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Issue 35 - June 2001
Autodaptive® Makes Splash in Co-op Magazine
According to the article, "system information is the lifeblood of a co-op's distribution automation program. Without good information, knowing what to control and how to control it are little more than guesses, so developing a data-gathering system is the essential first step toward distribution automation." The article discusses that two of the most crucial control areas are voltage level and volt-amperes reactive (Var) management. Tom Jauch, Beckwith Electric's Manager of Application Engineering for Controls and Control Systems, explains that Beckwith Electric's line of autodaptive controls work with "other units on the system to monitor operations and adjust to changes in the system to produce a fully-coordinated volt/VAr management system." Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, located in central Florida, serves more than 160,000 members through 37 substations. According to the article, Withlacoochee was looking to improve system efficiency through volt/VAr management-particularly an interactive VAr control system, but did not feel that they had the right telemetry to make it work. Beckwith Electric's Autodaptive equipment was selected because it looks at feeder voltage profile and automatically adjusts based on conditions along the feeder. Withlacoochee is the first co-op to use the Beckwith M-2501A Autodaptive Capacitor Control (ACC). Initially designed to act independent of regulator and load tap changer (LTC) controls, the ACC assures that full time VAr control is available on the feeder. As experience with the ACC is gained, operation can be coordinated with the SCADA-controlled Beckwith M-2667 autodaptive LTC and the M-2600 line of autodaptive regulator controls for complete adaptation to ever-changing distribution system loading. With coordinated control, there is no longer a need for seasonal setting changes.
"So far the ACC units appear to be doing what they are supposed to be doing when they are supposed to be doing it," comments Todd Sumner, senior engineer for substation design at Withlacoochee. "The intention is to upgrade controls system wide." Interested? For more information, contact Beckwith Electric at (727) 544-2326 or e-mail at marketing@beckwithelectric.com.
Mike Wyatt is the newest member of the Board of Directors for Beckwith Electric Company. Mike began his association with the company in the early 1970's when he joined Beckwith Electric as a design engineer. In the six years that he worked with Beckwith Electric, Mike was instrumental in developing the synchronizing line of equipment, including the M-0193 Automatic Synchronizer, and the motor bus transfer system. In 1978, Mike left Beckwith Electric and joined Honeywell where he was in electronic systems design as a Principal Engineering Fellow. In 1999, Mike left Honeywell to co-found Xetron Applied Technology Center (ATC). Located in Palm Harbor, Florida, the company develops various integrated circuits and other advanced electronic systems. ATC has become a "think-tank" of electronic engineers and scientists, employing twenty-four people in the Florida branch-fifteen of whom have advanced-level degrees. Along with three patents on which he became co-author while at Beckwith Electric, Mike also holds eight other patents and two that are pending. He has a BSEE degree from the University of South Florida and is active in the IEEE. Mike is also on the advisory board at USF for the WAMI (Wireless and Microwave Instruction) engineering program. We welcome Mike Wyatt back to Beckwith Electric as a valued member of our Board of Directors.
As shown in the one-line diagrams, the M-3410 can be configured for either generator protection or intertie protection. According to Chuck Mozina, Manager of Application Engineering for Protection and Protection Systems, "the M-3410 is priced to be competitive for small gen-set protection. It has ten protective functions and utility-grade construction-meaning that it meets ANSI/IEEE-C37 standards. Typically, this is a requirement for utility intertie applications. In addition, relay voltage inputs can be directly connected (no VT required) for voltages of 480 V or less which help reduce installation costs."
Other major design features include:
An optional feature of the M-3410 is the IPSplot® Oscillograph Analysis Software.
Interested? For more information, contact Beckwith Electric at (727) 544-2326 or e-mail at marketing@beckwithelectric.com.
