Temporary Power
System for PSPS
Mark Scott
12/9/2020
2019 PSPS Events at Berkeley Lab -
Very Disruptive
• 2.75 days of power outage over 2 events
• 9 days of Lab closure (including 4 weekend days)
• ~400 people involved beginning from first notice through resumption of operations
• Impacts likely in excess of $8M
Yet PSPS is relatively well-behaved - provided with advance notice
Projects & Infrastructure
2
Modernization Division
Peak
Electrical
Load 2019
12 kV Distribution Switchstation
A2
A3
[MW]
0.7
3.1
PG&E Line 1
115kV
PG&E Line 2
115kV
A4 2.9 Transformer Bank 1 Transformer Bank 2
30/40/50MVA
30/40/50MVA
A5 2.1
12.47kV 12.47kV
A6 5.4
A7 5.2 Switch A1 Bus 1
Tie
Switch A1 Bus 2
Grizzly Substation Grizzly Substation
Switch A2
Grizzly Switching Station
12.47kV Tie #1 Switch A3 12.47kV Tie #2
to UCB Hill B6 (ALS) Switching Station to UCB Hill
Substation Substation
Switch A4
B35 (OLS) Switching Station
Switch A5
East Canyon Substation
Switch A6
Blackberry Canyon Substation
Switch A7
B59 (CRT) Switching Station
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
POWER GENERATION SOLUTIONS
CONSIDERED
• Large scale backup
• No clear winning solution, takes multiple years to implement
• Significant space constraints and environmental risk
• Back up at the building level
• Less flexible, more maintenance
• Less return on investment (*initial assessment)
• Back Up At 12 kV Switchstations
• Allows flexible configurations and modular buildout
• Provides foundation for Microgrid development
• Allows incorporation of existing generators at SW-A6
RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: Back Up at 12kV switches
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
PILOT: PROVIDE PARTIAL BACK-UP GENERATION AT SWITCHSTATION
SW-A6
SW-A6 powers ~half of LBNL population and critical Business/IT systems.
SW-A6
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
OPEN VS. CLOSED TRANSITION
OPEN: “Break Before Make” CLOSED: “Make Before Break”
• ~5 minute outage at 12 kV, but ~2 hours to restore • No outage, seamless power transfer
all substations at 480V or 208 V. • Requires sync switching to allow paralleling.
• Requires interlocked switching to prevent • Risk of unplanned outage if transition is flawed.
paralleling. • Performed regularly at switch station tie breakers.
• OK for some UPS-supplied systems (IT). • Requires PG&E EGI Permit. (approx. 5-9 mo. lead
time)
• Buildings require orderly shutdown and startup.
Approximately 2-4 hours per building.
• Some systems not restored for days.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
PILOT: PROVIDE PARTIAL BACK-UP GENERATION
AT SWITCHSTATION SW-A6
• Option 1: 2 MW Open transition at SW-A6
• Install (1) 2 MW generator, operating at 480 V and boosted to 12.47 kV
• Open transition scheme with manual switching and break-before-make sequence.
• Only useful for institutional IT systems in B50 complex, with UPS capability to ride through
open transition.
Goal: Maintain Continuity of Business and IT During Extended Outage Events
• Option 2: 4 MW Closed transition at SW-A6
• Install (2) 2 MW generators, operating at 480 V and boosted to 12.47 kV
• Closed transition (make before break) allows research loads to ride out a PSPS without
interruption. Potential to provide 3 MW of power at this location (75% load).
• Requires some load shedding to a safe and stable condition.
Goal: Maintain Continuity of Business and IT During Extended Outage Events
+ Provide for Science in selected buildings.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Temporary Generator Connection
Diagram PG&E Line 1 PG&E Line 2
115kV 115kV
Transformer Bank 1 Transformer Bank 2
30/40/50MVA 30/40/50MVA
12.47kV 12.47kV
Switch A1 Bus 1 Open Switch A1 Bus 2
Grizzly Substation Tie Grizzly Substation
DIESEL GENERATOR #1
480 V 12.47kV
DIESEL GENERATOR #2
Step-Up Transformer Closed Transition
12.47kV
5 MVA Transfer Switch 12.47kV
Switch A6 Closed Switch A6
• 1200 A, 15 kV Bus 1 Tie Bus 2
Generators Operated in Parallel through • Automatic controller
Paralleling Controller disabled
• Manual close with sync check
• 2.5 MVA, 480 VAC relays and synchroscope
• 2 MW Standby Rating (1-hour in 12)
• 1.825 MW Prime Rating (Continuous) All building substations placed on Line 2
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Load Shed Data
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Lessons Learned – Rule 21
Permitting
• Partnership with PG&E was essential
• High-level executive sponsorship
• Engineer-to-engineer meetings
• Some waivers allowed due to temporary nature of the project
• Remote telemetry
• Capacitive trip device
• Reverse power
• Reactive power testing
• Some lack of clarity as to whether Rule 21/CPUC applies to National Labs.
