Probabilistic assessment of equipment trips due to voltage sags

This paper discusses the uncertainty involved in the behavior of sensitive equipment used in various industrial processes and the methodology to incorporate this effect in quantifying the equipment trips due to voltage sags over a specified time period. The exact and more precise counting of equipment trips is essential for the accurate economic assessment of power quality. Existing standards and previously published test results on the sensitivity of this equipment against voltage sags are critically reviewed and possible ranges for variation in equipment sensitivity are investigated. Four different probable behaviors within respective ranges were considered for the stochastic assessment of equipment trips due to voltage sags. This study is performed on a generic power system.     

Analysis of personal computer ride through capability during voltage sags

Voltage sags have emerged as one of the most serious power quality problems, particularly for sensitive equipments such as personal computers (PCs). It is a complex electronic computing device designed to be powered by a switch mode power supply (SMPS). This paper presents an investigation of vulnerability of PCs to voltage sags and development of methods to enhance the voltage sag ride through capability of PCs. Based on recent testing standards, extensive tests were conducted for a wide range of PCs. For standard reboot/restart malfunction criterion, sag depth and duration were varied to construct individual voltage immunity curves for PCs. Based on the analysis, two methods were implemented to improve the voltage sag ride through capability of the PCs. These methods include the use of additional dc capacitors and alteration of the under voltage detection (UVD) signal in the housekeeping block of the SMPS. The experimental results on different PCs show that installation of additional capacitors can only expand PCs’ immunity duration to voltage sag while shift in the UVD signal helps to enhance the tolerance level in terms of sag magnitude. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages involved in the implemented methods to enhance voltage tolerance level of PCs are highlighted.     

Effects of balanced and unbalanced voltage sags on DC adjustable-speed drives

This paper analyzes the sensitivity of DC adjustable-speed drives to balanced and unbalanced voltage sags. The influence of sag type, depth, duration and phase-angle jump on DC drives is studied. The control of the DC drive has been taken into account to understand drive behavior in the presence of voltage sags. Two working modes of the DC motor are considered in the study: as a consumer load and as a regenerative load. When the DC motor works as a consumer load, the study shows that sag type and depth have a significant influence on drive behavior. However, the voltage sag can be ridden through if the rectifier firing angle is set correctly by the control. When the DC motor works as a regenerative load, the study shows the consequences of the three-phase rectifier commutation failure due to the voltage sag.     

Sensitive load voltage compensation against voltage sags/swells and harmonics in the grid voltage and limit downstream fault currents using DVR

In the past decades, the power quality (PQ) has become a critical issue in highly automated industries and sensitive load centers. The voltage quality is the most important part of the PQ for customers. The voltage disturbances in the form of voltage sags, swells and harmonics can cause huge financial losses. In the past few years, the power electronic solutions have been proposed to avoid these problems. The dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) is one of the solutions. This paper proposes a new topology for single-phase DVR which is able to compensate multiple voltage disturbances and limit the downstream fault currents with a simple topology. The proposed DVR is based on the single-phase direct ac/ac converter which is energized from the main grid. As a result, there is no need for energy storage elements and dc link capacitors. The proposed topology can deal with high voltage with low voltage rating switches. Therefore, the switches can be IGBTs without needing an auxiliary forced commutation circuit as in thyristors which are high voltage switches. The performance of the proposed topology is validated by digital simulations and a laboratory scale prototype implementation.     

New approach for power lines performance estimation based on load variation due to voltage sags

The power line performance has traditionally been assessed in terms of its efficiency and reliability. The increase of the effect of voltage sags on sensitive loads, maybe located far away from the faulted line, is the reason to carry out a new analysis of power line's performance. A new method to evaluate the power line performance, based on voltage sag indices, is proposed. The voltage sag indices suggested to assess power lines performance are the load variation, the non delivered energy and the total cost due to voltage sags. The proposed power line performance is compared with the traditional performance based on power line outages. The results show that the proposed method can change the assessment of power lines performance and therefore the utility focus for investment.     

基于云模型的电压暂降设备敏感度评估

设备电压暂降敏感度评估的难点在于不确定性,包括随机性和模糊性,利用云模型将两者结合起来,综合描述设备电压耐受曲线的综合不确定性,通过云滴将定性的不确定性有效地转换为定量的不确定性,实现了对复杂不确定性的定量刻画.用复化Simpson数值积分法求云滴分布的数值解,再定量计算设备敏感度.对个人计算机的评估结果与现有模糊评估法比较,结果证明了该方法的正确性和准确性,并能更好地揭示设备敏感度的不确定性,有一定的理论价值和应用前景.     

