Sławomir SAMEK, Marcin LIZER
Activity of CIGRE and PKWSE. 47th CIGRE Session 2018
Presented are basic informations about CIGRE Society. Described is its organisational structure and core objectives of activity. Discussed is the 47th CIGRE Plenary Session which took place in Paris on 26-31 August 2018. The Conference was attended by 3756 delegates including 41 from Poland. The Session was accompanied by a technical fair where 302 companies – with ZPE ZAPEL SA from Poland amongst them – were presenting their products and services. Presented are also basic aspects relating to Polish activity in CIGRE works as well as the Polish accents during Session 2018 which were papers delivered by PKWSE members. Described are benefits resulting from belonging to CIGRE Society and shown is the route to seek its membership.
Keywords: CIGRE, PKWSE (Polish Committee of Big Energy Networks), Paris Session 2018
Dariusz GURAZDOWSKI
Rotating electrical machines – Study Committee A1
Electric Machines Committee includes in its scope all rotating machines serving energy generation and high power engines. In the sphere of the Committee interest there is also the development of materials and technologies, including the superconductor ones, that can be used in electric machinery. The range of the Committee activity is research, design, production, operation, maintenance as well as the long-time evaluation of machines and their components. The accepted papers were presented in three main themes which were the application of electric machines in energy generation, management of electric machines lifetime as well as the development of rotating electrical machines and service experience.
Keywords: Electric Machines Committee, application and management of electric machines lifetime in energy generation, development of rotating electrical machines and service experience
Piotr MAŃSKI
Power transformers and reactors – Study Committee A2
Presented is a general overview and synthesis of reports submitted for the 47th Session in Paris in the field of power transformers and chokes. It covers selected issues which, in the author’s opinion, are the most important from a user point of view. The dominant topics are the ones related to diagnostics of transformers. Development in research techniques can be observed, especially in interpretation of results.
Keywords: power transformer, reactor, THNM, CFD, FRA, bushing
Ewa WIŚNIEWSKA
Transmission and Distribution Equipment – Study Committee A3
Papers presented during the A3 CIGRE Study Committee Session show that along with the development of transmission networks resulting in building long multi-line transmission lines on UHVAC level or DC current transmission lines and the like, identified are growing values of system parameters such as TRV, RRRV or SOV for which the application of standard solutions may be insufficient. Thus there is a need of the more and more detailed defining by a user of his technical requirements in the range of e.g. increased pressure, voltage resistance or the obligatory conducting of the short-circuit test. Making use of the new/innovative technical solutions as well as of the experience gained by transmission and distribution lines operators significantly increases reliability of a power system and its equipment consequently ensuring the energy security on a high level.
Keywords: equipment for transmission and distribution networks, development of transmission networks, equipment operation reliability
Aleksandra RAKOWSKA
Insulated cables – Study Committee B1
The scope of SC B1 activity covers theory, design, implementation, production, installation, testing, operation and maintenance as well as diagnostic technologies for the assessment of AC and DC cable networks condition. During the B1 Study Committee Session – Cable lines, discussed were problems presented in 41 papers where the dominant theme were submarine power cables and first of all DC cables. Main subjects were, among the others, testing of submarine transmission lines, repairing of damaged submarine cables, load capacity of cables laid in deep waters in offshore farms connections, wide application of Light type cables with XLPE-DC insulation and even removal of the submarine cable lines. Worth mentioning is the paper dedicated to testing of ±640 kV cables with insulation XLPE-DC as well as descriptions of some spectacular high and extra high voltage cable lines.
Keywords: submarine cable lines testing, repairs of damaged submarine cables, Light type cables with XLPE-DC insulation
Krzysztof LENARCZYK
Overhead lines – Study Committee B2
Study Committee B2 covers design, construction and operation of overhead lines. This includes mechanical and electrical design, validation of new line components (conductors, ground wires, insulators, accessories, structures and their foundations), assessment of aged line components, line maintenance and refurbishment (upgrading and uprating of existing overhead lines). Discussed are papers dedicated to overhead lines and concerning the increase of their acceptability, transmission capacity and reliability. Presented are possibilities of dynamic monitoring of line rating and its forecasting. A big part of the Session was dedicated to compact lines and challenges connected with reduction of environmental impacts.
Keywords: overhead power lines, public acceptance of overhead lines, dynamic monitoring of line rating and forecasting, compact lines
Sławomir SAMEK
Substations and electrical installations – Study Committee B3
Presented are problems prepared in the form of papers and discussed during the Technical Session of B3 Study Committee – Substations and electrical installations. Attention is turned to current trends which shape the development directions in this field. Special emphasis is placed on building proper relationship between power industry and natural environment, including promotion of neutral technologies or even the ones that support the environment. Here one can also find promotion of vacuum technology for HV circuit breakers and application of pure air in gas-insulated switchgears. Worth noting are also the modern information technologies supporting the process of power objects constructing like 3D modelling, allowing to foresee on the design stage all events that may occur during building and operation and how to effectively manage them, or 3D printing that allows in a quick and a quite cheap way to manufacture spare parts for equipment and instruments. A separate area of problems is the proper approach to maintenance and repair works – here a strong preference is given to interventions resulting from the actual condition of components instead of the currently applied routine inspections. As a separate issue presented are results of hacker attacks on power systems and the ensuing lines of action.
