1. A Journey into the U.S. Electric Power Grid Tom Ferguson, P.E. Adjunct Instructor Dept. of Electrical Engineering University of Minnesota, Duluth Presentation to EE 1001 September 18, 2014 © 2014 Tom Ferguson

2. A Journey Into the Grid High School: Voltage Regulation Issue High School: Grounding Lesson College: Theory Behind it All! NSP: Grid Impacts from Thermal Storage MP: Fields from Power Lines on Comm MP: Power System Control MP: Everything High Voltage MP: Global Exposure, Major Changes in Industry Retired: Sharing What I Learned; Still Exploring © 2014 Tom Ferguson

3. Basic Power System GenerationTransmissionDistribution “Behind the Meter” © 2014 Tom Ferguson

4. In Ninth Grade... Learned about electronics through amateur radio... but my knowledge of power systems was limited to this: You plug stuff into outlets. © 2014 Tom Ferguson

5. Then Came the Big Radio Amplifier – and Dim Lights Voltage Drop Due To Resistance 240 V AC 210 V AC © 2014 Tom Ferguson

6. Later in High School, I Learned About Grounds (the hard way) 120 Vac Neutral Ground Chassis of Radio Receiver Chassis Of Teletype Decoder © 2014 Tom Ferguson

7. College Filled in Many Missing Blanks...... on Power Generation Technologies © 2014 Tom Ferguson

8. Concentrations Driven by Questions Power-Related Multi-course Concentrations Electromagnetic Fields (7!) All EE Power Courses Heat Transfer Nuclear Reactor Design

9. Includes Hydro Biomass Wind Solid Waste Geothermal Solar PV Solar Thermal Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (June 2013). Percentages based on Table 1.1 for 2012 Calender Year. http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/index.cfm?src=Electricity-f2 Updated 9/2013. Percentages on an ENERGY basis, not capacity. Coal 37% Natural Gas 30% Nuclear 19% Renewables 12% 2012 © 2014 Tom Ferguson

10. College Introduced the Immense Scale of the Power Grid “The Grid” = Generators (about 18,000) + HV Transmission Network © 2014 Tom Ferguson

11. Moving Power Across Long Distances High Voltage Transmission Lines –Connect generators with loads –Transmit energy at near speed of light –High voltage reduces current flow (P=V x I) –Reduced current reduces losses (P loss =I 2 R) © 2014 Tom Ferguson

12. College Started to Answer Some Very Big Questions How is energy converted to electricity? How does power flow down parallel paths? What happens when a 500,000 volt line shorts? What happens when a large generator suddenly quits generating power? How are nuclear, coal, wind and solar different? How are generators controlled to minimize cost? What’s happening: electrons or electromagnetic waves? Often, just knowing the questions helps you get a job! © 2014 Tom Ferguson

13. First Real Job: Telecommunications Engineer Voice, data, video system design –Within a utility and with neighbors –Voice communications –Remote monitoring and control –Private systems for security, reliability Microwave, fiber optics, radio Digital and analog, narrow and wide bandwidth Design engineering and performance analysis Power systems require robust communications, but –Power systems also AFFECT telecomm systems © 2014 Tom Ferguson

14. A Few Years Later: A Large Power System Control Project Managed a project team –HW and SW engineers, users –Accountants, schedulers An “Energy Management System” –Controls generators, substations, gates, valves, etc –Interfaces humans with control technology –Utilizes software to simplify, predict, suggest –Constantly matches generated power with loads © 2014 Tom Ferguson

15. Energy Management System EMS Substations Neighboring Utilities Stream Flows, Pond Levels, Weather Stations, Lightning Data System Operators Alarm and Historical Data Systems Power System Study Engineers Power System Simulators and Training Energy Control Center © 2014 Tom Ferguson

16. A Few Jobs Later: Management High voltage transmission system –Planning, design, operations, maintenance, construction –Disciplines: electrical, mechanical, civil, structural –Technical, plus: budgets, regulations, laws, policy Industry committees –More engineers, now from around the world –Engineers as managers always go back to their roots Customer satisfaction © 2014 Tom Ferguson

17. The Grid Powers Society Human behavior repeats itself daily –Morning routine: lights, hot water, electronics –Stores open: lights, heating/cooling –Industry starts: pumps, motors, arc furnaces The grid must respond to these loads –generators must be ready and reliable –generators must be controllable to match load –transmission/distribution lines must be intact (operating) It had better work well, or society struggles Y2K exposed society’s worry © 2014 Tom Ferguson

18. You Learn That Not All Power Systems are the Same Types of generation vary across U.S. according to –availability of fossil fuels –availability of renewable energy sources –water availability –environmental limitations –state policies on renewables and nonrenewable generation Some require very specialized engineering skills © 2014 Tom Ferguson

19. You Learn That Not All Power Systems are the Same... Smaller Utility Telecomm Engineer Substation Engineer Large Utility Microwave Engineer Fiber Optics Engineer Radio Systems Engineer Grounding Engineer Transformer Engineer Bushing Engineer Protection Engineer Substation Envir. Engineer Rodent Control Specialist (!) © 2014 Tom Ferguson

20. ... And That Change is Constant Before 1996 Utilities: –Chose generation –Set prices –Operated “closed” systems Customers: –Had no choice of supplier –Put up with indifference Renewable Generation –No subsidies, no interest 1996 to the Present Utilities: –Forced to open up trans. system –Must compete with other suppliers –Must allow oversight of operations Customers: –Can buy energy from anyone –Pay “reasonable” delivery rates –Are treated much better Renewable Generation –Mandated; subsidized to compete –Is a threat to grid reliability © 2014 Tom Ferguson

21. Challenges with Wind Generation Adds no inertia to grid (no energy storage) Relatively poor low-voltage behavior Limited contribution to peak load capability Not dispatchable Negative correlation with loads But the technology is fascinating! When loads are greatest during the mid-day, wind generation is usually lowest. Conversely, wind is highest when least needed (night). Plots depict a day in California. © 2014 Tom Ferguson

22. The U.S./Canadian Grid is Also Fascinating! Largest, most complex machine humankind has created Speed of light energy movement Three Synchronized Regions –Eastern (east of Rockies) –Western –Texas All generators in each region are synchronized (60 Hz) © 2014 Tom Ferguson

23. The Journey Never Ends Your Journey Continues with the Next Two Speakers –Scott Norr, UMD EE Department –Andrew Remus, Minnesota Power The electric power industry is unique! –Societal value leads to great personal satisfaction –Ethical behavior of people is second-to-none –Huge opportunities: technology complexity, size and cost of equipment © 2014 Tom Ferguson

24. Good Luck! © 2014 Tom Ferguson