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Training Schedules for Generation X

Pterra conducts training in power technology subjects, not as a primary line, but in response to a perceived need. Occasionally, work in analytical consulting leads to knowledge and skills that clients and associates desire to acquire. And we are more than happy to oblige, if only to break the stream of days spent talking to computers (instead of people). Plus there is something strangely attractive in speaking to minds that are just exploring this lifetime field, electric power. We hope that most will stay on and help the industry. And we hope that some new insight will consolidate our own understanding of how electrons move. This is not to say that these courses are aimed for Gen X’ers alone. But a noticeable percentage who attend do come from that demo.

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Integrating Solar Photovoltaics and Other Renewables in Distribution Systems

Distributed generation (DG) has become a viable option and is gaining wider acceptance to utilities, customers, and independent power producers. While DG offers many advantages, the interconnecting utility typically requires a system impact study for interconnecting DG to the existing electric grid to ensure it would not adversely impact the operation, reliability and safety of the grid. By its nature, DG would interconnect to lower voltage systems generally classified as “distribution”. The studies can range from relatively quick feasibility assessments to comprehensive studies involving extensive equipment and power system modeling, measurements, and detailed simulations. Specific topics for such studies include: islanding, steady state power flow, voltage regulation, short-circuit, protective relaying, power quality (flicker and harmonic), power factor, system stability, grounding, and ground fault overvoltage.

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Observability and Controllability in Highly Compensated Systems

Shunt compensation, in the form of capacitor banks and static var devices (SVD), are commonly used to provide voltage support in heavily loaded systems.  Shunt devices offer a relatively cheap andeasy-to-implement solution to providing reactive power to load pockets or remote load areas of the grid.  In concept, one can add a combination of switched and controlled shunt compensation toincrease import capacity up to the thermal limit of the transmission system.  The savings from deferred investment in new transmission or congestion costs can justify the implementation of large shunt devices.  (The largest existing SVDs are a +500/-150 MVAR behemoth in the Allegheny Power service territory in Pennsylvania, USA, and the Chamouchouane SVC (actually two SVCs at one site) rated +330/-330 MVAR in Quebec, Canada.)

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