Press Release Back Number(2005)

Development of Low-Voltage Power Flow Controller to Cut Electrical Equipment Costs
-Commercialization Slated for This Fall-

February 8, 2005
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

In partnership with Denso Facilities Corporation, Ishibashi Consulting Engineer Office, and Chuo Seisakusho, Ltd., we have developed a Low-Voltage Power Flow Controller that makes it possible for our high-voltage power service customers to reduce their electrical equipment costs. With field trials completed, we are currently proceeding with preparatory work toward commercialization, which is scheduled for fall 2005.

When expanding production lines, it often becomes necessary to replace or renovate electrical equipment such as transformers and low-voltage wires. Although loop operation mode* makes it possible to continue using the equipment efficiently without replacement or renovation, this mode is rarely used, due to the difficulty of controlling current at capacities lower than the transformer's capacity.
*A mode in which interconnections of low-voltage wires linked to the load equipment allows sharing of overall load capacity among several transformers.

The newly developed Low-Voltage Power Flow Controller addresses this issue by controlling the transformer's load current. Connecting low-voltage wires through this controller enables loop operations of the wires that make efficient use of the existing transformer, eliminating the need to replace or renovate electrical equipment upon expansion of the production lines. The conventional approach would call for selecting a higher capacity than necessary, which leads to excess equipment costs, to provide for overloads when installing a new transformer; this controller makes it possible to adjust the load current to control transformer capacity.

The controller offers the following advantages:

1. Lower equipment costs

Lowers equipment costs by optimizing transformer capacity.

2. Lower transformer losses

Ensures efficient operation of the transformer at ideal operating ratios to reduce losses, in turn reducing CO2 emissions.

3. Effective response to transformer overloads

Controls load current to the transformer under overload conditions and adjusts the transformer's operating ratio during interim load surges.

4. Consistent, dependable supply, free of interruptions; facilitates routine tasks

Seamlessly handles sudden transformer failures without interruption, by drawing power from an adjacent transformer; facilitates routine tasks such as inspections.