For more information or to request hard copies of any of the papers listed, please email info@pcsutilidata.com.

AdaptiVolt™ Based CVR in Industrial Applications

This Technical Synopsis provides engineers and other interested parties with background information and appropriate references on various industrial electrical production equipment and components’ reaction to Conservation Voltage Regulation (CVR) using AdaptiVolt™. It focuses on electric production and operational support equipment in a typical Pacific Northwest paper mill. A paper mill was selected for discussion because it uses many of the same processes used in other industrial facilities as well as being one of the major industrial users of electrical energy in the Pacific Northwest. Information is provided on how individual electrical devices such as transformers, motors, variable speed drives, ballasted lights and other equipment will react to AdaptiVolt™ based CVR. Reactions are individually described and referenced.

Assuring Success in Applying Programmable Logic Controllers in Substation Applications

Much attention has been given to the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) in substation applications in recent years. Innovative engineers have been actively seeking new applications for PLCs in substations. Manufacturers of PLCs have responded by developing new products that meet the unique requirements of substation applications. As the use of PLCs in substations has grown, the benefits of their use have become more known to substation engineers. Not as well know or publicized are some of the pitfalls that engineers may fall into when applying PLCs in substations. Problems that are recognized beforehand are avoidable, and it is the goal of this presentation to help those applying PLCs to avoid as many pitfalls as possible.

A Coupling Capacitor Voltage Transformer, also called a CCVT, is one device used by utilities to transform high voltages to relaying levels. Historically, capacitors in CCVTs have been known to deteriorate over time. This deterioration can become significant enough to cause a catastrophic failure as the CCVT approaches the end of its expected life. PCS UtiliData (PCS) developed an approach to continuously monitor CCVT health using power meters and a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). In addition, a remote Human Machine Interface (HMI) application at the engineering department enables an engineer to monitor the active data on demand and collect it for more in-depth study and analysis.

In 2001, Clatskanie PUD installed a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The utility previously had no such capability. The system was installed to provide full SCADA capabilities and load-data acquisition in order to comply with the Bonneville Power Administration "SLICE" program and power management needs. "SLICE" load data is communicated to EWEB (Eugene Water and Electric Board) who acts as Clatskanie PUD’s Scheduling Agent for "real time" and short-term power management. The new SCADA system uses dual-licensed radio communications channels. The system provides data acquisition, trending and archiving, alarming and paging, control of reclosers, oil circuit breakers, load tap changers and regulators. A new 11 Mw combustion turbine can be monitored, started and stopped from the PUD office. Set-points for the turbine output can be set from either the PUD office or from EWEB. The SCADA system uses PLC-based RTUs, a PLC-based communication front-end and a Microsoft® Windows 2000® based master station.

Lowering distribution voltage levels has been a technique used to reduce demand, control load and reduce energy usage. In some emergency situations, "brownouts" (lower than ANSI Standard C84.1 minimum voltages) are used to avoid widespread power outages when power supply does not equal demand.

Traditionally, there have been several difficulties in closely controlling distribution voltage levels so that they could be used as load management, demand response or conservation tools.  These traditional approaches require significant amount of engineering and capital to prepare a distribution system for the use of distribution voltage level control as a demand control, load control or energy conservation tool.

This manuscript describes a new approach that uses modern distribution automation technologies to closely control distribution voltage levels. This new approach integrates modern monitoring, control and communication technologies. It allows closely controlled distribution voltages to be used effectively as a demand control, load control and energy conservation tools. It also discusses the implementation of several operating systems and the results that are being obtained on those systems as well as the results that other utilities could expect when this new technology is used to implement Demand Control, Load Management and Conservation Voltage Regulation.

In 2002, two Pacific Northwest Utilities placed new distribution automation technology solutions into service at four substations with a total of ten distribution feeders. These solutions use commercial-off-the-shelf control technology to closely control distribution voltages to reduce energy usage and control demand. The first system at Inland Power and Light Company, a cooperative in Eastern Washington, went into service in April 2002, and the other three at Clatskanie PUD in Oregon went into service in November 2002. Avista Utilities is installing this new technology at the time of this writing. This paper presents the results of the ongoing operation and tests at these four rural substations. It will also describe the results that other utilities could expect when this technology is used to implement demand control, load management and conservation voltage regulation.

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) will reduce demand on an electric system. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has agreed to reimburse several of it’s customers who are public utility districts or electric cooperatives for either the cost of installing CVR systems or the energy saved with a CVR system. This manuscript discusses systems installed by two electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest that are being used to implement CVR using new communication and control technologies to prevent under voltage conditions and assure actual reduced energy usage.

Estimation of PCS UtiliData AdaptiVolt™ System Performance using Observed Energy Demand Profiles

Northwest Airlines (NWA) installed a new substation to support their Detroit Metro Airport expansion. Even though the 120 kV to 13.8 kV substation and associated Central Generating Facility were needed, they don’t represent NWA’s core business. To facilitate local and remote monitoring by the company providing energy services for the new terminal, the substation includes a multi-vendor SCADA system.

Optimizing Energy Use in Industrial Plants

PLC Based Substation Automation and SCADA Systems and Selecting a Control System Integrator

Much attention has been given to the use of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) in substation and distribution automation applications in recent years. Innovative engineers and technicians have been actively seeking new applications for PLCs in substations and SCADA (Supevisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems. The manufacturers of PLCs have responded by developing new products that meet the unique requirements of substation automation and SCADA applications. PLCs are very cost competitive with traditional RTUs and have many benefits in substation automation applications. PLCs have an important place in substation automation and their use in substation applications will grow.

As the use of PLCs in substation automation applications increases, and the demand for substation and distribution automation increases, utility engineers are seeking ways to implement applications. With deregulation, utilities are decreasing engineering staff levels. Utility engineers are required to field more projects with fewer available resources. The services of outside control system integrators, engineering firms or consultants are often called upon to meet the needs of the utilities. Selection of an outside firm is an important task of the utility engineer and the selection of the particular outside firm can determine the success or failure of a project.