Co-sponsored by: PES, PELS and IAS

Abstract: The sources of power generation have evolved in recent years from coal and nuclear to include a variety of renewable sources. Due to the intermittent nature of renewable generation, the power flow pattern in the electric grid has changed. Free flow of electricity can make some transmission lines underloaded and some overloaded. Tripping an overloaded line is not always a good option, since this may contribute to a cascaded failure of the grid.

The desired solution is to use a SMART Power Flow Controller (SPFC) that increases the flow of power in an underloaded line and decreases the flow of power in an overloaded line, preventing it from tripping and possibly creating a blackout. Strategic placement of SPFCs will make the future grid more reliable, efficient and less of a contributor to global warming than what it is now. Some of the features of a SPFC are high reliability, high efficiency, low installation and operating costs, component non-obsolescence, fast enough response for utility applications, high power density, interoperability, and easy relocation to adapt to changing power system’s needs while providing the optimal power flow control capability.

The presentation is designed to provide the basic principles of power flow control theory, an overview of the most commonly used power flow controllers, and future trends. The audience will hear from an expert who actually designed and commissioned a number of power electronics-based FACTS controllers since its inception in the 1990s.

Speaker(s): Kalyan K. Sen, PhD, PE, MBA,

Location:
Room: A-1150
École de technologie supérieure
1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal , Quebec
H3C 1K3