Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
||
| Reference Number | NIA_NGGD0098 | |
| Title | Serviboost Phase 2 | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given National Grid plc |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 May 2017 | |
| End Date | 01 July 2018 | |
| Duration | 14 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £721,494 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , National Grid plc (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Synthotech Limited (0.001%) |
|
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGGD0098 |
|
| Objectives | The objective of Phase 2 are as follow are as follows;Design and Development of a TRL8 working prototype (pre-commercialised)Manufacture of fully functioning Serviboost units to permit field trials to be undertakenDetermine Installation challengesUndertake trials - Laboratory, Simulated and Live Trials Development of data folders to provide a flight plan for commercialisationData collection - Performance, Efficiency, Function of the Installed Serviboost Unit The project is deemed successful if, the products and end to end processes are developed that;; Meets the requirements of the project objectives; Achieves technology readiness level as detailed in the project scope | |
| Abstract | Gas Distribution Network Operations (GDNOs) have a license obligation to maintain pressures to the ECV of a property. Design minimum pressure for low pressure systems shall be no lower than: -19mbar for systems designed pre January 1996-20. 75 mbar for systems designed post December 1995Low gas pressures are evident when the gas supply to a customer’s property fails to meet the minimum pressure required to keep their appliances functioning correctly. There are numerous causes for low pressure and the impact of low pressures often results in a customer’s gas supply being interrupted until a resolution has been identified and resolved. It is important to minimize the length of an interruption to our customers by identifying a solution that can be installed promptly with minimal disruption and allow work to resolve the root cause of the poor pressure to be resolved as a planned event rather than unplanned. National Grid estimate that in the last financial year, 4,875 recorded instances of poor pressure where caused by service construction; this is the size of opportunity to fit a Serviboost unit to provide planning and scheduling time to re-configure the service. In order to address the poor pressure problem, detailed above, Synthotech have approached the required work in two distinct phases. The first stage was completed under NIA-NGG0057 commenced in October 2015 and was completed in December 2017. It successfully proved that a concept device could be developed to TRL4 that could provide a solution to overcoming pressure losses of up to 5 mbar on services without creating a negative effect on the mains pressure. Phase 2 of the project is to develop the current prototype Serviboost pressure compensating unit from TRL4 to TRL8. This phase is to be conducted in three specific stages that will prove the viability of the solution in laboratory, simulated and real environments. Phase 2 will address the remaining technical and operational challenges;(1) Develop Phase 1 TRL4 prototype to a pre-commercialised TRL8(2) Compliance(3) Power duration4) Pressure Uplift - ≥5 mbarg(5) Unit Size, Fitment and Cost(6) Cost Benefit associated to reduction in unplanned interruptions and flexibility of operational work force This will development with provide NGGDL with alternative innovative solution in addressing low gas pressures in domestic service pipes, focusing on shorter interruption periods for our customers without the need to alter the network design infrastructure or elevating gas operating pressures. This solution is not intended to be a resolution to the root cause of the pressure loss, but will allow the work to be scheduled at more convenient and planned times for all parties affected, keeping the impact to the customer to an absolute minimum. To address the above six challenges, the following work packages will be undertaken by Synthotech with operation support from NGGDL. Serviboost development - Mechanical (Housing / Body and Fan blade)Serviboost Intelligence development - Electronic (Motor, Control, operating limits and Sensing)Efficiency and Power Mgt - 1 week and 3 month duty cyclesFitment and Engineering ChallengesTrials and VerificationStandards and ComplianceCommercialisation flight planData capture and optimisationIt is not proposed to investigate during Phase 2 if the unit could be fitted as a long term solution ≤12 months or a permanent solutionNote : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 14/12/18 | |
