6.3 Reactive Capability Testing & Net Capability Testing

Question 1

What units must complete reactive testing?

Answer 1

• Individual units > 20 MVA and aggregate units > 75 MVA
• All units designated Black Start
• All Synchronous Condensers > 20 MVA

Question 2

How often is reactive testing required?

Answer 2

Every 5 years.

no more than 66 mo. between tests

Question 3

For wind & solar, what percentage of turbines or inverters must be online for testing to be valid?

Answer 3

90%

Question 4

When does an eDART ticket need to be submitted prior to reactive testing?

Answer 4

No later than 3 business days prior

Create “MVAR Test” ticket

Question 5

Day of test notification requirements

Answer 5

Notify PJM RE at least 3 hours before start of test.

Notify PJM transmission & TO 30 min before start.

Question 6

Units should be tested against their expected capability, for example, __________

Answer 6

For new units, vendor D curve

For existing units, previous test results would be an expected minimum.

Question 7

Can voltage schedules be exceeded during testing?

Answer 7

Yes, but voltage limits at system bus cannot.

Question 8

Lagging (over-excited) test results are the MVAR output values that can be sustained for _____

Answer 8

1 hour

Question 9

Leading (under-excited) are the MVAR values seen once _______

Answer 9

any unit limit is reached

Question 10

What needs to be included in the test reporting?

Answer 10

• MW / MVAR values at Gen Terminals, Auxiliaries, High & Low side of step up transformer
• Scheduled & actual voltages
• Nameplate data for transformer
• Reasons for any limitations during the testing (voltage limits, gen vibration, temps etc)

Question 11

When does the Reactive Capability Testing Form need to be submitted?

Answer 11

Within 30 days from test date

Question 12

If portions of the testing are done on different days, when should the test results be submitted?

Answer 12

Data from each portion of the test is submitted 30 days after that portion of the test.

(earliest date should be used as the test date for record purposes)

Question 13

All portions of reactive testing must be completed within _______ after the initial test to be considered successful.

Answer 13

6 months.

Question 14

GO’s must submit annually, by Jan 31., the following:

Answer 14

• List of the units successfully tested in the last 5 years, with dates
• Schedule for current year and next 4 years, with each unit to be tested and the proposed year of the test.

Question 15

What percentage of stated reactive capability does the test have to fall within to be successful?

Answer 15

5%

Question 16

What if the units fail the reactive capability test?

Answer 16

PJM may require an updated default capability curve be submitted through eDART, or for the testing to be redone. There can be exceptions for certain internal or external limitations that are validated.

Question 17

What is Unlimited energy capability?

Answer 17

Any part of a unit’s capability that can be sustained for 10 hours

Question 18

Limited energy capability?

Answer 18

Any part of a unit’s capability that cannot be sustained for 10 hours.

Question 19

What is the summer verification window for net capability? What is the deadline for test result submittal?

Answer 19

June - August.

Deadline - Sept. 30

Question 20

What is the winter verification window for net capability? What is the deadline for test result submittal?

Answer 20

December - February

Deadline - March 31

Question 21

What system is used to submit net capability data?

Answer 21

eGADS