Reactive Energy is defined as energy that is "useless in use". However, it is wrong to say that reactive energy is useless.
Without reactive energy, electrical loads would not function. We can compare reactive energy to starting a car's engine; if your car doesn't start, it won't run.
We should benefit from reactive energy only as much as needed. The excess is nothing more than useless and wasted load.
If we add equal amounts of inductive and capacitive loads together, the reactive load disappears. This principle forms the basis of compensation.
Reactive energy is divided into two types:
Originates from coil-type loads. Devices that generate magnetic fields such as motors, transformers and ballasts consume inductive reactive power. We calculate inductive energy as positive reactive energy.
Originates from loads such as capacitors, underground cables and UPS devices. When inductive is considered positive, capacitive reactive energy takes a negative value.
As is known, compensation systems are mandatory for businesses with a contracted electricity capacity of 9 kW and above, as required by electricity authorities (TEDAŞ, BEDAŞ, AYEDAŞ, etc.).
The regulation doesn't stop there. Subscribers of 9 kW and above are also required to keep the inductive and capacitive ratios — the other components of electricity — at certain values. If these values are not maintained within certain ratios, subscribers are penalised.
For facilities with a connection capacity above 50 KVA, the inductive reactive penalty limit is 20% of active power and the capacitive reactive penalty limit is 15%.
The practice of reducing or eliminating the reactive power drawn from the network is called reactive power compensation.
It is the practice of supplying the reactive power needed by loads from compensation elements, bringing the reactive power drawn from the network close to zero and the power factor close to 1; as well as reducing the phase difference between network voltage and current.
Also known as working power. It is the real power that powers the equipment and performs useful work.
The power required for magnetic equipment (transformers, motors, relays, etc.) to generate magnetic flux.
The vectorial sum of kVAR and kW. This value is used in transformer and cable sizing.
The most widely implemented compensation system in our country in terms of usage is the classic compensation system, sometimes also referred to as contactor-based compensation. The reactive power relay, capacitor, circuit breaker (fuse) and contactor form the basic building blocks.
Its cost-effectiveness, the controllability of all functions in the reactive power relay and the ability to monitor all energy are advantages of the classic compensation system.
This compensation system, whose area of use in our country is just beginning to emerge, comes in two types: thyristor-based and triac-based. Triacs are used for single-phase loads not exceeding 25A, while thyristors are used for heavily loaded facilities.
Their very rapid switching in and out of circuit, silent operation and no maintenance requirement are the most important advantages of dynamic compensation. It is slightly more expensive than classic compensation.