August 2014

The main components of a wind power system are illustrated in Figure 28.1, which include a turbine rotor and blades, a yaw mechanism, a gearbox, a generator, a power electronic converter system, a transformer to connect the wind power system to a power grid, and a wind turbine generator control system. FIGURE 28.1 Main components […]

In virtually every engineering application there is a need for measuring some physical quantities, such as forces, stresses, temperatures, pressures, flows, or displacements. These measurements are performed by physical devices called sensors or transducers, which are capable of converting a physical quantity to a more readily manipulated electrical quantity. Most sensors, therefore, convert the change

Balancing authorities are responsible for the performance of the electric system is to ensure that at every moment of time there is sufficient generation to reliably supply the customer requirements and all associated delivery system losses. The process is complicated by the fact that the customer load changes continuously and, therefore, the generation must adjust

The electric utility industry over time developed planning, operating, and design standards to address customer expectations of reliable service. These standards were at first local in perspective but, as interties were built and the interdependent nature of the system became apparent, many of the standards were expanded to a regional and then a national perspective.

Reliability of a system is difficult to measure. Perhaps the best way is through evaluation of the consequences of possible consumer interruptions. Investigations have shown that the best measure of reliability is that of consumer reaction. Five conditions that have been identified impact the value an average consumer puts on an unsupplied megawatt-hour of lost

The costs of electric power outages to U.S. electric customers are generally called “socioeconomic” costs. Attempts have been made to quantify these costs but the estimates vary widely. One source reports that the costs are $26 billion each year and that they have been increasing as the electric power industry is restructured. A 2001 report

Interruptions in the supply of electricity to customers can occur at any hour of the day or night and can last from fractions of a second to many hours or even days. Interruptions can be caused by disturbances to or malfunctions of any of the three components of the power system: generation, transmission, or distribution.

SMART GRID Smart Grid is one of a number of names used to describe a transmission and distribution network that uses modern sensing, computational, and communication technologies to improve the reliable and economic functioning of the bulk power system. Other names include Modern Grid, Intelli grid, and Future Grid. A subset of this notion is

There are a large range of possible approaches and concepts for storing energy in electric utility systems. These are discussed in the following subsections. 1) MECHANICAL SYSTEMS HYDRO PUMPED STORAGE: In hydro pumped storage, water is pumped from a lower to a higher elevation. The water at the higher elevation can be stored and used to

Energy storage applications offer potential benefits to the transmission and distribution system because of the ability of modern power electronics, and some electro-chemistries, to change from full discharge to full charge, or vice versa, extremely rapidly. These characteristics enable energy storage to be considered as a means of improving transmission grid reliability or increasing effective