• However, there is no other process, so this is used as default, and exceptions
made where necessary.
• Good engineering practice prevails as determined in engineer-to-engineer
discussions.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
PG&E EGI Process for LBNL
Application Electrical System Impact Generating Pre-Parallel Permit To Operate
• Requires detailed Independence Test Study Interconnection Inspection • Finalizes the GIA after
technical information • Determines if there is a • Determines if PG&E Agreement • Onsite Inspection, Trip PPI is completed
• $10,000 application fee grid impact needs to change Checks and Functional • 11/24/20
• Includes PG&E
• 7/15/20 • 7/24/20 protection or settings Test Witness
engineering review of
• 8/5/20 the design. • 11/21/20
• 10/2/20
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Lessons Learned - Procurement
• Exercised an existing GSA Area Wide Agreement with PG&E.
• Most terms and conditions already settled.
• Legal Counsel on both parties reviewed draft contract and agreed.
• Still disagreement on indemnification: PG&E insisted on max
amount of contract value ($2M), while LBNL requested $10M.
• Some confusion on whether this was a Service Contract or a
Construction Contract.
• LBNL Procurement structured it as a service contract, but EHS
viewed it as a construction contract and required construction
terms to be added.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Lessons Learned – Temporary
Installation
• All temporary installations must meet codes (NEC, Seismic,
Fire). LBNL AHJ’s had conservative approach
• Some issues with rental equipment:
• Transformer not listed – replaced with listed transformer
• Busbox had improper listing (600V vs 15 kV) - replaced with load
break elbows
• Fuel tank failed initial pressure test – replaced
• HV cables not listed – CSA listed only, but not accepted by LBNL AHJ
• Seismic anchoring required for generators on the trailers –
had to place on ground instead.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Lessons Learned - Technical
• Step up transformer introduced unforeseen issues:
• Generators not large enough to energize the transformer directly:
• Not black start capable
• Must ”pre-energize” xfmr from 12 kV, then parallel at the 480 V generator breakers.
• High fault current (>100 kA) and high arc flash energy (>50 cal/cm2) on 480 V side.
Generator breakers only rated to 100 kA.
• Complex startup procedure with manual operations and radio communications.
• Rule 21 paralleling settings are too tight for temporary generators.
• High utility voltage resulted in improper reactive power sharing while in
parallel.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Generator breaker
tripped on
overfrequency
when Utility
breaker opened.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
LBNL Settings set by PG&E, Rule 21 Other site Settings allowed by PG&E, not Rule 21
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Next Steps
• Keeping SW-A6 installation on lease for PSPS 2021.
• Proposal to add similar installation at SW-A5 for PSPS 2021.
• Initiating conceptual design and alternative analysis for permanent
installations.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Peak
Electrical
Load 2019
SW-A5 Application Switchstation
A2
A3
[MW]
0.7
3.1
PG&E Line 1
115kV
PG&E Line 2
115kV
Transformer Bank 2
A4 2.9 Transformer Bank 1
30/40/50MVA 30/40/50MVA
A5 2.1
12.47kV 12.47kV
A6 5.4
A7 5.2 Switch A1 Bus 1
Tie
Switch A1 Bus 2
Grizzly Substation Grizzly Substation
Switch A2
Grizzly Switching Station
12.47kV Tie #1 Switch A3 12.47kV Tie #2
to UCB Hill B6 (ALS) Switching Station to UCB Hill
Substation Substation
Switch A4
B35 (OLS) Switching Station
Switch A5
East Canyon Substation
Switch A6
Blackberry Canyon Substation
Switch A7
B59 (CRT) Switching Station
Possible scope for PSPS 2021: SW-A5 can powered with (1) 2 MW generator with minimal load shedding, maintaining all science operations.
Projects & Infrastructure
Modernization Division
Long-Term Goal: Microgrid
Resilience? DOE definition: A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy
resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable
entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to
enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island mode.
• Integrated Resilient Nodes (IRNs) can create islanded microgrids
of clusters of critical buildings and entire campuses in the event of
outages due to grid or internal faults.
• IRNs consist of switchgear, transformers, motorized circuit
breakers, and control and communication modules that enable
reconfiguration of the modular microgrids.
• Microgrid generation and storage operation can be optimized for
year round performance while being prepared to provide
resiliency in the event of an unscheduled PSPS or emergency
outage.
• Networked microgrids provide the benefit of increased resiliency
for critical loads, but require more complex control for power
sharing.
Projects & Infrastructure
25
Modernization Division
UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA
