Electrical Transient Analyzer Program Research Articles

Improving the protection system in the distribution networks integrated with photovoltaic cells by changing the ratio of X/R

Due to the increased demand for electrical energy, many countries were prompted nowadays to search for new sources. One important source is the photovoltaic energy. However, despite the great benefits of this source, some defects where observed when linking to distribution networks (negative impact on the protection system). Hence, an approach of improving the protection system in distribution networks integrated with photovoltaic cells is presented in this paper. The protection system improvement is proposed by changing the impedance to resistance ratio (X/R) values of the networks cables, which leads to increasing the overcurrent relays' response speed when a fault occurs. A comparative analysis with different cable reactance values was conducted. The electrical transient analyzer program (ETAP) software was used to investigate and validate the effects on the relay’s response times. Amriya Fallujah power station, located in Iraq, was investigated as a case study. Simulation results show that it is possible to increase the response speed of the overcurrent relay by reducing X/R of the network cables. For more validation, the distance relay was used to compare the best improvement results of changing the X/R ratio with the results of changing the type of relay, which also shows the strength of the proposed method.

A case study for optimization of power system load flow analysis using ETAP software

This research report explores the optimization of power system load current analysis by integrating Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software and Single Line Diagram (SLD) representation. Load current analysis is essential for the reliable and efficient operation of power grids, and the use of advanced software tools such as ETAP offers significant opportunities to improve analysis capabilities. The integration of SLD with ETAP enables more intuitive and comprehensive visualization of energy system elements and their connections, improving the modelling and analysis process. The article presents a case study that demonstrates the practical application of this integrated approach using a typical power system model to estimate load current characteristics under various operating conditions. The methodology involves building a powerful system model in ETAP and includes SLD representations to improve system visualization and analysis. The system simulation experiments evaluate the performance and accuracy of the integrated ETAPSLD approach, focusing on key parameters such as voltage profiles, current flows, enabling more efficient load current analysis and providing valuable information for power system engineers and operators. Overall, this study contributes to the field of energy system analysis by using advanced software tools for advanced modelling and optimization.

Development of energy conversion and lightning strike protection simulation for photovoltaic-wind turbine on grid

Photovoltaic (PV) installations and wind turbines that are installed on the rooftops of buildings need to be protected because the layout is in a high position and there is a risk of being struck by lightning. Therefore, a more effective protection system is designed to anticipate electronic damage and fire on all materials in the distribution network, especially the addition of PV and wind turbine installations on building roofs. The purpose of this study is to simulate a lightning protection system on the distribution network and the results of on-grid PV energy conversion using electrical transient analyzer program (ETAP) software. Feeder relay delay times and cascade coordination patterns between outgoing and incoming relays do not overlap. the delay time of the relay working on the feeder is 0.31 s and the coordination pattern of the outgoing relay and incoming relay does not touch each other, so the delay time for the incoming relay is 2.73 s. Then testing the results of PV energy conversion connected to the grid using MATLAB Simulink monitoring obtained data reaching 1.600 Wp at peak power with sun conditions parallel to the PV installation layout.

A Prioritised Automatic Switching Algorithm for Load Shedding Using Labview

Load shedding is employed at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Tarkwa power substation to ensure a balance between power demand and available power. This involves taking off loads from the power transmission network when demand exceeds available power. Such loads are later reintroduced when available power is adequate to supply applied loads. The traditional technique of load shedding employed at the GRIDCo power substation in Tarkwa requires dropping electrical loads based on frequency variations. This may lead to dropping load of entire sections without consideration of essential loads. Research into prioritised load shedding algorithm using semi adaptive load shedding approach can continuously monitor and switch loads at the study area which is a transmission substation located in the Western Region of Ghana. Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP) software version 2019 was used to simulate the single line system of the GRIDCo substation to determine the rate of change of frequency against varying loads. The implementation of the proposed technique was achieved with Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) software version 2019. Using typical load shedding data from the GRIDCo Tarkwa power substation, the proposed design was tested and found to be effective in carrying out load shedding.

