electric power research institute - program overview 2007

7/30/2019 Electric Power Research Institute - Program Overview 2007

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Electric Power Research Institute2007 Portfolio

p. 1

01 Power Quality

Program Overview

Implementing a Vision for Power Quality as a Tool for Optimizing Utility Performance

Benefits of Program Membership: Some twenty years ago, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)initiated what was then a virtually unheard of field of studya focused research effort to better define, understand,and improve the quality of electric power supply. This new field of Power Quality (PQ) focused initially ondefining what PQ was and how to measure it. In the subsequent two decades, EPRI-led research has allowed anevolution and revolution of the PQ field so that it is now widely considered to be an essential core competency forall electric power suppliers. Furthermore, PQ has evolved from being a back-office function to a front-and-centerfunction that is often on the leading edge of utility-customer relations and satisfaction, and a core component of anyelectric utilitys effort to improve overall performance.

The EPRI PQ research programProgram 1 in the EPRI 2007 Portfoliois a multi-US$ million effort closelysupported by over 50 of the most forward-thinking electric power suppliers in the world. In close collaboration withthese partners, EPRI has developed a comprehensive Master Plan that defines not only specific needs andobjectives of PQ research for the next 10-20 years, but also presents a renewed and vigorous vision for the role thatPQ can and should play in enhancing the economic performance of modern electric power suppliers, manufacturers,and other key industry partners.

The EPRI PQ Master Plan comprises a number of key components that represent a defined and inspired vision forPQ research, and identify profound opportunities to improve reliability, asset utilization, system planning,compatibility with customer loads, and utility financial performance:

Success Statements: Contained inthe first and most fundamental level of the EPRI PQ Master Plan are 16 SuccessStatements that articulate the specific needs and goals for ongoing PQ research and, therefore, for the EPRI PQ

research effort. These Statementscarefully identified and crafted in close cooperation with utility and industry PQprofessionalsrepresent a watershed in articulating a new vision for PQ research. Collectively, they not onlyprovide a basis for identifying key needs and opportunities in PQ, but also serve as a means of keeping that researchfocused on specific, achievable, and economically viable solutions, and charting and quantifying our progress yearby year. They represent the destination and overall objective for EPRI-sponsored PQ research.

Critical Gaps: For each Success Statement, the Master Plan process has collectively identified over 300 CriticalGaps that represent specific needs for enhanced knowledge, capabilities, and solutions in PQ. The Critical Gaps arethe stepping stones needed to realize the Success Statements. From these Critical Gaps, EPRIin concert withclose advice and support of program fundershas developed, evaluated, and profoundly updated its specificresearch agenda. Through rigorous prioritization and impact analysis, this process ensures that priority is given tothose most critical gaps having the highest and most economically significant impact on achieving the vision of theMaster Plan and its incumbent Success Statements.

EPRI PQ R&D Portfolio: The EPRI research and development Portfolio is a direct and on-the-groundmanifestation of the Master Plan process, articulating a specific plan for satisfying the Critical Gaps and, thereby,achieving the Success Statements and overall vision of the PQ Master Plan. The Portfolio comprises three to fourproject sets and approximately a dozen prioritized, focused, and goal-oriented projects designed to efficiently chart apath to ultimate success while providing extraordinary value to funders each and every funding year.

Working closely with our utility, manufacturing, and other industry partners, EPRI will continue to set the standardin PQ research focused on improving utility performance.


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EPRI 2007 Portfolio p. 201 Power Quality for Improved Power Delivery Performance

EPRI PQ Vision and Mission

The Vision for the EPRI PQ research effort is two-part; a philosophical vision, and a technical vision:

EPRI PQ Research Philosophical Vision

The Philosophical Vision of the EPRI PQ research effort is to develop the practice and understandingof Power Quality into an essential and increasingly valuable tool for optimization

of utility business performance at all levels.

EPRI PQ Research Technical Vision

"The Technical Vision of the EPRI PQ research effort is to continuously improvesystem operations, optimize customer satisfaction, and minimize cost of business through

intelligent collection, interpretation, and application of system data."

This vision is intended to be shared not only among our partners but throughout the energy industry and publicagencies.

EPRI PQ Research Mission Statement

The EPRI PQ Portfolio is the world-wide leader in every aspect of PQ research, knowledge development,and resource deployment, and serves as a vital engine for improved utility performance. The program

engages all facets of the PQ worldfrom electric utilities to end-use customers, from systemunderstanding to mitigation technologies, from the factory floor to the board room.

Program Summary:This visionary program has been streamlined to three targeted project sets, each taking on aportion of the responsibility for achieving the vision of the EPRI PQ Master Plan. These project sets begin toaddress over 200 of the 250 Critical Gaps identified in the EPRI PQ Master Plan process. Joint projects with

industry and other EPRI sectors will begin to address the remaining Critical Gaps.

PS1A Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, and Planning:This program providesspecific guidance and tools to maximize T&D asset utilization and enhance grid power security, quality, reliability,and availability (SQRA) through system design, operations, and maintenance practices and analysis tools. Projectset funders will gain specific guidance to enhance T&D power quality and reliability to meet the increasinglydiversified requirements of a competitive energy marketplace, including changing regulations and open-accessrequirements.

This project set will address 4 of 16 Success Statements (below) and over 50 Critical Gaps identified in the EPRI PQMaster Plan.

Benchmarking of performance will be a dynamic, ongoing function, not a project. It will be adaptable to

changing metrics and circumstances.

We have dynamically-updating models based on real time data.

We know the economic opportunity that exists for improved PQ and have goals for how we can benefit from it.Metrics could include value of load not served.

We will have a robust 10-year forecast to help project the composition of future loads.

The flagship product from the PS1A project set is thePower Quality Diagnostic System (PQDS), a complete tooldesigned to help engineers and technicians develop solutions for power quality problems. Individual modulesperform the major functions required in the diagnostic system, and a Power Quality Case Study Investigation


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Processor directs the user to modules required for a particular problem or investigation. The Economic AssessmentModule (EAM) provides a valuable capability to the power quality engineer in simplifying the calculation processfor power quality costs, and determining the expected performance of corrective measures. The module works from

a base-case model of a utility substation supplying several customers with one or more processes that can beaffected by power quality disturbances. Each year, new modules are added to this essential tool.

PS1B Integrating PQ Monitoring and Intelligent Applications to Maximize System Performance:Thisprogram provides state-of-the-art, knowledge-based tools, testing, and measurement technologies necessary tomonitor, diagnose, understand, and prevent PQ disturbances throughout the entire electrical power system. PQViewis the world standard for managing power system monitoring information and this program results in theimplementation of new advanced applications that increase the value of the monitoring information being collected.Project set funders will be well equipped to pursue operational power system excellence from transmission throughend-use customer loads. Besides PQView updates, the program also focuses on analysis tools that help solve PQand reliability issues more efficiently and economically.

This project set will address 6 of 16 Success Statements (below) and over 100 Critical Gaps identified in the EPRIPQ Master Plan.

We have 100% compatibility of key electrical system equipment and PQ monitoring and data gatheringsystems.

All important system devices have integral sensors/monitors. There are NO retrofit equipment sensors.

PQ monitoring is ubiquitous, sufficiently high-speed, and integrated with sophisticated device/system models toallow prevention of ALL preventable equipment failures.

We will be able to anticipate all preventable faults.

Our monitoring systems will identify and flag all preventable / intermittent phenomena and allow location ofproblems with great accuracy. A specific requirement is that, in ten years, we have a means of determining ifthere's been a lighting strike.

Our systems will detect and locate faults on a map, preferably from PQ or other readily-available data sets.

