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Pacifica Papers Inc., Powell River, BC
Load Shedding Study

Background

The key focus of this project was to analyze the mill power system from the viewpoint of dynamic stability and to recommend a load shedding scheme, which would ensure partial mill operation when separation from the B.C. Hydro grid occurs. Under normal operating conditions, a large portion of the power used is produced by co-generation.

The Project

The project included an extensive load flow study supported and validated a large data collection effort, including the use of a PC-based data acquisition system for monitoring the active and reactive power flows and the bus voltages. The load flow calculations were performed by modeling the plant power system and using specialized software.

The second stage of the project consisted of running a number of computer simulations in order to determine the power system dynamic response to the plant separation from B.C. Hydro grid.

Benefits

A load shedding scheme has been developed in order to prevent total mill shutdown when separation from Utility occurs. Other recommendations include:

• Adjustment of the taps in order to optimize the secondary voltage of transformers;
• Upgrading the reactive power control for better voltage control during disturbances;
• Upgrading some feeders which appeared to be overloaded.