Load Flow Study

During the final stages of the planning and design of an industrial or commercial facility, it becomes imperative to know about the optimal operating conditions and the peak demand. During the commissioning & expansion phase, there is a high chance for the generating station to operate outside its specified power limits. Power blackouts can occur if proper loading conditions are not determined, causing major losses to utility companies worldwide.

A Load Flow study or Power Flow analysis is used to demonstrate the performance of the system under normal and emergency conditions. It is a steady state analysis of the electrical network which identifies key areas for improvement in loading conditions, thus ensuring safe operation of the power system. The study helps in identifying the voltage drop, power losses, and the reactive power requirements of the system. The Load Flow Study is performed to ensure that the electrical power system is operating within the acceptable limits of voltage, current, and power factor.

Why perform Load Flow Analysis?

The main objective of load flow analysis is to provide necessary safety and code recommendations to the facility owners, EEORs and gear manufacturers about the optimal loading conditions of the power system. The adequate power flow, voltage profiles, current and power factor is determined to comply with the codes and standards set by regulatory authorities such as the National Electric Code (NEC), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

IEEE 3002.2 recommends practice for conducting load flow studies in industrial and commercial facilities. NEC protects personnel and equipment by recommending a load flow study to protect system overload. NEC 220.87 recommends load flow calculations for determining the existing loads in the power system.

Producing Load Flow Results and Identifying Issues

A load flow calculation is used to evaluate the state of a system for a given load and generation distribution. As the network distribution will vary noticeably during different time periods, it may be required to perform several load flow solutions pertaining to peak, light, and average loading conditions. These solutions will be used to define either optimal operating modes for normal conditions or how the system will respond to abnormal conditions.

An initial model of the electrical network including the system components is first prepared. What follows is the development of a certain set of non-linear algebraic equations for each node. The solutions to these equations are then evaluated using iterative techniques like the Newton Raphson, Jacobian Matrix, and Gauss-Seidel method, which results in the determination of the voltage profiles/drops, phase angles, real and reactive power flows and power factor is determined for each bus.

Qualified PEs and EITs/Professional Engineers:

Providing engineering recommendations about the causes of exceptions, the integrity of the system, or recommendations for corrective actions requires knowledge and skills beyond those of power systems engineering. Our team of certified professional engineers have the expertise to investigate optimal/abnormal scenarios and provide innovative engineering solutions for your power system. We work closely with our clients to accurately study, model, test, validate, and recommend optimal load flow parameters for industrial & commercial facilities.

AllumiaX, LLC provides independent consulting and third-party engineering support by presenting comprehensive deliverable reports backed by the latest industry standards and best practices. Analysis is performed based on industry-leading software: SKM, ETAP and Easy Power and proven results based on accurate modelling and calculations. The reports are expected to include the following deliverables:

• A comprehensive and accurate electrical model of the facility
• Apparent, Real and Reactive Power Flows at each bus
• Complete voltage profiles for the electrical power system including voltage drops
• Calculations of the steady state voltages, phase angles and power flows to and from each bus
• Reactive power and power factor requirements of the facility
• Evaluation of the general performance of the system under normal and emergency conditions
• Recommendations for the mitigation of overloaded & underloaded conditions
• Recommendations for the minimization of line losses
• Solutions for optimal power flow throughout the network

What is the customer/client responsible for?

At AllumiaX, we evaluate the potential risks and severity in case of an over and undervoltage conditions and recommend the best-in-the-market practices to our customers for a safe, regulated, reliable, and well-designed power system. A customer who chooses not to perform the load flow study misses out on a huge value proposition.

Customers should help develop a list of equipment to be evaluated via onsite data collection for the existing facility or by providing updated one-line, BOMs and cutsheets for all equipment in the facility.

What to Expect?

Load Flow studies will be in 100% compliance with the latest IEEE and NEC standards. Study outcomes and recommendations are expected to improve the following areas of your facility:

• Reliability of proposed generating station, substation and new transmission lines will increase
• Enhancements to the facility through adjustments in system voltage levels and conductor sizes
• Identification of the under/over loaded equipment for better optimization of power demand
• Overall system operation costs are expected to decrease
• Significant decrease in the system line losses
• Optimal loading conditions through recommended tap settings for each transformer
• Effective voltage regulation of the system through recommended governor set points