The PS1B project set features EPRI'sPQViewSoftware, which stores and analyzes large quantities of PQ-relateddisturbance and steady-state measurement data. Featuring data management tools that can quickly characterize thedata, PQView includes statistical analysis and plotting tools that can provide single- or multiple-site power systemsanalyses. Users can gain access to the same PQ monitoring data through an application known as PQWeb, a servercomputer that runs PQView's data management and analysis tasks and allows users to access the results via a webbrowser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. With this software, PQView becomes a multi-platformapplication that can work across otherwise incompatible operating systems, thereby enabling it to bring PQ data andinformation to bear on a wide range of power delivery performance issues.

PS1C Achieving Cost-Effective PQ Compatibility between the Electrical System and Loads:This programprovides advanced PQ disturbance mitigation tools and technology solutions to significantly reduce the number andconsequence of electrical disturbances at the transmission, distribution, and end-use level. By integrating keytechnologies, such as advanced energy storage technologies with power electronics, this program helps ensure

electrical compatibility between the power system and the end-use customer's equipment, enabling PQ to serve as astrategic value creator for the utility industry.

This project set will address 5 of 16 Success Statements (below) and over 50 Critical Gaps identified in the EPRI PQMaster Plan.

There will be a universal equipment immunity standard for electronic equipment, perhaps through IEEE. Wewill also have a testing standard and certification method.


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We have a comprehensive equipment design guide that is widely adopted within the equipment design andmanufacturing industry.

We have a good understanding of what customer segments are suffering problems.

We have a significant compatibility standard for voltage immunity. We will have a comparable level of understanding about compatibility and PQ issues for DC as we do for AC.

Prominent in the PS1C project set is the EPRI Industrial Design Guide (IDG), which provides a strong technicalbasis for working with industrial end users in power quality, distribution, and economic development activities. TheIDG describes in detail such industrial processes as injection-molded plastics and CNC machining, includeselectrical diagrams of the processes and sub-processes, and discusses the economics of process-associateddowntime. The descriptions and drawings are interactive, leading the user to important power quality considerations,such as sensitive components, test protocols, solutions, applications, and relevant case studies. This authoritativeguide to industrial processes can be used to train new power quality engineers, refresh seasoned representatives, andenhance the credibility of all employees in the presence of end users. The web-based format makes it easy to use andaccessible from any location.

In addition, the collaborative nature of published case studies allows practical experience to be gained throughothers, thus accelerating the process. Case studies will also improve understanding of PQ disturbances, including

Description of the business/process and layout of the plant, product flow, and the equipment used,

Effects of the problem, which may include out-of-spec product, unplanned shutdowns, or damaged equipment,

Analysis and root cause of the problem, including methodology for determining root cause,

Proposed solution,

Verification of solution effectiveness, and

Cost/benefit analysis of solution.

PS1D PQ Technology Transfer and Knowledge Development:The EPRI PQ Technology Transfer andKnowledge Development project set has been completely restructured over the last three years to deliverdramatically increased value for all program funders. The program provides a wealth of high-impact resources in a

well-designed, readable, and accessible format. Paramount among these are numerous and highly readabledocuments covering a wide range of PQ topics, written not only for use by busy PQ professionals, but also to beshared with important end-use customers and internal utility management. The programs website, www.MyPQ.net,is the most comprehensive electronic PQ resource available, providing 24x7 access to hundreds of PQ case studies,nearly 300 PQ technical documents, PQ standards references, indexes, conference presentations, and a wealth ofother resources. PQ Technology Transfer and Knowledge Development is one of the most highly-leveraged projectsets within the EPRI family, creating over $500,000 in new content each year and matching individual fundercontributions by at least 20-to-1. The project set is designed to be an essential and valuable part of any PQ Programor Customer Support organization.

The project set comprises a wide array of resources and tools. At the core of the project set is a customer hotlineoffering round-the-clock power quality technical support. Complementing these products are electronicallydistributed newslettersSignature Journal, PQ TechWatch Reports, and PQNewswhich regularly provide the

latest information on power quality business, technical trends, educational opportunities, and project updates.Development of a detailed EPRI PQ Encyclopedia provides a definitive reference and training tool for powerquality. Continued enhancement of the highly-valued power quality case study library will be developed to providecustomers with an essential and productivity-improving resource. Access to the PQ Hotline provides best-in-classproblem solving resources, while a PQ Hotline Database provides an unparalleled archive of a wide range ofsolutions and industry experience. Addition of more resources to the Power Quality Online Resource Center willfurther enhance its value. Complimentary registration for the North American Power Quality Interest Groupmeeting, along with a registration discount on all PQA Conferences, completes the PQ Technology Transfer andKnowledge Development offering.


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MarketingNumber Project Title

LifetimeNumber

ResearchDate

PS01A Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design,

Maintenance, and Planning

062088

P001.001 T&D Design & Maintenance Practices for PQ and Reliability 055700

P001.002 PQ and Reliability Benchmarking and Standards 058585

P001.003 Support and Development of PQ and Reliability AnalysisTools

048303

P001.004 SQRAMeasurement and Management of Security, Quality,Reliability, and Availability

058546

PS01B Integrating PQ Monitoring and Intelligent Applications toMaximize System Performance

062089

P001.005 Integration of Data from Multiple Sources 060443

P001.006 Advanced Applications for Monitoring Systems 062153

P001.007 Monitoring System Development and Management 058586

PS01C Achieving Cost Effective PQ Compatibility between theElectrical System and Loads

062092

P001.008 System Compatibility Research 062349

P001.009 Emerging PQ Technology Assessment 062350

P001.010 Industrial Design Guide 048281

P001.011 Equipment Immunity Performance Guidelines 062093

PS01D PQ Technology Transfer and Knowledge Development 063526

P001.012 PQ Knowledge Development and Transfer 2007

PS01A Improving PQ and Reliability wi th T&D Design, Maintenance, and Planning(062088)

Benefits of Project Set:This project set will address 4 of 16 Success Statements and over 50 Critical Gapsidentified in the EPRI PQ Master Plan through ongoing and focused research, helping utilities to improve businessperformance through evaluation and improvement of the power quality and reliability of transmission anddistribution systems. Project set funders will gain specific guidance and tools to maximize their T&D assetutilization and enhance the supply system power quality and reliability.

Project Set Summary:The project set consists of four fundamental research areas to address a wide range oftopics related to the power quality and reliability performance of T&D systems. They will provide the informationand tools needed to address the design and operation of transmission and distribution systems as the needs ofcustomers continue to evolve and new technologies become available to improve system performance. Members of

this project set will also benefit by their ability to have ready access to the tools, support, and training needed tomake the most effective use of both EPRI and commercial PQ software. Members will reduce their investigationexpenses and increase end-user satisfaction through their interaction with a trained, well-informed power qualitystaff. Members will also benefit by gaining access to research that helps better quantify system reliability withstatistical techniques. They will also gain access to more advanced methods for optimizing the economics associatedwith system improvements. Each of the research areas is directed by a working group that helps to prioritize specificresearch areas each year to assure that the focus is timely and targeted to the specific needs of funders.


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Critical areas of research include:

T&D Design and Maintenance Practices for PQ and Reliability

This area assesses the PQ aspect of T&D design practices and identifies tools and methods that can be cost-effectively utilized for grid PQ and reliability improvement. Projects identify traditional and technology-basedsolutions for managing and improving grid power quality and reliability.

