Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SPEN0005 | |
| Title | Portable Radiometric Arc Fault Locator (RAFL) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SP Energy Networks |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 April 2015 | |
| End Date | 01 October 2016 | |
| Duration | 18 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £150,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SPEN0005 |
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| Objectives | At each stage of the project the following objectives have been identified. Stage 1 Objectives Redesign of the enclosure and components to allow for external operation. Specifically for use on a typical 11kV wood pole overhead network. Incorporation of a suitable HF band antenna and pre-amplifier with regards to on-site suitability and technical suitability. Identification of suitable deployment locations will also be carried out at this stage. Stage 2 Objectives Successful modification of software to allow real-time sampling from antenna and for the analysis software to be able to respond to partial discharge fault events. Stage 3 Objectives Laboratory testing and simulation will be carried out, followed by on-site testing with a mobile prototype system for calibration and reliability of measurement purposes through HV switching on the DNO network. FAT testing will be carried out with any identified improvements implemented and the system will then be deployed on the 11kV network. The first genuine 11kV fault will determine any further developments required and potential future project. Successful completion of this project will provide a system that will provide the following benefits: The ability to accurately detect and locate arc faults The ability to monitor and trend arc fault occurrence over time Faster resolution to fault situations A reduction in CI / CML penalties | |
| Abstract | Transient faults on the OHL distribution network can be costly to repair, impact on customer service and quality of supply and contribute to an increase Customer Interruptions (CIs) and Customer Minutes Lost (CML) penalties. DNO capabilities generally centre around sufficient detection and protection capability but no fault location capability. Certain transient, intermittent faults are not apparently obvious to field staff. The circuit continually trips, field staff manually reset and re-energise, but this does not address the root cause. These faults are frustrating, time consuming and costly to locate. Repeated manual resetting is an inefficient use of resource not to mention a source of frustration. Accumulated CIs and CML and the associated penalties they incur are real consequences of an inability to establish the root cause of relatively minor, but frequent incidents. This proof of concept project continues learning generated through previous IFI project (IFI1413 Portable RAFL) to investigate the feasibility of a portable Radiometric Arc Fault Locator (RAFL) to identify the location and to facilitate the quicker resolution of arc fault incidents. A RAFL system will provide a means of locating incidents in a general area, possibly specific location thus improving the use of resources by reducing time spent tracing faults and decreasing the amount of CI/CMLs and their associated fines. Working with our project partners Elimpus, this project will aim to utilise an existing Partial Discharge monitor to develop a prototype RAFL array which will then be tested and evaluated in the field.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 11/10/18 | |
