The age-old power grid in the United States has often been called "the largest single machine on earth." No wonder, because it is more than 9,200 power generating units with more than 1,000,000 megawatt of production capacity of over 300,000 km of transmission lines.
But this mammoth energy infrastructure is almost a century of life and is understandably the air. The lights are still, however, based on a grill often overburdenedis becoming increasingly risky.
Since 1982, the growth of peak demand for electricity fueled by population growth, bigger houses, bigger TVs, more air conditioning systems and several computers - has outpaced the growth of almost 25% transmission each year. But spending on research and development - the first step towards innovation and renewal - is among the lowest compared to all other industries.
Although the increased demand for energy in the air, there has been chronic under-investment in moreEnergy where it needs to go through the transmission and distribution, further reducing network efficiency and reliability. While hundreds of thousands of high-voltage lines in the head, of course, anywhere in the U.S., only 668 miles of additional transmission of information between states have been built since 2000.
Deteriorate due to system constraints and power quality problems of the U.S. companies an estimated average cost of over $ 100 billion a year.
The lattice structure of the centralalso leaves the U.S. Open of blackouts. In fact, the interdependence between the various components of the network have a cascading series of errors that could lead the banking sector, communications, transportation and security systems, among other things to a complete stop.
National challenges such as aging power grid's growing energy needs, rising energy costs and the cost to the environment are all up in one direction and one direction only: a grid that is more efficient inEnergy production and distribution.
For years, engineers with the idea of a "smart grid", using an electric company, the digital technology to eliminate waste and increase the reliability has been watching.
Proponents also say that the smart grid opens up new markets for large and small manufacturers of alternative energy generation through decentralization. It would ensure that consumers have a much more complex relationship with their energy supplier.
More informationSmart Grid
To put it as simply as possible, "the intelligent electricity network from suppliers to consumers who use digital technology to save energy, reduce costs and improve reliability and to ensure transparency."
A true smart grid will not be possible if each new device and system, that part of the grid is able to communicate with any other system on the grid. This critical interoperability depends on a coordinated framework of protocols and standards, which is located in aearliest stages of planning.
Until the future is in smart grid is an intelligent system to work with consumers to save energy, produce electricity from a range of renewable energy, to anticipate their mistakes, to see their own repairs to save energy on the grid and a feeding system for the new generation of electric vehicles
How much of the Smart Grid is already present?
Substation automation, SCADA systems, reactive power compensation, the automation of power of all theseSmart devices have been implemented by utilities in recent years. This, however, the process of evolution of the available resources, maturity of technology and other business topics limited. Utilities need to help experienced and reliable technology partner, the shift from isolated cases of smart technologies for implementation at the national level.
Transformers and the Smart Grid
The smart grid technologies to apply tools and techniques:
* Make sure yourConfidence never before possible
* To maintain its affordability
* Strengthening the global competitiveness
* Space for renewable energy sources and traditional
* Reduce carbon emissions
* Introduction of efficiency gains and progress are still under
The adoption of Smart Grid will increase every aspect of the vehicle power supply, including generation, transmission, distribution and consumption.
An intelligent network is thus essential for asustainable energy supply in the future, and if there is a growing consensus in the United States, that clean energy is a platform to rebuild the American economy, it follows that the realization of the intelligent network is also critical to economic growth.
The hub for the collection and distribution of energy - for the Smart Grid to work efficiently must be for "Intelligent Transformer". As part of the distribution network, there are millions of transformers in the country, unfortunately, asome of them barely have the intelligence or communications - or generalize the concept of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) - are part of a modern infrastructure of sensor (ASI) network.
Many transformer manufacturers recognize this imminent need for transformer monitoring products on-line and diagnostic services, and invest in them. These technologies are key to improving network security and help utilities avoid transformer failures andresulting in power outages. They will also reduce maintenance costs and postpone investment through the expansion of a transformed life.