Investigation of the effects of electric vehicle charging stations and solar energy integration on grid performance

In this study, the negative effects of electric vehicle charging stations, whose use has rapidly increased all over the world in the last few years, on the electricity network were analyzed. The charging station was purchased and installed in a suitable area. Measurements taken using the energy analyzer at this charging station were examined. An electrical network model has been prepared. IEEE 6-bus power test system data was used for this model. The model was built using Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP). In addition to the existing loads on the electricity grid, the loads that will occur with the increase in electric vehicle charging stations have also been added. In this case, this electrical network was analyzed using the Newton-Raphson load flow algorithm with the existing load data of the generators, buses and data of the added charging station loads in the IEEE 6-bus test system network. Considering that one thousand additional charging stations come as load for each load bus, 22 MW load was added. In order to reduce the power losses detected here, grid-connected solar power plants have been proposed. By adding these power plants, it is aimed to reduce the negative effects of the load increase caused by electric vehicle charging stations. For the case of adding solar power plants (SPP), the results were examined by making load flow and it was shown that the network losses decreased. As a result of the study, as a result of adding electric vehicle charging station loads (EVCS) to each load bus in addition to the existing loads, active power loss doubled and reactive power loss reached more than three times. In the buses with the recommended consumption, these losses, which increased with the energy production by load solar power plants, decreased by more than half.

Optimizing Technical Losses of the PLN Distribution Network with Changes in Operational Patterns in 2023 at PLN ULP Lhokseumawe

Technical shrinkage is shrinkage caused by impedance in generation equipment or transmission equipment to the distribution network so that there is energy loss. There are several technical shrinkage problems at PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) especially in Customer Service Unit (ULP) Lhokseumawe City and for now the cause is still unsolved, because this technical shrinkage problem will harm and have an impact on consumers and PLN itself. The purpose of the study was to optimize technical shrinkage in the distribution network to reduce energy losses that occurred during the electrical power distribution process in the distribution network of PT. PLN (Persero) ULP Lhokseumawe City. This study uses the help of Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software to simulate the power flow so that the depreciation value that occurs is obtained, then re-load adjustment is carried out to simulate again to determine the change in the depreciation value obtained after load adjustment. The results of the ETAP simulation show the depreciation value that occurred before the load adjustment was made by 76.7 kW after the depreciation load adjustment was adjusted to 59.6 kW. This means that this technical shrinkage can be suppressed by changing the feeder operation pattern and voltage drop value in accordance with the limitation provisions set in SPLN 72:1987.

Harmonic assessment on two photovoltaic inverter modes and mathematical models on low voltage network power quality

Power quality is a crucial aspect of designing a large-scale photovoltaic power plant, particularly regarding harmonics caused by inverter switching. This research aimed to analyze harmonics in a system using electrical transient analyzer program (ETAP) Power Station 20.5.0 to uncover the effect of irradiance on the inverters’ power quality running at 85% and 100% power factors. We analyzed both voltage and current total harmonic distortion (THD<sub>i</sub> and THD<sub>v</sub>) from the simulation and compared them with the mathematical model. Moreover, we analyzed the effect of changes in irradiance level on harmonics and reactive power penetration, which influenced power losses in transformers and cables. Inverters at 85% power factor experienced an increase in THD<sub>i</sub>, whereas those at 100% power factor decreased. Inverters with 85% power factor experienced more frequent switching, causing more prominent distortion. The magnitude of THD<sub>v</sub> increased proportionally with the rise of irradiance level. Inverters at 85% had a higher THD<sub>v</sub> value because of the excessive reactive power compensation when irradiance rose. Irradiance level had an inverse relationship with system losses since high irradiance levels led to lower losses as less power was required through transmission lines and transformers. Moreover, losses at 85% power factor were higher since the high harmonics caused additional losses.

Transmission line planning using global best artificial bee colony method

Introduction. Network expansion, substation planning, generating expansion planning, and load forecasting are all aspects of modern power system planning. The aim of this work is to solve network planning considering both future demand and all equality and inequality constraints. The transmission network design problem for the 6-bus system is considered and addressed using the Global Best Artificial Bee Colony (GABC) method in this research. The program is written in the Matrix Laboratory in MATLAB environment using the proposed methodology. Novelty of the work consist in considering the behavior of bees to find food source in most optimized way in nature with feature of user based accuracy selection and speed of execution selection on any scale of the system to solve Transmission Lines Expansion Problem (TLEP). The proposed method is implemented on nonlinear mathematical function and TLEP function. When demand grows, the program output optimally distributes new links between new generation buses and old buses, determines the overall minimum cost of those links, and determines if those linkages should meet power system limits. Originality of the proposed method is that it eliminated the need of load shedding while planning the future demand with GABC method. Results are validated using load flow analysis in electrical transient analyzer program, demonstrating that artificial intelligence approaches are accurate and particularly effective in non-linear transmission network planning challenges. Practical value of the program is that it can use to execute cost oriented complex transmission planning decision.

