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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGTO003
Title	EPRI Research Collaboration on Overhead Lines (P35) 2018-2021
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 April 2018
End Date	01 April 2021
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£22,350,000
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 plc (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGTO003
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 improve line inspection and assessment as well as asset management approach and asset life understanding. P35.002 - Conductor, earthwire and hardware corrosion managementThis work package is developing effective inspection techniques, and forecasting the need for maintenance or repair operations. This will help address issues related to conductor and earth wire corrosion. It will assist in accurate prediction of asset lives. P35.003 - Structure and Sub-Grade Corrosion Management This work package is developing new tools and learning which will increase maintenance programme efficiencies and design considerations in eliminating corrosion on foundations, anchors and poles.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 which are increasing in use on the National Grid network.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 transmission circuits. It will address the increasing requirements of circuits required to operate beyond their original design specificationsP35.015 - 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 new and advanced conductors. The full scope of research within each project work-stream for the duration of this project is listed below.P35.001 - Inspection, assessment, and asset management of overhead transmission linesNational Grid 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 improve understanding about 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 all stakeholders. This research project addresses these issues through the following activities:A comprehensive Reference Guide Book (Yellow Book) that provides a state-of-the-art resource on inspection and assessment methods and technology that is sufficient for the day-to-day needs of both experienced and novice asset managers, inspection personnel, and other maintenance stakeholders.Development of field deployable reference guides for field inspectors and those engaged in developing inspection and assessment programs.Development of mobile field inspection tools, such as the Yellow Book PC Browser Application and Field Guide Apps that improve the support to field inspection personnel by making inspection and reference information available in a timelier manner, across new technology platforms (e.g. mobile devices) and in ways that improve understanding (e.g. 3D animations).Use of multi-format training resources for training inspection and maintenance personnel through E-learning software, presentations, video streaming, conferences, and workshops encompassing both classroom and field training.Software toolthat includes new and emerging inspection and sensing technologies, information, field case studies and results from EPRI testing and evaluation.Laboratory and field evaluations of new and emerging inspection and sensing technologiesP35.002 - Conductor, earth wire and hardware corrosion managementThere is a need to understand the present condition of conductors, earth 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:Identifying best in class condition assessment methodsDeveloping atmospheric corrosively models for engineers, planners and maintenance crews to identify areas of high riskEvaluate and provide and assessment of new and emerging inspection technologiesDetermine degradation rates of the components in different environmentsIdentification of the root cause and failure modeRemaining service life forecastingP35.003 - Structure and Sub-Grade Corrosion Management There is a need to make effective asset management decisions when dealing with sub-grade corrosion of transmission line structures. This includes the development of inspection techniques, improved assessment practices, and mitigation methods for specific corrosion types. This work area addresses these issues through the following activities:Evaluation of corrosion inspection and assessment methods or toolsDeveloping selection and application criteria for new or existing coating systemsDeveloping a corrosion probe to identify severe corrosion on foundations, anchors and polesDevelop guidelines for corrosion control through material selection and environmental compatibilityDevelop methods to minimise or eliminate weathering steel packout formationChanges in galvanising performance due to new construction materialsEffects of alternating stray currents on foundationsIdentifying and mitigation of microbiological induced corrosionMitigation methods for both direct bury and concrete encased foundationsP35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulatorsUse of Polymer insulators is forecast to increase on the National Grid network particularly for new T-Pylon low visual impact structures. Polymer insulators offer advantages such as improved contamination performance, very low aeolian noise, 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 work area addresses these issues through the following activities:Multi-stress aging tests to understand various modes of degradation and performance of polymer components230kV aging tests of polymer insulators and guy strain insulators138kV aging tests of polymer insulators and guy strain insulatorsdevelopment of small scale tests to determine resistance of polymer insulators to stressesE-Field modelling tool development for polymer insulatorsInsulator Reference Book updatingP35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flowThe demand for electric power over transmission circuits is increasing at a faster rate than some transmission assets were originally built for. This trend is pushing the capacity of some existing transmission circuits to their original design limits. This research work package addresses these issues through thefollowing activities:improve transmission circuit reliability and safetyincrease and optimize power flow through overhead lines and entire transmission circuitsoptimize energy transactions through rating forecastsmanage emergency situations safely and reliablyavoid unnecessary system outages.