Located in San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L.
Dedicated to the steel industry.
Voltage level 230 Kv
Demand of 80 MW.
Located in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Dedicated to the manufacture of electrodes
Power quality problems. High reactive power
Located in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Dedicated to the metalworking industry.
Voltage level 230 Kv.
Demand of 15 MW
Loading 3 Sendzimir Laminating machines
Located in Altamira, Tamaulipas.
Dedicated to the metalworking industry.
Voltage level 115 Kv
Demand of 5 MW.
It has generation
The customer has compensation equipment already installed, but it is not enough to comply with the Grid Code, since achieving compliance for industries dedicated to this line of business is complex.
The customer has reactive compensation equipment already installed, as shown in the following table.
The customer has reactive compensation equipment already installed, as shown in the following table.
There is non-compliance with the parameters of power factor and current unbalance, established with the Grid Code 1.0. The PF is in inductive non-compliance 17% of the time.
72% of the time the PF is in capacitive noncompliance.Current unbalance has an average value of 19.23 %.
Installation of two STATCOMs +/- 10 MVAr each
- One STATCOM was installed for each of the two transformers.
- 36 MVA mains (230 - 13.8 KV)
- Faster solution for power factor compensation
- Active harmonic current filtering capability
- Less area required per KVAR
- Newest and most reliable technology available
Consume and dynamically compensate for the reactive power in medium voltage, required by the load center to maintain the power factor within the limits established by the Grid Code 2.0 phase 2. Decrease the current unbalance, leaving it within the limits established by the Grid Code 2.0 phase 2.
• Faster solution to compensate the power factor.
• Active harmonic current filtering capability.
• Smaller area required by KVAR.
• Newest and most reliable technology available.
• It has the flexibility to work with other compensation equipment.
To achieve compliance with Grid Code 2.0 phase 2, effective on April 8, 2026, it was necessary to install a STATCOM +/- 4 MVAR at DELTA, connected to the 6.6 Kv generator buses and consider leaving the existing compensation equipment in place.
- Compliance with Network Code 2.0 Phase 2.
- Stable voltage and low harmonic content.
- Increased productivity.
- Reduction of power outages.
With the installation of the STATCOM, we achieved compliance with the power factor and current unbalance parameter, which was reduced by 60%, with the requirement established by the Grid Code 2.0 Phase 2, which can be seen in the following.
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Draxton is a world-class company dedicated to the manufacture and commercialization of highly engineered castings, iron and aluminum machining components in the automotive business. In 2018, they approached us to request a Grid Code study in the Irapuato plant in which a non-compliance was detected in the following parameters:
Draxton is a world-class company dedicated to the manufacture and commercialization of highly engineered castings, iron and aluminum machining components in the automotive business. In 2018, they approached us to request a Grid Code study in the Irapuato plant in which a non-compliance was detected in the following parameters:
There is non-compliance in the following parameters, which are limited to those established by the Grid Code 1.0.
There is non-compliance with the power factor parameter, established in the Grid Code 2.0. Phase 1.
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Due to the variability of the load and that there is a considerable current unbalance, the solution for this case is a STATCOM.
For DIRAM each project represents a new challenge and we seek to adapt to each industry to implement the best cost-benefit solution. The biggest challenge of this project was to carry out the civil works, since it was a turnkey project, Diram was responsible for implementing the entire project for the client's convenience.
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Due to the variability of the load and that there is a considerable current unbalance, the solution for this case is a STATCOM.
For DIRAM each project represents a new challenge and we seek to adapt to each industry to implement the best cost-benefit solution.
Due to the type of loads installed in this industry, a dynamic compensation is required and not any technology can compensate with this demand tendency, so when evaluating the power factor, it was found to be in default, being divided as follows.
Evaluated with the limits of the Network Code 1.0
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Due to the type of loads installed in this industry, a dynamic compensation is required and not any technology can compensate with this demand tendency, so when evaluating the power factor, it was found to be in default, being divided as follows.
Evaluated with the limits of the Grid Code 1.0
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STATCOM Synchronous Static Compensator
• Faster solution for power factor compensation.
• Active harmonic current filtering capability.
• Smaller area required per KVAR.
• Newest and most reliable technology available.
• Flexibility to work with other compensation equipment.
To achieve compliance with the Grid Code 2.0 phase 1, effective on April 8, 2026, it was necessary to install a STATCOM +/- 80 MVAR, connected to the 34.5 Kv main bus and a type C 2nd harmonic filter of 20 MVAr.
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- Compliance with Grid Code 2.0 Phase 1.
- Stable voltage and low harmonic content.
- Increased productivity.
- Reduce electrode consumption.
- Increase refractory life.
- Obtain more favorable tariffs.
- Reduce outages.
With the installation of the STATCOM, it was possible to maintain the power factor close to the unity value 97% of the time, complying with the limits established by the Grid Code 2.0, phase 1, which can be seen in the following graphs.
