Background
Existing electricity grids are sometimes subject to modifications: restructuring of the grid, equipment modifications, load modifications. The reactive energy compensation is also a significant question in cases where it affects invoicing from the grid operator.
Furthermore, for a new electrical installation, a classic load assessment cannot easily consider the electricity transmission losses or the configurations of the grid. This leads, on one hand, to approximations in the total active and reactive power estimation and, on the other hand, to difficulties in optimum sizing of the distribution.
Requirement
It is necessary to verify that the power flows circulating in the various branches of the grid and the voltage levels at the different nodes maintain acceptable values and to do this for all the operating modes to which the grid is subject. This required sizing of the distribution equipment (cables, transformers, etc.). In some cases, it was also necessary to size and position reactive power compensation systems in the electrical grid.
Service principle
Capsim can perform power flow studies using numerical simulation to model the entire grid concerned and consider all of its operating modes (winter/summer, backup and maintenance modes, etc.). The values for all of the electrical variables of the grid are therefore calculated.
Capsim perform power flow studies with tool such as ETAP, Eurostag, PowerFactory, Cyme, PSS-E, EDSA, etc depending on the context. CAPSIM is also able to develop calculation tools specifically adapted for client requirements (« lien outils de calcul »).
Results
In this way, it was possible to do the following :
- Verification of the compliance of the power flows and the voltage levels of the power grid
- Sizing of the electrical distribution equipment (cables, transformers, etc.)
- Sizing and evaluation of the reactive energy compensation solutions
- Testing and validation of the solutions for changes to the grid in the event of non-compliance
Power flow calculation of a grid
