Understanding How Power Roll-Outs or Shedding Work

 Power rolling blackouts, or load shedding, are when the demand for electricity or power exceeds the available supply. This causes instability in the grid as all the consumers attempt to pull the insufficient capacity, which may cause damage to essential power systems and further exacerbate the situation. The power utility company thus purposely shut the power off in selected areas to balance the demand-supply levels. The shedding reduces the chances of more prolonged blackouts, avoiding complete shutdowns and avoiding damage to the power grid.

Various reasons lead to the need for power shedding. The primary factor is damage to the power transmission lines, which are the primary distribution lines, to different factors like storms, earthquakes, and vandalism of critical power equipment. Another reason is the loss of a significant power generator due to equipment loss or a primary contributor. For example, countries that rely on different sources of power, like power, nuclear or hydroelectric, may require shedding if severe drought affects the hydroelectric generators due to reduced water levels or a nuclear plant requires maintenance.

Also, load shedding becomes necessary if the consumers increase consumption in a limited time. An example is changing consumer behavior or requirements, such as population increase, heat waves, or winter, where people use heating, ventilation, and air condition systems more than on regular occasions.

When the highlighted scenarios occur, the national or local utility responsible for electricity transmission shuts down some power distribution and feeder lines to maintain short-term and long-term power integrity, reliability, and safety. In countries facing scenarios requiring shedding, these utility firms work with the governments for planned rollout plans, with prior notice to the affected consumers. This enables the involved parties to access services like automated teller machines and gas stations.

The consumers are grouped in clusters, and the power is switched off for a group for a few hours, typically two. After the scheduled hours, the operator switches the power off for the next cluster using the feeder lines while the first group resumes regular supply. The rollout cycle continues until the load shedding is complete and the system is stable. The rollout process is either automatic or manual. Operators prefer manual rollouts as they are more controllable and easily adjusted to suit different scenarios.

The government and utility companies often attempt to reduce the chances of and the need for rollout. The typical method was incentivizing industries and owners of large buildings to reduce power use during peak periods and off-grid options like solar systems.

However, in almost all instances, the operators ensure critical areas like hospitals, law enforcement areas, and water systems retain regular power supply, with most of the rollout directed to households. Shedding in these places can have negative consequences. An example is the Texas Power Crises, where experts indicated that over 700 people died from factors emanating from extended blackouts like freezing after a snowstorm cut off power. However, living near the critical areas does not guarantee exemption from the rollouts, as sharing the power feeder line is not assured.

The effects of the rollout vary, but the primary one is the inconvenience of intermittent power supply. When too frequent, like during the heavy rains and storm season, when damage to the power season is more frequent, people experience a reduced quality of life due to limited access to regular household, social, and economic activities. The goal, however, is to ensure a reliable power supply over a more extended period.

Biofuels and How They Are Made

 Biofuels are a renewable source of energy that has been around for decades. The two most popular versions of biofuel are biodiesel and ethanol, representing the first generation of biofuels. Other biofuels include biogas, butanol, methanol, and wood.

Bioengineers manufacture biofuels using plant materials and other feedstock, generally called biomass. They first convert biogas and liquid biofuels before using them as an energy source. However, solid biofuels such as wood and wood waste can be used directly as a fuel source without conversion.

Biofuels have a much lower impact on the environment than traditional sources of fuel, offering a renewable and sustainable source of clean energy. As a result, they are often mixed with regular gasoline to make them more efficient and sustainable.

Biofuels have different modes of production, depending on their composition and intended use. For example, the manufacturing process of ethanol begins with the cultivation of starchy plants like corn, wheat, or soybeans. After harvesting, bioengineers process the crops to obtain the oils and sugar used in making biofuels. This stage of processing biomass for fuel production is called conversion. The conventional method of doing this is fermentation.

Corn is ground and mixed with water to obtain a starchy mix. Enzymes are introduced to this mix to reduce their cellular structure to simple sugars and watery forms. These simple sugars are then fermented with yeast to produce ethanol. Any leftover water in ethanol must be dried and exhausted before it is used as fuel for car engines; therefore, it must first undergo dehydration and distillation to remove any water content before it is suitable for use.