Analysis and Mitigation of Harmonics Distortion with Optimization Capacitor Banks and Single-Tuned Passive Filters

Electrical system power supplies always require a completely sinusoidal voltage signal. But for a variety of reasons, utilities often struggle to maintain these desired conditions. Deviations of voltage and current waveforms from a sinusoidal form are called harmonic distortions. Harmonic distortions in power networks are increasing due to the widespread use of non-linear loads. In this article we will analysis at a single-tuned passive filter and optimization using a capacitor bank. Load-current analysis determines the efficiency of the filter application by calculating the load bus voltage and total harmonic distortion (THD). To simulate the work, the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software was used. This system was created specifically for this simulation and does not represent a real system. This model tests the effects of injecting harmonic currents into a power grid through a variable speed drive (VFD). The filter is attenuated with a capacitor bank.

Analysis of 132-33 KVA Grid Sub-Transmission Line along Gombe to Yola Power System of Nigeria

Abstract: In Nigeria, effective electric power transmission is a top priority. Power generating and the network of power distribution are connected via electric power transmission. A research project was conducted to determine the status of the networks in order to improve performance, which resulted in the performance evaluation of the 132KV Sub-transmission lines. Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) substations under investigation were utilized in the research work. The Gombe-Yola Sub-region's 132KV networks are divided into two 132KV active networks and 11 33KV active networks, with a total of 443.617MVA in active loads connected to the 33KV buses. The network was modeled and simulated using the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP 12.6), and the bus voltages and network power losses were investigated using MATLAB and Simulink. It was discovered during simulation that the bulk of the network's equipment, including transformers, buses, and transmission lines, experience numerous disturbances that result in forced outages and a corresponding loss of load and productivity. All transformers were critically loaded based on the results of the base-case simulation, with several exceeding 100% loading. As bus voltage magnitudes went outside the +/- 5% nominal rated values, the percentage operational bus voltages were below threshold. Additionally, the systems had undesirable power factor levels. Threatening discoveries prompted an effort to strengthen the networks. In this study, three system enhancement algorithms—capacitor placement, transformer upgrade, and transformer load tap modifications—were applied. To get the best outcome, these algorithms were successively stacked. As a result of significant system improvements, both networks' performance in the final simulation result was within allowable bounds. System-wide apparent losses decreased to a 50% reduction enhancing the networks' efficiency in the process.

АНАЛІЗ ЕЛЕКТРОМАГНІТНИХ ПЕРЕХІДНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ В ПРОМИСЛОВІЙ НИЗЬКОВОЛЬТНІЙ РОЗПОДІЛЬЧІЙ МЕРЕЖІ З АСИНХРОННИМ НАВАНТАЖЕННЯМ

The article is devoted to the issue of short-circuit analysis in the low-voltage network of the power supply system of an industrial enterprise. The analysis methodology is based on the recommendations of the IEC 60909 standard and the ANSI/IEEE C37 series standard, which regulate the calculation of short-circuit current for the selection and verification of switchgear and protective devices according to the level of short-circuit current. The Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software was used as an analysis tool. Short-circuit analysis is performed in two stages: the first stages involves modelling the low-voltage distribution network of the industrial facility; the second stages involves the simulation of faults in the network. The modelling the low-voltage distribution network takes into account the features of the network configuration with inductions motors used in the technological process. The Short Circuit module of the ETAP software was used to calculate the short-circuit current on the bus of the distribution network. The performed analysis takes into account the induction motors contribution to the level of short-circuit current. The result of the analysis is the determination of symmetrical and asymmetrical short-circuit current values and the detection of inconsistency of the characteristics of the installed equipment with short-circuit currents. Analysis of short-circuit current using ETAP software provides the possibility of selecting switchgear and protective devices according to the level of short-circuit current and verify the correctness of the decisions made regarding the selection of low-voltage switchgear of the distribution network, which contributes to the design of a reliable power supply system for the facility.

