In recent years, the market for high-voltage and high-volume reactive power compensation products in China has experienced significant growth. According to general statistics, the market reached 107 million yuan in 2006, 235 million yuan in 2007, and 488 million yuan in 2008. By 2009, it had surged to 2 billion yuan, reaching 3 billion yuan in 2010, and hitting 4 billion yuan in 2011, with static var compensators (SVG or STATCOM) alone accounting for over 1 billion yuan. In 2012, the market remained at around 4 billion yuan. Professor Jiang Qirong from Tsinghua University’s Institute of Flexible Transmission and Distribution Systems noted that this market is still growing rapidly.
It is estimated that within the next few years, the capacity of China’s reactive power compensation market could reach between 7 billion and 14 billion yuan, with increasing applications in power grids. As users improve their understanding of power quality and as power factor requirements become stricter, demand for reactive power compensation continues to rise. Since the market began to take off in 2004, the industry has been on a steady upward trajectory.
Reactive power compensation plays a central role in power quality management. In China, industrial load issues are severe, with urgent needs for dynamic compensation. The relatively open industrial user market has made it a key entry point for many manufacturers, driving the development of reactive power compensation technologies in the country.
Key industrial markets include steel, coal, railways, and petrochemical companies. Steel companies, for example, face serious power quality issues such as low power factors, voltage fluctuations, and harmonic distortions due to large impact and nonlinear loads. The iron and steel industry consumes about 15% of the national energy, with electricity accounting for 24% of that. This results in significant energy consumption, especially from impact loads like electric arc furnaces. With over 1,700 medium-sized arc furnaces in operation, voltage flicker and instability have become major concerns.
Similarly, coal companies deal with high-impact loads, particularly from mine hoists that can range from several hundred kilowatts to 6,000 kW. These machines cause large variations in reactive power, making dynamic compensation essential. Electrified railways also contribute significantly to power quality challenges. With high-speed passenger lines reaching 350 km/h and heavy freight trains operating at 20,000 tons, the power grid faces increasing demands. High-speed train power arms can reach over 120 MVA, and regenerative braking can feed back up to 40 MW, leading to voltage imbalance and fluctuation problems.
Additionally, the coexistence of AC and DC locomotives leads to ongoing harmonic and power factor issues. Dynamic reactive power compensation systems are crucial for addressing these challenges. Beyond industrial users, reactive power compensation is also being applied in power generation, especially in renewable energy sectors like wind and solar. Wind power projects have long used TCR and SVC devices, while the PV market has grown rapidly since 2012, though it requires less reactive power compensation than wind.
Power grid centers and high-voltage transmission lines also require reactive power compensation to maintain stability. With numerous air conditioners and motors in heavy-load areas, dynamic compensation becomes vital during disturbances. As market demands evolve and technology advances, the industry is shifting toward more advanced solutions.
Currently, the technology has evolved from fixed capacitors to SVCs and SVGs. SVG-based compensation devices are gaining traction, with many manufacturers focusing on this area. For instance, China Southern Power Grid plans to install at least three 200 MVA SVG units by 2013.
Users now have six new requirements for reactive power compensation technology: fast response time, strong adaptability, compact design, high reactive power capability under varying voltages, multi-power quality handling, and energy efficiency. These demands are shaping the future of high-voltage, large-capacity reactive power compensation.
As large-scale power grids expand, there's a need for higher voltage levels and greater capacity in reactive power compensation equipment. While earlier devices were mainly 10 kV, they have now advanced to 35 kV and are expected to move toward 66 kV and even 110 kV in the future.
Technologies like TCR-SVC, MCR-SVC, and SVG continue to evolve. TCR-SVC is mature but generates harmonics, requiring filters and capacitors. MCR-SVC offers better reliability and lower losses, while SVG is advancing quickly, with focus on high voltage, low loss, and improved control. Chain structures are becoming mainstream in main circuit designs, and control systems are improving for faster and more stable performance.
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