Cable Alternative Cooling Technologies for Underground Systems (CACTUS)
Status:
Complete
Project Reference Number:
NIA2_NGET0023
STRATEGY THEME:
  • Net zero and the energy system transition
START DATE:
END DATE:

Project summary
Funding mechanism:
  • NIA_RIIO-2
Technology:
  • Asset Management
  • Electricity Transmission Networks
  • High Voltage Technology
  • Substations
Expenditure:
£517,000
Third Party Collaborators:
  • University of Southampton
Summary
Learnings
Documents

The power flow capacity of high voltage cables is limited by heat dissipation. Cable installed within tunnels are often a thermally limiting section of circuits due to the relatively poor heat transfer through the air surrounding the cables. When reinforcement is required, this can necessitate the construction of additional tunnels which are highly costly. This project will investigate, through bespoke FEA simulations and targeted experiments, the capability of alternative cooling methods to enhance cable ratings in tunnels. The first stage of the project will investigate the use of established technologies, such as chilling inlet air, which are nevertheless novel for cable tunnel applications. Subsequently more exotic techniques, such as liquid nitrogen cooling systems, will be considered.

Benefits

If the proposed alternative cooling methods are proven to be feasible, they could be further developed and implemented to potentially address the issue of rapid demand rise in the short term. This could help to ensure the security of supply for consumers in the short term. The alternative methods might also be able to help to defer some conventional reinforcements and thus achieving lowered expenditure in the long term.