A Survey of SVC Device: Its Principle of Operation, Advantages, and Limitations

This work focuses on the survey of the Static Var Compensator (SVC) device principle of operation, advantages and limitations. There has been persistent problems of blackout and brownout of the power supply in Nigeria and some other developing nation as a result of the high level of instability existing in the power lines. Due to the increase in the population, expansion of the power line network and also load increase, there has been tremendous level of disturbances being introduced into the power lines. These disturbances can cause low-frequency oscillation which may last long and result to instability in the lines if not adequately damped or compensated. SVC is an electrical device and a type of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) device introduced for providing fast-acting reactive power compensation on high voltage electricity transmission networks for voltage regulation and stabilization. However, the SVC device has no revolutionary parts, for the implementation of surge impedance compensation, and it was identified that the device is not suitable to be employed for the regulation of voltage up and downs because it has limited overload capability. The device was designed for power supply line with less load and simple network. Therefore, SVC device cannot provide adequate compensation to the present power supply line because of the huge, complex load and disturbance in the system. This work recommends that the SVC device must be improved or replaced with newer compensation devices in order to achieve better power supply improvement.