Course Director: Dr. Tom Overbye
Next Offering: TBD
Description
The goal of this course is to present how issues associated with the dynamics and stability affect the design and operation of large-scale electric grids. The analysis of electric grids is often divided into issues that affect their steady-state operations and issues that affect their dynamics and ultimate stability. Steady-state issues, such as power flow, are usually covered in undergraduate electric power classes. Dynamic considerations, however, are often considered at only a cursory level or skipped entirely. Yet with the recent changes in electricity systems, such as the integration of large amounts of renewable generation and the deployment of large numbers of phasor measurement units, dynamics are more important than ever. The purpose of this three-day short course is to put electric grid dynamics into a proper perspective by providing a comprehensive coverage of how dynamics impact the design and operation of the grid, the models and tools used for their assessment, and case study examples. .
The course philosophy is to provide in-depth coverage of the topics, but to do so using a practical, hands-on approach with abundant examples. For example, the course provides a detailed consideration of what is needed to do for a wide variety of actual electric grid studies, and also contains an interactive, real-time simulation of a large-scale electric grid during a variety of different events that involve electric grid dynamics. Throughout the course concepts will be illustrated using common industrial tools including PowerWorld Simulator. Collectively the four course instructors have wide experience in this area doing electric power system studies, software tool development, research and engineering education (Hours: CEU 2.1, PDH 21).
Who Should Attend
The course is designed to provide a comprehensive coverage of electric grid dynamics and stability. It is ideally suited for electrical engineers who work in the areas associated with either electric grid planning or operations, and for new graduates who would like to rapidly gain experience in this area. The course will also be useful for technical staff in regulatory agencies, for technical managers, for academics wishing to gain practical knowledge in this important area, and for graduate students interested in careers in the power industry.
This course counts toward the Texas A&M Certificate in Electrical Power Engineering.
Topics
- Introduction to electric grid device models and simulation
- Types of electric grid dynamics studies
- Synchronous machine modeling
- Electric generator exciters and governors
- Debugging the models
- Modeling of electric loads
- Transient stability analysis and software design
- Fault studies including determining critical clearing times
- Generator interconnection studies
- Case study
- Modeling of wind and solar energy systems
- Modal and signal analysis
- Application of synchrophasor measurements units (PMUs)
- Power system oscillations
- ERCOT Dynamics Studies
- Interactive power system simulations
- Dynamic studies with a high percentage of renewables
- Introduction to electromagnetic transients
Logistics
Dates and Times: TBD
Location: Texas A&M Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR), 1041 RELLIS Parkway, Bryan TX
Air Transportation:
Direct flights available at the Texas A&M Easterwood Airport (CLL) from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on American and Houston (IAH) on United.
Other airports within driving distance: Austin (AUS) and Houston (IAH), both about two hours away
May rent car or use shuttle service: Airport Ground Shuttle
Registration Cost: $1,795. Discount of 25% is available for employees of Smart Grid Center member companies. For more information on the discount, contact SGC@tamu.edu.
Instructors
Tom Overbye, Ph.D. is a Professor and holder of the O’Donnell Foundation Chair III in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU), and Director of TEES Smart Grid Center. He received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before starting his academic career he was employed with Madison Gas and Electric Company, working in their planning and operations departments. He is the original developer of PowerWorld Simulator (a widely used power system planning tool), a co-founder of PowerWorld Corporation, and an author of a widely used Power System Analysis and Design book. He is a recipient of the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award, an EEE Fellow, a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, and was responsible for the initial development of dynamics analysis in PowerWorld Simulator.
James Weber is the Director of Software Development at PowerWorld Corporation in Champaign, Illinois. He received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1995 and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, in 1997 and 1999. James Weber has worked at PowerWorld Corporation since 1997 shortly after the company’s creation and has led the team of software developers since that time.
Tracy Rolstad is an engineer with Trina Solar. He received his BSEE from the University of Idaho and a graduate diploma from the Naval War College (College of Naval Command and Staff). He started his career in power systems as a Reactor Operator and Engineering Watch Supervisor in the United States Navy (onboard USS Hawkbill) serving 22 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve. His experience in power system planning and modeling began at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center and then developed and evolved at the Bonneville Power Administration (technical operations), as a Principal Engineer at Utility System Efficiencies and later at several other companies. Tracy has served as the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Technical Studies Subcommittee Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Additionally, he served as the WECC RAS and Relay Workgroup Chair addressing modeling issues related to 2011 AZ to CA outage. He is a member of the IEEE and the VFW.
For More Information
- For more information about this course, as well as other upcoming Texas A&M electric power short courses, contact Dr. Tom Overbye at overbye@tamu.edu or visit his research website at overbye.engr.tamu.edu.