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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA2_NGET0032
Title	Swarfless Cut Isolation System for SF6 Outages and Repairs (SCISSORs)
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) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%;
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 2023
End Date	31 October 2023
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£280,000
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_NGET0032
Objectives	"The project will be delivered in two stages:Stage 1: Three different blade designs will be trialled to deliver a swarfless cut into stainless steel typically used for GIS small-bore pipework. The three blade types will compared and contrasted to show which of them is the most suitable for delivering a clean cut.Stage 2: Based on the best performing blade from stage 1 (assuming that at least one delivers a successful swarfless cut), trials will be carried out to follow the cut with the introduction of an isolation (scissor) valve. On successful completion of a development of a complete system, trials will be carried out as part of this stage.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 = 2Cost = 1Suppliers = 1 Data Assumption = 1 Assessed risk score 5 - Low" "Equipment that contains SF6 can develop leaks over time resulting in loss of SF6 to the atmosphere. SF6 emissions have an impact on global warming over a period of thousands of years because it is very stable as well as having the highest known GWP. The scope of this project is to develop a system that enables repairs on SF6-filled equipment, in some cases to repair SF6 leaks and reduce emissions, at reduced cost and reducing the risk of inadvertently creating new SF6 leaks, which may arise from applying reduced pressure on ageing seals.The outputs of the project deliver benefit through reduced cost for defect repair activity, reduced impact on global warming from new SF6 emissions and reduced volumes of SF6 required for top ups and gas call outs for top-ups." The objective of the project is to deliver a cutting system for small-bore pipework on GIS that does not compromise the integrity of the insulation system while enabling the incorporation of a new isolation valve.
Abstract	"This is a two-stage project to develop and test a system to cut into stainless steel pipework and introduce an isolation valve into small-bore pipework associated with Gas Insulated Systems (GIS) which require repairs. The current practice requires significant gas handling activity with a risk that it can cause new SF6 leaks.Stage 1 will develop a suitable blade for cutting without generating swarf, which would risk the integrity of the insulating medium. Stage 2 will safely integrate the isolation system into the pipework. Different blades will be trialled in Stage 1 and will define which method will be used to introduce the isolation system."
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	12/10/23