The Problem
Electric companies that have lightly loaded distribution feeders can experience high voltage as the amount of distributed generation (DG) being installed increases. When power is coming back onto the electric system from the end consumer, it can drive the voltage outside of ANSI limits. Additional equipment, system upgrades, or special settings on existing equipment will be needed to bring the voltage on the feeder back within acceptable voltage limits.
Objective
Research and test various solutions to determine how the allowable capacity of DG on a circuit can be maximized. One example of a solution to analyze would be smart grid inverters and how they might impact the amount of DG that can be installed without pushing the voltage outside of the ANSI ranges. Will changing the output of the inverter away from unity power factor allow it to produce or consume vars and allow for more DG to be installed without getting outside of the ANSI limits. At what point do inverter settings not make a difference with the voltage rise due to excess DG? Determine what the ratio of DG to load on the system is the theoretical limit where action needs to take place.
Electric companies that have lightly loaded distribution feeders can experience high voltage as the amount of distributed generation (DG) being installed increases. When power is coming back onto the electric system from the end consumer, it can drive the voltage outside of ANSI limits. Additional equipment, system upgrades, or special settings on existing equipment will be needed to bring the voltage on the feeder back within acceptable voltage limits.
Objective
Research and test various solutions to determine how the allowable capacity of DG on a circuit can be maximized. One example of a solution to analyze would be smart grid inverters and how they might impact the amount of DG that can be installed without pushing the voltage outside of the ANSI ranges. Will changing the output of the inverter away from unity power factor allow it to produce or consume vars and allow for more DG to be installed without getting outside of the ANSI limits. At what point do inverter settings not make a difference with the voltage rise due to excess DG? Determine what the ratio of DG to load on the system is the theoretical limit where action needs to take place.