Dennis Kim & Brennan Zuber

Presentation Summary

● The Electrical Grid.

○ What is it

○ Sources of Energy

○ Why we use it

● Cover the components making up the Grid.

● Transformers

○ What are they

○ What they do

○ Mathematics behind them

● Explain the process in general and broken down.

● Examples of Electrical companies.

● Information on Electrical Grids in the U.S.

● Significance of T. Boone Pickens.

● How Smart Grids work.

● Statistics about the Electrical Grid.

Critique on Electrical Grid

Pros: (J) Very detailed explanation of what “the grid” was •              Enjoyed the step up/down transformer •              I understood a little better how transformers worked (c) I liked the video explaining how the electrical grid works across the united states •              Included some of the physics on how the electrical grid worked •              Gave background on the particular people involved with creating the electrical grid (M) The inclusion of the physics equation •              Inclusion of figure/map showing the main electrical grid for •              Reference to T Boone Pickens and his plan to modernize the US electricity grid with the adoption of more renewable energy •              The inclusion of a video to better explain the US electrical grid (A) The break down on how it actually work made it easier for me to understand. The three Basic structural process on how elctrical grid works; Generation, transformation and distribution. •              In addition to that, the comparison on how a regular and a smart grid operates was informal.  •              They gave good examples on the many shortcomings of electrical grid. They mentioned examples of a power outage that happened in the U.S. and explained how that problem needs to be corrected. (H) •              The inclusion of a smart grid and showing how a smart electrical grid is necessary to improve reliance on electricity. •              The inclusion of how renewable energy can play a role in a smart electrical grid. •              The inclusion of the physics principles on how a basic transformer works.

Cons (J) The presenters did not spend a lot of time on some slides that seemed interesting/important (C) presenters weren’t loud and clear enough for me to know what they were trying to explain (M) If possible, the addition of an example problem for the physics equation, as a way for others to better understand the equation and how to use the equation to solve problems •              Talk about the electrical grids in other countries including comparing and contrasting the US electrical grid with other countries grids on points such as renewable energies, efficiency, pricing, reliability o              By comparing and contrasting different electrical grids, people can understand where the US grid has room for improvement •              Inclusion of an electrical grid map for a specific distributor (such as SoCal Edison or LA DWP) •              or example, the LA DWP provides a map showing where they get their power and how they distribute/carry that power into LA •              Did not fully explain why alternating current is mostly used to transfer electricity over the grid. •              Did not include the possibilities of having a microgrid where having a large electrical grid may become obsolete. •              Presenters did not address the major issues on why a smart electrical grid is not mainly being utilized in the United States.

Group 1:  95

the Electric Grid

Pros •Well-arranged PowerPoint presentation •The presentation broke down grid into 3 phases: generation, transmission, distribution. This aided in understanding something so complex. •The speakers made an attempt to incorporate the vocabulary from class (kinetic energy, heat engines) •Provided a helpful explanation of transformers and their importance to the grid •The info about the substations upping and downing the power for transport was especially important, and presented well

Cons •Too much reliance on the YouTube video for delivering information to the audience. It would have been nice if the speakers could have explained the grid’s details in their own words. •The information about the Pickens Plan felt out of place and would have been better served in a presentation regarding wind power. •Showing the three major power grid regions in the u.s. was interesting, but when mentioning the Texas grid they lacked facts or information worth saying.

Group 2:  94

Pros

Cons

· Well organized presentation with good text and color background.  The pictures helped keep the audience engaged. · Presented relevant information about electrical grids, including how power is transformed from high voltage to useable energy for our home appliances. · What it(power) was, how the power in steps is transformed and distributed. · Explained how the electrical grid was interconnected and explained was interconnected meant. · Distinguished (in video) between the electrical grid and other renewable energy types that aren’t considered part of the electrical gird. i.e. wind and solar. · Discussion about the future of electrical grid with introduction of the smart grid was a great end point. Group 3:  94

· Reading verbatim off of slide is not engaging. · No mention of brown/black out even though it was mentioned during video. · It was straight facts, but no pros/cons/positive/negatives of the electrical grid system. · Explanation of Ohms Law and Joules Law was explained, but was not relevant to the electrical grid discussion. · Also, did not hear the purpose or relevancy of bringing up T. Boone Pickens.  · Lacking potential downsides of incorporation of the Grid into a society.