TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PLANNING 1.1 INTRODUCTION An electrical power system can be considered to consist of a generation system, a transmission system, a subtransmission system, and a distribution system. In general, the generation and transmission systems are referred to as bulk power supply, and the subtransmission and distribution systems are considered to be the final means to transfer the electric power to the ultimate customer. Bulk power transmission is made of a high-voltage network, generally 138-765 kV alternating current, designed to interconnect TABLE 1.1 Standard System Voltages Rating Nominal (kV) Maximum (kV) 34.5 36.5 46 48.3 69 72.5 us 1 138 145 161 169 230 242 345 362 500 550 700 765 1.2 PRESENT TRANSMISSION-SYSTEM-PLANNING TECHNIQUES As aforementioned, the purpose of transmission system planning is to determine the timing and type of new transmission facilities required in order to provide adequate transmission network capability to cope with the future generating capacity additions and load-flow requirements. Figure 1.3Lod forecast ‘Good system performance (teadystate) Feedback Feedback Design new system configuration Planning, decision Total cost acceptable 15-20 year expansion pian complete Figure 1.3, Block diagram of typical transmission system planning process. Figure 1.3, Block diagram of typical transmission system planning process.shows a functional block diagram of a typical transmission-system-planning Process. This process may be repeated, with diminishing detail, for each year of a long-range (15-20-year) planning horizon. The key objective is to minimize the long-range capital and operating costs involved in providing an adequate level of system reliability, with due consideration of environmental and other relevant issues. Transmission planning may include not only existing but also new service areas. The starting point of the planning Procedure is to develop load forecasts in terms of annual peak demand for the entire system, as well as for each region and each major present and future substation, and then finding specific alternatives that satisfy the new load conditions. The system performance is tested under steady-state and contingency conditions. ‘The logic diagram for transmission expansion study is shown in Figure 1.4. The main objective is to identify the potential problems, in terms of unacceptable voltage conditions, overloading of facilities, decreasing re- liability, or any failure of the transmission system to meet performance criteria. After this analysis stage, the planner develops alternative plans or scenarios that not only will prevent the foreseen problems but also will best meet the long-term objectives of system reliability and economy. After determining the best system configuration from load-flow studies, the planner studies the system behavior under fault conditions. The main objectives of short-circuit studies can be expressed as (1) to determine the current-interrupting capacity of the circuit breaker so that the faulted equipment can be disconnected successfully, therefore clearing the fault from the system, and (2) to establish the relay requirements and settings to detect the fault and cause the circuit breaker to operate when the current flowing through it exceeds the maximum allowable current. The short-circuit studies can also be used to (1) calculate voltages during faulted conditions that affect insulation coordination and lightning arrester applications; (2) design the grounding systems, and (3) determine the clectromechanical forces affecting the facilities of the system. Finally, the planner performs stability studies in order to be sure that the system will remain stable following a severe fault or disturbance. Here, the Stability analysis is defincd ay the transient behavior of the power system following a disturbance, It can be classified as transient stability analysis. The transient stability is defined as the ability of the system to maintain* Future load forecast * Future generation expansion plans * Present network Load-fiow siugy * Conside: all generation and load patterns * Pick out new lines “ Comect low voltages and overloads with new sources and circuit acditions Shorea oa Satya | fav pape ret Ayn grt Sata asiyer “ut contet Sat Both fault and stability studies satisfactory ‘Add all additions te the network Figure 1.4. Logic diagram for transmission expansion study.1.5 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM EXPANSION PLANNING Today, the system planner, as mentioned in Section 1.2, mostly uses tools such as load-flow, stability, and short-circuit programs in analyzing the performance of specific transmission system alternatives. However, some utilities also employ the use of so-called automatic expansion models to determine the optimum system. Here, the optimality claim is in the mathe- matical sense; that is, the optimum system is the one that minimizes an objective function (performance function) subject to restrictions. In general, the automatic expansion models can be classified into three basic groups: 1. Heuristic models. 2. Single-stage optimization models. 3. Time-phased optimization models. 1.5.1 Heuristic Models ‘The primary advantage of the heuristic models is interactive planning; that is, the system planner can observe the expansion process and direct its direction as it is desired. According to Meckiff et al. [4], the characteristics of the heuristic models are (1) simple model and logic, (2) user interaction, and (3) families of feasible, near optimal plans, Whereas the characteristics of the mathematical programming models are (1) no user interaction, (2) fixed model by program formulation, (3) detailed logic or restriction set definition, and (4) single “global” solution. The heuristic models can be considered to be custom-made, contrary to mathematical models. Some help to simulate the way a system planner employs analytical tools such as load-flow programs [5, 6] and reliability analysis [6] involving simulations of the planning process through automated design logic. The classical paper by Garver [7] describes a method that unites heuristic logic for circuit selection with optimization techniques. The proposed method is to determine the most direct route transmission network from the generation to load without causing any circuit overloads, In heuristic approach, the best circuit addition or exchange is given to the planner by the computer program automatically at each stage of the synthesis process. The planner may select to accept it or modify it as he desires. Further information on heuristic models is given in Baldwin et al. [8-11]. 