T&D system design issues

Protection practices

Voltage regulation and loss control practices

Equipment performance considerations

Field audit guidebook for reliability and power quality assessments

Effect of distributed resources

PQ and Reliability Benchmarking and StandardsThis research area builds on fundamental work in 2004 through 2006 to develop a framework for characterizing

service quality. Ongoing work tracks industry standards and application of these standards for benchmarking andperformance assessments. The program provides tools and recommendations for characterizing system performancefor both internal use in system performance improvement programs as well as external use for performancecomparisons.

PQ, Reliability, Service Quality Indices

Statistical characterization methods

Normalizing performance for system characteristics (e.g. lightning)

Economic Factors

Support and Development of PQ and Reliability Analysis Tools

Leveraging current investment in the PQDS simulation package, this effort will make the package easier to use byincorporating much of the existing functionality into easy-to-use Microsoft Excel templates. The economics module

template was delivered to members in December 2004, and members will identify and prioritize other modules theywish ported into Excel templates. The PQ Modeling and Simulation Help Desk will continue to provide support withmany of the commercially available programs. The application areas and the tools included will be based onmember input, but would typically include support for the following:

Transient analysis (PSCAD/EMTDC, EMTP, ATP)

Power flow/stability analysis (PSS/E, CYME, DigSilent, ETAP)

Harmonics (SuperHarm and many other tools)

Motor starting and industrial system evaluations (EDSA, ETAP)

This project will also use the powerful system analysis tool DSS to implement a method of risk assessment(reliability quantification) that involves statistical techniques and uses yearly load profile data. Previous EPRI workassociated with PQ Planner will be expanded upon and more advanced methods of optimizing the economics will be

developed.

SQRAMeasurement and Management of Security, Quality, Reliability, and AvailabilityThe Strategy for Management of Security, Quality, Reliability and Availability (SQRA) Program will assist indefining metrics for measuring SQRA parameters and developing benchmarking methodologies that are practical,repeatable, and readily applied to improve management and strategic decisionmaking to optimize capital and O&Minvestments. This program focuses more on transmission system performance issues as compared to the PQ andReliability Benchmarking and Standards program described above. Transmission performance indices and metricsand their application to improve performance will be a continued focus of this program, including coordination withCIGRE and IEC efforts to define metrics and assessment procedures.


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Related Work in Other Areas:This project set will work very closely with other EPRI project sets:

Distribution Operations (Program 128)

Distribution Automation (Program 124)

Distributed Resources Program (Program 101)

Energy Storage Program (Program 94)


LifetimeNumber

ResearchDate

P001.001 T&D Design & Maintenance Practices for PQ and Reliability 055700

P001.002 PQ and Reliability Benchmarking and Standards 058585

P001.003 Support and Development of PQ and Reliability AnalysisTools

048303

P001.004 SQRAMeasurement and Management of Security, Quality,

Reliability, and Availability

058546

P001.001 T&D Design & Maintenance Practices for PQ and Reliability (055700)

Benefits:This project quantifies the power quality and reliability impacts of various T&D design standards andoperations practices, providing guidelines and cost/benefit analysis tools for improving quality and reliabilitythrough transmission and distribution system design, operations, and maintenance. Project participants can morecost-effectively strategize their asset utilization, and maintain or improve power quality and reliability at a lowercost.

Description:T&D design and construction standards and practices impact the quality of power and reliability ofsupply to end users. Standards engineers lack clear guidelines on how to optimize the power quality and reliabilityperformance with design and operations practices. Traditional design and construction standards/practices are based

on optimizing cost with specific reliability constraints. The practices do not consider the tradeoffs betweenreliability and power quality in some cases and optimizing reliability and quality based on customer requirements.

This is an ongoing project that builds on multiple years of research and application guide development. Guidelineshave been developed in many areas of design, construction, and operations practices:

Line lightning protection

Distribution transformer configuration

Line clearance

Protective device coordination

Recloser and fuse operation

Capacitor placement and control (including distribution filters)

Single-phase tripping

Overhead vs underground designs

Technologies for controlling faults caused by animals

Controlling faults caused by trees

Grounding practices

Conductor size and characteristics

Voltage regulation technologies


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A major focus of work in previous years has been improvement of voltage sag and momentary interruptionperformance. Voltage sags are caused by faults on the distribution and the transmission systems and techniques forperformance improvement must address all causes of faults. Funders identify priority areas for the research each

year and this determines the primary focus of the work. Topics can include high-tech designs, animal protection,lightning protection, protective device coordination (including relay settings and schemes), tree trimming,underground issues, and looped system configurations and protection.

In 2005, an initial infrastructure for on-line organization of previous research results was developed along with acomprehensive application guide structure for ongoing delivery of research results from this project area. This workconsolidated T&D design information and the effects on reliability and quality. The system includes guidelines forevaluating the economics of different design and maintenance alternatives as part of a cost/benefit analysis of powerquality and reliability improvement alternatives. These guidelines and associated tools will be enhanced withresearch results of research in future years.

The T&D power quality and reliability application guide will be a resource that improves with research initiativeseach year. Funders will prioritize research in each year based on the most important concerns and issues involvingthe T&D system design and operation for quality and reliability. Important aspects of the application guide includethe following:

Statistical assessment methods and examples for better understanding the effects of importantcharacteristics and designs

Implications of new T&D reliability/asset life technologies and practices

Links to resources on T&D design

Information on tools to support T&D design for power quality improvement

Economics of design alternatives and the resulting impacts on quality and reliability

New technologies and designs for improved quality and reliability

Case studies of T&D designs and the resulting impacts on reliability and quality

Focus areas for 2007 research will be determined by advisors but are likely to include development of new tools andupdates to application guide material (both report and web-based) in the following areas:

Surge arrester application practices and effect on fault performance

Updates on protection practices and reliability/power quality impacts

Tree trimming/tree wire/detecting tree faults

Line design issues for reliability and quality

Capacitor application practices and voltage control

Economics of automation approaches for improving reliability and quality

Delivery Approach:The deliverable for this project will be ongoing improvements to both an on-line resourceand electronic application guide for analyzing T&D design factors and their influence on power quality andreliability. A workshop/training session will provide background on the use of the analysis and support tools, as wellas provide training on the new research results.

Completion Criteria and Duration: All deliverables will be completed by March 31, 2008.

Related Work in Other Areas:Transmission Program

2007 Deliverables

Deliverable Title Del ivery Year Del iverable Type

T&D Design & Maintenance Practices for PQ and Reliability 03/31/2008 Technical Report


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2007 Deliverable Highl ights

The technical report will summarize the field data collected and will report on how well basic algorithms wereable to locate faults on a variety of different distribution circuits. The report will also identify future work and

lay out an implementation vision to translate the field data knowledge and algorithms into practical tools thatutilities can use.

Future Years Deliverables Table

Deliverable Title Delivery Year Deliverable Type

Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, andPlanning: Tool Development and Advanced Algorithms

2008 Technical Update

Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, andPlanning: Prototype Software

2008 Software

Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, andPlanning: Underground-Specific Location

2008 Technical Report

Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, andPlanning: Production-grade Software and Field Testing Results

2009 Software andTechnical Report

Future Year Deliverable Highlights

Improving PQ and Reliability with T&D Design, Maintenance, and Planning: Production-Grade Software(2008): The effort will develop and test production software and will include beta testing by sponsors.

First 5 utilities to test the software: 2007

Forming Users Group: 2007

Reaching a goal of 40 utilities to use this software - 2008

P001.002 PQ and Reliability Benchmarking and Standards (058585)

Benefits: Reporting of reliability performance is a critical requirement for electric utilities, both for externalreviews and for internal planning purposes. Understanding and reporting of power quality performance is becomingcritical as well. This project area provides tools and guidelines for effective performance assessment and reportingmethods. The project helps utilities understand and adopt industry standard approaches for performance assessmentand provides coordination with new industry standards development.

