The electricity industry faces challenges that National Grid recognises can be more effective and cost-beneficial if dealt with through international collaboration initiatives. In particular, challenges where solutions require statistically diverse data sets and/or significant trialling and testing in different environments, under various conditions and/or diverse ways.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with its wide international membership, is one of the routes through which this type of initiative can be delivered. This collaborative approach is beneficial to National Grid and our customers, providing valuable expertise and learning, which would be more expensive to formulate on an individual basis.
This project supports two programmes of work: EPRI Underground Transmission Programme 36 (P36) and EPRI Transmission Asset Management Analytics Programme (P34).
The outputs from these two programmes of work will provide the following:
- asset characterisation and performance data models and failure form
- Industry-wide transmission and substation asset failure and performance database
- framework for underground transformer asset management analytics
- report into Reliable Performance of Transmission Cable Accessories - Long-term Ageing Test
- underground transmission workstation: Functional and Technical Enhancements and Developments
Objectives
- P34.004 -: to provide effective decision support algorithms, tools and technologies to advance the understanding of the future performance of underground transmission.
- P36.001 -: to provide adequate tools and information for the design, construction, ratings and operation of underground transmission systems.
- P36.002 -: to investigate methods and technologies for extruded dielectric transmission cable systems and identify suitable solutions for application to the design, operation and maintenance of these systems.
- P36.003 -: to develop suitable condition assessment methods and procedures for laminar dielectric cable systems.
- P36.006 -: to support the transfer and adaptation of EPRI research and development results to meet technical and educational requirements.
- P36.008 -: to develop suitable methods and tools for system integration and interconnection for application on HVDC cable technologies.
Learnings
Outcomes
P36.001 Design, Construction, Ratings, and Operation and Maintenance of UT Systems
- A collection of recent failures has been added to EPRI database from the American utilities. This information is being reviewed and any relevant impact on NGET is being assessed.
P36.002 Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems
- Completed parameter testing for thermo-mechanical behaviour studies of Extruded Dielectric cables. This has allowed key parameters to be identified for modelling of extruded cable systems. This ensures that the Finite Element Analysis can better approximate reality.
P36.001 Design, Construction, Ratings, and Operation and Maintenance of UT Systems
- Data has been added to the EPRI database regarding more recent failure and records from previous failures.
- The outcomes from the cable ageing tests is currently being reviewed for how this information can be used to support our risk model; as this provides clear information on how a cable ages over time.
P34.004 Underground Transmission Asset Data Analytics
The analysis performed under P34 is showing that it may be possible to link existing data collected by NG (through various processes) to condition data. The feasibility studies performed so far, have shown that the data can be linked, processed and put into a format which may provide further asset management insight. Further investigations are underway to expand the feasibility study and quantify the potential value. Further value is being derived from being able to estimate the failure rates for different failure modes; such as the number of pressure gauge failures per year. This information, identified in an innovative way, can help to support risk predictions within the business.
Lessons Learnt
None.
Dissemination
Year 2018/2019
- Three Transmission and Substations Task force meetings were held in the US (Charlotte, North Carolina), in March 2018, September 2018, and March 2019. Another meeting is scheduled for August 2019 at the same location.
- Three EPRI advisory meetings, which also covered the P36 projects, were held in 2018 (2) and 2019 (1), with another one planned for September 2019.
- A meeting was held in Warwick, UK in December.
Year 2019/2020
- Two Transmission and Substations Task force meetings were held in the US (Charlotte, North Carolina), in March 2019, August 2019. One Task force webcast was held on March 2020. Another meeting is scheduled for August 2020 in Lenox, Massachusetts.
- Three EPRI advisory meetings, which also covered the P36 projects, were held in 2019 (2) and 2020 (1), with another one planned for September 2020.
- A meeting was held in Warwick, UK in December 2019.
Year 2020/2021
- A webcast has been held at 15 June 2021
