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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA2_NGET0006
Title	Non-invasive In-situ Monitoring and Interpretation of SF6 Alternatives in GIS Equipment
Status	Started
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 National Grid Electricity Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 February 2022
End Date	31 January 2026
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£1,900,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA2_NGET0006
Objectives	This project aims to develop technical underpinning knowledge on the characteristics of Novec™ 4710 gas mixtures with a specific focus on the long-term gas stability to demonstrate performance in service where retro-filled in existing SF6-designed equipment. It will focus on developing a full-scale demonstrator retro-filled with a suitable SF6 alternative with condition-based monitoring systems incorporated to perform non-invasive in-situ monitoring during the long-term energisation. The project will focus on the applicability of such techniques and critically assess their suitability to give asset managers the information required for retro-filling an SF6 alternative on the transmission network.The project will be delivered in two parts (1) initially a laboratory test campaign including breakdown testing, partial discharge monitoring and in-situ gas diagnostics work, and (2) live substation trial at the Deeside Centre for Innovation (DCI). The initial laboratory programme will focus on (i) experimental investigation of binary and tertiary gas mixtures at representative test conditions as found in practical equipment including breakdown, thermal cycling, partial discharge (PD) with/without defects; and (ii) development of an optical technique for in-situ diagnostics of breakdown by-products, this will be combined with kinetic modelling of breakdown to enable the gas degradation analysis of SF6 alternatives under representative conditions. With successful laboratory investigations and method development, the trials at DCI will proceed involved long term energisation with in-situ analysis of breakdown products.Data Quality Statement (DQS):The project will be delivered under the NIA framework in line with OFGEM, ENA and NGGT / NGET internal policy. Data produced as part of this project will be subject to quality assurance to ensure that the information produced with each deliverable is accurate to the best of our knowledge and sources of information are appropriately documented. All deliverables and project outputs will be stored on our internal Sharepoint platform ensuring access control, backup and version management. Relevant project documentation and reports will also be made available on the ENA Smarter Networks Portal and dissemination material will be shared with the relevant stakeholders. Measurement Quality Statement (MQS): The methodology used in this project will be subject to our suppliers own quality assurance regime. Quality assurance processes and the source of data, measurement processes and equipment as well as data processing will be clearly documented and verifiable. The measurements, designs and economic assessments will also be clearly documented in the relevant deliverables and final project report and will be made available for review.Risk AssessmentTRL Steps = 1 (2 TRL steps)Cost = 3 (£1.9m)Suppliers = 1 (1 supplier)Data Assumption = 3 (Assumptions unknown to be explored and validated within project)Assessed risk score 8 - Medium The work will be delivered in discrete work packages each with a focus on different objectives linked to the overall aim to develop deeper understanding of the performance of retro-fill gases in GIS designed for SF6.Work Package 1 will characterise different options for the mixture of gases to be used to retro-fill SF6 assets. This work will identify the most suitable gas mixture to be used for retro-filling based on technical and environmental considerationsWork Package 2 will investigate the interactions between gas mixtures and solid insulation. This work will demonstrate which solid insulating materials will be suitable for use with retro-fill gases and whether the materials in existing GIS need to be replaced.Work Package 3 will investigate gas degradation under representative conditions and the potential for spectroscopic methods to detect the chemical species produced. The objective of this work is to develop an optical monitoring system for monitoring novel gas mixtures in GISWork Package 4 will deliver continuous, long-term energisation testing at DCI with optical and electrical monitoring applied. The objective is to demonstrate the performance of the chosen retro-fill gas in equipment designed for SF6.Work Package 5 will take data generated during the other work packages to deliver a decision support tool to estimate the performance of different novel gas mixtures in a range of electrical equipment. Existing Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) are optimised for SF6, this project will develop a greater understanding of the interaction between spacers and the new insulating medium in long-term energisation tests. It will underpin efforts to develop more environmentally sound retro-fill solutions for SF6-filled equipment that are currently operating the electricity network, where SF6 is passive insulation.
Abstract	This project will focus on developing a full-scale demonstrator retro-filled with a suitable SF6 alternative with condition-based monitoring systems incorporated to perform non-invasively, in-situ monitoring during the long-term energisation. The project will develop an optical test setup which addresses the missing link between long-term safe operation of equipment and traditional academic material testing and characterisation. The project will focus on the applicability of such techniques and critically assess their suitability to give asset managers the information required for retro-filling an SF6 alternative on the transmission network.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/10/22