Requirements for dynamic voltage restoration to relieve distribution system voltage sags

Conference · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:103781

Nelson, R J; Woodley, N H; Ramey, D G ^[1]; Gulachenski, E M ^[2]

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1. Westinghouse Electric Corp., Orlando, FL (United States)
2. Quality Power Engineering, Southborough, MA (United States)

Economic pressures on industry to automate processes and improve efficiency have resulted in a steady increase in the number and size of loads that are not tolerant of voltage sags. One initiative to address this issue, sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), is the development of the Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR). The DVR uses a power electronic inverter to inject voltage in series with the source to supplement the source voltage during system voltage sags. Short time (10--30 cycle) energy storage will be used to provide the supplemental energy to keep load voltage at acceptable levels. Although this concept is very attractive technically, there must be an economic justification before there will be widespread application of the DVR. Westinghouse and Quality Power Engineering recently undertook a joint study to define the requirements for a DVR to alleviate voltage sags and to develop a methodology for estimating the value of applying the DVR on utility distribution feeder circuits. The study used the results of the New England Electric`s Power Quality Research Study. This was a 1991--1992 survey of over 50,000 customers in New England. The study showed that most sags did not result in full voltage reductions and were of limited duration, so the amount of energy to relieve most sags was relatively small. This paper summarizes the results of the study, describes a practical, power electronics-based DVR for alleviating voltage sag concerns, and demonstrates some practical considerations for sizing and siting a DVR on utility distribution systems.

• OSTI ID: 103781
• Report Number(s): CONF-950414--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
CAPACITY
CONTROL
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
INVERTERS
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS