Rapid Deployment Ballistic Screens

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 July 2011

01 January 2016

56 months

£340,000

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

The objective of this project is to deliver a cheap, effective and easily deployed ballistic screening module that is easily capable of withstanding the resulting debris from a typical catastrophic failure of porcelain clad HV transmission asserts such as those seen in FMJL, FMVGs, SP2 breakers, bushings etc. It will be modular to cope with as small, or as large a deployment screen as required. Fully non-metal, it can be used within a live substation. This project is successful will be successful if we improve the knowledge around the materials ability to withstand three times the highest energy impacts seen in the controlled disruptive failures.

The screening material under investigation is designed primarily to be completely effective in preventing all fragments of porcelain from a catastrophic failure at a distance of less than 10m. The system is designed to be modular, which means entire walls can be quickly assembled. The materials are to be extremely cost effective, relatively lightweight and will be designed to be easily fabricated to address several roles such as relay room protection, outer perimeter fence guards (for third party protection), window guards, safety pathways through substations, wheeled screens for ASAP coverage and emergency refuge shelters for those working within the substation, where travelling to a point of exit represents a danger in itself. The materials employed will be able to be 80% recycled (post use) on our substations as trench covers, with the lightweight transparent armour plate being recycled through normal recycling channels. It is thought that only the main stay frame will be the only component that will require disposal or return to the manufacturer. The entire system will be completed from non-conductive components, and assembled by Redman Composites, who currently are building blast protection screens for the enhanced security projects at many London substations. Due to the seriousness of the current situation, preliminary work has begun on the prototype design under the FMJL project budget. This will not cover construction of a full scale prototype and full testing at RADNOR. Research & Development The method that has been proposed for this project includes; The fabrication of the prototype screening module is due for completion and transport to RADNOR Full testing of all screening material combinations is expected, trial deployments of different screen types. The full array of screening materials should be produced and evaluated We want to be in a position to begin (if required) fabrication of large quantities.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

05/12/18