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Electrical Engineering - ELEN 451

Power System Control

• Describe the difference between power system control and system protection
• Discuss the evolution of power system operations and control since 1882.
• Discuss the traditional objectives of power control centers.
• Understand the structure of the U.S. power grid (bulk electric system).
• Describe the role of FERC and the role of NERC in system operations.
• Model the U.S. total electric load and its rate of growth.
• Discuss the electric load in other countries & how fast is it growing.
• Describe the power generation mix in the U.S. & how is it changing.
• Describe the power generation mix in other countries
• Discuss deregulation and how power markets are changing.
• Calculate optimal set points for generators.
• Calculate the effect of transmission losses on optimal dispatching.
• Coordinate generator governors with system controls.
• Calculate “unit commitment” using dynamic programming.
• Schedule maintenance using large systems techniques.
• Calculate the components of the ‘bus impedance matrix.”
• Determine the ‘bus impedance matrix” by 3 different methods.
• Discuss the benefits gained from calculating the ‘bus admittance matrix.”
• Determine the ‘bus admittance matrix” by 3 different methods.
• Describe the variables normally used as inputs to power flow solutions.
• Describe the variables that are normally outputs using power flow solutions.
• Calculate a power flow solution using the gauss seidel method.
• Calculate a power flow solution using the newton raphson method.
• Calculate a power flow solution using the decoupled method.
• Understand when it is appropriate to use the various methods for power flow.
• Perform “contingency evaluation” in power systems.
• Calculate heat rates and other efficiency parameters for systems.
• Calculate loss constants and b-constants for power systems.
• Discuss generator operations when connected to an infinite bus
• Calculate generator short circuits for various  fault currents of concern.
• Discuss the types of events normally found on a contingency list.
• Calculate a “state estimate” for a power system.
• Describe possible state variables for a power system.
• Discuss assumptions normally made concerning data errors.
• Discuss assumptions normally made regarding sparcity in systems.
• Discuss assumptions normally made in performing stability studies.
• Understand the NERC rules of the road to determine control adequacy.
• Understand the NERC rules of the road for emergency conditions.
• Apply the equal area criteria used in stability studies.
• Calculate the “first swing” to determine stability.
• Understand the difference between steady state and transient stability.
• Calculate surge impedance.
• Discuss how reliability is being affected by changes in industry structure.
• Discuss how power system economics is affected by industry changes.
• Calculate the physical voltages corresponding to unbalanced components
• Calculate the power available from the open delta connection
• Apply the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code
• Describe the structure of the U.S. power grid.