This is a TECHtionary tutorial on some key issues in "Smart Grid" technology. To begin with, this discussion does not include solar, co-generation, bio-fuels, electric auto (car charge from the grid and discharge from a smart car) and other on-demand or peak-demand systems. However, the interest in an electronically controlled and managed smart grid grows every day. One of the key reasons is to reduce some of the $80-150 billion business losses due to outages and power quality. The total annual total revenues for electrical power are approximately $330 billion. The cost to build a smart grid is estimated to cost $160 billion. Some of the key issues/benefits of the smart grid are: - Consumer participation – user control and management - Power types - accommodate all types of electric power sources – coal, nuclear, solar, hydrogen, wind, bio, geo, water, auto and others - New products and services – on demand power purchasing, integration of electric cars into the grid and other emerging concepts - QoS-Quality of Service – automatic leveling - reduction in spikes and sags - Optimize grid assets – load balancing and peak use management - Intelligence - anticipation of peak load and response to surge/sag demands - Operation resiliency – man-made attacks, weather and natural disaster
In the TECHtionary tutorial available at http://www.techtionary.com under “S” scroll to Smart Grid, the animated visually explore in detail issues of a smart grid.
Slide 1 - Shown here is a typical electric power generating system of coal-fired and wind generators.
Slide 2 - One of the limitations of integrating wind power into the power grid is that wind generator "farms" are located at great distances from users and is shown here, fluctuates based on the wind. There is an indepth tutorial on wind power under "W" in TECHtionary.com.
Slide 3 - The key to a smart grid is the ability to communicate to and from all the points in the power system. Two-way communications gathering information and transmitting decisions will be the critical tool to adding and removing/reducing loads (users) and reducing outages and failures. Shown later is how DSL-Digital Subscriber Line digital broadband service is connected to the power system on an aerial power (often referred to as a telephone) pole.
Slide 4 - Key to loading is the network of substations or switching centers in the power grid. Shown here is a substation built to transform (via transformer) power from higher voltages from the high voltages to lower voltages. The electric power grid consists of many different voltages. Electric power, on average, is transmitted at the highest voltages possible until it reaches the user.
Slide 5 - The power company switching station connects wind generators to the electrical grid to provide electricity to customers. If one of the coal-fired generators fails or goes off-line while other generators remain online to provide electricity. The point is that generators are brought online (generating electricity) when demand is required or taken off-line for maintenance and to reduce emissions.
Slide 6 - Shown here are some of the key systems in a smart grid - 1) grid communications, 2) grid switch to connect different grid segments together in case of overload (too many demand) or re-route on failure and 3) capacitor storage that can store small amounts of electricity or to reduce spikes (surges) and sags (too little power) to help balance the load (load balancing). Loading balancing adds power during a surge in demand and diverts (sheds/removes) power to capacitors when there is an excess/extra power not being used.
Slide 7 - Shown here is one of the significant benefits of the smart grid is the ability to re-route power around a failure of an aging (average 40 years) aerial "can" pole transformer (mouseover for details), fire/failure at a substation or any other reason.
Slide 8 - The ultimate dilemma of the power grid is the need to control user demand for power. Here are just some examples of electric power consumption to show you the problem. User demand is dynamic changing through the day, day of the week, time of the year and other factors.
Slide 9 – In addition, the complexity of most homes and businesses is increasingly rapidly with a vast array of technologies, such as HD-High Definition TV, WiFi-Wireless Fidelity LANs-Local Area Networks, smart environmental control HVAC-Heating Ventilation Air-Conditioning as as well a traditional kitchen, cleaning and other systems as shown here.
Slide 10 - Shown here is how a smart grid could help balance user demand with power generating capacity. Here is an example of when user demand reaches peak user or grid determined peak levels, the grid turns off devices such as a washer/dryer and/or HVAC or other devices.
