Investigation on the Dual Functions of Generator

Reactive Power Support

Luiz C.P. da Silval2

Vivaldo F, da Costal

Wilsun Xu2

Y. Wang2

Departmentof ElectricalandComputerEngineering
Universityof Alberta,T6G2G7
Edmonton,Alberta,Canada

Schoolof Electricalsad ComputerEngineering

StateUniversityof Campinas,CP 6101
Campinas,SP,Brazil

Abstract: Openaccesspermitsall playersto injectreal powerinto a

system with few restrictions.As generators also provide reactive
power to the system, there is a general conception that their Qotrtputs are supportive to system security and should be financially
compensated. Our research results show, however, that a generators
Q-output has double-applications. One is to support the shipment of
its own active power, and the other is to support system security.
Therefore, compensation should be made to the second component
only. The main purpose of this paper is to introduce the problem and
demonstrate the phenomena of the dual functions of generators Qoutput. Simple systems are used to illustrate the phenomena,
Analytical separation of the components is presented for these
simple systems. Case-specific separation methods are also
developed to demonstrate the problem. The paper contributes
introducing the phenomenon, as well as, demonstrating its
importance for defining fair compensation schemes for reactive
power support services. It also shows that methods need to be
developed to solve the problem for large-scale real-life power
systems. Preliminary, but potential, ideas are discussed.

an appropriate approach to separate the reactive power output

of each generator into two components. One for supporting
its own P-shipment, and the other that gives real support for
system security and decreases the restrictions for accessing
the transmission grid. Based on these components fair
compensation schemes for reactive power support services
could be defined, resulting by itself in maximization of
system security, and minimization of the restrictions for
accessing the power grid.
In this paper, the existence of dual fi.mctionsof generator
reactive power output is demonstrated. Small systems are
used to illustrate the concepts, and to get case specific
separation of the two components. Preliminary ideas for
solving the separation problem for large-scale power system
are discussed.

Keywords: Reactive Power Support Service, Voltage Security, and

Open Access.

II. THE PHENOMENON OF DUAL PURPOSE OF

GENERATORS VAR OUTPUT

1, INTRODUCTION

The sample system of Fig. 1 represents the simplest

possible configuration for discussing the proposed problem,
In this system, a generator (PV bus) supplies power to an
equivalent system (slack bus). By using this system, the main
concepts related to the problem are introduced.

Competition in the power generation business has become

a reality in recent years due to the restructuring of electricity
markets [1,2]. One of the emerging market structures is the
power pool transaction scheme, where various power
producers send their output into a transmission grid through a
biding process [3]. The system operator procures various
system support services to facilitate the transmission
injected power.

of the

It is well known that transmission of active power needs

the support of reactive power [4]. Reactive power support
has, therefore, become a key type of system support service,
System operators procure the service at a cost [5-7]. From the
perspective of system security, the most important reactive
power support is the dynamic or variable var support
provided by synchronous condensers and generators. Since
generators also require reactive power support to ship their
own produced active power into the grid, it is entirely
possible that some generators actually consume more reactive
power than they produce. It means that the actual reactive
output of a generator may not be enough to support its own Pshipment into the grid. Such generator should be penalized by
the system administrator, instead of being compensated for its
var output. This example shows that there is a great need for

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Fig. 1. Samplesystemfor conceptsillustrations

To a given active output (P), and voltage setpoints (E and
V), the generator and system reactive power injection are
given by:

Qw=;
-

Qw=&

J()

Ex 2_p2

rr $

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2.P2I

Q.,.

Q...

