Regulatory Flashcards
Why was the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC) formed?
To promote reliability
by bringing the region’s
planning and operating coordination activities
under one organization.
How many classes of members are in (WECC) Western Electricity Coordinating Council.
Seven
What are the four (WECC) Western Electricity Coordinating Council power areas?
California / Mexico Power Area
Arizona / New Mexico / Southeastern Nevada Power Area
Rocky Mountain Power Area
Northwest Power Pool
How is AC different from DC?
DC flows only in one direction. AC continuously changes in direction and magnitude.
Name two types of three phase connections?
Delta
Wye
State Ohm’s Law.
E = I X R
Describe switching stations.
Switching stations:
contain equipment necessary to sectionalize the transmission system
do not contain transformers
T/F
Load break switches cannot be used to interrupt fault current.
True
Define Maximum Continuous Current Capability.
Maximum Continuous Current Capability is:
the highest load current that the circuit breaker is designed to carry
for extended time periods.
Define Maximum Interrupting Current.
Maximum Interrupting Current is:
the maximum fault current
that circuit breakers are capable of interrupting.
Define Interrupting Time.
Interrupting Time is:
the period from the instant current begins to flow through the trip coil
until the circuit breaker interrupts the fault.
Define Closing Time.
Closing Time is:
the time it takes to close the breaker from the instant the close coil is energized
until current begins to flow through the breaker.
Fault recorders:
log critical current and voltage waveforms at the time of any fault.
T/F
Aluminum has a greater resistance than copper?
True
T/F
Increasing the length of a conductor increases the resistance of the conductor?
True
Which winding is electrically connected to the energy output or load side of a transformer?
Secondary winding
State the turns ratio formula.
V1 / V2 = N1 / N2
What principle does a transformer operate on?
Electromagnetic induction
T/F
Transformers do not create electricity?
True
Transformer convert electricity
What type of three-phase connection does not introduce a phase shift between the primary and secondary voltage in transformer?
Delta - Delta
What type of transformer is used to transfer power for voltages higher than 69 KV?
Power Transformers
What type of transformer controls power over parallel lines by adjusting the phase at one end of the line?
Phase-shifting transformers
What cancels some of the inductive reactance, therefore, decreasing impedance and enables more power to flow?
Series capacitors
Name two advantages of DC over AC?
Two conductors are cheaper than three
Rapid adjustments to power flow
Can tie together two power systems having dissimilar characteristics
Name the three components of a protection system.
Measuring devices
Protective relays
Control circuitry
Define Transfer Tripping.
Transfer Tripping is:
when relays at one end of the line detect a fault,
the communication or pilot channel is turned on to signal
the other end of the line that a fault has occurred.
Define Directional Comparison.
Directional Comparison is:
fault detecting directional distance relays at each line terminal
which determines the direction of the fault current and
compares their individual results over the pilot or communication channel.
Define Phase Comparison.
Phase Comparison:
uses over current fault detecting relays
to compare the relative phase angles of the currents
at the two terminals via the communications channel.
Name two pieces of equipment protected by differential relays (87).
Transformers
Windings
Shunt equipment
Generators
Distribution bus substations
T/F
Internal faults are faults inside the protections zone.
True
Define Corona.
Corona:
occurs on conductors
when the surface potential gets so high that the dielectric strength of the surrounding air is exceeded and
ionization occurs.
Charging current is current that flows on the line due to the alternate charge and discharge of the line due to:
alternating voltage
Real power flow is determined by what three variables:
Phase angle
Generation patterns
LINE IMPEDANCE
Define inadvertent.
Inadvertent is:
the difference between
net actual interchange and
net scheduled interchange.
What causes inadvertent?
(Automatic Generation Control) AGC lag
Metering errors
In 1920 congress established ________ to coordinate hydroelectric projects under federal control.
Federal Power Commission (FPC)
What does FERC stand for?
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
What does FERC do?
FERC regulates interstate transportation of natural gas, oil, and electricity.
What does NERC stand for?
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
What does CISO stand for?
California Independent System Operator
What are the seven WECC monitoring processes?
Compliance audits
Compliance Violation Investigations
Complaints
Self-certifications
Self-reporting
Spot checking
Readiness evaluation (audits)
T/F
If the system is over-generating, frequency will be greater than 60 HZ.
True
Describe frequency excursions.
Electric clocks run faster when frequency is higher than 60 Hz when over-generating
Electric clocks run slower when frequency is lower than 60 Hz when under-generating
What are the three System Control modes:
Tie line bias control
Flat frequency control
Flat tie line control
NOT power system control
Define Spinning Reserve
Spinning Reserve is:
the reserve capability that can be converted to energy within ten minutes.
It is provided by equipment that is electrically synchronized to the system and responds automatically to frequency changes.
Loop flow is a condition where the power flows over paths that are in ________ to the scheduled path?
Parallel
