Weather extremes, renewable energy, e-mobility, the modernization of an aging infrastructure, and a focus on grid resiliency – these are the most urgent tasks for distribution system operators in the USA. Grid operators often face power quality challenges where service voltage is delivered to electric customers within the required range. Regulators and consumers continue to press grid operators for solutions to ensure quality delivery of electricity. Consequently, many operators need a cost-effective and simple to deploy alternative to cost-intensive and lengthy network expansion.
"The VRDT is the ideal solution to solve voltage problems in our distribution grids."
For a more stable voltage supply in an increasingly strained distribution grid across the USA, Reinhausen provides the ECOTAP® VPD® I for single-phase transformers. A utility from Delaware shares its success story, highlighting the remarkable improvements achieved.
"The VRDT is the ideal solution to solve voltage problems in our distribution grids."
For a more stable voltage supply in an increasingly strained distribution grid across the USA, Reinhausen provides the ECOTAP® VPD® I for single-phase transformers. A utility from Delaware shares its success story, highlighting the remarkable improvements achieved.
And this is precisely where Reinhausen's solution comes into play in the US. With the ECOTAP® VPD® I tap-changer for single-phase distribution transformers, Reinhausen enables a cost-effective and innovative tool for stabilizing the distribution grids in the USA. Troy Dickerson, VP of Engineering at Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC), is responsible for a distribution grid for approximately 84,000 customers in Kent and Sussex County, Delaware. Since early 2023, DEC deployed two single-phase pad-mounted VRDT with the Reinhausen LTC and the two locations are now in operation. Read here how Dickerson shares more background information, their experiences and outlook.
84000 customers
are supplied with electricity by Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC)
What are the biggest challenges in your distribution network?
More and more customers are feeding rooftop solar back into the grid or switching to electric vehicles, which puts an increasing strain on the grid. Then we still have a lot of 15 kVA transformers installed. In a situation e.g. where one of these feeds two houses and both of them would charge their Ford Lightning in the evening, the service voltage collapses. On the way round, when both have rooftop solar installed and they feed back to the grid during a sunny day – then voltage peaks violate the permissible bandwidth.
„We see many switching operations and a steady state voltage. We are very satisfied!“
What did you do about it?
We started with two locations where customers complained about voltage spikes. This was because their neighbor, who is on the same transformer, has PV installed. We further looked at locations where at least one EV was charging regularly and searched for a one size fits all solution. This was the perfect start to deploy two VRDT to mitigate the voltage spikes and sags.
How did the installation process go?
How did the installation process go?
Installation was a breeze for our technicians. We did some initial programming in the warehouse. Since it is the same size transformer and there was nothing special needed, the installation was as simple as swapping two conventional same size transformers.
For DEC's technicians, installing the single-phase VRDT was a breeze.
Did everything work from the start?
That was really cool! We couldn’t know if it would work right away. It was still cloudy when we connected the VRDT, but then the sun came out and we could immediately see how the LTC started operating and the voltage band remained within tolerance. When we read out the data from a volt recorder, we saw a lot of switching operations and a steady state voltage. That's what we wanted. We are very satisfied!
Where do we go from here?
We will identify other sections in our network where there are similar problems with PV installed and several charging stations tied to one transformer. For such tasks, the VRDT is the perfect solution.