Slide 11 - As the grid gets smarter with digital communications via DSL, BPL-Broadband Power Lines, satellite or cable, one of the systems will be smart grid plugs and power strips which simply plug into an existing power outlet and when signaled via wire or cell/WiFi/Zigbee by the grid will automatically turn-off or turn-on the devices. Ideally, this would be a device that you get a local retailer, inexpensive and user-installable. Rather than having to re-wire a residence such as a rental property, the user could self-install the device and manage it via the internet or mobile device. This would also allow the user to determine what pricing models, special promotions from providers and control heating/HVAC and other services such as security. In addition, AMR-Automatic Meter Reading could be connected this way. However, rather than traditional AMR systems, new user-installable systems may be more economically viable for the provider and the user.
Background on Electricity – more tutorials can be found at http://www.techtionary.com In an electric power network the function of the transformer is to change voltage and amperage via electro-magnetism. For example, the voltage output of the power generator is 13,000 volts AC-Alternating Current. For transmission to customers, the output is "stepped up" (increased) to 115,000, 230,000, 340,000 or higher voltages. In the transformer, voltages are separated by an iron core, the copper wire turn windings on the Primary Coil induces via electro-magnetism voltage to the Secondary Coil. To increase (step-up) voltage, there are more windings on the Secondary Coil. To decrease (step-down) voltage, there are fewer windings on the Secondary Coil. The copper wiring (windings) in the transformer core create a magnetic field directly proportional to the magnitude (size) of the current (voltage). The magnetic field (radiation) is called Eddy Current (comes from the term associated with waves in water called eddy currents or eddies). A magnet produces a pure magnetic field in its Rest Frame. Adding current (comes from water current) (amperage) electrons flow from negative-to-positive only if there is a complete (closed) circuit from generator to load (device). The voltage is increased by a transformer to 115-130 KV and then to 230 KV for metropolitan or long distance transmission. At the destination, the power is reduced by transformers to 115K and then to 13 KV and then to 277/480, 110/220 Volts for household use. Why increase the voltage? The answer is to reduce power loss due to resistance: P = IV = I²R. That is, power loss is due to wire resistance increases as the square of the current as well as decreases as the square of the voltage. That is, the higher the voltage, the lower the current and the lower the resistance or power lost during transmission. The flow of electrons causes Eddy Currents to flow producing voltages transformation from the Primary to the Second winding. This transformation is not perfect. Eddy Current loss in copper winding conductors is proportion to the square of the current and to the square of the AC-Alternating Current frequency (Hertz). Since power distribution also contains Harmonics (explained earlier), this transformation causes heat (temperature) which would require cooling. Magnetic or Ferrite Core (non-metallic, ceramic-like compound of ferric oxide found in iron) losses are caused by the AC-Alternating Current magnetic field in the core material. Losses are a function of the operating frequency (e.g. 60 Hertz) and changes in the Magnetic Flux (change/swing). The total core losses are made up of three main components: Hysteresis (the delay in magnetic induction of a ferromagnetic material behind the changing magnetic field) eddy current (described on the left) and residual (natural) losses. These losses vary considerably from one magnetic material to another. In special applications such as higher power and higher frequency switching regulators and RF-Radio Frequency designs require special core selection to produce the highest inductor performance while reducing core losses to a minimum. Interwinding capacitance is the capacitance that exists between the windings of a transformer (or multiple winding inductor). A low value of capacitance is desired in inductive components. The electric power company has numerous switchyards to interconnect electric power generating plants together into an electric power grid. The switchyard also "steps up" (increases) or "steps down" (decreases) voltage for distribution to customers. The electric power grid consists of many different voltages such as: - EHV-Extra High Voltage - 400-1,000 KV-Kilo Volts - HV-High Voltage - 35-400 KV - MV-Medium Voltage - 1-35 KV - LV-Low Voltage to 1 KV Note: Others sources note that HV-High Voltage is defined by some as above 30 KV-KiloVolts, so this is a general guideline not an absolute one. Voltage is stepped down (voltage decreased) by an underground or overhead aerial pole "can" transformer from 13,200 to 7,600 volts to house/business distribution voltage of 277/480 or 110/220 volts AC-Alternating Current for use in lights, appliances and other devices.
