Analysis of a virtual gap reactor as shunt compensation device

Recently the issues of reactive power compensation and voltage control have become important in the operation of power systems, due to the constant growth of world demand as well as diversification of the connected load. Several solutions have been developed to provide greater flexibility to power systems during light load and maximum demand condition. These are two of the most critical conditions to keep the nodal voltage at nominal value. In this paper a novel conceptual design of variable reactor is proposed as shunt compensation device based on virtual air-gap principle. The suitability of the virtual-gap reactor as compensation device is verified by means of simulations and laboratory test performed in a small-scale prototype. The results obtained and discussed confirm the use of virtual-gap reactor as a feasible alternative for reactive power compensation.