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2008 Event Calendar
For event details, please click on the topic below.
| Date | Event | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, February 10, 2009 |
Luncheon | "A Power Line Sensor Network to Maximize Overhead Power Line Dynamic Thermal Rating" |
| Tuesday, March 3, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Perspective on Evaluating Connectors for Use in Medium Voltage Joints" |
| Tuesday, April 7, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Putting the Brakes on Swimming Pool Stray Voltages" |
| Tuesday, May 5, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Panel Discussion on Arc Flash Hazard and Mitigation" |
| Tuesday, August 4, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Photovoltaics Update" |
| Tuesday, September 1, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Neutral Grounding Systems" |
| Monday, October 5, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Southern Company Stimulus Proposal" |
| Tuesday, November 10, 2009 |
Luncheon | "Computational Electricity Systems and the Smart Grid" |
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Return to topFebruary 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Transmission Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA (Google map) Ms. Yi Yang "A Power Line Sensor Network to Maximize Overhead Power Line Dynamic Thermal Rating" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, February 6, 2009. |
Electricity consumption and generation have continually grown over the last two decades. At the same time, investment in the T&D infrastructure has been minimal and it has become increasingly difficult and expensive to permit and build new power lines. Consequently, the power grid has to carry more power (current) and certain lines become overloaded or congested, before others. Affected by the line's ambient weather conditions, a power line's maximum thermal capacity may vary widely over the course of a day, or even an hour, and also along the length of the line. At present utilities do not have accurate real time information of line thermal conditions, and therefore operate with conservative loading values, or large safety margins.
To address this problem, a conceptual Power Line Sensor Network (PLSN) project has recently been funded by NSF, called "Power Line Sensornet for Enhancing Line Reliability and Utilization". This proposed sensor network will provide continuous on-line monitoring of the geographically dispersed power grid by using hundreds of thousands of low cost, autonomous, smart, and communication-enabled sensor modules. One critical issue to be investigated in this project is the real-time dynamic thermal capacity of the overhead power line under current ambient weather conditions down to "per-span" level of granularity.
Because of the uncertain and time variant ambient weather conditions, as well as the inherent nonlinearity of the conductor thermal dynamics, determining the real-time dynamic thermal rating (RDTR) of overhead power lines is not a simple task. How to predict the conductor temperature ahead of time but in real time, is the most challenging and critical part of the RDTR evaluation process. A neural network is proposed to continuously and adaptively learn the nonlinear overhead conductor thermal dynamics under various weather conditions by using only temperatures and line current as inputs. This method greatly simplifies the calculation needed to evaluate RDTR and does not require actual weather monitoring devices in the system.
Yi Yang is a Ph.D student in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech, working under the supervision of Professors Deepak Divan and Ron Harley.Return to top
Yi received a Bachelor's degree in 1995, at Southeast University in Nanjing, China, and a Master's degree in 2001, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She then worked on electric drives for large power synchronous machines in Beijing, China, from 1995 to 1999. From 2001 to 2003, she worked on servo-machine position control in Singapore.
Since joining Georgia Tech. in 2003, Yi has worked on Power Line Sensor Networks for enhancing utility reliability and utilization. The project is developing a distributed sensor network to provide continuous on-line monitoring of the power grid by using large numbers of low cost, autonomous, smart, and communication-enabled sensor modules. Her main interests include on-line vicinity monitoring for overhead power lines based on electric and magnetic field analysis, and evaluating the real-time dynamic thermal capacity of an overhead power line under current ambient weather conditions down to "per-span" level of granularity, based on artificial intelligence based pattern recognition technologies.
March 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Power Company 241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (Google map) Thomas J. Parker "Perspective on Evaluating Connectors for Use in Medium Voltage Joints" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, February 27, 2009. |
Problems in the field and tests performed in labs have indicated that there may be a problem with overheating connectors on filled-strand conductor in medium voltage underground systems. Work undertaken at NEETRAC to investigate this issue has shown that it is much more complicated than just the filled-strand conductor.
Samples of connectors were tested using the ANSI C119.4 test program, currently used to qualify connectors for use on medium voltage underground systems. Joints using the same connectors were also evaluated using a load cycle test patterned after the IEEE 404 thirty-cycle in-air cyclic aging test currently used as part of the program to qualify joints. Data will be presented from work in this area that includes results of both the ANSI C119.4 and IEEE 404 tests.