+;-:

1)

From (l), it can be concluded that, depending on the

voltage adjustment, both generator and system have to inject
reactive power into the transmission line, in order to supply
the reactive losses related to the shipment of P. For instance,
if E==V,system and generator reactive injections are equal
(QsYi=Qgen) which means that each end of the transmission
line supplies half part of the Q-losses. Fig. 2 illustrates an
specific case, where the generator outputs 300MW, the line
reactance is O.lp.u., and system voltage (V= 1.0 p.u.) is
considered constant. The figure plots the generator and
system reactive injections as generator terminal voltage is
increased. It can be seen that generator output increases, as
system injection decreases. At the point where E=V, both
injections are equal, as discussed before, and when E is set to
1,044 p,u. the reactive injection on the system side is equal to
zero. This point contains important meaning. It says that for
shipping 300MW into the system, the generator must set its
voltage to a minimum value of 1.044 p,u., which corresponds
to a minimum reactive output for supporting its own
shipment of active power. Otherwise, the generator needs the
help of the system to ship its power.

function of active output. The figures clearly demonstrate that

in order to give any reactive support to the system for a given
active output situation, the generator must output more than
the minimum requirements of reactive power. Just this
exceeding part should be financially compensated, since the
Q.i.
k totally used for supporting the shipment of the
generator P-output into the power grid, and just the exceeding
part of the generator Q-output is injected into the system for
supplying its needs for reactive power support.

1.1

g
07
&
g
s
~
,=

1,05-

s
/
/
,~___
o

50

Im

150

300
200
250
Actke Output

350

400

450

500

Fig. 3. Minimum generator voltage setpoint as a function of active output

250,

0.92

0.94

0.98

0.98

1.02

1.04

1.02

1.08

1.1

Generator wltage setpoint (pu)

Fig.2. Distributionof transmissionlossesbetweengeneratorandsystem

For each active power output, the minimum requirements
in terms of voltage setpoint can be computed. From (1), the
minimum E-setPoint as a function of P and V, can be
computed by considering the reactive injection on the system
side equal to zero (Q,Y,=O). It gives:

10
Actke Output

Fig. 4, Minimum generator reactive output as a function of active output

IQ,,,=O

=Eti=

4()
:

+V2

(2)

the correspondent minimum reactive output on the generation

side is computed as:

Qmin

= Qgen(Anin)

= x$

(3)

Fig. 3 and 4 plot the minimum requirements in terms of

voltage setpoint and reactive output respectively, as a

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A 5-bus system, shown in Fig. 5, is used for further

illustrations of the separation problem. The system consists of
three generators supplying a load center that can be viewed as
a power pool. A distant slack bus is used to provide angle
reference. It contributes little to the system. Three different
cases for this system are assessed. In case 1 everything except
the distance to the load center is the same. For case 2
everything except the real power output is the same, and case
3 considers that everything except the terminal voltage
setpoint is the same.

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For this simple system it is also easy to separate the

portion of the generators reactive output that effectively reach
the power pool, and so, should be compensated for its
reactive power support. We can just monitor the total reactive
output of generators, and the portion of them arriving at the
load bus. This part is defined as the Q for supporting the
system, and the difference from the total is the component
used for supporting the active power shipment of generators.
O.lj
4
I .OJ

B=oo

02

r@v2

g =0.0

[3

0.3j

The studies performed on the S-bus system gives further

demonstrations of the dual-fi.mctions of generators reactive
power output. The features of generators and power system
that can significantly affect support and shipment
components are assessed. However, these studies are useful
just for illustrating the problem, since the separation
technique applied is case-specific. On a case with several
load-centers it would be impossible to measure the portion of
generators Q-output that is used to support the system. The
following sections shed lights on the complexity of the
separation problem for real-life power systems, and discuss
some preliminary ideas for solving the problem.

III. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM

h+iQ~
Fig. 5. 5-Bussamplesystem

Fig. 6 plots the results of the separation for the three cases
discussed before. For each case the load flow is solved, and

the shipment and support components are obtained. The

results can be summarized as follows:

It is demonstrated that general methods for separating the

components of generator reactive output need to be
developed. However, many factors increase the complexity of
the problem for real-life power systems. A 2-bus system of
Fig. 7 is used to give an example of the difficulties to solve
the problem. This case represents a generator supplying
power to a load bus (PQ bus).

