In electrical systems, a variety of control tasks need to be performed, including voltage and frequency control, as well as the damping of power oscillations. There are high demands on network stability and efficient operation to guarantee reliable and safe power supply. Siemens PTI supports you in deriving reliable solutions with:

• Controller and machine measurements
• Highly accurate dynamic modeling and analysis
• Identification of the optimum positioning of controllers or of the controllers which should be modified
• Consideration of all non-linearities and demonstration of the effectiveness of the controlling strategies

When connecting new generating units, interconnection criteria and grid codes have to be met to avoid a negative impact on the reliability performance of the power system. Siemens PTI can help you gain a better network understanding to accommodate new generator interconnections:

• Verification of grid code compliance before energization of the power plant under consideration of all relevant operating scenarios
• Optimal balance-of-plant design
• Assessment of interactions with the power system
• Definition of measures to ensure a stable system based on the case studies performed (e.g. transient and dynamic stability, short-circuit or voltage ride-through) 
• Theoretical and practical training to educate operational personnel and increase efficiency

Equipotential bonding, grounding and lightning protection systems are complex electrical systems with components from civil and mechanical engineering, HV and LV power engineering as well as control and communication. Siemens PTI can assist during new installations or system modifications with:

• Development of grounding and lightning protection concepts considering technical and economical requirements as well as (inter)national standards
• Evaluation of grounding and lightning protection systems by measurements and simulations
• Measurement of specific soil resistivity
• Fault clearing
• Minimizing the risk of personal injury and system outages in fault and in normal operation conditions

Series compensation on transmission lines is a cost-effective method to increase the transmission capacity but imposes the risk of subsynchronous resonances for the power plants connected nearby. These may result in poorly damped, undamped or even amplified oscillatory phenomena on the shaft of generators. Siemens PTI offers: 

• Simulating and analyzing SSR phenomena, e.g. by means of eigenvalue analysis, frequency analysis techniques and transient torque analysis
• Evaluation of possible countermeasures, such as
  - avoidance of certain topology, bypass capacitors, reduced power generation, etc.
  - replacement of shaft components, transformers, series capacitors, etc.
  - passive or active control, monitoring of shaft stresses

After a blackout the system’s re-energization has to be processed considering national and regional organizational aspects and technical requirements. Generating units have to gain and/or ensure the capability of being started without energy from external power sources and to energize the network parts to which the generation unit is connected. Siemens PTI supports you with:

• Design and evaluation of restoration plans for safe, efficient and quick system restoration
• Design and evaluation of frequency and voltage controllers for black start
• Consideration of active loads in sub-networks to be restored
• Transient studies for equipment energization (lines, transformers, etc.)

Assessing the viability of any major energy sector project, apart from accounting for the project cost, requires an estimate of revenue and an identification of uncertainties and risk factors. The determination of quantity and price must consider the factors of competition and deliverability, in addition to generator technology and fuel cost. To enhance your business Siemens PTI provides you with:

• Evaluation of expected market behavior in terms of key performance parameters (e.g. local marginal prices, unit dispatch levels, adequacy of spinning and operating reserves, operating costs, etc.)
• Advanced tools (e.g. PROMOD or AURORA) to formulate generation expansion plans
• Costs and impacts are processed via economic models to produce KPIs and benefit / cost ratios are used to support decision making process of integrated resource planning