Effects of Converting Nuclear Plants in Midwest to Synchronous Condensers
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EFFECTS OF CONVERTING NUCLEAR PLANTS IN MIDWEST TO SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY TAHNEE MILLER IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE Paul Imbertson, Advisor Ned Mohan, Advisor June 2018 © Tahnee Miller 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Acknowledgements I’d like to express my appreciation to the following individuals for their support on the project: • Steve Seitz at MISO for diligently following up to help get access to the models and other information necessary to complete the research. • Douglas Brown at Siemens PTI for his time helping with the dynamic analysis and his support of the project. • Chad Snyder at GE Power for his knowledge of synchronous condensers and his willingness to share some of his experiences of past projects. • Ned Mohan at the University of Minnesota for his ideas and patience. • My husband, Greg, for his endless support and encouragement and for always going over and above to help me find the time and mental capacity to work on my thesis. The kids never noticed I was too busy to play with them when I was working, because they were having too much fun with you! Thank you for always treating my goals with the same rigor as if they were your own. i Abstract Conventional power plants are being retired and replaced with power generation from new renewable generation facilities around the country. One significant drawback to this trend is the loss of system inertia, which conventional power plants are typically able to provide better than wind and solar plants, and the corresponding decrease in grid frequency stability. One way to provide system inertia is with a synchronous condenser. This thesis investigates the potential for converting five nuclear plants in the Midwest into synchronous condensers upon retirement. A transmission system software model was used to simulate disturbances in frequency with the electric grid in the existing system configuration, with the studied facility retired, and with the studied facility converted to a synchronous condenser. Synchronous condenser conversion was determined to have the greatest positive impact on local frequency stability in areas that are close to a large amount of load and renewable generation projects. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... i Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. vi 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 2 Background .............................................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Synchronous Condensers ................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Frequency Stability .......................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Synchronous Condenser Conversion ............................................................................... 3 2.4 MISO Planning Area ........................................................................................................ 4 3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Existing MISO Planning Model ....................................................................................... 5 3.2 Selection of Study Cases .................................................................................................. 6 3.2.1 Clinton Generating Facility ...................................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Duane Arnold Generating Facility ........................................................................... 7 3.2.3 Palisades Generating Facility ................................................................................... 7 3.2.4 Prairie Island Generating Facility ............................................................................ 8 3.2.5 Kewaunee Generating Facility ................................................................................. 8 3.3 Study Procedure ............................................................................................................. 10 3.3.1 Create Modified Models ........................................................................................ 10 3.3.2 Simulate Frequency Disturbances .......................................................................... 12 3.3.3 Measured Quantities .............................................................................................. 13 3.3.4 Analysis Limitations .............................................................................................. 14 4 Results .................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Clinton Results ............................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Duane Arnold Results .................................................................................................... 20 iii 4.3 Palisades Results ............................................................................................................ 25 4.4 Prairie Island Results ..................................................................................................... 30 4.5 Kewaunee Results .......................................................................................................... 35 5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 40 5.1 Summary of Findings ..................................................................................................... 40 5.2 Conclusions Drawn By Results...................................................................................... 40 5.3 Future Work ................................................................................................................... 41 References ...................................................................................................................................... 42 iv List of Tables Table 1: MTEP16 Model Base Case Summary ............................................................................... 5 Table 2: MISO Nuclear Generation Facilities ................................................................................. 6 Table 3: MISO Nuclear Generation Facilities Selected For Evaluation .......................................... 8 Table 4: Frequency Disturbance Simulations ................................................................................ 12 Table 5: Clinton Results Summary – Summer Shoulder Case ...................................................... 15 Table 6: Clinton Results Summary – Summer Peak Case ............................................................. 15 Table 7: Duane Arnold Results Summary – Summer Shoulder Case ............................................ 20 Table 8: Duane Arnold Results Summary – Summer Peak Case .................................................. 20 Table 9: Palisades Results Summary – Summer Shoulder Case.................................................... 25 Table 10: Palisades Results Summary – Summer Peak Case ........................................................ 25 Table 11: Prairie Island Results Summary – Summer Shoulder Case ........................................... 30 Table 12: Prairie Island Results Summary – Summer Peak Case .................................................. 30 Table 13: Kewaunee Results Summary – Summer Shoulder Case ................................................ 35 Table 14: Kewaunee Results Summary – Summer Peak Case ...................................................... 35 v List of Figures Figure 1: MISO Map ........................................................................................................................ 4 Figure 2: Wind Generation With Selected Sites Overlayed ............................................................. 9 Figure 3: Frequency Measurement Quantities ............................................................................... 13 Figure 4: Clinton - Generator Trip in Summer Shoulder Case ...................................................... 16 Figure 5: Clinton - Generator Trip in Summer Peak Case ............................................................. 17 Figure 6: Clinton - Load Trip in Summer Shoulder Case .............................................................. 18 Figure 7: Clinton - Load Trip in Summer Peak Case .................................................................... 19 Figure 8: Duane Arnold - Generator Trip in Summer Shoulder Case ........................................... 21 Figure 9: Duane Arnold - Generator Trip in Summer Peak Case .................................................. 22 Figure 10: