"The ARI brings together faculty, students and visiting researchers from widely different domains creating a multidisciplinary environment for the emergence of new ideas and collaborations on cross-cutting research initiatives."   ~Saifur Rahman, ARI Director and Professor

Project:  Control Coordination of the UPFC and the SVC: Located in the American Electric Power's (AEP) Inez Area

Sponsor:  American Electric Power and Electric Power Research Institute

Advisor:  Lamine Mili, PhD

Student:  Satish Maram

A project at the Alexandria Research Institute is helping a power plant network along the Ohio River to avoid voltage collapses.

The Big-Sandy Inez Sub-Transmission Network, in the mid-west service territory of American Electric Power (AEP), has suffered from voltage fluctuations and collapses.

Due to an increased activity rate in the coal mining industry, the need for power is expanding. As a result, this network has been forced to operate closer to its stability limits—not leaving a high reserve margin to safely withstand unforeseen emergencies.

An increased load means transmission lines are highly loaded and must work at maximum, or close to maximum, capacity.  When the load is more than the lines can handle, the lines trip causing the power to shut down. If multiple lines trip, a blackout is possible.

“Lines shouldn’t run at maximum capacity,” said Satish Maram, an ARI graduate student working on the project. “If an influx of current, high or low, enters into the line, it may cause the line to trip causing a power failure in a specific area.”

Fortunately, several devices exist that work to prevent lines from shutting down. The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) and Static Var Compensator (SVC) are such devices. They regulate the flow of power—adding and subtracting the flow of current as needed, thus preventing the unstable operation of the lines at maximum capacity and ultimately from tripping.

The project at ARI will help the UPFC and the SVC communicate properly and effectively. 

The project’s objectives are:

• to understand the network's behavior.

• to identify the control interactions of the test system.

• to coordinate the functions of the UPFC and the SVC.

For more information, please contact Lamine Mili or Satish Maram.

Big-Sandy Inez sub-transmission network

Click for enlargement

Graphic by Satish Maram

ARI’s mission is to be a catalyst for Northern Virginia by developing an internationally recognized center for engineering research and development. The Institute provides leadership in fostering a culture of innovative research, new technology development and demonstration, high-tech manpower training and lifelong learning.

The faculty and staff at ARI believe they can facilitate advanced educational opportunities for employees of the high tech industry and government in the Washington Capital Area; as well as create easier access to federal funding agencies and research laboratories, and industrial research centers.

Overall, ARI collaborates with members of industry, other universities, government institutions and NGOs to tackle multi-disciplinary problems of regional, state, national and global significance.

In response to ARI’s mission, faculty, staff and students are building collaborative teams (internal and external) for multi-disciplinary research and cross-cutting initiatives. To continue dialogue with these initiatives, ARI provides seminars and lectures for government and industry executives, international visitors and higher education faculty.

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