Volt/Var Management and the Smart Grid System

Long before the "Smart Grid" initiative began, Beckwith Electric has been the innovator in Volt/Var Management, and Control. By using our Patented automatically-adaptive algorithms "Autodaptive™" technology in our Tapchanger Controls, we have been able to save our customers hundreds of thousands of dollars in operating costs, and downtime by providing a means of intelligent control of LTC transformers.

The system operation examples below describe an Autodaptive™ Volt/VAr Management System (AVVMS) that innovatively forms a cooperative interaction between pole-top capacitor bank controls and the voltage regulation controls on the LTC transformer or tap changer line regulator in the distribution system. All of the controls mentioned below, forming the system, use patented automatically-adaptive algorithms, and are not dependent upon external communications to achieve efficient and effective switching of capacitor banks. Using controls with adaptive algorithms has resulted in: reduced system losses, reduced number of tap change operations, and the ability to increase equipment loading by reducing currents and voltage variations in the lines and transformers.
Read More>>

Energy Conservation Innovation
Replace 10+ New Power Plants Using Existing Volt/Var
Management Equipment
(by E. Tom Jauch - Beckwith Electric Co., Inc and K.C. Fagen - R.W. Beck Inc.)
Presented at the 2009 Distributech Conference, San Diego CA.

A Pacific Northwest analytical team recently completed a three-year research and demonstration study of the potential benefits of designing and operating a distribution system more efficiently. One major efficiency philosophy included maintaining the distribution voltage within the lower half of the ANSI standards. Importantly, they found this could be done quite cost effectively without any adverse impact on customers.

The detailed results of the study showed conclusively that operating a utility distribution system in the lower half of the acceptable voltage range (120-114 volts) can save energy, reduce demand, and reduce reactive power requirements. Specifically, the energy savings results were within expected values of 1-3% total energy reduction, 2-4% reduction in kW demand, and 4-10% reduction in kvar demand.

The industry-accepted metric for energy response to delivered voltage is the Conservation Voltage Regulation factor (CVR factor or CVRf). CVR factor is defined as the percentage change in load resulting from a 1% reduction in voltage. A positive CVRf value means that the reduction in voltage has resulted in energy savings. The savings produced by the pilot demonstration project were considerable. The demonstration project showed a 2.07% energy reduction for a 2.5% (3.03V) voltage reduction (DV) or a CVRf of 0.83. With average substation CVR kvar factors over 4.0, the CVR kvar factors were greater than kW and the CVR factors for kW were higher than for energy.

Using 2006 DOE figures, even a 1% reduction in residential and commercial energy from this single act would replace power from more than 27 average-sized coal and gas generators (110 MW). Also note that these savings and benefits are not temporary but will continue to reduce power requirements as long as these acceptable voltage levels are maintained.

The present distribution volt/var management system (VVMS), which is also an essential function of the growing smart grid (SG), has the capability of achieving much of the voltage control described above. This paper describes some of the existing VVMS equipment and operating principles that could reduce and maintain distribution system voltage levels within the described acceptable limits.
Read More >>

Volt/Var Management - An Essential “SMART” Function
(by E. Tom Jauch - Beckwith Electric Co., Inc)

This paper discusses one essential function of the SG (SMART GRID) - the distribution VVMS (volt/var management system).

An effective VVMS requires the coordination of distribution VVMS equipment which results in benefits not realized by their individual, non-coordinated operation. The proper use and coordination of this equipment can decrease
both additional equipment costs and continuing operating costs.

The equipment discussed in this paper will include LTC (Load Tap Changer) transformers line and substation LTC voltage regulators, switched pole-top and substation capacitor banks and the communications between them.
Read More >>

E. T. Jauch is an application consultant for
Beckwith Electric Co., 6190-118th Ave. N., Largo, FL 33773 U.S.A.
e-mail: jauch@ieee.org. He is Founder and President of EUSEC, Inc.,
Sun City Center, FL, 33573 U.S.A.

Sales and Service

For sales and service information contact your local representative or contact the factory:

E-mail: sales@beckwithelectric.com
Call (727) 544-2326 or Fax (727) 546-0121