Keywords: power substation, cost reduction, operational strategy, 3D modelling, cyber-security
Krzysztof MADAJEWSKI
DC systems and power electronics – Study Committee B4
Discussed are papers selected from 46 presented in the frames of CIGRE Study Committee B4 – DC systems and power electronics. The object of interest of the Committee is now this extremely fast developing branch of knowledge in the whole world. This results from both the needs of dynamically developing renewable generation and the changes in the area of bulk power transmission on long distances heading for HVDC systems. These trends are reflected in the presented papers. Simultaneously there is seen the development of DC solutions in distribution networks and FACTS type systems on AC transmission lines. All these directions of interest are supported by new, innovative big power semiconductor elements also presented in the papers.
Keywords: DC systems and power electronics, development of DC solutions in distribution networks and FACTS type systems on AC transmission lines
Marcin LIZER
Protection and automation – Study Committee B5
Actual activities of CIGRE B5 Committee are focused on functioning of protection systems for generating units and networks during the state of a threat to power system stability and also on the problem of extended communication in the systems of automation and network protection in the frames of the IEC 61850 standard. The authors of papers and members of plenary discussions emphasized the importance of coordination between settings and logics of protection systems operation at the time when the system is weakened or during its recovery after a power outage. Making use of simulation programs and recordings of e.g. regulation tests of generation units would be a great help for conducting analyses necessary to proper selection of protections and regulators settings. Strong emphasis is also on the work of distributed energy sources in such conditions. In many papers underlined is the importance of SCO (load-shedding protection), SPZ (automatic reclosing) and SPZ after SCO (automatic load restoration) automatics as well as the important role of functioning of power swing blocking on underimpedance and distance protections of generating units and transmission lines.
Keywords: automatics and protections, state of a threat to power system stability, simulation programs, functioning of underimpedance protection power swing blocking
Maksymilian PRZYGRODZKI
Power system development and economics – Study Committee C1
The C1 CIGRE Study Committee supports activities in the field of planning power systems development around the world to make the most of power systems paradigm shift caused by the rapid evolution of productive structures and economic needs, response to demand changes, information and communication technologies and frameworks of social, environmental and regulatory expectations. These issues were reflected in the preferred topics of the CIGRE sessions in 2018. These topics concerned the role of social factors and transparency of investment decisions made (topic 1), the impact of external factors on management of network assets (topic 2) and coordinated planning between operators of all voltage levels (topic 3). In the selected topics total of 38 papers were delivered. The common denominator of the papers presented in 2018 at the CIGRE C1 Session are the observations on proposals to solve the following problems: integration of the HVDC network with the main transmission system; evolution of planning methodology and assessment of network investment tools, sustainable development and economics of a power system; elimination of institutional barriers in order to achieve even greater efficiency in the interconnection of systems; need to strengthen the position and benefit from engaging stakeholders in the planning process as well as cooperation of transmission and distribution areas in creation of the common future network.
Keywords: planning of power systems development around the world, management of network assets, coordinated planning between operators of all voltage levels
Jacek JEMIELITY
System Operation and Control – Study Committee C2
Presented is selection of papers relating to the key issues in the area of interest of Study Committee C2 dealing with system operation and control. The area is extremely wide and first of all concerns the problems of development of tools supporting in the real time the work of personnel in a control center as well as the development of cooperation of TSOs between one another and with DSOs. Extremely important, from the point of view of running a system, are the effects of the increasing participation of RES in the global energy production i.e. the problems connected with renewable generation forecasting and offsetting the effects of its high volatility. RES advancement causes numerous system changes like decreasing inertia and issues relating to maintaining of stable frequency as well as changes concerning distribution systems which are now this area of networks that is responsible for the growing part of energy production. This, in turn, forces changes in relations between TSOs and DSOs that need a greater degree of cooperation and coordination e.g. during a system restoration after an outage. Many of the presented papers refer to deployment of new technologies like application of battery energy storages, synchronous phasor measurement units or possibility to provide system services in the range of frequency and voltage control as well as elimination of overloads caused by wind and PV sources.
Keywords: real time control, control center infrastructure, operational planning, system services
Wojciech LUBICKI
Power system environmental performance – Study Committee C3
CIGRE C3 Committee – Power system environmental performance – during the Paris 2018 general session directed the discussion of environmental aspects towards three preferred topics which were the efficiency assessment of activities undertaken in the range of environmental protection, minimisation of the impact on landscape with the aim to increase public acceptance of building new power facilities as well as technical and environmental problems concerning overhead powerlines. Mentioned are new methods increasing visibility of the lines for birds and warning birds of the lines, attitude to the influence of electromagnetic field on humans, proposals regarding innovative construction of power line pillars that may be more socially acceptable than the traditional constructions and new line camouflage technologies. It seems that the mentioned solutions could be transferred and applied in our circumstances.
