A Reflection into Relevant

Aspects of Power Systems

for Improved Reliability
Francisco De La Rosa
Electric Power Systems-International
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
f.delarosa@eps-international.com
(314) 890-9999

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 Electrical Power Systems

Generation

Transmission Exposed to all Kinds of Environmental Factors

Distribution

Customers

Electric West Exposition and Conference, Demand High Standards of Reliability & Quality 2
February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
 A. EXTERNAL (ENVIRONMENTAL)
FACTORS AFFECTING POWER
SYSTEM OPERATION:

1. Lightning
2. Wind
3. Tornados
4. Ice/Snow
5. Corrosion

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 B. INTERNAL FACTORS IMPACTING
POWER SYSTEM OPERATION:
1. Equipment Malfunction or Failure involving:
a) Generators
b) Transformers
c) Circuit Breakers
d) Protective Devices
d) etc.

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 C. POWER SYSTEM OPERATIONAL
FACTORS:
1. Power Quality
a) Waveform distortion
 Caused by the increasing use of power
converters , arc-type devices, UPS’s and the
escalating number of computers and
entertainment devices in residential
installations
 This can be exacerbated by parallel resonant
conditions involving power factor capacitor
banks

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 Power Quality…Cont..
 b) Voltage fluctuations
 Voltage Sags
 Voltage Swells
 Voltage Spikes
c) Lightning-related disturbances
d) Cyclic loads
2. Ferroresonance
 Involving underground cables and low-
loss transformers at customer end
 Involving PT’s at Substations
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 3. System Overloading
a) Increased loading is linked to reactive
compensation rising voltage profile along
long feeders
b) Increased harmonic distortion may occur
under harmonic resonant conditions
involving capacitor banks
4. Worn out installations
5. Operating errors

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 D. OTHER INFLUENCING FACTOR S:
1. Trees
During strong winds or ice storms
(can be reduced through utility vegetation maintenance)
2. Animals or Accidents
Birds, squirrels, snakes, etc.
(Increased use of Animal Guards can help decrease these events)
3. Car collisions with power line poles
(Guard rails and relocation of equipment can help reduce damage)

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 Wrapping up:
Power Systems Reliability can be affected
by a number of reasons including external,
internal and operational factors.
All these events have the potential to
negatively impact frequency and duration
of power interruptions, therefore affecting
SAIDI, SAIFI, MAIFI and CAIDI Reliability
Indices.
It is very important to track cause of power
interruptions and implement remedial
measures to improve system performance
Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 E. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO
IMPROVE POWER SYSTEM
RELIABILITY
1. Timely Testing and Inspection of
Equipment according with
Internal/Interconnection Policies
2. Utilization of Advanced Communication
Infrastructure Resources to Improve
System Operation, Pinpoint Troubles
and Apply Corrective Measures

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 F. POWER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
1. Equipment Maintenance is vital to keep power systems
running reliably and cost/effective
2. All equipment is important but following key elements should
be subject to strict Testing and Maintenance schedules:
a) Generators, Breakers, Transformers and
Communication Equipment
b) Protective relays, batteries and auxiliary
equipment

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 G. COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Modern communication systems provide
utilities means to improve system protection
and implement operation, monitoring and
control functions to perform:
1. Automated Meter Reading
2. Outage Assessment
3. Load Control
4. Reactive Power Control
5. Power System Restoration following
Major Disturbances
Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 Wrapping up:
 Periodic Testing and Maintenance to
equipment and protective devices is
important to keep the electric power
system running in shape and reliably
 This will also have a positive impact

on reduction of equipment failure

rates thus improving Reliability
Indices

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 Wrapping up:
Communication resources used by
Power Utilities can significantly aid in
the effort towards:
Increasing Power System Reliability

Achieving a more Cost Effective

Power System
Improving Customer Satisfaction

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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 CONCLUSIONS
1. Multiple causes of failures affect Operation and
Reliability of Electric Power Systems
2. It is important for utilities to track operation
disturbances and identify the main causes for power
interruptions. Only then effective remedial schemes
can be applied
3. Periodic Maintenance and optimal use of
Communication Infrastructure can lead to
substantial increase in operation performance,
system reliability and customer satisfaction

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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THE END

Thanks!

Electric West Exposition and Conference, February 27-29, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
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