Description:There are many different indices and practices for characterizing the quality and reliability of thesupply system. Different companies may have completely different practices for calculating and reportingperformance. Likewise, regulators from different states and countries have different reporting requirements, indices,and calculation procedures. As quality and reliability characteristics of the supply system continue to increase inimportance, it is equally important that standardized approaches be used for characterizing and reportingperformance so that these approaches can be effectively automated and used to assess performance improvementprograms.

Research in 2004 developed a framework for a "service quality index" that combines issues of reliability and powerquality while providing a customer focus to the performance assessment. In 2005, case studies were developed forapplying the service quality index and refinements where developed in 2006.

At the same time, it is necessary to track regulatory issues and standards development around the world tounderstand priorities for benchmarking and characterizing performance. New methods that incorporate statisticaldescriptions of performance can be used in probabilistic risk assessment methods. Future standards will incorporatethese probabilistic techniques.


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Other advancements involve identification of key system characteristics that influence reliability and quality (e.g.lightning flash density) and developing standardized approaches for including these variables in the descriptions ofsystem performance. This will result in more accurate assessments of system performance that is attributable to

design and maintenance practices, as compared to external factors.

The project will also compile and maintain an on-line reference library of approaches recommended in standardswith examples of applications. Examples of important standards include:

IEEE 1366 (reliability including MAIFI and major events)

IEEE P1564 (voltage sags)

EN 50160 and related standards (ANSI C84, IEEE 1433, IEEE 519) for characterizing and reporting steadystate characteristics

CIGRE C4.01.4 Recommended Power Quality Indices

The priorities for the research effort will be developed by a working group and workshops looking at a variety ofalternatives. Appropriate priorities will be developed for each year and deliverables will summarize these

developments for the funders.

PQ and reliability service quality indices

Statistical characterization methods

Normalizing performance for system characteristics (e.g., lightning)

Delivery Approach

Annual report that provides an update on recommended power quality and reliability characterization andreporting methods with a particular focus on new developments and approaches.

On-Line library summarizing important standards and benchmarking efforts from around the world.

Workshop where members can share experiences on benchmarking and system performancecharacterization methods.


Related Work in Other Areas: Program 121 SQRA focuses on system wide performance issues, includingsecurity. The research in P1.002 will coordinate with the work in Program 121.

2007 Deliverables

Deliverable TitleDelivery

YearDeliverable Type

PQ and Reliability Benchmarking and Standards 12/31/2007 Technical Update

PQ and Reliability Benchmarking Workshop 12/31/2007 Conference/Workshop


This technical update will report on the latest developments in characterizing and benchmarking reliability andPQ performance.

The online analytical tools and database of historical performance will provide the following functions to allowmembers to perform benchmarking assessments:

Download the raw utility reliability databases

Generate summaries and reports for various reliability indices, sorted by different criteria

Perform yearly and regional variability comparisons


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Compare results with and without excluding major events

Forecast future reliability based on trends

Run correlations of distribution reliability indices with distribution system characteristics

(urban/rural/downtown, overhead/underground, etc.)


Deliverable TitleDelivery

YearDeliverable Type

Outage Database Mining Software: Technical Update Report andAnalytical Tools

2008 Software

Future Year Deliverable Highlights

Outage Database Mining Software (2008): Extending the 2007 project, software will be delivered that utilitiescan use to mine their own outage databases, do forecasts, do cause-analyses, evaluate the effects of storm

exclusions, and identify worst-performing feeders.

P001.003 Support and Development of PQ and Reliabili ty Analysis Tools (048303)

Benefits: Members of this project will benefit by their ability to have ready access to the tools, support, andtraining needed to make the most effective use of both EPRI and commercial PQ software. Members will reducetheir investigation expenses and increase end-user satisfaction through their interaction with a trained, well-informedpower quality staff.

Description:This project will provide support for both EPRI PQ software as well as some of the commerciallyavailable software related to advanced analysis and simulations.

Leveraging the current investment in the PQDS simulation package, this effort will make the package easier to use

by incorporating much of the existing functionality into easy-to-use Microsoft Excel templates. The economicsmodule template was delivered to members in December 2004, and members will identify and prioritize any othermodules they wish ported into Excel templates.

The PQ Modeling and Simulation Help Desk will continue to provide support with many of the commerciallyavailable programs. The application areas and the tools included will be based on member input, but would typicallyinclude support for the following:

Transient analysis (PSCAD/EMTDC, EMTP, ATP),

Power flow/stability analysis (PSS/E, CYME, DigSilent, ETAP),

Harmonics (SuperHarm and many other tools)

Motor starting and industrial system evaluations (EDSA, ETAP)

EPRI will provide support through a network of professionals proficient in the various packages, as well as through

web-based seminars and a modeling and simulation workshop. As an added benefit, members will be able todownload "canned" modules or templates for some of the more difficult modeling tasks. This may include "includefiles" for an induction generator or dc arc furnace for use in the EMTP or a "flicker meter" for PSCAD. A library ofmodules and templates will be available to funding members through a secure website.

For reliability focused tools, this project will use the powerful system analysis tool DSS to implement a method ofrisk assessment (reliability quantification) that involves statistical techniques and uses yearly load profile data.Previous EPRI work associated with PQ Planner will be expanded upon, and more advanced methods of optimizingthe economics will be developed.


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In addition, the various commercially available packages (CYMDIST, NEPLAN, etc) will be assessed andinterfaces between them evaluated.

Delivery Approach: Information and training will be delivered through websites (including a secure website forsimulation support) and web-based workshops. New Microsoft Excel templates will be delivered via CD-ROMand/or through a secure website. TheReliability Analysis Tools Application Guidewill be issued as a technicalreport.

Completion Criteria and Duration: All deliverables will be completed by 03/31/2008. Member technicalsupport will be provided on an ongoing basis throughout the funding period.

Related Work in Other Areas: Distribution Program

2007 Deliverables


Microsoft Excel Templates (Motor Start, Flicker, etc.) 3/31/2008 Software

PQ Software Support 3/31/2008 Service

Reliability Analysis Tools Application Guide 3/31/2008 Technical Report

Reliability Analysis Tools Application Guide Workshop 3/31/2008Conference/Workshop


Use of statistical techniques and uses yearly load profile data

Comprehensive assessment of other commercially available packages

Development of potential interfaces

P001.004 SQRAMeasurement and Management of Security, Quality, Reliability, andAvailabi li ty (058546)

Benefits:This project is designed to provide senior executives with the knowledge, insights, and collaborativeresources they need to make informed decisions about transmission system performance. This resource is focused onresponding to industry changes that mandate heightened SQRA (such as NERC rules and the Electric ReliabilityOrganizationERO), and the challenges to providing ever-increasing SQRA in todays capital-constrained electricpower delivery environment. It will also define transmission system performance metrics and develop managementmethodologies for SQRA. These measurements can be readily applied to improve management and strategicdecisionmaking as well as optimize capital and O&M investments in the power delivery system that benefit digitalend-use systems, processes and enterprises. This program will also assist the industry, and specifically the programfunders, to maximize T&D asset utilization and investments to effectively manage and enhance performance levels

of SQRA.

Specific benefits of this program will include:

Providing executives and regulators with tools and resources to enable performance-based decision makingand risk assessment,

Improving the understanding of the impact of various levels of SQRA on end-use systems, processes, andenterprise,

Increasing understanding of how desired SQRA performance levels can be achieved, and

Providing tools to respond to NERCs reliability standards.


