GRID FAILURE 2012

Transmission line power transfer capability depends on: 1. Voltage level 2. Type of conductor 3. Line length Surge Impedance Loading, SIL= (kVL-L)*(kVL-L)/Z0 MW Z0=Sq rt.(L/C) A transmission line loaded to its surge impedance loading: (i) has no net reactive power flow into or out of the line, and (ii) will have approximately a flat voltage profile along its length.

GRID FAILURE 2012

Safe Loading limits for Transmission lines: +/- 500 kV HVDC bi-pole line=Pole Capacity X Number of Pole in service 765 KV line having 4 X 686 sq. mm conductor =2250 MW per circuit 765 KV line having 4 X 686 sq. mm conductor operating at 400 kV =614 MW per circuit 400 KV line having 2 X 520 sq. mm conductor with shunt reactor =410 MW per circuit 400 KV line having 2 X 520 sq. mm conductor without shunt reactor =533 MW per circuit 400 KV line having 2 X 520 sq. mm conductor operating at 220 kV =155 MW per circuit

GRID FAILURE 2012

Power Swing: a variation in three phase power flow which occurs when the generator rotor angles are advancing or retarding relative to each other in response to changes in load magnitude and direction, line switching, loss of generation, faults, and other system disturbances.

Power Swing which is basically caused by the large disturbances in the power system which if not blocked could cause wrong operation of the distance relay and can generates wrong or undesired tripping of the transmission line circuit breaker. And if not prevented from the generator could cause severe damage to the machine. To prevent unwanted distance or other relay operation during a Power Swing, we did fundamental studies of traditional and advanced detection and prevention methods.

GRID FAILURE 2012

1. Surprises in the form of protective relaying mis-operations either due to incorrect settings, load encroachment or use of distance relays for power swing blocking. These have led to cascading failures in the past. 2. Sustained high loading for a period of ten minutes or more in daytime high ambient temperature conditions have led to line tripping on transient faults possibly due to increase in sag. High reactive power consumption by the transmission line under heavy loading conditions which lead to voltage dips in the system. Lack of dynamic reactive power consumption adds to the constraint.

3.

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Loadability of a line is limited by : (i) thermal limitation (I2R losses) (ii) voltage regulation (iii) stability limitation

LOADABILITY CURVES