An evaluation method of voltage sag using a risk assessment model in power distribution systems

In this paper we explore a new method for evaluating the impact of voltage sags in the power distribution systems. The proposed method incorporates the generalization of the evaluation method as well as the effects of voltage sags on customers. To generalize the evaluation method, historical reliability data will be used. We take into account the impact of voltage sags on customers using a representative power acceptability curve and a fuzzy model. The final result of the evaluation model yields on a yearly basis the magnitude of customers’ risk caused by voltage sags. The evaluation methodology is divided into the analytic and probabilistic method. The time sequential Monte Carlo simulation is used as probabilistic method. The proposed method is tested using the modified Roy Billinton Test System (RBTS) form and the reliability data of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) system. Through the case study, we verify that the proposed method evaluate the actual impact of voltage sags and can be effectively applied to the real system using the historical reliability data as the conventional reliability indices in power distribution systems.     

An analytical approach for assessment of voltage sags

In this paper, analytical expressions for the calculation of remaining voltages due to fault at bus and along the line are derived. Balanced and unbalanced faults are considered and the effects of different fault distributions are taken into account. The proposed analytical methods are compared with the method of critical distance in order to achieve the acceptability of the proposed method. The developed method is applied to the IEEE 30-bus test system and a real Indian distribution system.     

Effects of symmetrical voltage sags on squirrel-cage induction motors

This paper analyzes the symmetrical voltage sag consequences on the induction motor behavior when single- and double-cage models are considered, namely current and torque peaks, and speed loss. These effects depend on several variables like sag type, duration and depth. Voltage sag effects are studied by using single- and double-cage models for three motors of different rated power. The double-cage model always predicts torque and current peaks higher than those of the single-cage model. The single-cage model predicts that voltage sags can produce motor instability, whereas the double-cage model is always stable. Therefore, the double-cage model must be used for the simulation of the squirrel-cage induction motor, because the single-cage model can give erroneous results in some situations.     

Probability evaluation of low-voltage distribution equipment lightning failures due to AC arc

To construct low-voltage power distribution systems, it is important to have correct information on the probability of failures by lightning to meet the requirement for high reliability of these systems. The burn-out of low-voltage distribution equipment is triggered by flashover due to lightning overvoltage followed by the arc discharge current at the commercial frequency voltage. The arc characteristics were investigated by superimposing the lightning impulse voltage across terminals of the low-voltage distribution equipment connected to the commercial frequency power supply to reproduce these events on an experimental basis. As a result, it was found that the arc characteristics were affected by a number of factors. The probability of flashover occurrence on low-voltage distribution equipment is determined based on the frequency distribution data of lightning overvoltage occurrence obtained by monitoring the surge counters on actual distribution lines. Then the probability distribution of arc currents is established by application of the forementioned experimental equation on arc characteristics. Finally, the method for evaluating damages by lightning to low-voltage distribution equipment on actual lines was investigated with the frequency of lightning strokes and the configuration of low-voltage distribution systems taken into consideration.     

高压电气设备绝缘信息管理与评估系统设计

为便于电力系统工作人员了解高压电气设备绝缘状况,笔者开发了一种高压电气设备绝缘信息管理与评估系统.本文介绍了该系统的整体设计方案,并重点阐述了高压电气设备绝缘评估的专家系统的设计方法.     

考虑系统静态电压稳定性的电动汽车充电设备就地控制方法研究

随着电动汽车的大规模发展,其峰值充电负荷占全网负荷的比例日益上升,给电网的静态电压稳定带来了负面影响。试图将电动汽车充电设备纳入电力系统安稳控制,从而减少这一影响。提出了电动汽车充电设备的三种控制方法:灵敏度控制方法、理想控制方法以及下垂控制方法,并对其控制效果进行了对比。三种方法都能够达到提升系统负荷裕度的目的,但其中的下垂控制方法更适合实际控制应用。将下垂控制应用到新英格兰39节点系统,在不同渗透率和不同充电速率情况下分析其对系统电压稳定性的影响。结果表明下垂控制能够明显提高系统负荷裕度,是一种有效的电动汽车充电设备就地控制方法。     

A critical evaluation of a maximum loading point estimation method for voltage stability analysis

A critical evaluation of a maximum loading point estimation method is carried out in this paper. The critical point is estimated from a set of operating points corresponding to different loading levels. In addition, new procedures aimed to improve the performance of the method are proposed. Different factors that affect the efficiency and precision of the method are analyzed, such as: distance from the base case operating point to the critical point, number of different load levels to be taken and the distance between them in parameter (load) space, discontinuities in the PV curves due to generators’ reactive power limits, among others. Simulation results are used to show what conditions should be met to avoid errors in the estimation of the critical point.     

