Reference case- Railways Enhancing power quality for Bulgarian Railways Reactive power compensator PQC-STATCON helps ensure grid compliance Reactive power compensators connect diverse geographies – from Customer problem statement from ABB, installed in five traction the snow-capped Balkan mountains to substations across Bulgaria have the sunny Black Sea coast, from the Large varying non-linear loads are an improved power quality across the bustling state capital Sofia to culture inherent feature of electrical railway rail network, bringing further benefits hub Plovdiv, and from Balkan Serbia to traction systems. Since the load such as increased availability of the Mediterranean Greece. changes dynamically and constantly, the supply network, higher reliability and traction power supply system draws a improved energy efficiency. The National Railway Infrastructure high amount of reactive power resulting Company (NRIC), responsible for the in low power factor affecting power The Bulgarian State Railways, founded smooth operation and maintenance quality. Poor power quality is not only in 1888, are among the oldest of this railway infrastructure and the harmful to the traction system itself, but rail networks in Europe. Providing electrical power that supports it, was also prone to spreading through the passenger and freight services, they facing power quality challenges across supply grid and can cause disturbances cover more than 4,200 kilometers and the network. to other users on the same grid. It also results in non-compliance to grid codes, leading to financial impact in the form of penalties. An efficient and cost-effective soluti- The PQC-STATCON technology is Deyan Andonov, Project Manager, ABB on from ABB used to provide reactive power support in Bulgaria says, “PQC-STATCON and NRIC approached ABB for a solution for grid-based supply networks. By power quality monitoring equipment is to its power quality challenge. After installing this technology at various now installed at five NRIC substations a detailed study of the various nodes across its electrical system, NRIC across Bulgaria and will help NRIC electrical parameters, ABB’s stepless will experience improved power quality maintain the right power quality across reactive power compensators PQC- and better compliance to grid codes. its network and avoid significant STATCON were installed in the traction Further benefits are accurate and financial penalties. It will also give substations. precise compensation without the need them added benefits like reliability and for manual intervention, voltage stability availability of the supply network, energy and avoidance of penalties by the grid. efficiency and lower maintenance costs.” ABB Limited Note: We reserve the right to make technical LV capacitors Power Quality Solutions changes or modify the contents of this Plot no 485/ 6, document without prior notice. With regard to 14th Cross, 4th Phase, purchase order, the agreed particulars shall Peenya Industrial Area, prevail. ABB does not accept any responsibility Bangalore - 560058, Karnataka, India whatsoever for potential errors or possible Phone: +91-80-2294 9334 / 9391 / 9330 lack of information in this document. Fax: +91-80-2294 9339Email: [email protected] We reserve the rights of this document and in the www.abb.co.in subject matter and illustrations contained therein. Any reproduction, disclosure to third parties or utilization of its contents in whole or in parts is forbidden without ABB’s prior written consent. © Copyright 2016 ABB. 9AKK106930A3431- November 2016..