1.5.2 Single-Stage Optimization Models ‘The single-stage or single-state (or so-called static) optimization models can be used for determining the optimum network expansion from one stage to the next. But they do not give the timing of the expansion. Therefore, even though they provide an optimum solution for year-by-year expansion, theymay not give the optimum solution for overall expansion pattern over a time horizon. The mathematical programming techniques used in single-state optimization models include (1) linear programming, (2) integer program- ming, and (3) gradient scarch method. Linear Programming Linear programming (LP) is a mathematical technique that can be used to minimize or maximize a given lincar function, called the objective function in which the variables are subject to linear constraints. The objective function takes the linear form z= Dex, (ay where Z is the valuc to be optimized. (In expansion studies, Z is the total cost that is to be minimized.) The x, represents n unknown quantities, and the c, are the costs associated with one unit of x,. The c, may be positive or negative, whereas the x, must be defined in a manner as to assume only positive values. The constraints, or restrictions, arc limitations on the values that the unknowns may assume and must be a linear combination of the unknowns. The constraints assume the form Lex, x20 (2) Gradient Search Method The gradient search method is « nonlinear mathematical programming applicable to so-called automated transmission system planning. Here, the objective function that is to be minimized is a performance index of the given transmission network. The method starts with a de load-flow solution for the initial transmission network and future load and generation fore- casts. The system performance index is calculated and the necessary circuit modifications are made employing the partial derivatives of the perlormance index with respect to circuit admittances. Again, a dc load-flow solution is obiained, and the procedure is repeated as many times as necessary until a network state is achieved for which no further decrease in the performance index can be obtained. The method proposed by Fisch! and Puntel [23] applies Tellegen’s theorem. The gradient information necessary to update the susceptances i sociated with effective line additions as aforementioned was implemented. More detailed information can also be found in Puntel et al. [24,25]1.6 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PLANNING IN THE FUTURE’ In the previous sections, some of the past and present techniques used by the system planning engineers of the utility industry performing transmission systems planning have been discussed. Also, the factors affecting the transmission system planning have been reviewed. The purpose of this section is to examine what today’s trends are likely to bring for the future of the planning process. There are several economic factors that will have significant effects on transmission system planning in the 1980s. The first of these is inflation. Fueled by energy shortages, energy source conversion costs, environmental concerns, and large government deficits, inflation will continue to play a major role, The second important economic factor will be the increasing expense of acquiring capital. As long as inflation continues to decrease the 1.6.1 New Planning Tools Tools to be considered fall into two categories: network design tools and network analysis tools. The analysis tools may become more efficient but are not expected to undergo any major changes, although the environment in 18 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PLANNING which they are used will change significantly. This’ environment will be discussed in the next section. ‘The design tools, however, are expected to show the greatest develop- ment since better planning could have a significant impact on the utility industry. The results of this development will show the following charac- teristics: 1. Network design will be optimized with respect to many criteria using programming methods of operations research. 2, Network design will be only one facet of transmission system manage- ment directed by human engineers using a computer system designed for such management functions, 3. So-called network editors [32] will be available for designing trial networks; these designs in digital form will be passed to extensive simulation programs that will determine if the proposcd network satisfies performance and load growth criteria.1.6.5 Summary Future transmission systems will be more complex than those of today. This ‘means that the distribution system planner’s task will be more complex. If the systems being planned are to be optimal with respect to construction ization, performance, and operating efficiency, beter planning While it is impossible to foresee all of the effects that technology will have on the way in which transmission system planning will be done, it is possible to identify the major forces beginning to institute a change in the methodology and extrapolate ‘The most important single influence is that of the computer, which will permit the automating of more and more of the planning activity. The automation will proceed along two major avenues. First, increased applica- tion of operations research techniques will be made to meet performance requirements in the most economical way. Second, improvements in data base technology will permit the planner to utilize far more information in an automatic way than has been possible in the recent past. Interactive computer systems will display network configurations, cost information, device ratings, etc., at the whim of the planner. Moreover, this information will be available to sophisticated planning programs that will modify the data base as new systems are designed and old ones are modified. Planning decision 15-20 year expansion plan eamplete Figure 1.6. Schematic view of transmission planning system.