ECONOMICAL GENERATION OPERATION

Since the introduction of electricity supply to the public in the late 1800s, people in many parts of the world have grown to expect an inexpensive reliable source of electricity. Providing that electric energy economically and efficiently requires the generation company to carefully control their generating units, and to consider many factors that may affect the performance, cost, and profitability of their operation.

The unit commitment and economic dispatch algorithms play an important part in deciding how to operate the electric generating units around the world. The introduction of competition has changed many of the factors considered in solving these problems. Furthermore, advancements in solution techniques offer a continuum of candidate algorithms, each having its own advantages and disadvantages.

Research continues to push these algorithms further. This chapter has provided the reader with an introduction to the problems of determining optimal unit commitment schedules and economic dispatches.

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PRIMARY SECONDARY AND TERTIARY FREQUENCY CONTROL IN POWER SYSTEMS

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Frequency Control in Power Systems Author: Engr. Aneel Kumar Keywords: frequency control, primary frequency control, automatic generation control (AGC), tertiary control, load-frequency control, grid stability. Frequency control keeps the power grid stable by balancing generation and load. When generation and demand drift apart, system frequency moves away from its nominal value (50 or 60 Hz). Grids rely on three hierarchical control layers — Primary , Secondary (AGC), and Tertiary — to arrest frequency deviation, restore the set-point and optimize generation dispatch. Related: Power System Stability — causes & mitigation Overview of primary, secondary and tertiary frequency control in power systems. ⚡ Primary Frequency Control (Droop Control) Primary control is a fast, local response implemented by generator governors (dro...

CASCADED TRANSFORMERS METHOD FOR GENERATING AC HIGH VOLTAGE

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CORONA EFFECT IN TRANSMISSION LINES | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING GUIDE

Advantages and Disadvantages of Corona Effect in Power Systems In high-voltage overhead transmission lines , the corona effect plays a critical role in system performance. Corona occurs when the air around a conductor becomes ionized due to high electric stress. While often seen as a drawback because of power losses and interference , it also provides certain engineering benefits . This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of corona effect in detail, with examples relevant to modern electrical power systems. ✅ Advantages of Corona Effect Increase in Virtual Conductor Diameter Due to corona formation, the surrounding air becomes partially conductive, increasing the virtual diameter of the conductor. This reduces electrostatic stress between conductors and minimizes insulation breakdown risks. Related Reading: Electrostatic Fields in High Voltage Engineering Reduction of Transient Surges Corona acts like a natural cushion for sudden ...

ADVANTAGES OF INTERCONNECTED GRID SYSTEM

Interconnected Grid System: Working, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Comparison with Isolated Grids Author: Engr. Aneel Kumar Figure 1: Infographic showing key advantages of an interconnected grid system. Introduction An interconnected grid system refers to a network of multiple power generation sources, transmission lines, substations, and distribution systems that are linked across regions, states, or even countries. Unlike an isolated grid (or islanded grid) which operates independently, an interconnected grid allows electricity to flow between interconnected nodes, enabling numerous benefits and some trade-offs. In today’s energy landscape—where demand, renewable generation, reliability, and cost pressure are all increasing—understanding how an interconnected grid works, what factors are essential, and what its advantages and disadvantages are is critical for utility planners, reg...

INTERLINE POWER FLOW CONTROLLER IPFC

Recent developments of FACTS research have led to a new device: the Interline Power Flow Controller (IPFC) . This element consists of two (or more) series voltage source converter-based devices (SSSCs) installed in two (or more) lines and connected at their DC terminals. Thus, in addition to serially compensating the reactive power , each SSSC can provide real power to the common DC link from its own line. The IPFC gives them the possibility to solve the problem of controlling different transmission lines at a determined substation . In fact, the under-utilized lines make available a surplus power which can be used by other lines for real power control. This capability makes it possible to equalize both real and reactive power flow between the lines, to transfer power demand from overloaded to underloaded lines, to compensate against resistive line voltage drops and the corresponding reactive line power, and to increase the effectiveness of a compensating system for dynamic disturbanc...

AC Transmission Line and Reactive Power Compensation: A Detailed Overview

Introduction The efficient operation of modern power systems depends significantly on the management of AC transmission lines and reactive power. Reactive power compensation is a vital technique for maintaining voltage stability, improving power transfer capability, and reducing system losses. This article explores the principles of AC transmission lines, the need for reactive power compensation, and its benefits in power systems. Keywords: Reactive Power Compensation Benefits, STATCOM vs SVC Efficiency, Power Transmission Stability Solutions, Voltage Stability in Long-Distance Grids, Dynamic Reactive Power Compensation. Fundamentals of AC Transmission Lines AC transmission lines are the backbone of modern power systems, connecting generation stations to distribution networks. They have distributed electrical parameters such as resistance ( R R R ), inductance ( L L ), capacitance ( C C ), and conductance ( G G ) along their length. These parameters influence ...

OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF THE DSTATCOM

Basically, the DSTATCOM system is comprised of three main parts: a Voltage Source Converter (VSC), a set of coupling reactors and a controller. The basic principle of a DSTATCOM installed in a power system is the generation of a controllable ac voltage source by a voltage source inverter (VSI) connected to a dc capacitor (energy storage device). The ac voltage source, in general, appears behind a transformer leakage reactance. The active and reactive power transfer between the power system and the DSTATCOM is caused by the voltage difference across this reactance. The DSTATCOM is connected to the power networks where the voltage-quality problem is a concern. All required voltages and currents are measured and are fed into the controller to be compared with the commands. The controller then performs feedback control and outputs a set of switching signals to drive the main semiconductor switches (IGBT’s, which are used at the distribution level) of the power converter accordingly. Fi...

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