Computer Applications

in Power Systems
ECEG 5406
Chapter One
Introduction
 Computers in Power Systems
After 18th century
• The power industry is engaged in the generation,
transmission, and distribution of electrical energy
• These activities often include mining, rail
transport, shipping, slurry pipelines, and storage
of energy in many forms
• In the first 90 years of its history, the industry
expanded at a pace nearly twice that of the
overall economy
• During this period, energy price decreased steadily because
of generation, transmission, distribution, technical
improvements, productivity increases, and stable fuel
prices
3
 Cont…
• Throughout the 1970s, increased fuel costs, limits in
economies of scale, diminishing returns in technology
improvement, and increased regulation costs led to
increased kWhr costs and reduced demand growth
• Human forced to see alternative sources of energy. Such as
solar, wind, geothermal and -power plants. These new
generations further require processing of power.
• In operation and in planning for its future growth, the
industry has made extensive use of analytical tools and
mathematical models which, through optimization and
simulation, help in the decision-making process
=> The industry has been one of the largest computer
users
4
 Cont…
• Therefore, nowadays, the effectiveness of CAs is one of
the key elements in achieving the basic functions
associated with the planning, designing, construction,
operation, and maintenance of the power system
• The integration of the industry with CAs is depicted in the
following utility information system
• Such an IS makes relevant and current information
accessible to both technical and management
personnel

5
Utility Information System

6
 Spectrum of Computer Usage
• Engineering and operating computer applications
indicates that they fall within several broad categories

7
 Engineering Applications
• Design and construction of planned facilities involve
the efforts of a sizable engineering staff and a
substantial investment in facilities
• CAs play an important role in analysis of specified
designs, installation of reliable and economic facilities
1. System Expansion Application
• Support the long-term planning function for
generation and transmission of power
•Control large data from different sources and produce
lengthy reports
•Load forecasting and production costs are governing
factors
•Trade off between expansion and new facilities are
8
very important
System Expansion Applications (cont..)

 Load Forecasting
Generation Mix analysis
Production costing
Loss of load probability
Voltage level analysis
Environmental and Facility Land-Use Analysis

9
 Cont …
.System Expansion Applications

10
 2. System Planning and Analysis Applications
• Supports short-term(weeks/months/seasons),medium-
term (seasons/a few years) and long-term (>=5years)
planning process and provides tools for analyzing
incremental expansion
• Represent significant computational requirements
•Also provide on-line display and edit of results, the
trend is to use interactive graphics in all phases of this
decision support process
•Specific applications are:
Load Flow
Transient Analysis
Protective system design
Switching surge analysis
Contingency analysis
Performance analysis 11
 3. Design and Construction Application
• Includes all routine applications associated with the
design and construction of power plants, transmission,
substations, service centers, and distribution facilities
• Multi disciplinary: deal with electrical, mechanical and
civil engineering CAs. Eg. Autocad
• Major applications include:
Tower analysis and line sag
Branch circuit design
Structural design: steel framing, foundation slab,
concrete stack, foundation design …
Earth work design
Piping
Interference analysis
12
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning design
 Cont…
Hydrologic analysis
Geotechnical evaluation
Fluid dynamics analysis
Statistical analysis of equipment failure
Transformer load management
Drafting
Economic analysis
Distribution construction information system
Distribution facility information system (automated
mapping and facilities management system)
Material management IS: main subsystems include
stores operations, materials planning, and
purchasing 13
 4. Project Management
• The objective of project management is to control
project costs and schedules in the maintenance and
construction of power system facilities
• Project management in the engineering departments
includes project control, project scheduling, and
resource optimization tools

• Multi disciplinary: deal with electrical, mechanical and

civil engineering CAs. MS Project

14
 5. Administrative Support
• Administrative functions have been automated to serve
the various requirements of engineering departments
• These requirements are common throughout the
company (common solution)

• Includes:
Text processing
Administrative processing
Text and data processing
Text and data integration
Communication
Personal computing
Presentation graphics
15
 5. Power Market Computer Simulation
• Computer simulation has been a powerful tool for
electric power system researchers and operators to
study the system behavior under various conditions
• PMS: a software tool that helps to simulate hedging
strategies in electricity markets
• PMS helps to perform:
 System contingency analysis to develop hedging
strategies for system contingencies
Market contingency analysis to develop hedging
strategies for market contingencies, such as changes
in price caps, bidding mechanisms, and new entrants
Congestion management to develop hedging
strategies for congestion charges 16
 Cont…
 Planning and expansion to demonstrate improved
efficiency, reliability, and service from planned
generation expansion in specific network locations
Interregional coordination to simulate seams issues
and help test strategies for coordinating production
across multiple markets

17