In biodiesel production, transesterification is used in place of fermentation. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) are the primary chemicals present in biodiesel. Transesterification is the method of disintegrating the triglycerides in oil or fat so that all that remains are the FAMEs.

Sodium hydroxide acts as a catalyst on a mixture of oil or fat and an alcohol like methanol to complete this process. After completing this process, heating and agitating the by-product produces glycerin and FAMEs. The glycerin is discarded, and biodiesel is the liquid that remains after the entire process of transesterification.

Biogas is a common fuel source in most power plants. It is commonly used for the generation of heat and electricity. Its production is a result of a process called anaerobic digestion. During this process, organic matter is decomposed in the absence of oxygen. As a result, carbon dioxide, a mixture of methane and other gasses that can be used for energy production, is obtained.

Regardless of the mode of production, ethanol and biodiesel must be purified and blended with gasoline or diesel fuel before use in a car engine as fuel. They are not used as primary fuel sources in cars because their level of efficiency as a standalone fuel does not measure up to that of fossil fuels. Therefore, they are only used as an additive or mixed with gasoline to increase their octane levels. An example of an ethanol and gasoline mixture that is well known for its use is E10, which consists of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline and can aid in the higher performance of internal combustion engines.

How Capacitors Store and Release Energy

 Based in Southern California, Dianoush Emami has managed numerous construction and engineering actives, with a focus on complex utility and general facility projects. Dianoush Emami has guided various applications involving the transmission and distribution of high-voltage electricity.

One of the essential electrical components for storing energy is the capacitor. A battery is quick to charge, and relies on chemical reactions for the release of energy and thus has a slow discharge rate. By contrast the capacitor, as a circuit component, stores electrical energy temporarily via a process of distributing charged particles across a pair of plates, which creates a difference in potential. Requiring less time than a battery to charge, the capacitor is also able to release its energy very quickly.

Capacitors have a variety of uses, with mylar capacitors commonly employed in timer circuits such as alarm clocks and ceramic capacitors employed with high frequency applications such as X-ray or MRI equipment. Super capacitors are used in powering hybrid and electric vehicles, while those made of glass support high-voltage applications. Within these various capacitors, terminals connect with two metal plates that are separated by a dielectric, or a non-conducting substance.

Capacitors are engaged by being connected with a battery or other power source, with one plate connected to its negative terminal and one to its positive terminal. A good way of envisioning the capacitor and its storage and release of electrons is as a water tower connected to a water pipe. The tower stores water pressure when there is excess water that a community cannot readily consume, and releases water when it’s needed at a time of high demand.

Electrical Penetration Assemblies and Nuclear Plant Containment

 Dianoush Emami is a longtime California power consultant who provides electrical engineering expertise that boosts the safety and efficiency of power plants and transmission systems. One area of focus for Dianoush Emami is electrical penetration protection within nuclear power plants.

An electrical penetration assembly (EPA) comprises insulated electric conductors, module, aperture, and conductor seals. These ensure that electric conductors pass through a single hole within a nuclear containment structure while simultaneously delivering a pressure barrier between the containment structure’s inside and outside regions.

Each reactor within a plant may have numerous points where EPAs must be installed to feed signals through. Containment integrity is essential for preventing radiation leaks, and EPAs are rigorously built to withstand both existing and potential conditions within the reactor. Without that safety element, they can emerge as the weak point at which operational failure occurs.

Two critical elements of EPA performance are seals and interfaces. While epoxy seals are not typically an issue, the field cabling interface that is either embedded within the epoxy or used in terminating a cable is a distinct area of vulnerability.

Transmission Lines and Safety Considerations

 

A California-based electrical engineer, Dianoush Emami has significant experience designing power plants. Dianoush Emami has set up high-voltage transmission and electrical distribution systems that provide a consistent, safe energy source.

Transmission lines carry energy in large quantities from generating stations to substations, which can be distributed to individual businesses and households. The design and capacity of such lines vary widely, ranging from 44,000 volts to more than 750,000 volts.