About TECHtionary TECHtionary.com produces customer training programs, online and onsite podcasts presentations including iPhone/iPod, audio podcast and PC formats, sales brochures, virtual installation manuals and animated online presentations. The company has more than 3,015+ online presentations on data communications, content distribution, power systems, presence, OCS, SIP, internet, wireless, VoIP-Voice over Internet Protocol, PBX Systems, central office switching, protocols, telephony, telecommunications, networking, routing, IPTV, WiMax, power systems, broadband, WiFi-wireless fidelity and other related technologies available at http://www.techtionary.com. SIP/OCS training is also available as a one-day introduction to a five-day indepth course and can be customized and delivered via web seminar or online tutorial series. In addition, TECHtionary.com has produced medical animations available at http://www.msnopedia.com, automotive, financial services and other animations are also available. Thomas Cross is a magazine columnist with many key technology publications and a member of the Technical Board of Advisors for the VoIP-Security Alliance. Twitter - http://twitter.com/techtionary. Join us at OCS Forum 2010 Expo - June – Boulder, http://www.ocsforum.com/ CrossTalk Named One of the Top-10 Telecommunications Blogs http://navigator.cision.com/Top_10_Telecommunications_Blogs.aspx Blog can be found at: http://blog.tmcnet.com/cross-talk/ He can be reached at 303-594-1694.
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About TECHtionary.com
TECHtionary.com produces dealer and customer training programs, online presentations including iPod and PC formats sales brochures, virtual installation manuals and animated online presentations. TECHtionary.com has more than 3,005+ free online animated presentations on data communications, internet, wireless, SIP, OCS-Office Communications Server, VoIP-Voice over Internet Protocol, PBX Systems, central office switching, protocols, telephony, telecommunications, networking, routing, IPTV, WiMax, power systems, broadband, WiFi-wireless fidelity and other related technologies available at http://www.techtionary.com. More details on training are available by calling Tom Cross at 303-594-1694 or cross@gocross.com. Thomas Cross is a magazine columnist with many key technology publications and a member of the Technical Board of Advisors for the VoIP-Security Alliance. He holds Comptia Security+ and other certifications.
OCS Forum provides classroom and webseminar training as well as a non-production environment for those IT departments without additional equipment, budget or time. This allows planners and users to test ideas, dial in and dial back out, IM file transfers, remote desktop sharing, video conferencing, run scenarios, review logs, break linkages and learning about new telephony features and network access. OCS Forum is also designed for both the system integrator/consultant who wants to learn about OCSR2 without having to build their own system as well as the enterprise customer who doesn't have the time, resources or knowledge to develop one. OCS Forum Labs are designed to be "hands-on" or "over-the-shoulder" with experts available for Q&A and classes for feature-specific review. About OCS Forum OCS Forum is a vendor-independent laboratory environment designed for learning, technical guides, knowledge resources and online "live" services. OCS Forum provides planning, project management, consulting, training, case studies, white papers, speaking engagements, market/customer research, network planning and other services. For more go to http://www.ocsforum.com
OCS Forum Expo 2010 will be held in Boulder, Colorado, June 15 & 16 at the St. Julien Hotel (www.stjulien.com) with keynotes from OCS MVPs, Media Gateway/SBC experts, customers, planners and others. Attendees and exhibitors will receive thousands of dollars in valuable videos, training courses and online access to a "live" OCS system. There will be sessions on OCS Planning, QoS, Security, Firewalls, Media Gateways, PBX Integration, Mobile OCS, Communicator, WAN-Bandwidth Planning, Customer Applications, Troubleshooting, Session Border Controllers and others. For prospectus, speaker, exhibitor, information, please contact Tom Cross cross@gocross.com or 303-594-1694.
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