17.0 Energy Transmission

Frank R. Leslie, B. S. E. E., M. S. Space Technology, LS IEEE

3/26/2010, Rev. 2.0

fleslie @fit.edu; (321) 674-7377

www.fit.edu/~fleslie

http://www.tesla-coil.info/

In Other News . . .

Sempra Units To Spend $10.6 Billion Over 5 Yrs On Transmission, Renewables

SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- Sempra Energy's (SRE) two utilities plan to spend about $10.6 billion--about two-thirds of the company's total capital expense budget--on capital projects over the next five years on transmission, renewable energy, advanced meters and other projects, company executives said Thursday.

San Diego Gas & Electric plans to spend about $7 billion of the total, including $2 billion on a 120-mile high-voltage transmission line, called Sunrise Powerlink; $400 million to buy two wind farms and a 14-megawatt solar farm; $500 million to install digital utility meters; $400 million to build two new substations; $165 million for a rooftop solar program; and $75 million installing electric-vehicle charging infrastructure throughout its service territory, said Debra Reed, president and chief executive of Sempra Utilities.

100326

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201003251638dowjonesdjonline000787&title=sempra-units-to-spend-106-billion-over-5-yrs-on-transmissionrenewables

17 Overview: Energy Transmission

Energy sources are usually in different locations than a city or load center (with the exception of hydropower)

Transmission of electrical energy requires transformation to a high voltage and low current so that the resistance losses of the cable do not dissipate excessive energy (usually about 3 to 5% by design)

Chemical or fuel energy is conducted through pipelines, and like wire, the larger the diameter, the lower the loss

Similar to electricity, pipeline contents are pressurized to overcome losses, and at the load end, the pressure is reduced to a useful levelFor gases, the line acts as a storage tank, too

090331

17.0 About This Presentation

17.1 History17.2 Carriers of Energy17.3 Electric Transmission Lines17.4 Pipelines17.5 Hydrogen --- An Energy Carrier17.6 Transmission by Radiation17.7 NIMBYs17.8 Energy Distribution17.0 Conclusion

090331

17 Energy Transmission

Electricity and hydrogen are energy carriers, not natural fuels

Electric transmission lines lose energy in heat (~3 to 5% as engineering design parameter)

Line directional energy-flow analysis can show where new energy plants are required, usually close to a load center (NIMBYs may not want them there)

Hydrogen is made by cracking of natural gas, electrolysis of water, coal pyrolysis, or from bacterial action (prototype level now)

Pipelines can transport hydrogen without appreciable energy loss, but H2 leaks through standard pipe readily

080331

17.1 The Early Days: Electricity

Edison’s Pearl Street Plant generated electricity for nearby financial office buildings some six blocks away

By 1930, nearly all cities and towns had electricity in homes, but only 10% of farms had electricity

Small gasoline or kerosene-powered 32V generators were common on farms (DELCO, for example);Dayton Electric Light Co., now Delphi

The 1935 Rural Electrification Act brought extensions of powerlines to more distant areas to bring the US out of the “Great Depression” under President RooseveltRural cooperative associations funded the program

and sold power to the customersBy 1955, nearly all farms and ranches had utility

electricity to main buildings near the road

090331

17.1.2 The Early Days: Pipelines

In 1821, the village of Fredonia NY laid lead pipes to provide natural gas to 100 street lights

In 1870, a company bored holes in logs and banded them together to make a gas pipeline to Rochester, New York

In 1886, a wrought iron pipeline was installed to carry gas to Buffalo NY

In 1903, Sheehan laid oil pipelines in Indian Territory The Alyeska pipeline opened in the late 1970s, bring North

Slope oil to the CONUS (contiguous United States) by ship from Valdez, Alaska to lower US ports and overseasThis 48-inch insulated pipeline is substantially above

ground to keep the permafrost from meltingThe line was charged with oil in June 20, 1977Harris Corp. of Palm Bay did the telemetry and control

system!