Case 1: The closest generator (Gl) needs less reactive

power to ship the same P, and it shows the biggest support
component. Generators G 1 and G2 use most of their Q-output
for shipping the active power, and give small support to the
system.
Case 2: Generator G 1 with the biggest active output also
has the biggest Q-output. However, most of it is used to ship
its P and not to support the system. The others generators
with smaller P-output have bigger support components, and
should receive bigger financial compensation for their
reactive power support services.
Case 3: In this case just voltage setpoints are different.
G 1, with the highest voltage, gives more support than the
others generators. However, by increasing its terminal

Q+

v
+

P+JQL

Fig. 7. 2-Bus sample system

To a given load demand and generator voltage setpoint,

the reactive power output of the generator can be computed
by solving the following equations:
(4)

voltage, G 1 also increases its shipment component.

~ _

Q for supporting

%%%4Q for shipping

G1

the systet
its own

The solution for these equations is:

Q ~-&~E

Case 1

Case 2
Separation

Case

for thrae small casea

Fig. 6. Separation of shipment and support components for the 5-bus system

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-4XE2Q:

-4XP2

(5)

It shows that the reactive output of the generator is a nonlinear function of E, P, and Q~. Even if we could separate this
function in three decoupled functions, Q=A(E)+B(P)+C(QL),
the separation problem would not be totally solved yet. The
reason is, the component B(P) is totally related with Pshipment, and the component C(QL) is totally related with
system support, but the component A(E) still need to be
separated. This simple example is useful to illustrate the
complexity of the separation problem. Besides, in reality all
functions A, B and C are coupled, For instance, if the voltage
setpoint is modified, the amount of reactive power for
shipping P is also modified, Therefore, it is necessary to

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develop practical methods, which could

generators Q-output with acceptable accuracy,

separate the

Testing G3
150

.~

~
>
~

IV. PRELIMINARY IDEAS FOR SOLVING THE

SEPARATION PROBLEM

3
n 100 Q2

:
.:

Many ideas has been tried to solve the separation

problem. The fwst one, named P-drop method, is developed
to obtain the remaining Q-output of the generator when its Poutput is dropped to zero. The necessary justification for this
method is: If a generator outputs zero P its whole Q-output
is given for system support, Using this point as a reference
an approximated separation for the others points is possible,
The method is carried out as follows: the P-output of a
selected test generator is dropped fi-om its base case value to
zero. Load shedding is applied on the same amount, in
proportion to the base case,

Fig. 9. Separation of Q-shipment and Q-support for 5-bus system distant

generator

For the 5-bus system, when the P of the test generator (Gk)
is dropped all the generators show a decrease of reactive
output. It means that the variations of all generators Q-output

We have identified a number of ideas for solving the

separation problem for large-scale power systems, Some of
them can be preliminarily discussed as follows:

(Qlk,
Q2kj
Q3k)
are
related
to
the
P @3ment
of the test
generator. The summation of these factors for any P-drop
point gives us the total Q-shipment for the test generator,
which can be decreased from the test generator total Qoutput, resulting in the test generator Q-support. Fig. 8
illustrates this procedure by testing G1 for case 1, where just
the distances of the generators from the load center are
different, It is confirmed that Gl, the clossest generator, has a
much bigger support component, compared with its
shippment component. While the same test with G3, showed
in Fig. 9, reveals that G3, a distant generator, uses most of its
Q-output for shipping its active generation into the grid. In
order to give any support for system security G3 must
decrease its P-generation,

Testing G1

$
~

Q2shipment total

-o

QISUPPOII = Q1-Q1 shipment total

,~

Q2suPPoIt

150,

50 -

20

40
60
80
100
Test Generetor Actiw Output (MW)

120

140

Explore further the P-drop idea. Our initial tests have

shown that, for large-scale systems, divergence problems
can be found depending on the adopted procedure for load
shedding. The need for load shedding also can mask the
components separation.
Use sensitivities or generator modal indices for defining
penalty factors for the generator Q-output. We can define
a index to measure the generators involvement with its P
shipment, and define generator penalty factors by using
this index.
Use sensitivities to reactive load shedding for measuring
the generators involvement with system support. Using
this index compensation factors for the generators can be
defined. This idea has the advantage of keeping the same
active load pattern.
Develop methods for computing the minimum amount of
reactiv~ power a generate; mus{ output to ship its P with
no help of the system. Knowing the Q-minimum for each
P-output, the support component would be the difference
ftom the real Q-output.

