ETAP with EPASSA: Lecture 2- ETAP tutorial Power flow study, the mother of all studies.
Thierry Julio Epassa- P.E. in Sixteen USA States
Electrical Engineer Director || Arc Flash, Short Circuit, Electrical Studies|| US Security Clearance || Linkedin Newsletter Author|| OSHA, IEEE, NFPA Expert||Contractor for 1328 US Federal Facilities Arc Flash Studies
ETAP with EPASSA: Lecture 2- ETAP tutorial Power flow study, the mother of all studies.
I called the power flow study the mother of all studies because it is the first study to be done to validate a model. It is also the last study to do to validate other studies on short circuits, protection, etc.
The purpose of the power flow study is:
1.????? To ensure that the facility is designed within electrical limits. The electrical boundaries are based on voltage and current. If we cross those boundaries, we can create the following dangerous conditions
a.????? Over voltage conditions
b.????? Under voltage conditions
c.????? Overload conditions
2- To protect the facility against mechanical stress. Tensions and stress levels
3- To confirm that the facility will run within its thermal stress tolerance temperature limits
After performing power flow, you can answer the following questions about your equipment and facility: Are the bus voltages within acceptable limits?
a-???? Are voltages within rated insulation limits of equipment?
b-???? Do the power and current values exceed the maximum ratings of your equipment?
c-???? Are watt and var losses acceptable?
d-???? Are circulating var flows eliminated?
e-???? Are steady-state stability limits exceeded?
Figure 1 below shows a simplified model of a facility.
13.8 kV California Edison is the name of the utility; it feeds a 5 MVA transformer T1 that, in turn, feeds a 3 MVA load.
Now, Figure 2 shows the same facility with the results of a power flow study. The data in red are the results from the power flow study. We can now answer the following questions.
1-???? Bus 1 voltage shows 13.8 kV, Bus 2 and Bus 3 shows 4.14 kV. Are they appropriately rated for the voltage condition?
2-???? Transformer T1 sees a 2976 kVA, 414.7 A. Is it appropriately rated?
3-???? Load 1 is rated for 3 MVA. Is it overloaded?
4-???? Many more questions
That is the purpose of power flow: answer all those questions.
Fun fact: Many people used the terms load flow and power flow interchangeably. I do not use the term load flow. Wonder why? Because the load does not flow, power does.
?La Fin- The End- El Fin
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BEng Electrical and Electronics Fresh Graduate | ETAP | My interest and current focus is on Power Systems Modelling, Protection & Studies using ETAP with a vision to contribute in building more resilient power systems.
1 周Load flow vs Power Flow... ??Yeah that's indeed a fun fact. I never gave it much thought.
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