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Description:This project addresses new approaches for characterizing the SQRA characteristics of transmissionsystems. It follows regulatory and government developments, such as the establishment of the Electric ReliabilityOrganization (ERO) and provides tools and methods for assessing system performance in response to reporting

requirements and internal assessment needs. Methods of benchmarking performance, identifying factors affectingperformance, and evaluating methods to improve performance will be addressed.

Work in 2007 will also be coordinated with CIGRE Working Group (C4.105) charged with defining transmissionperformance metrics and benchmarking methodologies. The Task Force provides the means to collect input frominternational leaders regarding new approaches for assessing transmission system performance.

Delivery Approach: Annual report that provides an update on new methods for characterizing transmissionsystem SQRA, including responses to new NERC rules, establishment of the Electric Reliability Organization, andcoordinating with international developments.

Workshop where members can share experiences on transmission performance benchmarking and systemperformance characterization methods.


Related Work in Other Areas:This program will work closely with numerous activities within EPRI to buildupon the strengths that each area provides on topics of common interest. Such areas include a number of PowerDelivery and Markets programs such as Distribution, Power Quality, Distributed Resources, Energy Storage, andCEIDS.

2007 Deliverables


Transmission System SQRA Assessment Methods 12/31/2007 Technical Update

Transmission System SQRA Assessment Workshop 12/31/2007 Conference/Workshop


Linking our research with CIGRE and IEC efforts

Benchmarking will be focused on transmission system first

PS01B Integrating PQ Monitoring and Intelligent Applications to Maximize SystemPerformance (062089)

Benefits of Project Set: Primarily through continued advancements to the PQView and related monitoringsystem management and analysis tools that are being used by members throughout the world, this project set will

address 6 of 16 Success Statements and over 100 Critical Gaps identified in the EPRI PQ Master Plan throughongoing and focused research that enable members to capture the "added monitoring value" that is routinely beingintegrated into such non-monitoring components as relays, meters, switches, reclosers, circuit breakers, andregulators. Such integrated devices are often referred to as intelligent electronic devices. Future monitoring systemswill incorporate information from these different monitoring information sources, as well as interface with utilityinformation systems, for the implementation of advanced applications that improve asset management and systemoperations.


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Project Set Summary:The overall objective of this project set is to implement monitoring system advancementsthat will not only enhance benchmarking and reporting functions of the monitoring systems, but also provide thebasis for advanced applications that can actually improve equipment and system reliability. This project set has three

integrated project areas that complement each other.

P1.005 Integration of Data from Multiple Monitoring Systems: This project area helps increase the value ofmonitoring systems by integrating information from many different devices and equipment that may provideincreased value to overall power quality data management and analysis applications. This can include a variety ofIEDs that may be part of new system investments, as well as advanced metering systems that are used for manycustomers. Important topics to be addressed in the research include the following:

Monitoring equipment considerations (accuracy, standards)

Integration of data from different monitoring systems (relays, digital fault recorders, metering systems)

PQDIF tools and support (PQDIF user group)

PQDIF verification for monitoring systems

COMTRADEcontributions to next version of COMTRADE to make it more compatible with PQDIF

(IEEE Relay Committee) Communications issues and capabilities

The research priorities for this project are developed each year by a project advisory group. Prioritization of thespecific equipment and interfaces to be evaluated allows for the most timely and useful deliverables to be providedto the members.

P1.006 Advanced Applications for Monitoring Systems:This project provides the technical basis for advancedapplications that can be applied in monitoring systems to improve system reliability, equipment performance, andoperations. The objective is to provide the basis for analyzing PQ trended data, transient disturbance data, faultdata, and related system information to identify equipment and system problems that can be resolved in a moretimely manner. Alarms and reports can then be integrated with system maintenance procedures and operations tomore efficiently resolve problems and improve equipment reliability. The net effect can be a dramatic improvement

in system reliability and a reduction in maintenance and operation expenses.

Members will help prioritize important functions to be included in a power quality monitoring system that canprovide operational and reliability improvement benefits. Important capabilities that are likely to be consideredinclude the following:

General processor for trended PQ data to identify abnormal conditions based on control chart theory, etc.

Voltage regulator performance module

Fault protection and coordination assessment module

Automated power quality and reliability reporting methods

Transformer loading and lifetime assessment, including harmonics

Arrester performance for transient events

Work will also begin on a database collection (library) of disturbance data for use in the development of advancedapplications.

P1.007 Monitoring System Development and Management: This is the project where the advanced capabilitiesactually get implemented in power quality monitoring management systems. Application in actual softwaresystems, such as PQView, allows utilities to realize the benefits of the research in P1.005 and P1.006.


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In 2007-2008, the work in this project set is also being coordinated closely with a large DOE-funded researchproject on fault analysis and fault location technologies that will complement the EPRI research and providesubstantial added value for the members in this project set.

Related Work in Other Areas:This project set will work very closely with other EPRI programs:

Distribution Operations (Program 128)

Distribution Automation (Program 124)


LifetimeNumber

ResearchDate

P001.005 Integration of Data from Multiple Sources 060443

P001.006 Advanced Applications for Monitoring Systems 062153

P001.007 Monitoring System Development and Management 058586

P001.005 Integration of Data from Multiple Sources (060443)

Benefits:This research increases the value of power quality monitoring systems by integrating information from avariety of platforms, allowing the development of applications that can support system operations and maintenance.

The results are improved reliability and operational cost savings for little additional investment.

Description:Many T&D companies have extensive monitoring systems to characterize power quality levels.Monitors may be located at substations, large industrial customers, distributed generators, and other importantlocations. In addition, many other intelligent devices (relays, reclosers, controls, RTUs, and revenue meters) haveimportant monitoring capabilities. These devices can be integrated into an overall power quality monitoring systemfor more complete characterization of power quality around the entire system and to allow the implementation ofadvanced applications that can improve actual system performance.

This project provides the resources and techniques for integrating monitoring information from a variety ofplatforms into a common monitoring system data management and application infrastructure. Example approachesfor integration include use of industry standard formats such as PQDIF and COMTRADE. Research in previousyears has resulted in the development of the PQDIF data format and approval of this format as an IEEE standard.

This has led to further development of similar approaches for standardizing data transfers within substations (PQDIFis the basis of new standards for sharing power quality data within the IEC 61850 architecture). 2006 researchresulted in a PQDIF Application Guide that will support the further advancement of PQDIF application in themonitoring industry. Research in 2007 will utilize the PQDIF Application Guide (2006) and the COMTRADEApplication Guide (2005) to implement interfaces with a variety of IEDs used in substation monitoring. This workwill be coordinated with the development of a National Disturbance Library in a DOE funded project and will alsobe related to the implementation of advanced algorithms like fault location that use the monitoring information fromthe substation IEDs.

The research will continue to characterize important data sharing requirements and development ofrecommendations for accomplishing the data sharing. Application guides for use of these standardized approacheswill provide members with the tools for implementing extensive monitoring systems with minimum investment.

Work in 2007 will use the PQDIF and COMTRADE application guides to demonstrate integration of a variety ofdevices:

Digital fault recorders

Intelligent relays

Recloser controls


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Substation data integration systems (another important source of information as utilities are movingtowards substation systems with integrated data based on IEC 61850 standards)

Future research will expand the application guide based on input from members and new integration problems thatarise as new equipment is applied on the power system.

Important research areas for 2007 and beyond include the following:

Integration with IEC 61850 standards and substation data concentrators

Integration with advanced metering systems and developing standards for monitoring data from thesesystems

PQDIF and COMTRADE tools and support (PQDIF user group)

PQDIF verification for monitoring systems

COMTRADEcontributions to next version of COMTRADE to make it more compatible with PQDIF(IEEE Relay Committee)

Delivery Approach: Application guide for monitoring data integration will be updated each year based onresearch results. Integration examples will be provided as case studies and will be the basis of a workshop withmembers that will also provide the opportunity to share in integration experiences.