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:Determining the applicability of conventional conductor maintenance tools and procedures for HTLS applicationDocumenting utility design and installation experienceDeveloping test protocols that may be applied to predict the long term performance advanced conductors. The objectives for the 2018-2021 period 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 tasks:P35.001 - Inspection, assessment and asset management of overhead transmission linesOverhead Transmission Line Inspection, Assessment and Asset Management Reference Guide (Yellow Book):Yellow Book Browser Application (Software)Overhead Transmission Line Inspection – Online Training (OTLOT) Version 2018Overhead Transmission Inspection and Sensing Information Tool (OTIS) Version 2018Practical Inspection and Assessment WorkshopOverhead Transmission Line Field GuidesP35.002 - Conductor, earthwire and hardware corrosion managementAssess and evaluate new and emerging inspection technologies including non-contact and ground based inspectionunderstanding the potential of using near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy to determine degradation rates and remaining conductor lifeDevelop corrosivity models using algorithms for aging and atmospheric exposure of conductors and hardware and correlate results though lab and field testingcontinued development of NIR spectroscopy technology application for condition assessment of degraded hardware or component surfacesP35.003 - Structure and Sub-Grade Corrosion ManagementCorrosion probe inspection tool for sub-grade corrosion evaluationsCoating system selection and application guidelinesCorrosion educationFleet managementFailure databaseConcrete foundation mitigation and remediation methodsP35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulatorsmulti-stress ageing tests to understand various modes of degradation and performance of polymer components National Grid has commissioned EPRI to carry out accelerated aging tests on a range of polymer insulators at various stages over the last 15 years. These tests are planned to continue for several years more to provide reliable information on long term performance alongside some ongoing field trials on the NG network. In addition to this National Grid are also able to receive benchmark data across a broader field of supplierscontinued development of the failure database to help identify trends and attributes to failuresdeveloping short duration, small scale tests that are representative of in-service stresses. The tests may be included in utility specificationsinspecting 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 performancedevelopment 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 flowDevelopment of software toolsDevelopment of rating methodologiesDevelopment of guidebooks, reports, and training materials for implementing increased power flow strategies, and for training engineers on increased power flow technologies.Comparison of economic benefits of increased power flow technologies, enabling utilities to make informed decisions when choosing options for their specific applications.P35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductorsDeveloping an HTLS conductor application guide.Developing a test protocol to compare different carbon fiber composite core conductorsProvide information on comparing and selecting suitable HTLS conductors for specific applications.Developing maintenance procedures and recommend that can be incorporated into utilitys maintenance manuals.Testing the thermal and mechanical performance of these HTLS conductors.
Abstract	National Grid recognises that the challenges faced by the electricity industry can be more efficiently and cost-effectively addressed when approached through international collaboration initiatives. It is particularly useful when addressing challenges where the solutions require statistically diverse data sets and/or significant trialling and testing in different environments, under various conditions and/or diverse ways.The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with its wide international membership, is one of the routes through which these initiatives can be delivered, thereby maximising stakeholder value. The approach of managing collaborative projects within an internationally driven research and development initiative is beneficial to National Grid and consumers alike, because it provides valuable information, learning and knowledge that would be considerably more expensive if approached on an individual basis.As an owner of overhead lines, National Grid faces challenges around optimisation, asset life, development of innovative and fit for purpose monitoring, maintenance practices and understanding what novel technologies could be applied to improve efficiencies. The EPRI Overhead Transmission Lines Programme 35 (P35) aims to develop this work via five supported project work-streams.Following an assessment of our internal Overhead Line strategy and an internal review, National Grid determined that within EPRIs Overhead Transmission programme, the largest leverage for the UK consumer can be achieved through involvement in the following five projects during the period 2018-2021: P35.001 - Inspection, assessment and asset management of overhead transmission lines P35.002 - Conductor, earth wire and hardware corrosion managementP35.003 - Structure and Sub-Grade Corrosion ManagementP35.011 - Polymer and composite overhead transmission insulatorsP35.013 - Overhead line ratings and increased power flowP35.015 - Qualification, selection and maintenance of advanced conductorsThe work areas have outputs that span across multiple years, consequently, this project will benefit National Grid and our stakeholders by committing to deliver the research activities of P35 over three years.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	26/10/22