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Home Communications In the News Transmission Line Ampacity Improvements using Optimized Forecasting Solution for Grid Operations

1.14.2019

Transmission Line Ampacity Improvements using Optimized Forecasting Solution for Grid Operations

Helping utilities make the most of their existing transmission and distribution infrastructure

By Donna Rennemo, President & CEO, WindSim Americas Inc.

As utilities consider the replacement of aging infrastructure and incorporating renewables from remote locations, unlocking extra capacity within existing transmission lines offers profound advantages in efficiency and reliability of system operation. Utilities across the nation are weighing the trade-offs in providing additional power for homes, industry and critical services through traditional transmission expansion planning.  Overhead transmission lines (TLs) are thermally limited to the amount of electrical current they can carry due to the physical properties of the conductor. Conventionally, TL current carrying capacity is set to static (SLR) or seasonally varying values based on a conservative assumption of the environmental conditions (e.g., low wind speed and high ambient air temperature) over the year/season. Because these conditions are present only for short periods of time, this approach often under-utilizes existing transmission assets.

Fig. 1 Power lines are heated by the sun and when transmitting power. They are also cooled by the wind and weather.

Idaho National Laboratory has led the development of a weather-based dynamic line rating (DLR) methodology that can cost effectively help transmission and generation asset owners safely and reliably reduce the amount of congestion they experience. It uses computational fluid dynamics and weather forecasting innovation funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, in partnership with

Fig. 2: WPLS calculation of span-by-span line ratings in a DLR forecasting scenario.

WindSim. The INL – WindSim development has advanced the technology for the electricity sector by improving the capability of modeling and transferring weather conditions to every span on the line to accurately perform dynamic line ratings across a large geographic area with high reliability and certainty. The latest INL-WindSim combined solution — called WindSim Power Line Optimization Solution (WPLS) — includes both forecast and real-time dynamic line rating. As WPLS collects real-time environmental conditions by field stations and integrates it with historical environmental conditions and short and longer-term forecasts, more realistic line ratings than SLR can be calculated for the next minutes up to the next days ahead and be delivered to the operators of the lines (Fig. 2).

 

 

Weather-based Dynamic Line Rating has been validated through three industry pilots to ensure it provides a smart grid energy solution for removing artificial or systematic power flow constraints. This is done by informing system planners and grid operators of available transmission and distribution capacity that was previously restricted by Static Line Ratings. The WindSim Power Line Optimization Solution is currently deployed and continually being validated in partnership with other electric utility partners and commercial meteorological solution providers, which also includes the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). WindSim is looking for additional partners to further deploy this innovative, industry accepted solution!

Plot of improvement in amps of the weather-based ampacity calculation versus a normalized static line rating (SLR). The terms with (t) are functions of time.

THE VALUE OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD)

WindSim Power Line Article Image 4
The illustration of terrain (orange) shows the large scale often under consideration.  The gray boxes along the power lines are more discrete CFD models that consider the local terrain.

Almost every country has cre­ated wind resource maps to find potential windy places suitable for building new wind plants. Modelers use a wide range of methods to create these wind resource maps. Yet new methods are needed to capture the detail required to enable dynamic line rating, which could boost transmission and distribution line capacity by 10 to 40 percent.

Wind­Sim has developed a wind atlas method using specialized software. The approach enables dynamic line rating modeling and simulation that can expand over hundreds of miles. To be as accurate as possible, the method combines wind speed and wind direction data from smaller simulation areas and is based on scaling against measurements where available.

To create these wind resource maps, scientists have many modeling options to choose from, including mesoscale modelling, linear methods and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Using mesoscale models has the advantage that the entire area of interest can be fully covered by one model, while using other approaches requires that several simulation areas be combined afterwards. However, mesoscale modeling does not reach the horizontal resolution necessary for a reli­able wind resource map.

For example, mesoscale mod­els reach their limits in rough terrain because the roughly 1-km resolution is too coarse and forces over-simplified orography. By comparison, CFD can simulate the wind flow with a horizontal resolu­tion of 10 m, or even 1 m with specialized data collection. As a result, the CFD approach can better predict the flow pattern within smaller valleys and in very difficult terrain.

For that reason, it has become common to use CFD to gener­ate wind resource maps of smaller areas, and then combine the different simulation areas in the end to see the big picture.

