Increase electric power flow in
existing transmission lines,
instead of building new lines
Kalyan Sen, Ph.D., P.E.
[email protected]
16 June, 2009 Washington, DC
IEEE Energy Fly-In
Overview
Electric power from the generation in one
location to the loads in other locations
flows through the path of least resistivity,
just as water flows in a river.
“Free flow” makes some transmission
lines overloaded and others underloaded.
Power
Source
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Load
Load
Overview (cont’d)
Energy needs to be transported from the
generating point to the end-user along the
most desirable path, just as we use lock
and dam in a river.
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Overview (cont’d)
You know what would be great? It would be
really great if someone could increase the
electric power flow through an existing
transmission line in a cost-effective way.
Then, we would not have to build new,
expensive transmission lines for many years
to come, saving on both the cost of the new
lines and the environment.
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Problem Statement
New transmission lines are needed due to
– Increased demand of electricity
– Integration of renewable energy sources like
wind and solar power with the electrical grid.
Public is not in favor of building new
transmission lines as it impacts them.
An average line is used less than 50% of its
capacity.
The transmission line carries useful real
power (beer in a glass) and useless reactive
power (foam on top of the beer).
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Problem Statement (cont’d)
Present power flow control methods
increase both real (beer) and reactive
(foam) power flow simultaneously.
The line’s usage is maximized when it
carries real power with minimal reactive
power (beer with minimum foam).
Electric power from the generation in one
location to the load in another location
often travels through unwanted paths,
causing extra power losses in the lines,
thus less efficiency.
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What is needed?
Demonstrate with a power flow controller in
an existing transmission line that the real
power flow can be increased significantly
without increase in the reactive power flow.
Reduction in reactive power flow leads to
– freed up capacity of the line
– increased flow of real power
– less demand of reactive power from generator
– Increase of efficiencies of the generators and
step-up transformers.
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What is needed? (cont’d)
Demonstrate that the existing grid can
– Integrate renewable supplies
– Accommodate Plug-in electric/hybrid vehicles
– Reduce energy infrastructure requirements
– Lessen dependence on foreign oil.
Get the public re-excited about “better”
electric transmission lines.
Create viable American jobs and export
products of global significance.
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Intended Paradigm Change
Raise the public’s expectation that
existing transmission lines can efficiently
deliver more reliable power from both
conventional and growing renewable
sources to customers across the nation
without building new lines for years to
come, thus less impact on the
environment and the public.
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Expected Radical Breakthrough
To avoid building new, expensive, highvoltage electric transmission lines.
To relieve overloaded lines by redirecting
power to the underloaded lines, thus
avoiding blackouts.
To transmit power through the shortest
transmission path, reducing line losses,
thus increasing efficiency.
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Benefits of the Radical Breakthrough
Curtail the most polluting fossil power
plants in the world
– Phase-out the most polluting fossil power
plants in the U.S.
– Reduce construction of new fossil power
plants in developing nations
Integrate renewable sources
Avoid building new, expensive, highvoltage electric transmission lines.
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Summary
Demonstrate a novel, low-cost power flow
controller to increase the real power flow in
an existing transmission line without increase
in the reactive power flow.
The power flow controller must have
– Better than 99% efficiency
– Low-cost approach with small installation
footprint
– High reliability via low component count.
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Further Reading
K. K. Sen and M. L. Sen, Introduction to
FACTS Controller: Theory, Modeling, and
Applications. New York: IEEE Press and John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2009.
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