Electric Power System

ECEN 2060

Electric Power System

Generation, transmission and distribution of constant frequency (600.1 Hz in the US) 3-phase AC

Constant-frequency AC:
Simple voltage step-up or step-down using transformers
Efficient transmission and distribution

3-phase:
Constant instantaneous power

Efficient, reliable generators

Efficient transmission and distribution

Complex interconnected system (grid*) with many generators adding power to meet time-varying demands for electricity

*There are 3 separate power grids in the US

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US Power Grids

986 GW total capacity (2006) 275,000 miles of transmission lines

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A more detailed view

High-Voltage DC (HVDC) line example (Pacific intertie), 846 miles, 500kV, 2 GW

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Energy conversions in electricity generation

Chemical (e.g. coal) heat Nuclear steam flow (kinetic) mechanical electrical

Carnot efficiency limit of heat engines h < 1-TC/TH < 70% Water flow Air flow Hydro and wind Betz efficiency limit: h < 60% Radiation Photovoltaic Material bandgap efficiency limit: h < 50% electrical mechanical mechanical electrical electrical

ECEN2060

Fuel-Fired Electric Power Plant

Textbook Sections 3.4 and 3.5

Steam temperature TH = 600oC = 873oK

Rankine cycle thermal power plant: water and steam

Cooling water temperature TC = 30oC = 303oK Theoretical Carnot efficiency limit: h < 1-TC/TH < 0.65 = 65% Actual average efficiency of fuel-fired power plants is about 30-40% Coal-fired Rankine-cycle plants generate about 50% of electricity in the US
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US Electricity Flow

1 quadrillion Btu = 1015 Btu = 1.055x1018 J = 2.93x1011 kWh = 293 TWh

Loss: 64.7%

35.3%

Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.doe.gov/ (excellent source of energy-related data)

T&D (Transmission and Distribution) losses: 1.31/13.83 = 9.5%
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Demand fluctuations

Types of power plants Baseload plants (e.g. coal-fired or nuclear) Intermediate (e.g. hydro or combined-cycle) Peaking (e.g. combustion gas turbines)
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Energy Generation In Colorado

Electricity Generation in Colorado

11.2 GW total capacity Total electricity generated (2006): 50.7 TWh, 70% coal-fired Average retail price: 7.61 cents/kWh Boulder Valmont power plant: coal-fired (186 MW), gas combustion (43 MW)
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San Luis Valley Solar Data (09/11/2010) Good Day [1]

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termittent Wind Generation

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Generation, transmission and distribution

Voltage levels in transmission and distribution are based on efficiency/cost trade-offs

Typical residential wiring One of the distribution phases (4 kV in the example shown) dropped to two 120V circuits using transformer with a centertapped secondary Available AC voltages: 120Vrms and 240Vrms (single-phase)
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Grid-Connected Renewable Sources

Must interface to the existing 60 Hz utility grid and comply to utility regulations Challenges and opportunities
Geographical availability of grid transmission/distribution lines Intermittency of renewable sources such as wind or solar Increased needs for energy storage Distributed generation

Distributed synchronization and system controls

Economics

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