Copyright © 2019 | WindSim™ | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WindSim and the WindSim logo are trademarks of WindSim AS. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Donna Rennemo
President & CEO
WindSim Americas Inc.
Email: donna.rennemo@windsim.com

Phone: +1 805 216 0785

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    CAISO Generator Modeling Process and Data Requirements

    Don’t wait until the last minute. You should allow time for at least one iteration with CAISO so that you are complete and deemed compliant before your deadline.

    On August 1, 2018, CAISO introduced a revised Business Practice Manual for Transmission Planning Process (BPM), which includes new data requirements for interconnected generation resources within the ISO’s footprint. Section 10 of the BPM establishes revised data requirements and compliance procedures for all participating generators including non-NERC registered entities. While additional requirements have been placed on larger NERC registered facilities, these changes may pose an even greater burden to entities that have been exempt from NERC mandated modeling and protection requirements.

    New data requirements include voltage and frequency protection models, power flow models, and in some cases, sub-synchronous resonance models. These models must be verified using criteria listed in the BPM, which can only be performed by entities with modeling software and knowledge of modeling practices.

    NAES is prepared to assist entities with data aggregation, modeling, and testing to ensure compliance with CAISO’s data requests. The following links will allow entities to determine when to expect their individual data requests (phase) and what data will be required (category).

    Business Practice Manual (BPM)

    Entity Category and Phase Listing

    CAISO Transmission Planning Website

    TPL-007

    TPL-007 establishes planning criteria for induced currents caused by geomagnetic disturbances. The standard is applicable to facilities using transformer(s) with a high side, wye grounded winding operated above 200 kV and can require both submittal of general geomagnetic data (R2) and thermal impact assessments (R6) depending on results of Planning Coordinator analysis.

    VOLTAGE AND REACTIVE (VAR) STANDARDS

    VAR-501-WECC

    VAR-501-WECC requires applicable entities within the WECC region to confirm performance settings and characteristics of Power System Stabilizers (PSS). NAES provides physical testing and reporting services to address WECC’s specific PSS requirements.

    PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

    PER-006

    PER-006 requires Generator Operators to provide training to personnel who are responsible for the Real-time control of a generator. NAES has developed specific protection system training materials suitable for compliance with the Standard and provides this training both on and off site

    PROTECTION AND CONTROL (PRC) STANDARDS

    PRC-001

    PRC-001 requires entities to coordinate protection system changes with other affected parties. NAES offers both procedural documentation and engineering services to establish the required coordination for both PRC-001 and PRC-027.

    PRC-002

    PRC-002 requires the installation and operation of disturbance monitoring equipment (DME) for applicable entities. NAES can assist with the design and installation of DME as well as ongoing compliance support.

    PRC-019

    PRC-019 requires applicable entities to show coordination between voltage regulating controls, limiters, equipment capabilities, and protection settings. NAES produces PRC-019 specific coordination studies for both traditional generators and renewable projects to establish compliance with the Standard.

    PRC-023

    PRC-023 requires load responsive protective relays be set according to criteria within the Standard to ensure settings do not limit transmission loadability. NAES provides full engineering analyses to maintain compliance with this Standard.

    PRC-024

    PRC-024 requires applicable entities to ensure generator protective relays do not trip within predefined frequency and voltage limits. NAES can complete protection settings analyses and provide compliance documentation that clearly identifies protection settings as they relate to NERC’s “no trip” zones.

    PRC-025

    PRC-025 establishes minimum settings requirements for load-responsive relays protecting generators, step up transformers, and auxiliary transformers. NAES utilizes predefined calculation options as well as simulations to determine a facility’s compliance status and development of new relay settings if required.

    PRC-026

    PRC-026 requires applicable entities to perform load responsive relay settings analyses based on criteria identified within the Standard. Entities are typically notified by the Planning Coordinator when an analysis is required. NAES performs all required studies to establish compliance.

    MODELING, DATA, AND ANALYSIS (MOD) STANDARDS

    MOD-025

    MOD-025 requires Real and Reactive Power capability testing for individual generating units over 20 MVA or facilities with over 75 MVA of generation capacity. NAES offers site specific test procedures and/or complete onsite testing services to meet the requirements of this standard.

    MOD-026

    MOD-026 requires verification of excitation or volt/var control dynamic models through utilization of either system disturbances or physical testing. NAES offers full testing and modeling services to meet the requirements of this standard.

    MOD-027

    MOD-027 requires verification of governor or active power/frequency control dynamic models through utilization of either system disturbances or physical testing. NAES offers full testing and modeling services to meet the requirements of this standard.