Planning Studies 1

[heavyCurrent]

What is the difference between 10-year planning studies and operational planning studies?

I heard people used it and I am not sure the differences.

Anyone chime in!

 

[jghrist]

10-year planning studies cover a period of ten years, while operational planning studies can cover any period of time.

Operational planning studies deal with operations, while 10-year planning studies can deal with any kind of planning.

 

[redfurry]

Here's my understanding...

Long term planning includes the following sorts of studies and are normally performed under nominal configurations (either for expected average conditions or peak conditions depending on the study purpose):

- baseline load flow and short circut studies
- optimization of phase balancing, network configuration
- load growth studies to find feeder loading in the future
- evaluation of power factor and capacitor bank placement
- evaluation of automatic switch placement
- planning of upgrades to meet future needs (new substations and feeders, reconductoring, voltage upgrades).
- etc.

Operation planning usually refers to planning for unexpected/off-nominal situations, which can include:

- switching plans for taking a piece of equipment out of service
- load flow studies of contingencies
- studies of relaying for planned maintenance
- etc.

 

[tlrols]

Planning studies focus on testing alternatives and subsequent to performing various simulations you decide on the "best" project.

Operational studies focus on outages, seasonal concerns, and in general dealing with the results of the Planners "best" projects.

Planners get things built, Operational study folks deal with the consequences...

The operational tool set for "fixing" things normally involves switching lines, transformers, shunt devices, etc. Additionally schedule cuts, operational limits/nomograms are also used by Operational Planners.

Long term planning is where one specifies new construction, transmission lines size, cooridors, etc.