Join every day information updates from CleanTechnica on e mail. Or observe us on Google Information!
How Versatile Alternating Present Transmission Techniques Can Scale back Transmission Line Visitors Jams
A Navigation App for Electrical Highways
Similar to busy roads, the U.S. transmission system can expertise congestion, resulting in inefficient journey of electrical energy.
“Imagine some small transmission lines run between two cities and are always congested, like a small road with a never-ending traffic jam,” stated Paul Denholm, a senior analysis fellow on the Nationwide Renewable Power Laboratory (NREL).
On this case, lowering the congestion could require extra than simply growing the transmission capability of the present traces. It may contain including further, bigger “highways” of electrical energy between the 2 cities.
However even when a bigger set of transmission traces is added, the electrical energy is not going to robotically take the brand new, less-congested route. In situations like this, the inefficiency in transmission just isn’t brought on by particular person transmission traces however slightly the physics of the transmission community as a complete.
“One of the peculiarities of our current transmission system is we can’t actually control the flow of electricity across the various transmission lines,” Denholm stated. “Because of the physics behind conventional alternating current transmission, which is what the power grid primarily operates on, electricity will not naturally flow to more efficient routes, even if they are readily available. And that’s where FACTS devices come in.”
FACTS gadgets present a strategy to steer electrical energy to less-congested transmission traces, like a navigation app in your cellphone. However not like navigation apps, FACTS know-how is not only a software program—it requires bodily altering {the electrical} traits of a transmission line through the use of new parts. The brand new electrical traits ensuing from FACTS gadgets make it tougher for energy to unintentionally navigate to small roads with “traffic jams” and simpler for energy to navigate to fast-moving “highways.”
“We can essentially use the laws of physics to our advantage by changing the way electricity flows on the system, steering electricity onto underutilized lines,” Denholm stated. “This can be a very cost-effective way to increase the capacity of our current transmission system.”
Pinpointing The place To Deploy FACTS
FACTS, which is well-proven know-how, may be utilized to each present and new transmission programs. However one key problem is knowing what places are most fitted for it.
“There are likely many, many places where FACTS could really help increase the capacity of the system, but that’s not the case everywhere,” Denholm stated.
Extra research are wanted to grasp what components of the U.S. energy grid will profit most from putting in FACTS gadgets, which might in the end assist utilities handle their energy grids extra successfully by lowering vitality losses and enhancing system reliability.
The following article of this four-part collection will focus on growing the voltage of high-voltage alternating present traces. Within the meantime, be sure you watch NREL’s quick video summarizing 4 methods to extend transmission and subscribe to NREL’s vitality evaluation emails to obtain updates.
Article from NREL.