Even though filled-strand conductor is the most significant of the factors studied in determining a connector temperature in the joints tested, the work performed at NEETRAC indicates a more general problem related to cable systems loaded close to their ratings. The bare connector / conductor tests of the ANSI C119.4 Standard appear to be insufficient to evaluate connectors for use in medium voltage underground systems. In addition, the use of underground cable systems at emergency operating temperatures should be studied further.
Mr. Thomas J. Parker attended Southern Technical Institute (originally a part of Georgia Tech and now Southern Polytechnic State University). There he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Technology degree in 1973. After graduation, he worked for Georgia Power Company for 22 years in the areas of distribution engineering and operations, substation operations and SCADA systems, and at the Georgia Power Research Center. He began work at Georgia Tech in 1996 when Georgia Power transferred its research facilities to form NEETRAC. He is currently the Lead Engineer for the Medium Voltage Test labs at NEETRAC.Return to top
Mr. Parker is a Registered Professional Engineer in Georgia. He is a member of the Power Engineering Society, the Computer Society, and the Dielectrics Society of the IEEE.
April 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Power Company 241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (Google map) Marty L. Page "Putting the Brakes on Swimming Pool Stray Voltages" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, April 3, 2009. |
Electric utilities sometimes get complaints from swimming pool owners of mild tingling shocks from such things as touching a ladder, handrail, or concete decking. This is usually referred to as stray voltage. This presentation talks about the multi-grounded neutral distribution system impact on stray voltage and how the voltage can be transferred into the pool area. The NEC section (680) on swimming pools will be discussed briefly as it is supposed to prevent this issue. The discussion will included some results of a Georgia Power test conducted last year on 5 swimming pools in Georgia, along with some details about the new IEEE working group on stray voltage, and some pool testing being performed by EPRI.
For Mr. Page's bio, please see our entry for the 2008 Outstanding Engineer of the Year.Return to top
May 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Transmission Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA (Google map) Open panel moderated by Keith Harley "Panel Discussion on Arc Flash Hazard and Mitigation" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, May 1, 2009. |
Arc flash has become the hot topic recently in the power industry, with increased awareness of the dangers and growing research into protection techniques. The Atlanta PES will be hosting an open panel discussion about the hazard and mitigation techniques.Return to top
An arc flash (or arc blast) is a type of electrical explosion that results from a low impedance connection to ground or another voltage phase in an electrical system. There are several electrical and safety standards to consult regarding arc flash protection: ASTM F1506 defines the testing to determine PPE arc flash ratings, NFPA 70E provides hazard category classifications for PPE selection, and IEEE 1584 provides a guide to perform available incident arc energy calculations.
Proposed mitigation techniques include fault-limiting devices, lower relay pickup when employees are working nearby (e.g. hot line tag), optical detection relays, arc elimination devices, as well as others.
August 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Power Company 241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (Google map) Dr. Miroslav Begovic, IEEE Distinguished Lecturer "Photovoltaics Update" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, July 31, 2009. |
Dr. Miroslav Begovic will be giving us an overview on the state of photovoltaics.
Miroslav Begovic (S'87-M'89-SM'92-F'04) is a Professor with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. His research interests are in the general area of computer applications in power system monitoring, protection and control, and design and analysis of renewable energy sources. He authored a section "System Protection" for the monograph The Electric Power Engineering Handbook (Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2000). Dr. Begovic was a Chair of the Working Group "Wide Area Protection and Emergency Control" and Vice-Chair of the Working Group "Voltage Collapse Mitigation" of the IEEE PES Power System Relaying Committee. He was a contributing member of the IEEE PES PSRC Working Group "Protective Aids to Voltage Stability", which received the IEEEWorking Group Recognition Award in 1997. He is currently serving as Chair of the Emerging Technologies Coordinating Committee of the IEEE PES. He is a member of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Phi Kappa Phi.Return to top
September 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Transmission Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA (Google map) John S. Levine, P.E. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Neutral Grounding Systems" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 12:00AM August 31, 2009. |
Mr. Levine will be discussing 5 types of grounding systems including Ungrounded, Solidly Grounded, Reactive Grounded, Low Resistance Grounded, and High Resistance Grounded and the advantages and disadvantages of each for Low and Medium Voltage Systems.