Design, Modeling, and Analysis of IEEE Std 80 Earth Grid Design Refinement Methods Using ETAP

The design of a compliant, safe, and reliable substation earth grid is not a straightforward process; in most cases, it requires some additional measures to be taken due to various constraints that differ from environment to environment, such as soil resistivity, a high fault level, a limited surface area, construction budget, etc. The IEEE Std 80-2013 proposes various refinement methods that can be applied to address different situations. For this study, the current limiting method, current diversion method, and touch and step voltage increment method were applied using the Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP). A power system was designed, where a fault current generated by the supply transformers and back-fed by the power system’s motors was exported to the earth grid. Using this fault current, various simulations were conducted to assess the performance of the earth grid. The analysis results show that the application of the current limiting method using neutral earthing resistors has a great impact on the design of the earth grid as this method significantly reduces the fault current injected into the earth grid. Furthermore, by applying the current diversion method, the amount of fault current injected into the earth grid is reduced by a fair amount, which improves the performance of the earth grid. Lastly, increasing the tolerable limits of touch and step voltages by reducing the fault clearance times significantly improves the compliance of the earth grid as the clearance time is reduced. From this study, it is therefore concluded that, by implementing the refinement methods depending on the design requirements and feasibility of the application, one can improve the compliance state of an earth grid.

Scrutiny of power grids by penetrating PV energy in wind farms: a case study of the wind corridor of Jhampir, Pakistan

This study examines the problems caused by intermittent renewable energy sources, especially wind farms, and suggests a different solar energy penetration strategy to improve their loading capacity. The study uses real-time data from a wind farm in Jhampir, Pakistan, to analyse and assess various aspects of grid stations connected to wind farms. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program is used to validate the results by linking these with actual grid system. The article focuses on creating a model for a grid connected to a wind farm and the simulation of outcomes following capacity expansion, with the installation of an autotransformer. The original capacity of the wind farm was 750 MW, which was increased to 1,250 MW, i.e., 1.66 times the actual capability. Furthermore, this capacity was further enhanced to 1,540 MW, which becomes 1.23 times the previous capacity by the penetration of a photovoltaic power plant.

Optimization and fault diagnosis of 132 kV substation low-voltage system using electrical transient analyzer program

<p><span lang="EN-US">In this paper, a simulation and analysis of 132 kV Substation in feeds western Iraq have been presented including a short circuit (S.C) analysis. This work helps to properly control and coordinate the protection equipment used in this grid interconnection spot. This work includes power flow analysis carried out using electrical transient analyzer program (ETAP) simulator. Also, the most common types of faults are investigated for the substation buses using International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards to discover the behavioral characteristics under different scenarios for the substation transformers connection to assess the range of S.C current this substitution can ride through. Finally, the results of ANSI and IEC are theoretically investigated for validity to ensure reliability and quality assurance in the case study substation.</span></p>

A novel approach for optimal hybrid energy decarbonization using multi-criteria decision analysis: Abu Rudeis, Egypt as a case study

Converting from a complete fossil fuel energy system to a decarbonized one is crucial to mitigating climate change and protecting human health. Hybrid energy sources are better than producing energy from a single technology. The combination of renewable energy and fuel generators allows users to cover seasonal fluctuations of resources and protects them from the unpredictability of fuel prices and supply. Nonetheless, the large-scale industrial demand presents a real challenge due to its consistency throughout the day and the intermittent nature of renewable sources. This research proposes a novel approach for optimal hybrid energy decarbonization for any demand type in general and industrial demand in particular. The proposed framework is developed by integrating the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) for the simulations of Hybrid Configurations (HCs), the Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP) for the stability studies, and the Potentially All Pairwise RanKings of all possible Alternatives (PAPRIKA) method to rank the resulting configurations.An industrial oil and gas complex with high wind and solar resource availability is adopted as a study case. It is located in Abu Rudeis, Egypt, and currently utilizes only 11 Gas Turbine Generators (GTGs) to generate electricity. Five different HCs are investigated, including PV and wind systems. The proposed approach considers technical, environmental, economic, and socio-political criteria, with a total of 21 sub-criteria, and reveals that incorporating a wind farm of nine 2-MW wind turbines with the GTGs is the Optimal Hybrid Configuration (OHC).

