What is used to assist in controlling the flow of power in the system?

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Capacitors and reactors are used to manage reactive power and voltage, which directly influences how power flows through the grid. In AC systems, the amount of real power that can be transmitted is affected by voltage levels and phase angles, but reactive power helps keep voltages stable and lines from becoming overloaded. Shunt capacitors supply reactive power locally, boosting voltage on a bus and reducing line losses, which helps steer power to where it’s needed. Reactors provide inductive reactance to absorb reactive power, limit current, dampen surges, and shape the distribution of power flow, especially under varying load conditions. Together, they give operators a practical means to control voltage profiles and the flow of power across the transmission network. Other equipment like transformers and breakers, fuses and relays, and generators and motors perform essential roles in voltage transformation, protection, and generation, but capacitors and reactors are the primary tools for actively shaping power flow via reactive power control.