An argument and procedure for conceptual power system design studies

Conceptual planning for industrial power systems can significantly influence the cost of the electrical segment of a project. A conceptual design study involves the search for an optimum power system arrangement by means of a rationalized procedure to develop approximately three conceptual system design alternatives from which a final design is selected for implementation. This study differs from the practice of intuitively “designing” a new system by merely outstretching the present system or recycling a previous system design, which, itself, may have been derived from an earlier-and possibly obsolete-system. This paper attempts to create a familiarity with the value of conceptual design studies by exposing their purpose, scope, procedure, rewards, and the expertise required. The corporate management´s stake in acquiring, maintaining and nurturing this expertise will become self-evident. In addition, this paper details a procedure to conduct a conceptual design study and identifies its characteristics. In the absence of applicable literature, or training courses for interested engineers, this structured information should also be useful in judging the quality of a conceptual design study