Simple and efficient method for steady-state voltage stability assessment of radial distribution systems

A new static voltage stability index of a radial distribution system is proposed to faithfully evaluate the severity of the loading situation, thereby predicting for voltage instability at definite load value. The proposed index includes different parameters which affect the steady-state voltage stability of distribution systems, therefore it gives accurate results. The maximum value of 1 of that index denotes the point where the system reaches the point of collapse whereas a minimum value of 0 shows the state of no load. The performance of the new index was tested on two radial distribution systems consisting of 33 and 85 buses. Comparison between the results of the new index and those of previous indices showed that the new index yielded reliable results in predicting voltage stability condition of the system. The new index overcomes the problem which faces many previous indices especially as the load approaches the critical point. Analysis of the two-bus equivalents of the test systems under different scenarios is also presented. A new P–Q plane of stability is introduced based on the equation of the proposed index. The active, reactive and apparent power margins are then directly determined from the voltage stability boundary.     

A unified management of congestions due to voltage instability and thermal overload

This paper proposes two approaches for a unified management of congestions due to voltage instability and thermal overload in a deregulated environment. Both techniques aim to remove, in some optimal manner, voltage and thermal congestions stemming from base case or post-contingency states, by a simultaneous handling of operating and security constraints with respect to several contingencies. The objective of the first approach is to adjust the market-based power injections (generator output and possibly load consumption) at the least cost while the second one aims at curtailing power transactions in a transparent and non-discriminatory way. These techniques rely on sensitivities which pinpoint the best remedial actions against congestions owing to voltage instability and thermal overload. Numerical results with both approaches are provided on a realistic 80-bus system model.     

Mitigation of the impact of transformer inrush current on voltage sag by TCSC

Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) as a dynamic system, besides its capability in increasing power transfer in transmission lines, can be used to enhance different power system issues. In this paper, the effect of TCSC on voltage sag following transformer inrush current is investigated. It is shown that excessive transient inrush current occurring during transformer energizing can be mitigated by TCSC. Hence, voltage sag as one of the key components of the power quality is alleviated for the sensitive loads that are connected to the same bus which the power transformer is energized from. During a fault, TCSC can improve the voltage sag by limiting the current and help to keep the voltage as high as possible. Moreover, the inrush currents and the associated voltage sags that usually occur after clearing heavy single- or multistage faults are mitigated by the presence of TCSC. The model used for simulating inrush current is based on the characteristics of the major hysteresis loop out of which the internal trajectories are defined using the translation principal and a linear compensation to generate closed loops. An arctangent relation between the flux and the exciting current is defined. The expression parameters are deduced by curve fitting empirical data defining the major loop or the single-valued saturation characteristic.     

Effective operation method by interdependent use of condenser energy of the voltage transient sag compensator with controlled gradational voltage

This paper presents the efficient operation method of the interdependent use of condenser energy on the new concept of voltage transient sag compensator. This compensator consists of the series connection inverter units, and each inverter unit generates a different output voltage by 2ⁿ times. The method proposed here, in any case of various levels of transient voltage sags on the power line, provides the efficient use of condenser energy of all these inverter units. The method of interdependent use of condenser energy is also verified by the experiment. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 154(3): 56–64, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20290     

LCC在设备采购中的应用实践

介绍了上海市电力公司全寿命周期成本管理研究项目的主要实践,侧重于将LCC管理方法应用于基建项目中设备招标选型的决策和评估介绍,为电力公司在基建工程方面开展LCC管理提供参照标准或经验,进行基建工程的全寿命周期管理.     

球压试验装置的核查方法及相关CTL决议分析

本文结合球压试验的国家标准和相关CTL决议的要求,分析了球压试验装置的核查要点,并以家用电器产品为例讨论了如何确定球压试验温度,最后总结了压痕直径的测量方法以及出现非圆形压痕隋况的数据处理方法。     

Determination of load shedding to provide voltage stability

A computationally simple algorithm is developed for studying the load shedding problem in emergencies where an ac power flow solution cannot be found for the stressed system. The proposed algorithm is divided into two sub-problems: restoring solvability sub-problem and improving voltage stability margin (VSM) sub-problem. Linear optimization (LP)-based optimal power flow (OPF) is applied to solve each sub-problem. In restoring solvability sub-problem, rather than taking restoring power flow solvability as direct objective function, the objective function of maximization of voltage magnitudes of weak buses is employed. In VSM sub-problem, the traditional load shedding objective is extended to incorporate both technical and economic effects of load shedding and the linearized VSM constraint was added into the LP-based OPF. Case studies with a real 682 bus system are presented. The simulation results show that the proposed load shedding algorithm is effective, fast in finding the load shedding scheme to solve the problem of restoring solvability and improving VSM.