Transcript FergusonPowerSystemsRevised - University of Minnesota Duluth

A Journey into the U.S. Electric Power Grid
Tom Ferguson, P.E.
Adjunct Instructor
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
University of Minnesota, Duluth
Presentation to EE 1001
September 18, 2014
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
A Journey Into the Grid
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
High School: Voltage Regulation Issue
High School: Grounding Lesson
College: Theory Behind it All!
NSP: Grid Impacts from Thermal Storage
MP: Fields from Power Lines on Comm
MP: Power System Control
MP: Everything High Voltage
MP: Global Exposure, Major Changes in Industry
Retired: Sharing What I Learned; Still Exploring
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Basic Power System
Generation
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Transmission
Distribution
“Behind the Meter”
In Ninth Grade . . .
Learned about electronics
through amateur
radio . . . but my knowledge
of power systems was
limited to this:
You plug stuff
into outlets.
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Then Came the Big Radio
Amplifier – and Dim Lights
Voltage Drop Due
To Resistance
240 V AC
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
210 V AC
Later in High School, I Learned
About Grounds (the hard way)
120 Vac
Neutral
Ground
Chassis
of
Radio Receiver
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Chassis
Of
Teletype Decoder
College Filled in Many Missing Blanks . . .
. . . on Power Generation Technologies
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Concentrations Driven by
Questions
Power-Related Multi-course Concentrations
• Electromagnetic Fields (7!)
• All EE Power Courses
• Heat Transfer
• Nuclear Reactor Design
2012
Renewables 12%
Includes
• Hydro
• Biomass
• Wind
• Solid Waste
• Geothermal
• Solar PV
• Solar Thermal
Nuclear 19%
Natural Gas 30%
Coal 37%
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration,
Electric Power Monthly (June 2013). Percentages based on Table 1.1 for 2012 Calender Year.
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/index.cfm?src=Electricity-f2
Updated 9/2013. Percentages on an ENERGY basis, not capacity.
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
College Introduced the Immense Scale of the Power Grid
“The Grid” = Generators (about 18,000) + HV Transmission Network
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Moving Power Across Long Distances
• High Voltage Transmission Lines
–
–
–
–
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Connect generators with loads
Transmit energy at near speed of light
High voltage reduces current flow (P=V x I)
Reduced current reduces losses (Ploss=I2R)
College Started to Answer Some
Very Big Questions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
How is energy converted to electricity?
How does power flow down parallel paths?
What happens when a 500,000 volt line shorts?
What happens when a large generator suddenly quits
generating power?
How are nuclear, coal, wind and solar different?
How are generators controlled to minimize cost?
What’s happening: electrons or electromagnetic waves?
Often, just knowing the questions helps you get a job!
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
First Real Job: Telecommunications
Engineer
• Voice, data, video system design
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
Within a utility and with neighbors
Voice communications
Remote monitoring and control
Private systems for security, reliability
Microwave, fiber optics, radio
Digital and analog, narrow and wide bandwidth
Design engineering and performance analysis
Power systems require robust communications, but
– Power systems also AFFECT telecomm systems
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
A Few Years Later: A Large Power
System Control Project
• Managed a project team
– HW and SW engineers, users
– Accountants, schedulers
• An “Energy Management System”
–
–
–
–
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Controls generators, substations, gates, valves, etc
Interfaces humans with control technology
Utilizes software to simplify, predict, suggest
Constantly matches generated power with loads
Energy Management System
Substations
Neighboring
Utilities
Stream Flows, Pond
Levels, Weather
Stations, Lightning
Data
System
Operators
EMS
Alarm and
Historical
Data Systems
Power System
Simulators
and Training
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Power System
Study
Engineers
Energy Control
Center
A Few Jobs Later: Management
• High voltage transmission system
– Planning, design, operations, maintenance, construction
– Disciplines: electrical, mechanical, civil, structural
– Technical, plus: budgets, regulations, laws, policy
• Industry committees
– More engineers, now from around the world
– Engineers as managers always go back to their roots
• Customer satisfaction
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
The Grid Powers Society
• Human behavior repeats itself daily
– Morning routine: lights, hot water, electronics
– Stores open: lights, heating/cooling
– Industry starts: pumps, motors, arc furnaces
• The grid must respond to these loads
– generators must be ready and reliable
– generators must be controllable to match load
– transmission/distribution lines must be intact (operating)
• It had better work well, or society struggles
• Y2K exposed society’s worry
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
You Learn That Not All Power
Systems are the Same
Types of generation vary across U.S. according to
–
–
–
–
–
availability of fossil fuels
availability of renewable energy sources
water availability
environmental limitations
state policies on renewables and nonrenewable
generation
Some require very specialized engineering skills
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
You Learn That Not All Power
Systems are the Same . . .
Smaller Utility
Large Utility
• Telecomm Engineer
• Microwave Engineer
• Fiber Optics Engineer
• Radio Systems Engineer
• Substation Engineer
•
•
•
•
•
•
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Grounding Engineer
Transformer Engineer
Bushing Engineer
Protection Engineer
Substation Envir. Engineer
Rodent Control Specialist (!)
. . . And That Change is Constant
Before 1996
1996 to the Present
• Utilities:
• Utilities:
– Chose generation
– Set prices
– Operated “closed” systems
• Customers:
– Had no choice of supplier
– Put up with indifference
• Renewable Generation
– No subsidies, no interest
– Forced to open up trans. system
– Must compete with other suppliers
– Must allow oversight of operations
• Customers:
– Can buy energy from anyone
– Pay “reasonable” delivery rates
– Are treated much better
• Renewable Generation
– Mandated; subsidized to compete
– Is a threat to grid reliability
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Challenges with Wind Generation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adds no inertia to grid (no energy storage)
Relatively poor low-voltage behavior
Limited contribution to peak load capability
Not dispatchable
Negative correlation with loads
But the technology is fascinating!
When loads are greatest
during the mid-day,
wind generation is usually lowest.
Conversely, wind is highest
when least needed (night). Plots
depict a day in California.
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
The U.S./Canadian Grid is Also
Fascinating!
• Largest, most complex machine humankind has created
• Speed of light energy movement
• Three Synchronized Regions
– Eastern (east of Rockies)
– Western
– Texas
• All generators in
each region are
synchronized (60 Hz)
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
The Journey Never Ends
• Your Journey Continues with the Next Two Speakers
– Scott Norr, UMD EE Department
– Andrew Remus, Minnesota Power
• The electric power industry is unique!
– Societal value leads to great personal satisfaction
– Ethical behavior of people is second-to-none
– Huge opportunities: technology complexity, size and cost of equipment
© 2014 Tom Ferguson
Good Luck!
© 2014 Tom Ferguson