Engineering Studies

for Industrial Power Systems

Industrial power systems studies can Conceptual Design Study

provide the basis for: Conceptual design
studies involve a
• Reducing operating costs
comprehensive review of
• Improving efficiency the existing system
combined with a precise
• Increasing availability. definition of future system
The Engineering Studies performed by GE requirements to produce an
Energy apply to a broad range of industries including affordable and effective
automotive, primary metals, pulp and paper, system design. A skilled
petroleum and electronics. Most of these industries engineer will interpret the
consume large amounts of electricity and poor power customer’s requirements for system performance and
quality can lead to expensive interruptions. GE produce a cost-effective system design using load
offers numerous system studies to maximize power flow motor starting, short circuit, protective device
quality and improve system performance. Our team coordination and stability study techniques.
of consulting engineers includes industry recognized The engineer may consider aspects of the system
authorities who blend equipment expertise with in- including system grounding, protection, transients,
depth system knowledge. In addition to using harmonics, system operational flexibility and
industry-proven software tools, they have developed operating costs. The end result is a system that will
their own computer tools to study load flows, short meet performance requirements without hidden
circuits, and potential problems such as harmonics. defects and will maximize benefits of past and future
capital investments.

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Load and Power Factor Study
The location and
demand of the individual
loads in a power system
are major considerations in
sizing system components
and applying proper
protection. A load and
power management study,
or energy management
study, uses several
commonly recognized techniques. These include
load estimating factors (such as load factor, diversity
factor, power factor, reserve capacity and load
characteristics) to recommend feeder deployment,
conductor selection and capacitor bank ratings.
Recommendations can be made for system
improvements to reduce the demand of the host
utility by using high-efficiency motors and lighting,
variable speed drives and demand limit controls.
Engineers can also define the characteristics of the
existing loads while identifying potential load
shedding schemes.
Load Flow Study
A load flow study
calculates the kW and kvar
flows in a power system
and determines operating
voltage levels for selected
sets of operating
conditions. In effect, a
model of the real system is
made using a computer
load flow program. The
results show the plant
engineer how the electrical system will perform
during normal and emergency operating conditions.
These results provide information needed to
optimize circuit usage, develop practical voltage
profiles, minimize kW and kvar losses, develop
equipment specification guides, and identify
transformer tap settings. The load flow study is a
necessary first step in a transient stability study. It is
also useful for determining the location of capacitors
for power factor improvement.
Short Circuit Study
A short circuit study can
help minimize the
consequences of a potential
short circuit in the system.
For example, short circuit
interrupting equipment such
as circuit breakers and fuses
should have short circuit
ratings greater than the short
circuit duties calculated as study results. When
ratings are too low, equipment may fail to interrupt
one short circuit and cause another with more
widespread effects.
Short circuit study calculating procedures are in
accord with American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) Standard Application Guides, and are useful
in meeting the National Electrical Code (NEC)
requirement that short circuit interrupting devices
have capabilities in excess of the duties imposed on
the devices by the system.
Protective Device Coordination Study
This type of study
recommends settings for
adjustable protective devices
that minimize disturbances
due to system faults. These
devices include switch-gear
protective relays and circuit
breaker trip devices, which
provide automatic
disconnections during
disturbances. Recommendations may also be made
for revising the type of protective device that is
applied.
The prime consideration is minimizing the part of
the system that is disconnected to remove a fault or
abnormal condition. This permits continued
operation for the greatest possible remainder of the
system. Protection of individual power system
components is also a consideration, if for example,
sensitivity risks damage to a transformer, transformer
protection may take precedence.
Study results are also used to specify protective
relays and circuit breaker trip devices, and for
establishing impedances of current limiting reactors.
Impact Load Study Motor Starting Study
An impact load study can This type of study
model the system to analyzes the motor, the
determine whether a sudden, motor load and the
heavy load may be added to connected power system
the existing system without from the moment the motor
causing detrimental begins accelerating until it
operating effects due to has reached full speed.
voltage fluctuations. Using computer models,
Depending on the type of voltage levels, motor
impact load, a variety of solutions are available. accelerating time, and kW and kvar flows can be
If an impact load study is done prior to ordering a determined during the complete acceleration period.
new motor, its design parameters can be modified to
minimize system voltage problems. For existing Dynamic Stability Study
systems, GE can provide suggestions for Dynamic stability
reconfiguring the design to allow successful studies examine long-term
operation with impact loads. effects of various
disturbances. They are
effective for large and
Transient Stability Study
extensive systems where
Machine stability is a heavily loaded machines
concern when two or more exist. In such cases, a
large machines operate in disturbance may initiate very
parallel. Sudden low-frequency oscillations between and among
disturbances such as faults, machines, which can be amplified over a relatively
impact loads and switching long period of time, ultimately resulting in a partial
conditions will cause or complete outage.
transient speed changes on Dynamic stability studies can establish load
the machines, which may shedding schemes and evaluate the effects of motor
prevent the system from remaining in synchronous starting conditions. These studies require complete
operation. For synchronous machines, unstable or modeling of the prime mover governors, the
out-of-step operation can result in high shaft torques generator excitation system and voltage regulators, in
and a depressed system voltage. For induction addition to the machine modeling required for
motors, unstable operation can result in a stall and transient stability studies.
motor heating. By modeling the synchronous and
induction machines, and the interconnecting elements Harmonic Analysis
in the distribution system, evaluations of the system This type of study has
stability can be made and corrective measures taken become more important due
if stability is a problem. to the application of static
A transient stability study yields useful power converters to
information for the design of complex power adjustable speed drives, both
systems, or of load-shedding control systems. Of ac and dc. These non-linear
particular importance are transformer and reactor loads generate harmonic
impedance constraints as well as protective relay currents in the power system
selections. The study may also be used as a remedial where the inductances and capacitances can cause
tool in reconstructing the events leading to an outage high harmonic oscillating currents to exist in the
so corrective measures can be taken to prevent a circuit. The problem becomes apparent when power
recurrence of the problem. factor improvement capacitor fuses interrupt or
electronic equipment malfunctions
GE can perform harmonic analysis studies and
can recommend corrective measures, which include
the design of filters or traps to absorb harmonic
currents generated by non-linear loads.
Surge Protection Study
All power distribution
systems experience surge
voltages and currents as a
consequence of intentional
and non-intentional
switching events that impact
the system and load
components. Light-ning and
the operation of switching
devices are the chief generators of surges. Surge
protection studies are required where lightning
exposure exists, frequent switching occurs (for arc
furnace and capacitor switching), or when sensitive
system and load components are involved. Also
equipment failure investigations often involve surge
protection considerations. The objective of a surge
protection study is to safely optimize system and
apparatus insulation levels with surge protective
devices such as surge arrestors, shielding and surge
capacitors.
Reliability and Availability Study
A complete or partial
shutdown of a power system
can greatly affect the
production profits of a plant,
resulting in the need for
equipment to be designed
with higher degrees of
reliability. The investment
requirements of various
power system design alternatives should be
considered when selecting the optimum design. The
rate of return on investment for various designs can
be compared with the system reliability alternatives
to provide a basis for more informed decisions.

For further information, contact

Michael Richard
GE Energy
One River Road, – Building 2, Room 625
Schenectady, NY 12345 USA
Phone: (518) 385-2299
email:michael.reichard@ps.ge.com

www.gepsec.com

Copyright2004 GE Energy All rights reserved.

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