a journey into the u.s. electric power grid tom ferguson, p.e. adjunct instructor dept. of...

A Journey into the U.S. Electric Power Grid

Tom Ferguson, P.E.Adjunct InstructorDept. of Electrical EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota, Duluth

Presentation to EE 1001September 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


Basic Power System

Generation 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 stuffinto outlets.


Then Came the Big Radio Amplifier – and Dim Lights

Voltage Drop DueTo Resistance

240 V AC 210 V AC


Later in High School, I Learned About Grounds (the hard way)

120 Vac

Neutral

Ground

Chassis of

Radio Receiver

Chassis Of

Teletype Decoder


College Filled in Many Missing Blanks . . .. . . on Power Generation Technologies


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/NesjavellirPowerPlant_edit2.jpg

Concentrations Driven by Questions

Power-Related Multi-course Concentrations

•Electromagnetic Fields (7!)

•All EE Power Courses

•Heat Transfer

•Nuclear Reactor Design

Includes• Hydro• Biomass• Wind• Solid Waste• Geothermal• Solar PV• Solar Thermal

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.

Coal 37%

Natural Gas 30%

Nuclear 19%

Renewables 12%

2012


http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/index.cfm?src=Electricity-f2

College Introduced the Immense Scale of the Power Grid

“The Grid” = Generators (about 18,000) + HV Transmission Network


Moving Power Across Long Distances

• High Voltage Transmission Lines – 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!


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


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”– 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

EMS

Substations Neighboring Utilities

Stream Flows, Pond Levels, Weather

Stations, Lightning Data

System Operators

Alarm and Historical

Data Systems Power System

Study Engineers

Power System Simulators

and Training Energy ControlCenter


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


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


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


You Learn That Not All Power Systems are the Same . . .

Smaller Utility•Telecomm Engineer

•Substation Engineer

Large Utility•Microwave Engineer•Fiber Optics Engineer•Radio Systems Engineer

•Grounding Engineer•Transformer Engineer•Bushing Engineer•Protection Engineer•Substation Envir. Engineer•Rodent Control Specialist (!)


. . . And That Change is Constant

Before 1996•Utilities:

– Chose generation

– Set prices

– Operated “closed” systems

•Customers:– Had no choice of supplier

– Put up with indifference

•Renewable Generation– No subsidies, no interest

1996 to the Present•Utilities:

– 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


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.


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)


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


Good Luck!


a journey into the u.s. electric power grid tom ferguson, p.e. adjunct instructor dept. of...

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