Improving Power Quality with the AutodaptiveŽ System
by Bob Beckwith, CEO
Originally printed in June 1998.
Our AutodaptiveŽ System controls the quality of the voltage
regulation from distribution substations to the furthest customers down
the distribution lines. The system maintains the maximally flat
voltage profile along the lines consistent with the length of the lines
and the number of switched power factor capacitors provided along the
lines. Variation of any customer's voltage is controlled in terms
of the rms deviation of the voltage from a center voltage as recursively
averaged over a moving eight hours. Called VRQF (Voltage Regulation Quality
Factor), the rms deviation is being introduced as a proposed standard
method of stating the quality of voltage regulation.
At the same time, our system minimizes the VAr flow along the lines and
through the substation transformers. This reduces the distribution line
losses by an amount estimated to average 1% contributing greatly to the
profitability of sales of power.
Savings at the substation include reduced number of operations of the
tapchanging transformer switches thereby reducing the maintenance costs
associated with the transformers. By maintaining a VAr flow through the
transformers balanced around unity power factor, optimal loads may be
carried by the transformers balanced around unity power factor, optimal
loads may be carried by the transformers in general reducing the number
of substation transformers required by a utility.
All of this at prices believed to be considerably less than any other
method of achieving the same optimal results.
Keeping Current is an editorial column by Bob Beckwith,
CEO of Beckwith Electric Co, Inc. Reproduction of the whole
or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
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