The Central American Power System: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities for a Green Transition

Over the past few decades, Central American countries have seen a steady increase in their energy needs. Luckily, the region has abundant renewable energy resources and, as a result, has been busy constructing wind and photovoltaic power facilities. However, while these renewable sources are promising, they come with some risks—mainly, their variable power generation can pose a challenge to the interconnected regional system. This paper explores the current state of the Central American power system and the obstacles it faces as it strives to transition to a more environmentally-friendly energy system. To do so, the authors employed power flow analysis and transient stability studies, which were conducted using ETAP (Electrical Transient Analyzer Program) to model and simulate the power system. Their study revealed that the Central American power system is at risk of instability, and they suggest that integrating ancillary services and storage solutions could strengthen its resilience. Additionally, the authors advocate for the development of microgrids, energy management, and sustainable decarbonization plans. Lastly, the authors emphasize the importance of short-, medium-, and long-term power planning to make better decisions.

Relay Protection Setting Calculation of Power Transformer Based on ETAP

The conventional relay protection setting calculation method considers the internal interference of the transformer and obtains the setting value quickly, which leads to large harmonic interference of the transformer and affects the secondary setting calculation results. Therefore, the setting calculation method of the power transformer relay protection based on the Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP) is designed. The harmonic transfer characteristics of the power transformer are extracted, and the harmonic interference of the power transformer is proposed. Then the ETAP software is adopted to establish the calculation principle of the power transformer relay protection setting and improve the calculation accuracy of the secondary setting. Through comparative experiments, it is verified that the second fixed value of the algorithm is close to the actual fixed value and can be applied to real life.

Protection coordination analysis applied at biogas power generation plant

Biogas from liquid waste from palm oil processing, palm oil mill effluent (POME), can be utilized in biogas power plants as a source of renewable energy (PLTBg). The PLTBg electrical system is equipped with a coordinated protection system. Then, the protection system must also maintain the continuity of electrical service in parts that are not affected by disturbances. Coordination of the protection system is essential. In this research, the electrical transient analysis program (ETAP) carries out the short circuit current analysis, and the coordination of overcurrent protection is constructed from its inverse-definite minimum time characteristics. The analyzed data contributed to selecting the right protection devices. A combination of overcurrent protection, directional protection, and frequency protection change rate supported a reliable electrical power system for a biogas power generation plant as distributed generation. The result shows that modern microprocessor-based protection relays support several protection features in one device and can be integrated into a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)-controlled protection system to enhance their capabilities.

A Comparison of Active Power Generated Under Normal Circumstances with the Optimization State Electric Power System

To see the power at normal conditions and at optimal conditions, the researchers used the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP). Simulation using Load Flow (LF) and Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is a tool to produce power flow during normal conditions and when the power flow is optimal as a comparison for calculating the cost of generation from the power produced by each generator. After carrying out the Load Flow simulation process, when normal conditions were obtained, the simulation results showed that the active power released by the plant was 807.3 MW. Whereas after carrying out the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) simulation process, at optimal conditions. The simulation results show that the active power released by the generator is 806.2 MW. Keywords: Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP), Optimal Power Flow (OPF), Losses

Neural Networks Based Dynamic Load Modeling for Power System Reliability Assessment

The reliability of a power system is considered as a critical requirement in planning and operating the system due to the increasing demand for more reliable service with a lower frequency and duration of interruption. Hence, reliability is also considered as a major challenge in the development of future power systems as they become more advanced and complex, making the accuracy of the reliability assessment dependent on several factors such as supply and load modeling. Recent studies on power systems’ reliability and stability have focused on load modeling, where loads are either assumed to be static or dynamic, by introducing significant constraints. However, the emergence of new types of loads necessitates the development of models that can incorporate them with accuracy, as this would facilitate their effective use in flow and stability simulation studies, as well as reliability analyses. In this study, dynamic loads are modeled using a feed-forward neural network where a simulation test bed is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to generate operating data used during training and validating of the neural network model. Subsequently, Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software is used to verify the effect of load modeling on power system reliability assessment platform. Bus 2 of Roy Billinton Test System (RBTS) is employed as a case study to investigate the sensitivity of the reliability indices, such as System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), on the load modeling technique with mixed loads (dynamics and statics).