System, device and method for regulating volt-ampere reactance in a power distribution system

Abstract

A system, method and product for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system and based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs. If it is determined to modify the VARs the method includes identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line and from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria. If the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank the method includes selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank. Generating the list of eligible capacitor banks may include one or more of ensuring the voltage at each capacitor bank is not beyond a threshold, ensuring the total harmonic distortion at each capacitor bank is not beyond a threshold, ensuring the capacitor bank has not been switched within a recent predetermined time period, ensuring the capacitor bank has not been switched more than a predetermined number of times within a recent time period, ensuring that communications with each capacitor bank are viable, and other criteria.