Because of the high load capacity and extremely high voltage, transmission lines do not have an insulating sheath, as with the smaller loads involved with electrical lines and poles from substations. Instead, the air around the lines acts as an insulator, making it critical that nothing comes close to them, such as a tree branch, that might cause serious fire and outage. Because of the high voltages, a tree does not even need to touch the line for an electric arc to occur.

For this reason, all transmission lines are set up with right-of-ways that prevent vegetation from being planted in the vicinity. In addition, this cleared area enables personnel to access lines for inspections, repair, and maintenance.

Basic Types of Underground Transmission Lines

 Based in Southern California, Dianoush Emami oversees complex electrical engineering projects that enable power plants to function at capacity reliably. Over the years, Dianoush Emami has managed electrical engineering projects involving the placement of high-voltage overhead and underground lines.

Underground transmission lines must overcome various technical challenges that make the cost per foot between four and seven times that of overhead lines. One major obstacle involves providing enough insulation that cables can be placed only inches from grounded material. In addition, the heat generated when operating electrical cables needs to be rapidly dissipated within a confined space. With overhead lines, engineers have the luxury of lines surrounded by insulating air and safely distant from each other.

Two basic underground transmission line configurations resolve these concerns. High-pressure fluid-or-gas-filled cables involve three high-voltage conductors encased within a steel pipe. Pressurized nitrogen or synthetic oil acts as an insulator, without itself conducting electricity, and prevents unwanted electrical discharges. The fluid, generally static and operating by conduction, also transfers heat from the conductors. Issues that can potentially arise include leaking oil that impacts groundwater and soil.

The other major option is a solid cable made of dielectric material, such as the XLPE cable, which has an aluminum or copper conductor and a semi-conducting shield at the core. Surrounding this core is cross-linked polyethylene insulation, with a metallic sheath and plastic jacket covering the entire cable. This effectively provides insulation and heat dissipation without fluid leakage risks.

SF6 Circuit Breakers for High Voltage

 After receiving his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, Dianoush Emami has accumulated several professional certifications in the electrical engineering sector. With over three decades of experience in his field, Dianoush Emami’s particular areas of expertise include quality control, safety, and high-voltage transmission work.

High-voltage circuit breakers protect electrical circuits from hazardous spikes. One common type of high-voltage circuit breaker is the SF6 circuit breaker. SF6 circuit breakers use a gas called sulfur hexafluoride as their dielectric material. The circuit breaker cuts power when there is an overload or a short circuit, protecting electrical systems and assets.

The three major types of SF6 circuit breakers are the single interrupter SF6 CB (designed for 220 kV systems), the two interrupters SF6 CB (designed for 400 kV systems), and the three interrupters SF6 CB (designed for 715 kV systems).

Circuit breakers are a more efficient alternative to fuses. Contrary to fuses, designed to protect against dangerous current only once, circuit breakers can be reused. One disadvantage of SF6 circuit breakers is that the constituent gas (sulfur hexafluoride) is a greenhouse gas and can contribute to global warming when it escapes into the atmosphere through the leakage.

Argonne National Laboratory's Vetted Biofuel Efficiency Study

 A former electrical engineer at Bechtel Power Corporation, Dianoush Emami has worked throughout the state of California for more than 35 years. During this period, he has established himself as a professional in high-voltage transmission and substation design. Dianoush Emami has also worked on projects in the nuclear power and biofuel sectors.

In November 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory collaborated with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Idaho National Laboratory to conduct research that can help match promising biofuels with compatible engine types. The consortium builds on the rationale that advanced engine designs can improve biofuel efficiency while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.

The studies, published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, outline the prospects of biofuel as a climate-friendly alternative energy source. Biofuels are produced from animal fats and oil extracted from plants, which are renewable, in contrast to petroleum. The researchers found that pairing compatible biofuels with advanced, optimally designed engines can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent, mitigating climate hazards. They also found that optimized engines can go farther on equal amounts of fuel compared to conventional engines.

