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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGET0209
Title	EPRI Research Collaboration on Overhead Lines (P35) 2017
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 National Grid Electricity Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 January 2017
End Date	01 July 2018
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£7,450,000
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/NIA_NGET0209
Objectives	P35.001 - Inspection, assessment, and asset management of overhead transmission linesThis work package is developing a mix of tools, technology transfer methods and events, and information that will help members improve their line inspection and assessment as well as asset management approaches.P35.002 - Conductor, shield wire and hardware corrosion managementThis work package is developing effective inspection techniques, and forecasting the need for maintenance or repair operations. These will help address issues related to conductor, shield wire and hardware corrosion.P35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulatorsThis work package is developing a mix of software tools and information that will help address issues related to the selection, application and inspection of polymer insulators.P35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flowThis work package is developing tools and information that will help address issues to optimise and increase the ratings of their transmission circuits.P35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductorsThis work package is developing tools and information that will help address issues related to the qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductors. EPRI research projects span across multiple years. Because of this approach, not all of the work in P35 will be realised at the end of 2017. Nevertheless, there is scope for the delivery of a number of reports and guidance documents in 2017. The full scope of research within each project work-stream for 2017 is listed below.P35.001 - Inspection, assessment, and asset management of overhead transmission linesUtilities need to understand the condition of their overhead transmission lines to effectively manage and maintain them at their designed level of performance and safety. Inspection and assessment research is needed to understand the current condition of transmission assets, extend the life of those assets while keeping the ageing infrastructure performance at levels that meet the reliability expectations of the public. This research project addresses these issues through the following activities: development of a Reference Guide Book (Yellow Book) which provides state-of-the-art resource on inspection and assessment methods and technology development of field deployable reference guides for field inspectors development and training resources for training inspection personnel development of software tools that include new and emerging inspection and sensing technologies, information, field case studies and results from EPRI testing and evaluation P35.002 - Conductor, shield wire and hardware corrosion managementUtilities need to understand the present condition of their conductors, shield wires and hardware, where these severely aged components are located, what caused the degradation, how future designs may avoid premature ageing and how to forecast the replacement schedule. This research work package addresses these issues through the following activities: exploring the possibility of using near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy to determine degradation rates and remaining conductor life developing the application of NIR spectroscopy technology for condition assessment of degraded hardware or component surfaces deriving ageing algorithms for atmospheric hardware through assessment methods P35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulatorsPolymer insulators offer advantages such ascontamination performance, light weight, and vandal resistance. In order to achieve the expected design life, utilities need to understand their design and material characteristics to properly select, procure and apply polymer insulator components. This research work package addresses these issues through the following activities: 230kV aging tests of polymer insulators and guy strain insulators 138kV aging tests of polymer insulators and guy strain insulators development of small scale tests to determine resistance of polymer insulators to stresses E-Field modelling tool for polymer insulators Insulator Reference Book P35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flowThe demand for electric power over transmission circuits is increasing at a faster rate than transmission assets were originally built for. This trend is pushing the capacity of many existing transmission circuits to their design limits. This research work package addresses these issues through the following activities: analysis of acceptable methodologies for determining forecasted ratings for use by power companies. determining the effective area that can be rated given a certain density of sensors testing and analysis of emerging methods for dynamic rating studies on transmission lines P35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductorsRecently developed high-temperature conductors (also known as advanced conductors, high-temperature low-sag conductors, or simply HTLS conductors) offer the advantages of higher current capacity, lower conductor sag, and lower line losses than conventional ACSR (aluminium conductor steel-reinforced) conductors. Knowledge on the long-term performance of HTLS conductors is limited, particularly for newly developed products. This research work package addresses these issues through the following activities: short-term accelerated aging evaluation on carbon core advanced conductors developing guidelines for selection and application of advanced conductors developing specification guidelines for various advanced conductor systems developing a cleaning solution for various advanced conductor systems evaluating the effects of high-temperatures on live-working tools The objectives for 2017 include the continuation of National Grids membership with EPRI P35 and the delivery of a selection of reports and guidance documents associated with the five work-streams by undertaking the following:P35.001 - Inspection, assessment and asset management of overhead transmission lines continued development of tools and methods to help improve reliability increase the effectiveness of the inspection and assessment process increase the safety for the public and transmission owner personnel by helping to detect components with a high risk of failure before the actual event through new inspection methods and hands-on tech transfer P35.002 - Conductor, shield wire and hardware corrosion management understanding the potential of using near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy to determine degradation rates and remaining conductor life continued development of NIR spectroscopy technology application for condition assessment of degraded hardware or component surfaces continued assessment of methods to derive new aging algorithms for atmospheric hardware P35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulators multi-stress ageing tests to understand various modes of degradation and performance of polymer components continued development ofthe failure database to help identify trends and attributes to failures developing short duration, small scale tests that are representative of in-service stresses. The tests may be included in utility specifications inspecting service-aged insulators to aid in understanding how insulators age and the factors of aging which in turn helps improve applications and improve reliability and performance. development of E-field modelling software to help model the electric field on new or existing insulator designs P35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flow continued development of software tools continued development of rating methodologies continued development of EPRI guidebooks, reports, and training materials for implementing increased power flow strategies, and for training their engineers on increased power flow technologies P35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductors developing a test protocol to compare different carbon fiber composite core conductors providing information on comparing and selecting suitable HTLS conductors for specific applications developing maintenance procedures and recommend that can be incorporated into utilitys maintenance manuals
Abstract	EPRI research projects span across multiple years. Because of this approach, not all of the work in P35 will be realised at the end of 2017. Nevertheless, there is scope for the delivery of a number of reports and guidance documents in 2017. The full scope of research within each project work-stream for 2017 is listed below. P35.001 - Inspection, assessment, and asset management of overhead transmission lines Utilities need to understand the condition of their overhead transmission lines to effectively manage and maintain them at their designed level of performance and safety. Inspection and assessment research is needed to understand the current condition of transmission assets, extend the life of those assets while keeping the ageing infrastructure performance at levels that meet the reliability expectations of the public. d the present condition of their conductors, shield wires and hardware, where these severely aged components are located, what caused the degradation, how future designs may avoid premature ageing and how to forecast the replacement schedule. P35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulators Polymer insulators offer advantages such as contamination performance, light weight, and vandal resistance. In order to achieve the expected design life, utilities need to understand their design and material characteristics to properly select, procure and apply polymer insulator components. P35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flow The demand for electric power over transmission circuits is increasing at a faster rate than transmission assets were originally built for. This trend is pushing the capacity of many existing transmission circuits to their design limits. P35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductors Recently developed high-temperature conductors (also known as advanced conductors, high-temperature low-sag conductors, or simply HTLS conductors) offer the advantages of higher current capacity, lower conductor sag, and lower line losses than conventional ACSR (aluminium conductor steel-reinforced) conductors. Knowledge on the long-term performance of HTLS conductors is limited, particularly for newly developed products.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	26/10/22