Power distribution and transmission executives are faced with a range of new technologies at the moment that need to be integrated and understood, says Michael Ropp, President and Principal Engineer, Northern Plains Power Technologies. “Modeling tools, together with engineering expertise, can be utilized to bring all the latest technological advances together,” he adds.
As an engineering consulting firm at the marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit 2013, in Dallas, Texas, April 22-23, Ropp discusses how the dispersal of generation over the system can ensure energy delivery after storms.
How can power distribution executives better deal with new technologies?
The industry is buzzing with new technologies, such as electric vehicle battery chargers, distributed generation, and microgrids. The question is how do executives integrate these into existing voltage regulation and protection schemes, and how should new data be dealt with? Modeling tools, together with engineering expertise, can be utilized to bring all the latest technological advances together.
Most power utilities have a set of in-house modeling tools that cover up to 80 to 90 per cent of their needs. The remaining 10 to 20 per cent requires highly specialized knowledge and modeling tools. It is much more time and cost efficient to outsource these modeling requirements.
What advantages do virtual laboratories offer?
These are computer tools that create a model of the power system with an extremely high degree of physical fidelity. They offer high accuracy on how certain elements interact, such as the impacts of variations between different manufacturers’ equipment, and the operation of digital controllers and their software in a complex operating environment. Virtual laboratories enable experiments that could not be carried out safely or cost-effectively on the real system. The understanding of how the system works is enhanced and the location of problems is easily detected.
How can hardware and systems be properly monitored?
There is a diversified range of new technologies for monitoring. Advanced metering infrastructure is an example of a technology that even today is resulting in large amounts of new data being sent to the utility. Some meters perform event capturing that record data when an event happens on the system. The key is interpreting this information in a way that will be useful and cost effective to the utility.
What are some of the aspects to consider moving forward?
Penetration levels of distributed generation are rising. These must be safely integrated into utility protection and planning processes, and modeling is very helpful in this.
Storm restoration is another issue that is weighing heavily on the industry. Distributed generation could be a help in this process rather than a hindrance, and microgrids could play a major beneficial role in storm recovery. The development of new technologies will help this be realized.
There is a big push towards electric vehicles and electrified rail. These may be preferred in the future to avoid the rising cost of oil. Electrification also presents the challenge of handling large amounts of non-linear and non-stationary loads.
Written by: Maria Gregoriou, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division
About the Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit 2013
This unique forum will take place at the Hotel Intercontinental, Dallas, Texas, April 22-23, 2013. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on using technology to improve emergency preparedness, optimizing the use of smart grid technology as business drivers for growth and innovation and the best practices for distribution management systems implementation.
About Northern Plains Power Technologies
Northern Plains Power Technologies (NPPT) is an electrical engineering consulting firm specializing in detailed time-domain simulations (“EMTP-type simulations”) of power systems, power apparatus, and the associated controls and communications; and modeling of power systems in support of system planning and asset management. NPPT has special expertise with power electronics, distributed generation, and microgrids.
About marcus evans Summits
marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings.