IEDs and Substation Automation

 An experienced electrical safety professional, Dianoush Emami graduated with a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. Drawing on a career spanning three decades, Dianoush has also designed and implemented high-voltage systems for use in power generation and electrical substation facilities.

Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) are built using microprocessor technology. In substations, IEDs serve as an integral component of the substation automation system. They essentially collect data on the state of different substation devices, process and interpret the data, and trigger autonomous control commands in a fraction of a second if an abnormal situation is identified. The control command can sometimes remedy the fault completely.

IEDs can also transfer information via multiple communication modes. Local operators and remote personnel can access this information for troubleshooting. In most substations, a special system called the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system centralizes communication from various IEDs, streamlining substation supervision.

Understanding High Voltage Transmissions and their Safety Precautions

 Dianoush Emami is an accomplished California-based electrical engineer, who draws upon more than three decades of experience. An alumnus of University of Southern California, Dianoush Emami has worked extensively as a high voltage engineer in electrical distribution and transmission.

High voltage electricity is utilized for multiple uses, including power generation to managing industrial plants. Transmission and distribution lines operate on significantly higher voltages compared to homes and businesses, as they carry huge amounts of power. Due to the massive amount of electrical energy involved, high voltage electrical sites should be installed far away from people and properties. To ensure any potential safety hazards have been addressed, high voltage electricity is often regulated and managed under close supervision. This allows for power levels to be maintained within industry-approved levels.

For high-voltage installation sites to remain safe, adequate insulation to maintain voltage levels and physical isolation measures should be implemented to prevent accidents. Installations are required to comply with the National Electrical Code and other applicable local codes. For insulation, regular testing should be done, as insulation degenerates when exposed to very high temperatures and chemical agents. A megohmmeter is an insulation tester device used to measure high resistance values, by transmitting a high voltage signal to an object being tested, in order to determine an insulation’s performance.

A Brief Look at Substation Automation Systems

 An electrical engineering alumnus of the University of Southern California, Dianoush Emami is an accomplished electrical engineer who worked at Bechtel Power Corporation for six years. Dianoush Emami has also implemented high-voltage systems in power generation facilities and electrical substations.

A substation automation system is a series of hardware and software components that help monitor and control electrical systems at electrical substations. With a substation automation system, electrical engineers no longer need to perform many tedious and repetitive tasks on-site at substations. These tasks are handled by complex algorithms embedded in substation automation systems' components. Some of these tasks are traditionally error-prone. Algorithms eradicate human errors.

Substation automation systems minimize electric system faults and downtime, expedite critical troubleshooting, optimize productivity, and boost revenue for electrical companies. These systems also streamline the analysis of hazards by recording and transferring data to locations where the data can be analyzed to determine the causes and patterns of component failures. With this information, engineers can take the necessary actions to prevent component faults and failures from happening again.

Many components of modern substation automation systems are microprocessor-based intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). Supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) helps monitor multiple IEDs.

A Brief Overview of Nuclear Power Generation in the United States

 

A former electrical engineer at Bechtel Power Corporation, Dianoush Emami is a longtime Santa Ana, California resident with a leadership background in the safety, quality, and engineering sectors. Dianoush Emami has overseen numerous projects, including conventional, biofuel, and nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plants offer alternative energy sources that use the heat liberated via the decay (splitting) of radioactive atoms (uranium) to generate electricity. The erosion of radioactive particles occurs in the nuclear reactor, and some plants have more than one reactor. The heat generated from the atoms boils water and creates steam, turning turbines to generate electricity in virtually the same manner as other power plants.

The United States has the most significant number of nuclear power plants worldwide. As of 2021, the United States Energy Information Administration recognized 55 nuclear power plants across 28 states. Nuclear power historically constitutes 20 percent of the total electrical power generation in the country.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Ungrounded Systems

 Dianoush Emami obtained his degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. His over 40 years of experience as an electrical engineer has earned him numerous publications and awards, including the IEEE PES Award for the best technical report in 1995. Dianoush Emami is an expert at designing and implementing safe electrical projects that cover high voltage transmissions and electrical grounding systems.