Keywords: CIGRE, power system environmental performance, visual impact of overhead power lines, landscape protection, innovative construction of power line pillars
Piotr RZEPKA
Power System Technical Performance – Study Committee C4
The range of the Study Committee C4 activitity – Power System Technical Performance – covers various technical issues connected with operating efficiency of power systems. Generally, in the area of its interest there are methods and tools for analyses of power systems operation which are applicable in the research of dynamic and transient states of interactions between equipment, subsystems and big power systems as well as internal and external interferences like atmospheric discharges. The characteristic feature of the SC C4 is a wide range of analysed phenomena in different time periods including also the analyses of the electromagnetic and waveform ones. Basic thematic areas of the SC C4 were: electric energy quality, electromagnetic compatibility, dynamics of power systems operation, atmospheric discharges and insulation coordination.
Keywords: power systems, technical efficiency, electric energy quality, electromagnetic compatibility, analyses of electromagnetic and waveform phenomena
Maciej JANOWSKI, Konrad PURCHAŁA
Electricity markets and regulation – Study Committee C5
Issues discussed during the session dedicated to energy markets were divided into three leading themes: necessity of making changes in business and regulation models resulting from the growing role of distributed generation, possibilities of energy storage and importance of the demand side response; influence of climate policy on functioning of energy markets as well as local markets and microgrids and their relationships with the wholesale electric energy market. In the face of dynamically developing area of RES, energy stores, demand side response DSR and broadly defined energy transformation there is a need for such market solutions that will support functioning of power systems in the world. Despite varying degrees of markets development in many countries shown are similar problems and challenges. It seems that redefining of the currently in force market model will be necessary. In further time horizons the energy storage technology and its improvement may become the so-called „game changer” in the energy market especially in the context of RES functioning and its integration.
Keywords: electric energy markets, RES integration, DSR
Andrzej KĄKOL
Active distribution systems and distributed energy resources – Study Committee C6
Described are issues presented on the 47th CIGRE session in 2018. The area of interest ofthe Study Committee C6 is vast, but during the session it was limited to three preferred themes: making networks more flexible, utilization of storages and electrification. The two first ones are interconnected as energy storage facilities are now the main element used in flexible networks. The third and the last theme is electrification which looks differently to that one which took place in Poland. At present, the renewable energy sources are used for electrification and the role of synchronic generators is limited. It is worth adding that renewable generation development seems to have no limitations as exemplified by PV installations in the Arctic Circle. Attention should also be drawn to the fact that in 2018 there was a change in the name of the Committee C6. The change consisted in adding the adjective „active” to the previous name so the Committee C6 is now called ”Active distribution systems and distributed energy resources” where this adjective refers both to distribution systems and to generation sources.
Keywords: distribution systems, distributed energy sources, electrification
Marek FLORKOWSKI
Materials and Emerging Test Techniques – Study Committee D1
Issues that the Study Committee D1 deals with focus on monitoring the development of new electrotechnical materials and modern research techniques. Presented were papers in three preferred themes. The first group discussed HVDC insulation systems taking into account measurement methods for verification of electric field simulation, new diagnostics for service as well as experience and new requirements needed for test procedures and standards. A series of articles also related to phenomena concerning space and surface charges in resin insulation of HVDC switchgears. The second range covered new materials and problems of ageing with special focus on hazards coming from e.g. power electronics equipment, materials exposed to bigger environmental hazards and also on materials allowing smaller sizing of equipment in the environmental aspect. In this context presented were results of tests of gases alternative in medium voltage applications in relation also to their degradation products toxicity and safety of work considerations. The third subject group was dedicated to testing, monitoring and diagnostics, focusing particularly on experience and advantages of using monitoring systems as well as equipment and diagnostic systems reliability. Diagnostic methods of insulation systems based on measurements of partial discharges are still one of the most important tools both in laboratory testing and in measurements conducted on real objects under operation. This refers also to GIS switchgears where the emphasis is put on UHF methods and the frequency aspect i.e. on selection of a detection band and interference suppression.
Keywords: HVDC insulation systems, new research techniques, diagnostic tools, new electrotechnical materials
Tomasz SZUDEJKO
Information Systems and Telecommunication – Study Committee D2
During the Study Committee D2 session discussed were papers concerning application of ICT systems in the power sector. They were presented in three leading groups: opportunities and challenges for ICT solutions applied to microgrids and DERs; virtualisation; application, networks and equipment solutions as well as ensuring reliability of the quick changing ICT infrastructure. Presented were telecommunication solutions in the range of remote management and monitoring of DERs, methods of their remote control and monitoring as well as standards, compatibility and cyber-security of the solutions. Attention was also paid to a virtualisation system implementation into a power substation infrastructure and the problems connected with collection and processing of big data as the method to improve the management, security and cost efficiency of the distributed equipment and application infrastructure. Presented were visions regarding application of ICT in power networks of the future.
Keywords: information systems and telecommunication, new technologies in ICT, big data, cyber security, substation infrastructure virtualisation