080331

17.2 Carriers of Energy

Electricity is a carrier of energy that is transformed from a different source of energyAtmospheric energy, like lightning or hurricane,

is not practical to capture and distribute for useA very different chemical energy is also a carrier –

hydrogenHydrogen is burned as a fuel (but isn’t a fuel),

yet it is strongly bonded to other atoms in natureHydrogen must be made from other substances,

requiring even more energy to break the bondA gas, hydrogen is very energy-diffuse unless

highly compressed, which takes still more energy

090331

17.3 Electrical Transmission Lines

The “Grid” is the interconnected network of long-haul, high-voltage electrical transmission lines

The grid is the largest human-built machineThere are three main organizational control

sectionsThe Eastern grid from the Rockies to the East

Coast and into CanadaThe Texas grid (in the 1930s, Texas didn’t want

to lose control to the Federal government)The Western grid from the Rockies to the Pacific

and from Mexico to CanadaThe entire grid is interconnected now; originally, it

was difficult to connect through the Rocky Mountain passes

080331

17.3 The US Grid (Interconnect) Territories

Three primary regions comprise the Grid They are interlocked to precisely 60 hertz (cycles per

second) frequency to control the current flow direction070329

17.3.1 Transmission Line Operation

A very simplified example: A 1000 MW power plant has its output voltage transformed upwards at negligible loss and power sent out over a 100 kV transmission lineThe line current is P/V = 1000 MW/100 kV = 10 kASuppose the lines are two large copper or

aluminum cables sized to lose only 2% of the energy

The loss in the line was 20 MW, dissipated in heatAt the load end, the received energy is 980 MWThe current remains 10 kA, but the voltage falls

along the cable lengthThe voltage drop is then 20 MW/10 kA = 2 kVThe received voltage is now 100 kV – 2 kV = 98 kV

080331

17.3.1 Transformers

The higher the voltage, the longer the insulators

030323 http://philip.greenspun.com/ Philip Greenspun

http://www.epri.com/journal/images/486_transformer_2r.jpg

http://www.emcoindia.com/Images/132kvpowertrans.jpg

17.3 Transformer Operation

A very simplified example: A power plant might have an output voltage of 10 kV transformed to a higher voltage of 100 kV for transmission

A coil of heavy wire or copper tubing known as the primary (input) winding is wound around a magnetic core of laminated steel strips

Ten times as many turns of somewhat smaller wire (the secondary) are also wound around the core

The magnetic flux produced by the primary winding is coupled to the secondary winding by the steel core field

Since there are ten times as many turns in the secondary, the output voltage is ten times the input voltage

Except for losses (~2% in a large unit), the output power is ~ the input power, so the output current is 1/10 the input current

The transformer is filled with oil around the windings in order to carry off the dissipated heat, and fans air-cool the oil pipes

090331

17.4 Pipelines

Pipelines require massive earth-moving projects to lay pipe

In some areas, access is through a legal easement on private property, whose owners sometimes claim they didn’t know about it when they bought the property

Iceland will produce electrolyzed hydrogen from electricity from sustainable hydro and geothermal plantsThe hydrogen can then be distributed by pipelineThe pipeline requires better sealing than for oilThere is an excess of available energy in Iceland,

so electrolysis inefficiency doesn’t matter so muchThey run three H2 propelled buses

090331

17.4 The Alaska Pipeline

The North Slope oil fields near Deadhorse, Alaska could be exploited when the Alyeska Pipeline was built

On a local note, the original telemetry and control system was designed and built by Harris Corporation

080331

http://www.tapsrow.com/http://www.solcomhouse.com/

17.4.1 The Alaska Pipeline

The 800-mile “pipe” is paralleled by the gravel haul road from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay at the Arctic Ocean

731,654 barrels per day average transport

090331 http://www.alyeska-pipe.com/Default.asp

17.5 The Hydrogen Economy: Will it ever arrive?

The “Hydrogen Economy” was formulated by Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute at Snowmass CO

In this concept, clean hydrogen replaces fossil fuels, not fouling the air and water where used

Where will we get that much hydrogen? Solar and wind systems are advocated, but what if economics drives the use of coal, oil shale, or tar sands to make the hydrogen?