Though generally considered unsafe, ungrounded systems still exist. Ungrounded systems are electrical systems not connected to the ground. However, they use capacitances to connect conductors to the ground, so in a way, they share a connection to the ground. Still, electrical engineers disregard this connection as it plays little role in the system’s function.

Ungrounded systems are advantageous because they do not cause the system to harm itself because of the low current of ground faults. This means that the system can function uninterrupted. Also, there are cheaper as they do not require additional costs for grounding. Additionally, engineers can specially design them to minimize the risk of shock to people.

Ungrounded systems also have disadvantages. One is that it allows excess voltage accumulation as the capacitive current will flow during a fault. The system is also susceptible to transient currents caused by lightning. Furthermore, it is difficult to trace the exact location of a fault in this system, and unresolved faults in one phase may affect other phases.

Alternative Energy vs. Renewable Energy

 An alumnus of the University of Southern California, Dianoush Emami is an electrical electrician with nearly four decades of experience in electrical high-voltage transmission, distribution, substation design, and engineering. Dianoush Emami formerly served six years at Bechtel Power Corporation and guided several related projects in the biofuel and alternative energy sectors.

Alternative energy has become a highly sought-after energy source as it promises to mitigate the environmental hazards of fossil fuel use. Alternative energy is an umbrella term for sources of electricity that emit very little or zero greenhouse gas emissions. Examples of alternative energy sources are solar, wind, nuclear, biomass, and hydroelectric power. Coal, oil, and natural gas are not alternative energy sources since they pollute the air with carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), which contributes to climate change.

Renewable energy overlaps with alternative energy, but the two terms are distinct. Renewable energy is electricity generated from an infinite source, such as solar and wind. Moreover, the alternative sources do not deplete. Nuclear energy is an alternative energy but is not renewable because it uses finite materials - radioactive atoms.

The Membership Benefits of IEEE

 Dianoush Emami is a safety professional with over three decades of experience in the electrical field. He worked as an electrical engineer for Bechtel Power Corporation in Norwalk, California, and designed several power generation projects and their computer application. Dianoush Emami retains membership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), where he serves on their switchgear committee and distributed generation working group.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is one of the largest professional technical organizations in the world. As an organization, they seek to make universally recognized problem-solving contributions to the field of science and technology. To do this, they foster a community of over 400,000 highly skilled technicians and engineers that can produce innovations for the benefit of humankind.

Being a member of the IEEE comes with several benefits. One benefit is networking with other technical professionals to create groups and collaborate on projects. Additionally, you will be able to build a professional profile and attain accolades from your peers. You will also be able to join discussions on topics of technical work that interest you through the organization’s various events and activities across the globe. Furthermore, you will access the organization’s extensive resources and opportunities.

Membership is open to experienced professionals with evidence of competence in a particular field of technical and engineering work. It is also open to students enrolled in an academic course in any technical or engineering field.

Differences Between High Voltage and Low Voltage Substations

 A longtime resident of Santa Ana, California, Dianoush Emami is an experienced electrical engineer who served six years at Bechtel Power Corporation. In this role, he designed power system control systems, computer system applications, and control systems. Dianoush Emami has extensive engineering expertise in high voltage transmission and substation design.

High voltage substations are integral to electricity distribution from power stations to many end users. These substations convey electricity in the order of 11,000 or 33,000 volts; the electricity is doled out among customers who use fractional voltage components. High voltage substations are often constructed outdoors on parcels of land that are a moderate distance from nearby occupants to prevent discomfort due to sounds made by elements of the substations, such as transformers.

Low voltage substations are designed to convey a limited voltage of electricity. The standard voltage processed by these substations is below 11,000 volts. They are mostly constructed indoors to prevent exposure to factors that can raise the voltage above the required range because of the restricted levels of voltage required at these substations. The presence of metal contaminants in the air is a factor. Some commercial buildings have low voltage substations.

