Options for reducing through flows 1

[cranky108]

Are there any good ways to reduce through power flows other than opening a breaker, or adding a phase shifter?
We don't want to be a bad neibor, but the through flows are a problem in the future planning years.


Get your through flows off my lawn.

 

[magoo2]

You can always add some impedance like a series reactor to the path that is hogging all the flow.

 

[wareagle]

Could you give an example of a through power flow ?

 

[cranky108]

Through power flow enters our system on the South and exits on the North. It goes through our system and uses our system capacitys to provide us no benifit.
It would not be a big deal, except parts of our system will need to be upgraded for this through flow in a few years. The cost to add new lines is more expencive than some other options. Reconductoring underground lines in this rich neiborhood would not be a first choice.

 

[rcw retired EE]

Add some generation in the middle and send power both ways?

I think adding active phase shifting device to force the power flow on someone else's circuit is the only practical option, but I like your idea of opening the breakers.

Other solutions would be to have the utility to the North install more generation or your utility add more load at your Southern border. Maybe build an aluminum plant or steel mill or solar cell silicon foundry.

 

[cranky108]

Adding more load is wishful thinking, but it is comming, to the North.
Adding generation is also wishful, because many of our customers are already wanting us to move, or remove some of our generation. If it ain't wind or photo voltaic, they don't want to see it.

But with gas prices going down, we just might see our small gas plant base loaded (I say small because it is smaller than our coal plants).

But opening the breaker is a barganing chip, and is our least cost option.

 

[waross]

Negotiate wheeling charges and count the revenue??

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[rterickson]

Is your utility part of an RTO (regional transmission organization)? This is the kind of scenario that the transmission planners deal with all the time.

If you have already identified negative effects to your system, know what year they show up, and have already run the costs on system upgrades to make your system whole, it sounds like time to announce your remedial action scheme (RAS), i.e. opening breakers, to your fellow transmission owners.

As a first step, of course.