While hydrogen-fueled cars have been given to two California cities for testing, the important aspect is that the manufacturers are providing the hydrogen for free

If you can’t get it for free, how much would you be willing to pay for it? 40 times gasoline cost?

090331

17.5.1 Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM)

http://www2.shell.com/home/hydrogen-en/downloads/Shell%20Hydrogen%20brochure.pdf030329

Fuel Cell

17.5.2 HERA Hydrogen storage Tank

070329 http://www2.shell.com/

Five kg of hydrogen could power an automobile for 800km (500 miles) and be loaded in two minutes in a metal-hydride storage tank

17.5.2 Shell Oil continues its vision

070329 http://www2.shell.com/

“The passing age” will now be petroleum; the coming age is likely of hydrogen

17.5.3 Shell Oil’s CO2 Research

Shell Oil is researching the sequestering of CO2 to prevent its escape into the atmosphere This means capturing it chemically or

injecting it into the earthA pipeline system to collect industrial CO2 and

conduct it to a sequestration facility may be in the future

A coal plant in North Dakota sends CO2 to Alberta Canada to pressurize oil fields

070329

17.6 Transmission by Radiation

Light energy sent by fiberoptics can currently transmit enough power to operate very low power communication devices

Future power levels might supply higher powers, but conduction of enough light power to drive home appliances seems difficult to do

Nikola Tesla, who invented the alternating current polyphase power system, experimented with radio frequency transmission of power near Colorado Springs CO

070329

17.6.1 Nikola Tesla’s Experiments

Prints are available from the reference

030331 http://www.teslascience.org/archive/archive.htm

17.6.1.1 Musical Tesla Coil

Wow!

080331

Singing Tesla Coil

http://www.hackedgadgets.com/2006/06/30/tesla-coil-music/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiUlqecQKUo

This is a twin Tesla coil playing a compilation of MIDI tunes. You can see how it was built at http://cappers-lab.dyndns.org/midisch...

http://static1.videosift.com/thumbs/t/es/Tesla_Coil_Music.jpg

17.6.2 Microwave-Beamed Energy

Microwave energy could be beamed from satellites that collect solar energy to earth antennas A low-power radio beacon at the earth antenna

would be tracked to turn on the earthbound power; loss of signal would shut the power off

There are potential technical problems, and the cost would be extremely high

On earth, the rectified antenna energy would have to be converted to supply existing power lines

There’s also a plan to put solar arrays on the moon to beam energy to earth --- $1000 a watt???

090331

17.7 Protests and Rights of Way: NIMBYs Attack!

Rights of way for pipelines and electrical transmission lines stir shrill opposition to the changeThose along the route will shriek that their view (or

“viewscape”) will be ruined, and they wouldn’t have built their house there if they had been told that the woods they don’t own might be cut someday

Others are convinced that radiation of “EMFs” will cause cancer, stunt their children's growth, cause their cows to stop giving milk, etc.

Still others will try to invoke the Endangered Species Act because some plant or critter will harmed In some cases, people have transplanted

endangered plant species to “discover” later

090331

17.8 Energy Distribution

Under energy system reorganizations, there will be three major components (California has this in operation)Generation – the source of energy

Large plants become merchant plants through transfer of ownership to a new company

Transmission – the transfer of energyA regional Independent System Operator (ISO)

like CAISO operates all transmission lines in a state or larger area

Distribution – the retail provision of energyThe local distribution and metering for sale

brings energy to each user (looks the same as today)

070329

17.8 Energy Distribution

This Palm Bay FL substation on Lipscomb St. reduces voltage for distribution to residences and industry