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- The STATCOM met the dynamic MVAr demand created by the variable load center operation.
- An average PF value of 0.99 is met 100% of the time.
- Improvements in power quality parameters
- For voltage unbalance, a maximum value of 0.171 % was obtained during the measurement period, remaining below the 2% limit established in the Grid Code.
- Current unbalance had a maximum value of 4.814 % during the measurement period, remaining below the 15% limit established in the CoR.
- The values of odd and even single harmonic components are within the limits.
- Harmonic currents were reduced, highlighting the 2nd harmonic current.
- The maximum THDD[%] value in the measurement period was 1.09 %, remaining below the limit, which for this load center is 3.75%.
- Flicker values for the 95th percentile Short Term Voltage Swing Index (STFI) was 0.382 remaining below the Grid Code limit of 1.0.
- Flicker values for the 95th percentile Long Term Voltage Fluctuation (LTI) Index was 0.329 remaining below the Grid Code limit of 0.80.
- Grid code compliance
- Longer useful life of plant equipment
- Lower energy and maintenance costs
- Improved process efficiency
- Increased production capacity
- Financial bonus from the supplier
Consume and dynamically compensate the reactive power in medium voltage, required by the load center to maintain the power factor within the limits established by the Grid Code, phase 2.
STATCOM Static Synchronous Compensator
• Faster solution to compensate for the power factor.
• Active harmonic current filtering capability.
• Less area required per KVAR.
• Newest and most reliable technology available.
• Flexibility to work with other compensation equipment
To achieve compliance with Grid Code 2.0 phase 2, effective from April 8, 2026, it was necessary to install a STATCOM +/- 12 MVAR, connected to the 20 Kv main bus and consider leaving the existing compensation equipment in place.
- Compliance with Grid Code 2.0 Phase 2.
- Stable voltage and low harmonic content.
- Increased productivity.
- Reduced power outages.
With the installation of the STATCOM, it was possible to compensate for the necessary reagents, leaving the power factor at values of 0.98 inductive, 100% of the time, complying with the requirement established by the Grid Code 2.0 Phase 2, which can be seen in the following graphs.
Tupy Saltillo is currently in non-compliance with the power factor and current unbalance requirements of the Grid Code.
In order for the Tupy Saltillo plant to eliminate the two current non-compliances, an alternative that contemplates a STATCOM in delta connection is required. This is due to the fact that the current unbalance cannot be eliminated with load balancing, since part of its load is naturally unbalanced.
Voltage fluctuations
Bad power factor
Harmonic distortion
Unbalanced operation
New load center
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Voltage fluctuations
Bad power factor
Harmonic distortion
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Unbalanced operation
Poor power factor
Harmonic distortion
In order for the client to streamline its process and comply with the Grid Code, we delivered a STATCOM from 20 MVAr (ind) to 20 MVAr (cap). DIRAM was responsible for the complete execution of the project.
The installed solution can control reactive power seamlessly and in real time for an indefinite period, bringing our customer into compliance with the Grid Code.
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The lamination process generates load variations that lower the voltage periodically. Although these variations do not generate flicker problems, they are perceptible in electronic and process devices sensitive to voltage dips. In an unfavorable scenario, a strong voltage drop generates a productive shutdown by tripping the undervoltage protections.
With the operation of the STATCOM, given its fast response, you can control these strong voltage drops minimizing the risk of tripping.
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Today, our customer was able to connect its plant to the SEN, meeting all the requirements of the Mexican Grid Code, along with other operational benefits. From this project, we celebrate:
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The future operation was simulated with specialized software, thus dimensioning a STATCOM of +/- 40 MVAr to ensure compliance with the Grid Code prior to the energization of the plant.
DIRAM was fully responsible for the execution of the project, in addition to accompanying the client throughout the process of connecting the load center.
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From this project, we celebrate that today, our customer was able to connect its plant to the SEN, meeting all the requirements of the Mexican Grid Code, along with other operational benefits.
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In order for the client to streamline its process and comply with the Grid Code, we delivered a STATCOM from 160 MVAr (ind) to 320 MVAr (cap). DIRAM was responsible for the design, supply, commissioning and start-up of the equipment.
The installed solution can control reactive power seamlessly and in real time for an indefinite period, bringing our customer into compliance with the Grid Code.
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Given the better regulation at the 34.5 kV node voltage, the melting furnace has more power available. Analogous to a hydraulic system, where, no matter how much we open the tap, there is no change in water flow. This is because the limit given by the pipe diameter has been reached. Under this example, the STATCOM would allow to "expand" the pipes in order to increase the flow, since the voltage does not drop even under load. Today, our customer increased the production of its steel mills due to the implementation of our solution.
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STATCOM 5 MVAR @ 13.8 KV + FALCON-M 9.6 MVAR @ 17.25 KV CB, which offer:
Engineers involved:
Eng. Adrián Granado / Eng. Eulalio Rodríguez / Eng. Ivan Carreón