Protection of Synchronous Condensers with Beckwith Multifunction Digital
Relays Many hydro generators can be operated as synchronous condensers. These generators are synchronized to the system as a typical generator. Once synchronized, the water gates are closed to shut down the turbine and the field current is adjusted to provide reactive power to the system within the generator's capability. In many power systems with hydro generation, synchronous condenser operations provide needed reactive (VAr) power to support the system voltage. This reactive power source is controlled by the generator's excitation system that can quickly adjust reactive power levels during abnormal system conditions. Of the normal complement of generator protection functions in Beckwith's M-3425 Generator Protection relay, only two functions might be affected by synchronous condenser operation: reverse power (32) and third harmonic undervoltage (27TN). All other protective settings typically remain unchanged from the generation mode. Reverse Power (32) A second approach can be used if a user desires sensitive 32 settings in the generation mode. For this case, the second setpoint of the 32 function in the M-3425 is set above the synchronous condenser motoring level and the programmable inputs (IN2-IN6) are used to switch out the generation mode setpoint and switch in the higher setpoint for synchronous condenser operation. The M-3425 relay has multiple setpoints for most functions that can be easily switched through programmable inputs. Third Harmonic Neutral Undervoltage (27TN) If the third-harmonic neutral voltage for synchronous condenser operation falls below the normal minimum level for the generation mode, there are three options: 1) Set the 27TN pickup for the lower synchronous condenser operating mode. A substantially lower pickup level, however, provides less overlap with the 59N function in providing 100% stator ground fault protection. 2) Enable a lower setpoint in the M-3425 relay by using the second 27TN setpoint during synchronous condenser operation. Switching between generator/synchronous condenser operation modes can be easily accomplished using a programmable input in the M-3425. 3) Use the built-in forward power supervision feature to inhibit 27TN operation during synchronous condenser operation. There is sufficient flexibility in the M-3425 relay to handle synchronous condenser applications. This is evidenced by the large number of hydro units that operate as synchronous condensers and are protected by Beckwith Electric relays. There are several significant advantages of using digital technology rather than using electromechanical/static relays in synchronous condenser applications, including: reduced panel space, lower cost-per-relay function, and programmable logic with multiple setpoints for most relay functions using Beckwith Electric's IPScom® Communications Software. Other important digital relay features include self-diagnostics, communications capability (RS-232 and RS-485 ports) and oscillographic monitoring. The major shortcoming of the technology is the reduced redundancy due to many functions residing on a common hardware platform. The use of dual relays and careful attention to primary and backup protective zones effectively address this issue. Sufficient redundancy can be economically provided such that the failure of a single relay will not require the generator to be removed from service. Interested? For more information, contact Beckwith Electric at (727) 544-2326 or e-mail at marketing@beckwithelectric.com.
Two more people won Handspring™ Visor™ Deluxe handheld computers from Beckwith Electric's business card drawings at select conferences and expositions. Stuart Thomas, Technical Services Manager at Magic Valley Electric Cooperative of Texas, won a Visor Deluxe at the IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. Vinod Malhotra, a relay engineer in Transmission/Substation Engineering at Jacksonville (FL) Electric Authority, won his Visor Deluxe at the Georgia Tech Protective Relaying Conference in Atlanta last month. Congratulations to both! The Handspring Visor is currently being used as the HMI (Human/Machine Interface) for all of Beckwith Electric's Autodaptive® controls. Check the Calendar under the News section of our Web Site at www.beckwithelectric.com for announcements of the next Visor drawing!
Beckwith Electric is currently registering attendees for the Beckwith Electric Relay Seminar to be held October 14 - 19, 2001 in Largo, Florida. The registration deadline is September 14, 2001. The seminar includes four-and-a-half days of intensive training in generator, power plant transformer and intertie protection. This seminar will build the background needed to understand the complex subject of generator, power plant transformer and intertie protection, even for those with a limited knowledge of protective relaying. Topics to include:
Those who should attend include utility engineers, consultants (especially those involved in IPP design), equipment/control design engineers, generator set manufacturers and packagers, as well as others who specify and develop settings for the electrical protection of generators and transformers.
The seminar cost is $675. Deadline for is September 14, 2001. For more information, contact Linda Caporaso at (727) 545-7627 or e-mail at lcaporaso@beckwithelectric.com. You may also download a copy of the Relay Seminar brochure from the Beckwith Electric Web site, www.beckwithelectric.com. Follow links for News & Events to Calendar to October 2001.
Bill Cullen has recently been appointed as Regional Sales Manager for Beckwith Electric. He will be responsible for the marketing, sales and technical support of Beckwith Electric's line of Autodaptive® Systems and products, including the M-2501A Capacitor Control, the M-2667 LTC Tapchanger Control and the M-2600 line of regulator tapchanger controls in Florida. Prior to joining Beckwith Electric, Bill worked in the power distribution departments at Florida Power Corporation. His expertise covers all areas of including operation, planning, and design of systems, as well as over-current/over-voltage studies. He retired from FPC with 38 years of service. Bill earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Florida and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Bill has lived in Pinellas County, Florida for more than 50 years. Bill's vast electrical engineering experience and deep connection to Florida make him a valuable asset to Beckwith Electric. Bill says, "I'm looking forward to my new position with Beckwith in promoting the Beckwith products and applying my knowledge and experience gained through my work with Florida Power. I feel fortunate to be working with a company that has such a fine reputation in the electric utility industry." Shawn Price has recently been appointed as Inside Sales Representative for Beckwith Electric. His responsibilities include customer follow-up, product demos and technical support for prospective customers, coordination of customer training, and support for application engineers and sales representatives. Prior to joining Beckwith Electric, Shawn worked in a variety of positions in the power industry in Atlanta, Georgia. He worked with Schweitzer Engineering starting in assembly and progressing to customer service and technical support. He then worked at Power Connections (a Schweitzer Sales Rep) in customer service and technical support for microprocessor-based relay applications. Originally from the Seattle area, Shawn received Public Relations and Pre-Law Degrees from Washington State University in 1999. He also served in the Marine Corps in the intelligence division for 4 years. While in the Marines, Shawn was stationed in the Quantico, Virginia area. Shawn's technical expertise and people skills make him a valuable asset to Beckwith Electric. Shawn comments, "By beginning my career in assembly, I gained the ability to quickly and accurately solve many application problems. Building microprocessor-based relays helped me to understand the ease and flexibility of digital applications. By understanding the manufacturing organizational flow, I can work with manufacturing personnel to keep Beckwith's high level of customer communication and satisfaction as a priority."