080331

17.8.1 Energy Distribution

This Clearmont St. substation in Palm Bay provides switching and transformation

090331

17.8.2 Energy Distribution to Houses

This transformer reduces the 7,200 volt distribution high line voltage to center-tapped 240 V for home use

090331

                                                                                         

              

www.howstuffworks.com/ power6.htm

BlackWire

RedWire

twwphotos.com

17.8.3 Buried Transmission Cables

Some call for buried lines to protect them from storms

Costs vary, but are high80% of Captiva Island, Florida residents want

buried lines (and have the money to pay for it)“Overhead lines average $120,000 per mile, and

buried lines are three to ten times as much” [Florida Today, 3/28/2005, “Residents ready to buy lines”, Wendy Fullerton]

When an underground failure (fault) occurs, it is expensive to find and repair it Outages last longer

080331

17 Conclusion: Energy Transmission

Installation of new power lines and pipelines may be met with opposition by NIMBYs and CAVEs

Doubling of conductors on an existing line doubles the possible current flow and is not met with vocal opposition

The “Hydrogen Economy” will require hydrogen-grade low-leakage pipelines or tanks to bring the tenuous gas from wherever it is made to the sales pointsThe only alternative is to carry the hydrogen in

tank trucks in groups of pipes or tanksDirect radiation of electrical power is unlikely

and would cause massive radio interference

090331 Ref.: Air Products

Olin Engineering Complex 4.7 kW Solar PV Roof Array

080116

Questions?

References: Books

Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-19-26178-4. (my preferred text)

Brower, Michael. Cool Energy. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press, 1992. 0-262-02349-0, TJ807.9.U6B76, 333.79’4’0973.

Duffie, John and William A. Beckman. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 920 pp., 1991

Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy for Home & Business. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 1993. 0-930031-64-4, TJ820.G57, 621.4’5

Patel, Mukund R. Wind and Solar Power Systems. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1999, 351 pp. ISBN 0-8493-1605-7, TK1541.P38 1999, 621.31’2136

Sørensen, Bent. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. San Diego: Academic Press, 2000, 911 pp. ISBN 0-12-656152-4.

Texter, [MIT]

030319

References: Websites, etc.

http://www.shell.ca/main.htmlhttp://www2.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-enhttp://www.msnbc.com/news/520385.asphttp://www.teslascience.org/pages/webring.htmhttp://www.alyeska-pipe.com/Default.asp

__________________________________________________________________________

awea-windnet@yahoogroups.com. Wind Energy elistawea-wind-home@yahoogroups.com. Wind energy home powersite elistrredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html PNNL wind energy map of CONUS windenergyexperimenter@yahoogroups.com. Elist for wind energy experimenterswww.dieoff.org. Site devoted to the decline of energy and effects upon populationwww.ferc.gov/ Federal Energy Regulatory Commissionwww.hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/otec_hi.html#anchor349152 on OTEC systemstelosnet.com/wind/20th.htmlwww.google.com/search?q=%22renewable+energy+course%22solstice.crest.org/dataweb.usbr.gov/html/powerplant_selection.html

080331

Notes

030318

The unit will feed hydrogen gas easily into the school's metal hydride storage tank which stores the hydrogen in a solid hydride form. The metal hydride storage system stores hydrogen safely and efficiently at low pressure so that it can be converted back into gaseous hydrogen - with the use of a heat exchanger - when needed for engine fuel.

In Other News . . .

“Public meetings to discuss about 70 miles of huge new power transmission lines through Shasta County will be held tonight in Burney, Monday in Chico and April 13 in Redding.

The plan is part of a $1.5 billion, 600-mile transmission line project stretching from Lassen County near the Nevada border and south through the Central Valley. It would split west to the San Francisco Bay area and east to the Sierra foothills, ending in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. A new substation is proposed near Round Mountain in Shasta County, shown on a map of the project on the Western Area Power Administration's Web site. “ --- Redding [CA] .com 3/31/09

090331