Equipment Applications. Drawing on our expertise with green field and upgrade projects, the Equipment Applications team provides consultation and analyses on generation, transmission, and distribution solutions. Areas of expertise include excitation systems, generator/switchyard protection, power system stabilizer tuning, electromagnetic transient, and electromechanical modelling and simulation—along with dynamic performance testing and model verification of turbine-generators and renewable energy inverter systems. Practical research on distribution systems is codeveloped with utilities in our DSTAR program (www.dstar.org).
Systems Engineering. With a growing knowledge base gained from thousands of power systems projects, our Systems Engineering experts provide expertise in literally every aspect of power grid performance. We understand the physical characteristics of generation and transmission equipment—and their dynamic performance and interaction characteristics when operated as a large integrated power grid.
This in-depth and experience hardened knowledge is the foundation of the technical analyses we can provide for interconnected power grids—from small island systems to large interconnections with hundreds of GWs of power generation. Many of our customers have come to rely upon the skills and creativity we bring to unique situations where development of new models or analysis techniques are required. From largescale wind/solar integration studies to subsynchronous torsional interaction analysis or specialty control and protection equipment, we provide a full range of customized solutions.
Grid Code Compliance Testing. Recent power system disruptions have prompted regulating agencies to more closely examine generating units' capabilities for dynamic support, from both frequency and voltage/reactive power control perspective. These same realities have raised significant interest in the models of generation equipment that are used in power system planning and analysis. This has led to requirements that generating units be tested to confirm proper dynamic performance of their controls, and to update the associated model data. Testing for these purposes is now recognized as practical, having minimal intrusion on plant operations, and yielding significant benefits to generating plants and to the interconnected grid. The Grid Code Compliance Test team executes power plant dynamic performance tests, and our team of engineers has more than 100 person-years of experience in performing tests and analysis for all segments of the power generation industry.
We've supported tests on nearly one thousand generating units, ranging in size from diesel generating sets to large nuclear steam turbines. This testing provides the industry with accurate models for use in interconnected system simulation studies, as well as clear demonstration of the units' dynamic capabilities. Our efficient execution of these tests and subseqent analyses help our power generation clients ensure that they secure expedient approval to interconnect (and remain connected) to their local grid.
