RENEWED INTEREST IN UHV AC AND HVDC

 

Speaker:        Joseph L. Koepfinger, IEEE Life Fellow, IEEE Distinguished Lecturer

Date:                Thursday, September 25, 2008

Time:                Social 6:30 PM, Program 7:00 PM

Place:               Westinghouse Energy Center

RSVP:             Dr. Kal Sen, P.E., senkk@ieee.org or 724-696-1611 by September 18, 2008

Organizers:   Power & Energy Society/Industrial Applications Society.

 

In early 2006, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) suddenly became aware that an increased interest in both Ultra High Voltage AC (UHV AC and High Voltage DC (HVDC) was occurring in several parts of the world. This renewed interest was and continues to be driven by energy needs in Asia and South America. Electrical Energy is now one of society’s basic needs and it is almost as necessary as light, water and food. Today there is a great dependence in the world on an adequate and reliable supply of electric energy.

 

China, which has large coal reserves, is now an importer of coal thus driving the cost of coal to new heights. There has been a three fold increase in the cost of coal in the last four years. The need for electrical energy is a significant factor in the increased cost of all fossil fuels.

 

To address the concerns being raised by Asian countries, the IEC and The International Council of Large Electrical Systems (CIGRE) convened a Symposium on this topic in Beijing in July 2007.

 

The basic research for Extra High Voltage AC (EHV AC) and HVDC took place in the USA between mid 1950 and mid 1980. This occurrence paralleled the rise in the national GNP and the demand for electrical energy being experienced in that same period throughout the world. Today similar economic growth is taking place in Asia, South America, and South Africa.

 

This presentation will present information on what is being planned and done to address the disparity between the supply and demand for electrical energy throughout the world. It focuses on the research that has taken place in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Italy, Japan, Russia and USA.

 

The presentation compares the Asian approach to UHV AC and HVDC standardization to the approach used by the United States and Canada in the 1955 to 1985 time frame. Cited will be the demand by Asia for new standards.

DIRECTIONS TO WESTINGHOUSE ENERGY CENTER

 

From Pittsburgh take Interstate 376 East (Parkway East). Take Exit 14A to Monroeville. Cross Business Rt 22 at the traffic light and proceed on Rt 48 South (Moss Side Blvd) approx ½ mile (two traffic lights). The 2^nd traffic light is at a 4-way intersection with an Exxon station on the right. Turn left onto Northern Pike. Proceed approx 0.2 miles and turn right at the 1^st traffic light onto Westinghouse Dr. Travel 0.7 miles (past the guard stand) to the 3 flags where the building’s main entrance is located. Parking in the evening will be plentiful. Use the main entrance and check with the security guards inside. You will be directed to the proper room for your meeting.

From the PA Turnpike, take Exit 57 (Monroeville). After the toll plaza, get in the left lane to get on Business Rt 22 West. At the first light, turn left onto Rt 48 South (Moss Side Blvd) and follow the above directions.

 

 

Mr. Koepfinger graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS and MS degree in Electrical Engineering.  He has considerable involvement in IEEE.  He is a past director of the Institute and Member Emeritus of the IEEE Standards Board.  He his the recipient of many IEEE and local industry awards including the IEEE-PES award for Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering and the IEEE-SA Steinmetz Award.  Currently, he is a member of several IEEE Committees including IEEE SCC 21 and co-chair of its 1547.3 working group on Monitoring, Information Exchange, and Control of Distributed Resources Interconnected with Electric Power Systems.  In addition to these activities, he is active in IEC in the field of surge protection as Secretary of TC 37 and US Technical Advisory for SC 37A and SC 37B and in the field of interconnection of distributed generation as the US Technical Advisor for TC 8.

 

Joseph L. Koepfinger was employed for 51 years by Duquesne Light Company.  During that time he held many engineering and management positions in the field of surge protection, protective relaying, system communications and system planning.  He has been an active consultant since retiring in 2000.  Currently he is a contract employee at First Energy Nuclear Operations Corporation Beaver Valley P.S.

About the Speaker