SVG is a new generation of reactive power compensation solution. It is a semiconductor based switching technology using IGBT devices and DSP feedback control based on the Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) concept.
Reactive power compensation has become more challenging in modern facilities due to presence of harmonics load and leading power factor condition.
Traditional switch capacitor bank are not suitable to be applied in such situation. There are risk of capacitor triggered harmonics resonance which result in abrupt overheating and possible explosion and fire incident from the capacitors.
The SVG technology provides an innovative way to compensate power factor in both leading and lagging condition. The continuously adjusted reactive power flow will be able to handle rapid changes in the network. The application of the compensation reactive power is delivered in a step-less manner without the over/under step that is typical in conventional capacitor bank solution.
The SVG operates in a fundamentally different basis compared with conventional capacitor bank. Being an IGBT power electronics technology, the SVG operates with a constant impedance towards its output circuit. This character allows the SVG to avoid the resonance condition typically found in conventional capacitor bank. Making the SVG the perfect solution to be applied in modern facility where harmonics loads are prevalent.
Datacenters have another issue with leading power factor that is created from server loads. There are no viable solution to compensate a leading power factor network using conventional capacitor bank. SVG is a best solution to solve this issue with its ability to operate seamlessly between lagging to leading power factor without any modification.