The PQDIF Users Group will provide industry coordination for the integration efforts.

Researchers will participate in industry standards development as part of the technology transfer activities toenhance the implementation of research results.


Related Work in Other Areas:The research effort will coordinate with continued development of actual

monitoring system data management and analysis systems in Project P1.007.

The project will also coordinate with ongoing research being funded by DOE to develop a national disturbancelibrary that will use data integration approaches from this research program. This research also coordinates with theDistribution Fault Anticipator (DFA) in P128.

2007 Deliverables


PQDIF Application Guide (update with example cases): Integration ofmonitoring information from a variety of monitoring equipment into aPQDIF compliant database.

3/31/2008 Technical Report

PQDIF Website 3/31/2008 Service


PQDIF Application Guidewill cover a variety of different devices and types of power quality and systemperformance data. It will include actual examples of implementation for field and laboratory applications.

The PQDIF website will include updates on the latest standards development in Comtrade and PQDIFstandards, as well as the current information on actual implementation from vendors of monitoring equipmentand analysis applications.


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P001.006 Advanced App lications for Monitoring Systems (062153)

Benefits:This research increases the value of power quality monitoring systems through the development ofadvanced applications that can directly benefit the operation and maintenance of the system. The applications build

on existing monitoring system platforms to minimize the additional investment required to achieve these benefits.The applications take advantage of the tremendous amount of data available in power quality monitoring systemsthat can be used to assess the condition of equipment and the system with appropriate analytical methods and systeminterfaces.

Description:Power quality monitoring systems have tremendous amounts of data describing the performance ofthe power system and the condition of power system equipment. This data has traditionally been available only forhistorical analysis and reporting. However, advances in communications systems are making this data available innear real-time and integration of data from additional intelligent devices on the system is resulting in the capabilityto collect data from throughout the system.

This project expands the value of PQ monitoring systems by using the data to develop important information aboutthe health of the overall system and individual components. Alarms and reports can then be integrated with system

maintenance procedures and operations to more efficiently resolve problems and improve equipment reliability. Thenet effect can be a dramatic improvement in system reliability and a reduction in maintenance and operationexpenses. These factors will be the most important justifications for monitoring systems in the future.

The research builds on development of intelligent applications in recent years. 2004 research developed approachesfor automating the identification of capacitor problems. 2005 research had two major development areasassessment of approaches for automatic fault analysis and approaches for processing steady state trend data foradvanced applications. Both of these research efforts provide an important foundation for the research in futureyears.

Work in 2006 focused on the development of a monitoring data library that can be used by a wide range ofresearchers to develop advanced approaches for automated fault and problem analysis. This research is beingcoordinated closely with a research project funded by DOE to develop a National Disturbance Library that integrates

data from a variety of monitoring platforms, including the Distribution Fault Anticipator (DFA). The EPRI researchwill help members provide input to the library development and take advantage of the library for advancedapplication development.

Research in 2007 and future years will actually develop advanced applications using the disturbance library andrelated databases of monitoring information for algorithm testing and performance assessments. The projectworking group will help prioritize important functions to be included in a power quality monitoring system that canprovide operational and reliability improvement benefits. Important capabilities that are likely to be consideredinclude the following:

General processor for trended PQ data to identify abnormal conditions based on control chart theory, etc.



Circuit breaker performance assessment module

Transformer loading and lifetime assessment including harmonics


Advanced fault analysis and incipient fault identification

Harmonic resonance assessment for capacitor banks

Capacitor bank switching performance assessment

Customer PQ interface assessments (implementation of limits for harmonics and flicker)

Customer equipment performance assessments based on monitoring information from intelligent meters


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Delivery Approach: Application Guide for using the monitoring disturbance library will be developed withexamples of applying the library for advanced applications. New applications will be specified with documentationof algorithms and examples of the performance with actual monitoring data as well as simulation results. Workshop

will be held to describe the advanced methods and their application in example systems.


Related Work in Other Areas: Research results from this project may be implemented in Power Quality DataManagement and Analysis Software (PQView) that is developed in P1.007. Fault analysis algorithm developmentis also under way in the DFA project and fault location algorithm development is in Program 128.

2007 Deliverables


Expanding PQ Monitoring Functionality with Advanced ApplicationFunctions.


Advanced Application Website 3/31/2008 Service


The specifications, along with any field results, for one or more of the advanced application functions will bepresented in a technical report. The various potential functions will be prioritized by members through a webconference.

The website will include updates on the project status and deliverables, as well as a database repository whereutilities and universities can add events related to system disturbances and effects experienced.

P001.007 Monitoring System Development and Management (058586)

Benefits:This project provides ongoing development of new, advanced features and capabilities for managing andanalyzing large power quality monitoring databases. The developments in this project are implemented in thePQView software for managing power quality monitoring systems but they are implemented for convenientinterface to other PQ management systems as well. The software is in use by more than 50 utilities around theworld and the research effort is coordinated closely with the PQView Users Group to help prioritize developmentefforts.

Description:The objective of the research is developments that will continually increase the value of powerquality monitoring systems so that they can be managed more efficiently and they can provide direct value to systemoperations and planning.

Members will help prioritize important functions to be included in a power quality monitoring system that canprovide operational and reliability improvement benefits. Important capabilities that are likely to be considered

include the following: General processor for trended PQ data to identify abnormal conditions based on control chart theory, etc.



Automated power quality and reliability reporting methods

Transformer loading and lifetime assessment, including harmonics



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The project will also continue to develop advancements for power quality monitoring systems that allow them tointegrate with a wide variety of monitoring equipment. Developments in 2005 implemented full support forequipment that supports the Comtrade format. Future interfaces will provide integration with SCADA systems,

operations databases, electrical databases (system models), metering databases, and historian databases forcoordinated analysis of trending data.

The software development efforts in this project build on the research results in P1.006 and the integrationdevelopment efforts in P1.005.

This project also coordinates with a large DOE-funded research project to develop a National Disturbance Librarythat will support the development and testing of advanced monitoring system applications. The DOE database willbe developed so that it can be used directly with monitoring system management software systems like PQView.

Delivery Approach: Delivery of software updates is through the PQView Users Group. Software updates basedon the research also go through EPRI SQA testing. The deliverables also include updated software documentationand annual workshops for tech transfer of new developments.


2007 Deliverables


Updated Software 03/31/2008 Software


Updated version of the software based on enhancements and additional functionalities that will be incorporatedbased on funding members and the EPRI PQ software user group meeting input. Results will include a web-based training seminar.

PS01C Achieving Cost Effect ive PQ Compatibi lity between the Electr ical System andLoads (062092)

Benefits of Project Set:This project set will address 5 of 16 Success Statements and over 50 Critical Gapsidentified in the EPRI PQ Master Plan. Power quality mitigation solutions significantly reduce electricaldisturbances at the transmission, distribution, and end-use level by integrating advanced energy storage technologieswith power electronics. Helping ensure electrical compatibility between the power system and the end-usecustomer's equipment, this program will enable power quality to serve as a strategic value creator for the utilityindustryand specifically the program members.

Project Set Summary:The System Compatibility of Customer Equipment and the Power System project set

helps EPRI members strategically position themselves in a highly competitive energy market. With the informationand knowledge gained through the research in this program, members will be better able to provide high-quality andhighly reliable power to their end-use customers.