John Levine P.E. a native of Birmingham, Alabama received his Electrical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech in 1976.Return to top
His career started with Square D Company as a Field Engineer. In 1981, he accepted a position as Product Manager for GTE Sylvania at the Clark Control division in Lancaster, SC. After several promotions and a corporate buy out, he was promoted to National Sales Manager of Joslyn Clark Controls.
In 1984, Mr. Levine started Levine Lectronics and Lectric, Inc. an electrical manufacturer's representative company. He is a senior member of IEEE and is active in the IAS, PES, and the IEEE-IAS Pulp and Paper committee.
October 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Monday, October 5, 2009 12:00 noon Banquet Room Georgia Power Company 241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (Google map) Steve Pigford "Southern Company Stimulus Proposal $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Thursday, October 1, 2009. |
Steve Pigford will give us an overview of Southern Company's stimulus proposal.
Steve Pigford is the manager of the Georgia Power Company's Distribution Design & Performance organization. He is the committee chair for large capital project approval, as well as chairing the committee that oversees the Distribution Asset Management programs.Return to top
Steve is also chair of the Southern Company T&D Smart Grid Strategy Team, whose mission is to develop a white paper outlining Southern's Smart Grid strategy and to develop a road map for implementation of Smart Grid technologies. He also coordinated the effort to develop a proposal to seek Smart Grid Investment Grant funding for Southern Company through the 2009 ARRA legislation.
He has served in many engineering and leadership positions at field and corporate locations in the Distribution and Transmission areas in his 30 year career with Georgia Power.
Steve is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a BS in Electrical Engineering.
November 2009 Luncheon
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date: time: location: speaker: topic: cost: reservations: |
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:00 noon Georgia Transmission Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA (Google map) Dr. Santiago Grijalva "Computational Electricity Systems and the Smart Grid" $15 for members and guests $7 for retired members students and presenters are free Please reserve online before the deadline 5:00pm Friday, November 6, 2009. |
Smart Grid is really about distributed intelligence for grid control. Realizing electric systems control has four components: devices that are to be controlled, actuators or controls, sensors, and intelligence. Intelligence are the monitoring, protection, automation, security, quality and optimization algorithms that capture system information, process the information and make specialized decissions. "Smartness" is hence not in the eye or in the hands of the system, but in its brain: the advanced software algorithms. This is what we study at our Advanced Computational Electricity Systems (ACES) Laboratory at Gerogia Tech. Our research focuses on the systems aspects of electric power: real-time operation and control, power system security, renewable energy integration and power system economics. This presentation will describe the role of computational electricity systems in the "smartness" of the smart grid and will describe some of the projects we are working on.
Dr. Grijalva obtained the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1999 and 2002, respectively. From 2003 to 2004, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Power and Energy Systems at the University of Illinois. During his graduate studies at Illinois, he received Fulbright and American States Organization Fellowships. His Ph.D. work was on power system voltage stability and nonlinear available transfer capability computations.Return to top
From 1995 to 1997, he was with the Ecuadorian Center for Energy Control (CENACE) as engineer and manager of the Software Department. After completing his doctorate, he joined PowerWorld Corporation, in Champaign, Illinois, where he developed advanced visualization and optimization applications. He was the principal developer of the Integrated Topology Processing ® (ITP), Optimal Power Flow for Reserves ® (OPFR), and Topology Error Detection (TED) modules of the Simulator ® software suite, which is currently used by utilities, control centers, and universities in more than 60 countries.
Dr. Grijalva joined Georgia Tech as an Associate Professor in 2009. His research is on computational methods for power system security and economics, voltage stability, and information systems applied to large-scale electricity networks. He focuses on mission-critical real-time control algorithms, formal data modeling of complex systems such as smart grids, and integration of fringe components such as energy consumer response and renewable energies. Dr. Grijalva has more than 40 publications in the areas of power system stability and security, electricity computational systems, electricity markets, and integration of large-scale renewable energy. He is the Director of the Advanced Computational Electricity Systems (ACES) Laboratory at Georgia Tech.