor correction. we use Synchronous Condenser so that the current and voltage lead at a 90^o angle and to improve the stability of the system. The continued operation increases the heat and reduces the efficiency of the system, and a synchronous condenser is used to cool down the system and maintain the voltage desired. Without power factor correction we cannot get the appropriate output, the use of power factor correction through a synchronous condenser is an urging need for society to reduce power losses.

Advantages

• It can easily adjust power and provide a seamless reactive power factor continuously.
• Synchronous condenser can solve the inertia problem effectively, through its swing machinery. It can improve the voltage stiffness.
• At extreme low voltage, it can perform tasks without any contingencies.

Disadvantages

• Synchronous condensation has a high maintenance cost.
• Produce more noise and transient.
• Cost for supplementary protection devices is added due to the high short circuit rating, but the feature can improve the system stability with weak interconnections.

Recent Development

• On 16 February 2021, ABB synchronous condenser is used by Statkraft in UK National Grid to target a zero-carbon electricity system. It can stabilize the power grid and control the amount of wind and solar power to rotate power plants. Where Statkraft signed a 10-year-long service contract with ABB. The system provides power compensation and short-circuits power capacity to ensure network frequency and voltage.
• On May 13, 2020, GE provide two synchronous condensers to the Brindisi Terna substation an Italian operator. With a power consumption for each is up to the level of +250/-125 MVAr and 1750 MWs inertia. GE’s synchronous condensers can provide consistent power flow to the grid and regulate the voltage to ensure reliable power availability. It can provide a reliable electricity grid to Italy for the growth of renewable power.

Conclusion

In this article, the importance of a synchronous condenser and its advantages and disadvantages are studied. A synchronous condenser can perform a major task in the development of electricity through renewable resources. It can perform a key role to save power losses. The conversion of the old power plants into the synchronous condenser is being performed in North America and Europe, it can eliminate the dependency on the thermal power plant. Synchronous condensation has a high maintenance cost. There was a lot of substitutes for synchronous condenser like STATCOM, which is to regulate voltage variation. But does not provide the perfect voltage variation. A synchronous condenser is an ideal machine to use to get reliable outputs. Besides the high maintenance cost of a synchronous condenser, it is highly used in renewable resource sites for electricity development due to its advantages. It can provide a high short circuit withstand limit. A synchronous condenser is used to provide VARS adjustment, which can counter the voltage depression. And it is the VAR compensator through changing field excitation. Overall, the use of Synchronous Condenser use is increased in large megacities can boost the demand in the market. It can help to replace the non-renewable resources use with renewable resources for electricity production.