IEEE and UC Agreement Gives Researchers Access to Publishing

 A Santa Ana, California resident, Dianoush Emami is an engineer with 37 years of experience in the industry. In addition to his work as an engineer, Dianoush Emami is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), an organization that speaks for professionals in technology, computing, and engineering.

In August 2022, the IEEE announced its agreement with the University of California (UC) related to a read-and-publish platform that allows researchers to publish articles through open access to over 200 premier journals and magazines. As it stands, IEEE publishes most of UC’s research. Still, as a part of the agreement, researchers can now publish research in the above publications related to aerospace systems, computer science, artificial intelligence, consumer electronics, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering.

Under this agreement, researchers can publish their findings in gold or traditional hybrid IEEE journals, even if they do not have the funds to pay for open access. Instead, libraries cover the costs (processing fee) on behalf of the author so that budget does not impede researchers from publishing their findings. In addition to funding assistance, UC scholars can access more than five million documents (scientific journals, standards, and proceedings) from the IEEE Xplore digital library.

EPA as a Component of Nuclear Plants

California resident Dianoush Emami is an electrical engineer who has coordinated projects ranging from biofuel to nuclear power. Dianoush Emami performed contracted work spanning transformers, inverters, communications, and electrical penetration assemblies (EPA) at Georgia’s Alvin F. Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in the latter field.

EPAs are part of the sealed‐off containment structures at nuclear power plants. Designed to ensure that radiation does not leak into the surrounding environment, such containment structures contain the plant’s nuclear reactor.

The task of EPAs is to ensure that electrical signals and power are transferred through the containment wall and fulfill the requirements of the nuclear power generating station. Feedthrough modules, typically in a stainless steel housing, contain electrical conductors that pass power and electrical signals. At the same time, EPAs help maintains the containment pressure boundary, which is critical in preventing leakage situations. This dual function is performed via electrical and mechanical means.

EPA standards are precisely defined and include the assembly having a proper voltage rating for the plant’s design service conditions. In addition, they typically have some combination of advanced optical fiber, double aperture, and double electric conductor seals. Gas leak rates are tested, and double seals are closely monitored following installation. In addition, insulation resistance tests are conducted in specific ambient conditions spanning relative humidity, pressure, and temperature.

Nuclear Energy Source of Electricity

An alumnus of the University of Southern California, Dianoush Emami earned his BS in electrical engineering in 1981 and subsequently joined Bechtel Power Corporation, where he served as an electrical engineer until 1987. Dianoush Emami has also gained experience in electrical high-voltage transmission and project design and management, as well as facilities in the biofuel, alternative energy, and nuclear power plant sectors.

Nuclear power plants produce energy by splitting heavy uranium atoms in a process called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission releases a lot of energy in the form of heat, which the plant uses to create steam. The pressure from the steam drives mechanical processes that result in electricity.

Nuclear energy is clean and sustainable. This is because it produces a large amount of electricity without polluting the air with carbon, unlike fossil fuel. The waste materials generated (typically carbon-free) are not released into the air. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the United States averted 476 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2019. Nuclear power plants generate approximately 20 percent of the electricity used in the United States, making nuclear energy the second largest source of clean electricity in the country.

Bechtel Selected to Improve Performance

A California electrical engineer from Santa Ana, Dianoush Emami has over 37 years working in the safety, quality, and engineering sectors. One of the companies Dianoush Emami worked for in the 1980s was Bechtel Corporation, a company that provides products and services in construction, engineering, and project management.

In May, Bechtel Corporation announced that it had been selected to improve the production of renewable fuels at a plant in California. World Energy selected Bechtel’s SWSPlus technology to clean sour water at its renewable fuels facility in Paramount. Bechtel will also provide engineering support and licensing to improve the environmental performance of World Energy’s water treatment process.

This technology will have three main benefits. The first one relates to reducing nitrous oxide emissions by recovering ammonia and hydrogen sulfide before incineration. The process will culminate in hydrogen sulfide being converted into elemental sulfur, and ammonia can be used in refining or sold. The integration of this technology into the World Energy will allow for greater efficiency in removing ammonia through downstream processing.