Previous issues of Powerlines have chronicled expansion efforts at Beckwith Electric. The second floor was recently completed and the employees have moved in. Quality Assurance moves The remodeled second floor, featuring an Electrical Static Dissipative floor and a 2,000 lb.-capacity freight elevator, accommodates the growing needs of Quality Assurance. Most of QA has moved to the second floor including the Test Validation Group (tests and validates engineering designs) and the Quality Control Group (inspects and tests our products with an emphasis on electrical testing). The Incoming Inspection and Test Group (test the parts that Beckwith Electric buys from outside vendors) continues to work from the first floor. The new burn-in room is also located on the second floor.
According to David Brooks, QA Manager, the move has greatly increased his department's functionality. With a new lab that is double the size of the previous one, QA is able to be more responsive to customers' needs by conducting environmental tests, communication tests, and basic simulation tests at dedicated test stations. The Test Validation Group has an additional relay test line and an expanded LTC digital test line allowing QA to test up to six digital controls at a time. This test station conducts a complete functional test of all product features including fiber communications, RS-485 and RS-232 ports and all functional input/output control functions. This increased capacity further helps QA to meet the growing demand for Beckwith Electric products. New developments in R&D
Duarte Raposo, Engineering Tech, is writing a software program capable of automatically testing the Generator/Intertie Protection Relay M-3410 by running a list of functions with the desired configurations. These are preset from a script created by the user in a simple window by adding and removing tests from a list. The auto test program can create all the conditions necessary to test the relay functions by utilizing the AVO Pulsar as a programmable power source and remotely giving commands to both the Pulsar and the relay. Values can then be read back into a spreadsheet, which contains the pass/fail criteria. This new method allows users to edit a spreadsheet to custom-test values without having to know the address points of the relay. It also makes it very easy to change test configurations on the relay by using the program's interface panel. The settings will automatically be written to the spreadsheet along with the firmware version of the relay. Presently, this program supports only the M-3410 but will be improved to support other relay models.
Articles from Issue 35, June 2001 of Beckwith Electric's Powerlines. |
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Beckwith
Electric's ACC (Autodaptive Capacitor Control) is touted as an example
of sound volt/VAr management in an article entitled "Getting the Data,"
published in the June 2001 issue of Rural Electric Magazine. RE Magazine,
published monthly by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association,
reaches over thirty-four thousand managers, officers and directors of
U.S. rural electric cooperatives, public power and public utility districts.
The Co-op Tech article, written by Bill Koch, Technical Editor of the
magazine, focuses on the steps in automating a distribution automation
system. 
According
to Mark Dixon, Beckwith Electric's Manager of Market & Project Development
for Control Products & Systems, eighteen ACCs have been in service for
some time at Withlacoochee and several others are being installed. They
have been using two ACCs for almost a year. Engineers have downloaded
control information to laptops on a weekly basis and the controller information
can also be downloaded to palm-held computers via an infrared port. 
Beckwith
Electric, known for producing reliable relays for large generator and
intertie protection, now unveils a protection relay for small generator
sets. The M-3410, which will be introduced in the fall of this year, provides
affordable generator/intertie protection for small gen sets. The relay
is targeted at generators from 30 to 1500 KVA with rated nominal voltages
of 120 to 480 volts. As with all relays in Beckwith Electric's IPS (Integrated
Protection Systems®) line, the M-3410 uses advanced digital
signal processing technology and logical, easy-to-use, Windows-based software
(IPScom® Communications Software).
Chuck
Mozina, Manager of Application Engineering for Protection and Protection
Systems for Beckwith Electric, and Dr. Murty V.V.S. Yalla, Vice-President
of Research and Development/Engineering are the instructors for the seminar.