Each year, power quality and reliability are increasingly important considerations in corporate decisions aboutlocating new or expanding existing facilities. Therefore, understanding PQ issues must be a priority for energycompanies seeking to increase their baseload or retain important customers. However, energy companies should beaware that when PQ problems strike, facility managers first turn to resources with which they have had long, stablerelationships, including local electricians or trusted vendors. They tend to shy away from unfamiliar providers, evenif the provider can offer well-designed solutions. Therefore, to offer an effective assistance program to end users,energy companies must develop relationships with their customers and carry forth the effort as a partnership. This


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research program will generate innovative techniques and ideas that will allow members to forge the relationshipsnecessary to help end users reduce downtime, boost productivity, and strengthen long-term competitiveness.

Building on more than 15 years of field experience, this program provides information tools and training programsto help diagnose and resolve PQ problems in end-use customer operations. It includes updates toEPRI's IndustrialDesign Guide, the authoritative tool for working with industrial end users in power quality, distribution, andeconomic development activities. It also offers training services for managing PQ in industrial processes andprovides information to help improve the immunity of commercial and industrial equipment to power qualitydisturbances. In addition, project areas are devoted to applying short-term energy storage devices to enhance PQ forend-use customers, as well as for the electricity industry T&D system.

This program area includes four multi-year projects, designed to help EPRI members and end users cut labor costsand reduce analysis and engineering time. This multi-year approach is key to developing a long-term plan to helpend users increase their productivity, improve their performance, and boost their competitiveness. In addition, themulti-year plan will address members' most pressing power quality concerns. Project areas chosen by members thatare most important to meeting their needs are

System compatibility research,

Evaluation of emerging PQ mitigation technologies,

PQ solutions in industrial and commercial systems, and

Embedded solutions.

Related Work in Other Areas:This project set will work very closely with other EPRI project sets:

Distributed Energy Resources Program (Program 101)

Energy Storage Program (Program 94)


LifetimeNumber

ResearchDate

P001.008 System Compatibility Research 062349

P001.009 Emerging PQ Technology Assessment 062350

P001.010 Industrial Design Guide 048281

P001.011 Equipment Immunity Performance Guidelines 062093

P001.008 System Compatibility Research (062349)

Benefits:The first task under this project, Forensic Analysis: Guidebook for Recognizing Failure Modes in End-Use Equipment, will provide easy-to-use guidance for determining failure modes of electronic equipment for end-use customers. The forensic analysis task will help energy companies, and especially power quality engineering andcustomer claims departments, better correlate equipment damage with the cause of that damage. Insurancecompanies, which issue millions of checks to compensate customers for equipment damage attributed to power

disturbances, will also benefit from understanding this issue. The other tasks will leverage this knowledge.

As the project matures, the results will enable energy and insurance companies to develop a knowledge base ofpower-related failure for classes of equipment. Further, understanding common failure modes among classes ofequipment will enable manufacturers of end-use equipment and mitigation devices to improve the surge-withstandcapabilities of equipment, resulting in fewer claims of damaged equipment, as well as reduced inconvenience forend users.


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Description:This research area involves characterizing compatibility issues between end use equipment, powerconditioning technologies and power system performance. It includes establishing evaluation criteria (e.g., testingprotocols), evaluating failure mechanisms, and identifying solutions. This is extremely important research as it

relates to the EPRI PQ Program Master Plan. One of the 10 year goals of the Plan is to achieve system compatibilityfor end use equipment. This research is where the seminal compatibility information and knowledge is acquired anddistributed. As issues are studied and uncovered, solutions will be developed and applied by the other projects in thisproject set.

Priorities established by Working Group members for immediate needs include the following research areas:

Forensic Analysis: Guidebook for Recognizing Failure Modes in End-Use Equipment

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Comprehensive Motor Protection at Low Voltage

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Surge Protection Devices used in UPS Systems

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Wireless Industrial Sensors

Low Cost Solutions for Flicker

Electromagnetic Compatibility Interference and Mitigation Solutions for End-Use Customers

Forensic Analysis: Guidebook for Recognizing Failure Modes in End-Use EquipmentPower quality disturbances often cause equipment damage, and damaged electrical equipment claims by end usersare an area of great concern to energy providers. While well aware of the typical disturbances, PQ engineers may notbe able to identify the cause of failurewhether it is due to age, the condition of the equipment, misuse, or electricalsystem events. It can also be difficult to determine where an electrical system event started, where it propagated onthe power system, and how it interacted with the equipment that failed.

Certain failure modes are known to be repeatable, and forensic examination of the failed device can offer detailsregarding the cause of the failure. Documentation from organizations such as the Electrical Apparatus ServiceAssociation (EASA) provides visual examples of such damage and first-hand knowledge of the causes. EPRI hasalso done significant work in this area. In past years, the project team developed test protocols and forensic analysis

procedures to better understand how equipment damage occurs during surge and transient conditions. Testing wasperformed mainly on PLCs and ASDs. The project developed equipment failure test protocols for various electricaldisturbances, conducted failure testing, and compiled captured test data into a database. Forensic analysis procedureswere developed, and forensic analyses performed to develop a knowledge base and a guidebook for clients to betterassist end users in resolving electrical equipment failures.

Continuing that work, this project will investigate common causes of equipment failure and catalog visual evidenceof the results. This multi-year project will ultimately create a comprehensive database of equipment damage testingand intelligent forensic analysis, allowing investigators to quickly and easily identify the root cause of the problem.

In 2007, the project sponsors will prioritize the list of equipment damage that will be analyzed under differentdisturbance scenarios. Areas of study suggested by funders include the following:

Failure of electronic equipment with power supplies during voltage sag/momentary interruption/powerrestart following an outage. This includes an area known as post-sag inrush, which has generated interestlately based on the lack of correlation of damaged equipment with lightning events.

Damage/loss of life on induction motors during sustained undervoltage with some degree of voltageunbalance.

Damage/loss of life on induction motors during single-phasing condition, overvoltage in remaining phases.

Failure/data corruption of communication and information technology equipment with excessive neutral-ground voltage.

Damage to sprinkler systems/security systems/garage door openers during voltage transients.


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DC drive punch-through during voltage sags.

Television/VCR response to surges (satellite dishes, cable box).

Sustained undervoltage to air conditioners.

Fuse degradation, pulsed currents.

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Comprehensive Motor Protection at Low VoltageSystem compatibility research has long made valuable information available to EPRI funders. This research willyield information on how end-use devices behave in electrical systems, including how these devices affect and areaffected by the electrical system. This allows funders to understand the power quality issues faced by theircustomers and thus become a better resource to those customers.

Many motor protection relays and intelligent motor controllers advertise sophisticated features. However, theirsusceptibility to electrical disturbances and their ability to protect electric motors from these phenomena are not wellunderstood by end users.

Performance criteria for motor protection relays and intelligent motor controllers involve a number of concerns

related to their response to steady-state and momentary power system variations, such as voltage sags, interruptions,voltage unbalance, and single-phasing conditions.

EPRI has done comprehensive testing of these devices in the past and identified several areas where they could beimproved both from a performance and a power quality standpoint. This project will develop a functionalspecification for the optimum performance and then work with vendors to develop a new device that can overcomethe shortcomings identified in previous testing projects.

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Surge Protection Devices used in UPS SystemsEPRI testing of surge protection devices performed in the mid-1990s characterized their performance. Because newdesigns are on the market today, it would be prudent to undertake a new system compatibility research project tocharacterize these devices again. This project will evaluate the latest surge protection designs to meet the followingobjectives:

Measure the voltage clamping level of the surge protector and ensure that the power system equipment iswell protected

Ensure the survivability of the surge protector under surge conditions and normal variations in operatingenvironments

Understand the side effects of the surge protector

Evaluation of System Compatibility of Wireless Industrial Sensors

In industrial control systems, the hierarchy usually consists of a main controller, where the logic is programmed anddecisions are made, and various field devices that deliver feedback on the state of the system to be controlled. Thesefield devices may include speed switches, pressure transmitters, temperature transducers, and a variety of otherfunctions. In most cases, these input devices are hard-wired back to the controller, or they may communicate using

fiber optic cable.

