Bite of Science Dr. Emanuel Bernabeu

Electric Power Systems

More than Meets the Eye

Agenda

• Overview: Dominion Virginia Power.

• Power Systems: More than Meets the Eye.

– The most important infrastructure.

– The world largest machine.

– Perfect just-in-time.

– Markets.

– Geomagnetic Disturbances.

• Conclusion.

Presenter

• Emanuel Bernabeu:

– Bachelors in Electronics Engineering – Universidad Catolica de Cordoba, Argentina.

– Ms degree in Applied Economics – Virginia Tech.

– Ms degree in Electrical Engineering – Virginia Tech.

– Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering – Virginia Tech.

• Currently holds a position in Operations Engineering at DVP:

– Lead engineer for “special” studies.

Dominion Profile

4

Leading provider of energy and energy services in the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.

~28,200 MW of electric generation

6,000+ miles of electric transmission

12,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline

Cove Point LNG Facility

2.4 million electric customers: VA/NC

942 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage operated

1.3 million natural gas customers in OH & WV

2.1 million non-regulated retail

customers in 13 states

Our Integrated Business Model

Dominion Virginia Power • Electric Distribution • Electric Transmission • Unregulated Retail

Dominion Generation • Regulated Generation • Merchant Generation

Dominion Energy • Gas Transmission • Gas Distribution • Producer Services

The Dominion Electric Transmission System at a Glance

6

$2.1B of assets in service – 6300+ miles of

transmission lines • 500kV – 1250 mi.

• 230kV – 2600 mi.

• 115kV – 2300 mi.

– 400+ substations

– 882 FTEs

The Electric Power Grid

• E.F. Schumacher: “There is no substitute for energy… It is not ‘just another commodity’ but the precondition of all commodities, a basic factor equal with air, water, and earth.”.

Source: J. Peerenboom, R. Fisher, and R. Whitfield, 2001. “Recovering from Disruptions of Interdependent Critical Infrastructures”

Overview

• The power grid:

– Generation.

– Transmission.

• P = I2*R

• P = V*I

– Distribution.

0 0 0EB ds i

dt

0B dA 0

qE dA

BE dsdt

Source: how stuff works.

Fun Facts: ONE Machine

• The electric grid is the world’s largest machine.

– Blackout in Italy 2003 caused by a fault in Switzerland.

Fun Facts: Perfect Just-in-Time (JIT)

• Electric power cannot be economically stored.

– Holy grail: specially for renewable sources.

• Generation must match the load (always!).

LOAD GENERATION

60.0

55.0 65.0

Time

Load

Generation Portfolio

• Base load generation:

– Nuclear, Coal, Gas, etc.

• Peak generation:

– Gas, Hydro, etc.

• Wind/Solar:

– Non dispatchable.

Source: CAISO – Integration of renewable resources.

Bath County Pumped Storage Generation

• Largest pumped storage generation in the world.

– Built in 1985.

– 2.7 GW (Hoover=2GW, Nuclear=2GW).

– $1.7 Billon.

Fun Facts: Markets

• Load Forecasting:

– Weather/day/season.

– Yearly, monthly, daily, hourly.

• Unit dispatch:

– Based on cost.

• Contractual paths:

– Kirchhoff’s law.

Source: UCTE blackout report.

Fun Facts: Geomagnetic Disturbances

1-3 Days

Source: NASA

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC)

Ionospheric Electrojet

GIC flow

E

GIC GIC

Transmission Line

Grounded Transformer

Grounded Transformer

0

1 1t

y

x

B tE t du

tt u

0

1 1t

x

y

B tE t du

tt u

Source: NOAA

GMD Impacts

• Hydro-Quebec blackout 1989.

• Transformer AC & DC excitation:

– Hot-spots.

– MVARs (voltage stability).

– Harmonics.

Conclusion

• Electrical Power System: critical and exciting field.

• “The future is not what it used to be”:

– Environmental regulations – generation retirements.

– Load composition and growth.

– Integration of renewable sources.

– Stressed network (difficult to build new lines).

• Within the next 5 years, ~50% of Dominion’s work force will be eligible for retirement.

– We NEED students interested in math/science/engineering.

Future Planned PMU Installations to be incorporated into system developed under this grant.

Questions?