Active Fault Level Management Scheme
| Duration | Feb 2012 - Dec 2014 |
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Project description
The accommodation of distributed generation within 11kV networks may be limited at present due to fault level issues. The implementation of an active fault level management scheme has the potential to defer and/or avoid costly network reinforcement, while increasing network security.
The project enabled an increase in distributed generation connections through monitoring fault level conditions in real-time. This also allows a practical understanding of how close simulated fault levels are to actual values. Real-time fault level monitoring was used to manage the connection of a distributed generator to increase the power supplied from renewable energy resources and to manage the fault level to avoid exceeding existing equipment ratings. This supports the installation of distributed generation close to large demand centres, which has the potential to reduce electrical distribution losses and increase the efficiency of the distribution system.
The project was implemented in two phases:
Phase 1 Involved the integration and factory acceptance testing of the fault level monitoring devices.
Phase 2 Involved the implementation of the fault level monitoring devices within a field trial network to manage the connection of a distributed generator, firstly through open-loop control (monitor and verify) and then through closed loop control (active network management).
We worked on this in partnership with Parsons Brinckerhoff, Outram Research Limited, S&C Electric and Nortech on this project.