Program 8

Project 2 - Cable Electrical Parameters Software Enhancement

As part of Program 8, the capabilities of CEPS will be greatly Expanded. The goal is to add the following features:

• Simple ampacity calculations
• Riser ampacity calculations, based on new information's obtained as part of DSTAR Program 7 research
• Asymmetric neutral currents and losses to allow more accurate evaluation of cable losses and ampacity
• Cable-by-cable neutral currents during faults to determine cable fault-current withstand limitations posed by cable neutrals
• Maximum cable pulling tension
• Maximum sidewall cable pressure

With Expanded capability of CEPS, member utilities will be able to engineer underground distribution systems with greater accuracy, and less engineering effort.

Tagged: P2-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 3 - Capacitor Transient Currents

This project will develop guidelines for avoiding nuisance operation of feeder capacitor bank fuses due to switching transient and lightning duty. The guidelines will consider factors such as:

• capacitor size
• capacitor bank neutral grounding (grounded wye or floating wye)
• rated system voltage
• relative location of other capacitor banks
• switchgear type and performance
• overvoltage protection practices
• feeder lightning exposure

This project will include field measurements to supplement simulations and engineering analysis, providing accurate and realistic results. Final results will be delivered in the form of concise guidelines, tables, and spreadsheets.

Guidelines provided by this research will allow member utilities to better coordinate fuses protecting feeder capacitor banks, and minimize nuisance fuse operations resulting in voltage imbalance affecting customer power quality and labor costs for locating and replacing blown fuses.

Tagged: P3-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 4 - Primary Flicker And Impedance

This modest-sized project will expand the present DSTAR Toolbox voltage flicker tool to calculate the impact of large motor starting or other flicker loads elsewhere on the feeder. The tool will allow the user to quickly and conveniently model the primary system. An impedance calculator will be built into the tool to allow the user to conveniently determine the impedance of a feeder section with a given configuration and conductor size. Voltage flicker results will be output for each specified point in the primary system model, as well as the secondary system to which the flicker-producing load is connected.

There is heightened interest in power quality provided to customers, and one significant aspect of power quality is limiting voltage flicker. Existing tools for distribution system analysis, such as load flow programs, are cumbersome to use for this type of analysis, and are often not available to the engineers needing to perform the flicker analysis. This tool fulfills this need, and offers convenience and ease-of-use which minimizes engineering effort required.

Tagged: P4-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 6 - DSTAR T&D Show

DSTAR T&D Show

Tagged: P6-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 7 - System Owning Cost Comparison Software

Utilities often need to evaluate and compare the system owning costs of overhead (OH) and underground (UG) distribution systems. While some utilities base their analysis solely on installation and equipment first cost comparison, it is recognized that there are O&M costs incurred during the lifetime of OH and UG distribution systems that need to be considered as well.

Tagged: P7-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 8 - Impact of Distributed Generation

This project will develop "white paper" report which describes the various distributed generation technologies and summarizes their impact on distribution system design, operation, and protection. The evaluation will include the following topics:

• Characteristics of "distributed resources" technologies.
• Why and where DR are or might be applied.
• How they may affect distribution system performance
• Impact on system reliability
• Current interconnection standards activities
• How DR Impacts can be minimized
• Future concepts where DR can be used to help the distribution system.

Tagged: P8-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact

Project 10 - Seasonal Loading Equivalents

The Transformer Owning Cost Software (TOCS), the Transformer Loading Analyzer (TLA) in the DSTAR Toolbox, and many other software packages for transformer thermal loading analysis base their representation of annual variations in load and ambient temperature on a four season method with typical load and temperature patterns within each season. Should the "seasons" be summer, winter, spring, and fall ?

This project will develop guidelines and algorithm for dividing the year into loading "seasons" which provide best use of loading program's capability.

Tagged: P10-8, P8, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Engineering Guidelines, Engineering Analysis Software, Economic Analysis, DER Impact