V. CONCLUSIONS

,~
o

20

I
40
60
60
100
Test Generator Actke Output (MW)

120

140

Fig, 8. Separation of Q-shipment and Q-support for 5-bus system closest

generator

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This paper has introduced and investigated the dual

fimctions of generator reactive power output. It gives
evidences that part of a generator Q-output is used to ship its
own P-generation into the grid, and just the remaining portion
provides real voltage support for system security. From this
point of view the separation problem is defined in this paper,
Analytical separation of the components is presented for
simple systems. Case-specific separation methods are also
developed to demonstrate the problem. This paper contributes
introducing the phenomenon, as well as, demonstrating its
importance for defining fair compensation schemes for

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reactive power support services. It also shows that methods

need to be developed to solve the problem for large-scale
real-life power systems. Preliminary, but potential, ideas are
discussed.
Since this paper deals with a new research subject, it can
only address some of the key issues. A lot more follow up
work is needed to obtain and Mher explore the implications
and applications of the support and shipment components for
real power systems.

VI. REFERENCES
[1]

S. Hunt and G. Shuttleworth, Unlocking the grid: IEEE Spectrum,

vol. 33, no. 7, 1996, pp. 20-25.

[2]

F C. Schweppe, M,C. Caramanis, R.D. Tabors and R.E, Bohn, Spot

Pricing of Electricity, Kkrver Academic Publishers, 1988.

[3]

Power System Operations Committee, Panel session: Transmission

Security Issues in a Deregulated Environment, IEEE PES Winter
Meeting, 1997, New York.

[4]

P Kundur, Power System Stability and Control, McGraw-Hill, 1994.

[5]

Y.Z Li, and A.K. David, Pricing reactive power conveyance, IEEProceedings Part-C: Generation, Transmission and Distribution, vol
140, no. 3, 1993, pp. 174-180,

[6]

S. Hao, and A. Papalexopoulos, Reactive power pricing and

maoagement, IEEE Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 12, no. 1, 1997, pp.
95-104,

[7]

R.J. Kaye, F.F. Wu and P. Varaya, Pricing for system security, IEEE
Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 10, no, 2, 1995, pp.575-583.

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VII. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are gratefoI to the financial support prowded by CAPES
(Brazilian Research Agency) and by NSERC (Natorrd Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada), The support of research facdity
by the University of Alberta is acknowledged,

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Luiz C.P. da Silva, received MSC. in Electrical Engineering from
UNICAMP-State University of Campinas-Brazil, in 1997, and is working
towards a Ph.D. degree at UNICAMF. At present, he N a visiting Ph.D.
Student at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research interests are on
power system voltage stabihty and electricity mruket. He can be reached at
lui@,dsce,fee.unicarnp.br
Yuanning Wang, received M.SC, in Electrical Engineering from Harbin
Institute of Technology, China in 1995, She is working towards a Ph,D,
degree at the University of Alberta, Her research interests are power system
voltage stability and electricity market modeling. She can be reached at
ynwang@,ee.ualberta,ca.
Wilsun Xu (M90, SM95) received Ph,D, from the University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, Canada in 1989. He worked in BC Hydro from 1990
to 1996 as an electrical engineer, Dr. Xu is presently a professor at the
University of Alberta His main research interests are harmonics, power
quality and voltage stability. He can be reached at wxuklee.ualberta ca.
Vivaldo F. da Costa, received Ph.D. from UNICAMP-State Univers@ of
Campinas, Brazil, in 1992, He is with UNICAMP since 1977, where he is
currently an associate professor. His research interests include power system
He can be reached at
stability analysis and simulation.
vivaldo@,dsce.fee.unicamu.br

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