Facts for voltage stability and power quality improvement in mining

Feeding safe and reliable power to mining can be a challenge, with loads depending on secure, high quality power supply. A traditional way to deal with shortcomings in power transmission and distribution is reinforcing the grid by building new lines, or upgrading voltages to higher levels. Such measures, however, are expensive and time-consuming, if, indeed, they are permitted at all. A more cost as well as time effective way is introducing FACTS, thereby utilizing existing facilities more efficiently. The paper highlights SVC (Static Var Compensator), a member of the FACTS family, for improving power supply to mining industry. Benefits and salient design features are presented, as well as examples of successful SVC installations in the mining industry in the world.