From a PQ standpoint, system compatibility research has concentrated on the controllers, as PLCs and DCS systemshave been evaluated for sensitivity to power disturbances. Thus far, there has not been a significant push for similarresearch on input field devices. However, the advent of wireless sensors has brought the input devices to theforefront, as they can have significant sensitivity to power disturbances. These may include not only voltagevariations at the power port, which could upset performance, but also electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues.

These involve interference from other signals that can corrupt the transfer of data to the controller and havedevastating effects on the process.


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This project will characterize typical wireless input devices used in industrial control systems with respect to powerdisturbances, affording special consideration to EMI.

Low Cost Solutions for Flicker

This project will explore the possibilities for low cost solutions to flicker. Traditionally, flicker has been caused byvery large offending loads that require very large solutions, at high cost, such as static var compensators installedat medium voltage on distribution systems. Some flicker problems are caused by smaller, local loads, such as HVACsystems or welders. Recent research has identified possibilities for solutions for these smaller loads that are lower incost and easier to implement. These solutions will be evaluated and summarized in this project. While thesesolutions may be prudent for this small segment of customer loads, the large loads still present a difficult problem tosolve. Since the actual problem of flicker is manifested at the lamp, it is possible to explore solutions at thisoffended load. A comprehensive performance evaluation for lamps has not been undertaken for over ten years.

This project will determine the susceptibility of the latest generation of lamps, both incandescent and fluorescent,and their associated ballasts. New ballast designs have been developed over the years that may make them immuneto flicker. New circuit designs can be developed to increase the immunity of incandescent lamps as well. By takingthis approach to solve the problem, the effects of flicker may be mitigated without the traditional high cost.Manufacturers could further develop these solutions to establish the feasibility of making them cost effective andlead to a market-ready product.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Interference and Mitigation Solutions for End-Use Customers

This project will help utility power quality engineers become experts in understanding, identifying, solving, andpreventing EMI problems in commercial and industrial facilities. Armed with test results from EMI measurementsand techniques for conducting on-site EMI investigations, an energy company can help customers make well-informed decisions about compatibility requirements for their facilities. Providing customers with detailed practicalinformation will foster customer relationships while reducing the number of EMI-based equipment malfunctions atcustomer sites.

The project will describe the state of the art in EMC diagnostic equipment and solutions, as well as establish a

baseline for the EMI issues prevalent in commercial and industrial facilities. The baseline data will include statisticaldata for typical values of radiated and conducted emissions and information on which types of equipment andprocesses are affected. Further, a number of useful case studies will be documented.

In previous work, EPRI has conducted extensive power quality research and testing that have provided the necessaryexpertise to solve EMI problems. This multi-year project will use advanced and automatic EMI measurement anddiagnostic equipment to conduct on-site evaluations of industrial and commercial facilities to identify unknownsources of EMI problems. The results of these evaluations will enable utilities and their customers to understand andovercome complex EMI problems. The level of awareness of electromagnetic interference problems in a customer'sfacility will also be increased.

The project will also conduct electromagnetic compatibility audits, which will entail a comprehensive on-siteinvestigation, including a complete electromagnetic-energy site survey of the customer's facility, as well as reviews

of wireless communication systems, radio frequency-based equipment, equipment that may require shielding andfiltering to operate normally, shielded enclosures, and filters. It also applies formal troubleshooting procedures,including the use of EMI meters, spectrum analyzers, and antennae. These audits will create case studies and help tobuild the knowledge base for contemporary EMI problems, and provide tremendous detail for the baseline study, aswell as information to help develop guidebooks for analysis and solutions.

Additional work will be performed to identify the causes of EMI problems and verify the effectiveness of varioustypes of solutions. A specially shielded EMI chamber in the laboratory enables precise emissions and immunitytesting to solve any EMI problem.


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Delivery Approach: All the funded tasks in this project will be documented in a technical report.

Completion Criteria and Duration:The technical report will be delivered by 3/31/2008.

2007 Deliverables


System Compatibility ResearchForensic Analysis: Technical Update forDevices Tested



Increased compatibility between load and the system; increased efficiency of end-use loads



System Compatibility ResearchForensic Analysis: Technical Update forDevices Tested

2008 Technical Report

P001.009 Emerging PQ Technology Assessment (062350)

Benefits:This project provides knowledge for the proper application of emerging power quality mitigationtechnologies. In addition, it provides credible performance data for new power conditioning technologies andincreases end-user productivity. This project will allow members to help customers answer questions on newtechnologies using unbiased third-party test results.

Description:This multi-year project conducts unbiased technical assessments of emerging power quality

mitigation hardware in the areas of voltage sags, momentary interruptions, transient protection, and harmonicfiltering. The assessments will focus on understanding the technologies, reviewing technical specifications,conducting controlled laboratory testing to evaluate performance, and obtaining operational knowledge from fielddemonstrations. This is one of the beginning steps necessary to achieve the Master Plan goal of systemcompatibility. A working knowledge of the latest solutions is critical to the overall effort of overcoming PQproblems. Since PQ mitigation technologies are always evolving, this effort must continue throughout the 10 yearperiod, and beyond.

After evaluating performance and system compatibility issues related to emerging PQ mitigation technologies,researchers will develop application guidelines for emerging technologies in the commercial or pre-commercialstages and conduct field demonstrations. In 2007, the project will continue to explore other emerging power qualitymitigation technologies. In general, testing to be performed will include the following, as applicable:

Steady-state variation tests that will characterize the degree of harmonic current mitigation provided, and

characterize the voltage regulation capability of the device, including over- and under-voltage as well asunbalance.

Momentary variations tests that will

characterize the response to voltage sags, and

characterize the response to momentary voltage interruptions.


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specific process in a given industry. As the main repository of power quality site investigation knowledge/lessonslearned, this product will be the main tool to meet the Master Plan goal of understanding clearly what problems arefaced in different industries.

Some examples of possible modules that can be added include processes from the following industries:

Automotive

Plastics

Food Processing

Semiconductors

The actual industrial processes will be chosen by the funders.

In addition, the collaborative nature of published process studies allows practical experience to be gained throughothers, thus accelerating the process. Modules will also improve understanding of PQ disturbances, covering thefollowing:

Description of the business/processa layout of the plant, product flow, and the equipment used

Effects of the problem, which may include out-of-spec product, unplanned shutdowns, or damagedequipment

Allows analysis and root cause of the problem, by showing the most sensitive components

Possible solutions

Verification of solution effectiveness

In 2005, the software was integrated with solutions interfaces that use a newly developed database of ride-throughdata for known devices, allowing users to create ride-through curves for a given process on screen when individualcomponents are specified. In 2006, the capability for simulation and evaluation of embedded or add-on solutionswas developed. This will consist of a drag and drop feature for power conditioners from a menu of known devices.In 2007, and in future years, the menu will increase based on output from emerging technology assessments inproject P1.009.

Delivery Approach:This project will add descriptions, diagrams, and economic evaluations of new industrialprocesses to the IDG website under EPRIweb and provide a number of industry case studies. Additional processeswill be included as the information is developed and formatted during the year, along with information from systemcompatibility research and forensic examination of failed equipment. The project will also produce an

electric power research institute - program overview 2007

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