CSE fault analysis by 3D monitoring

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 August 2018

01 April 2020

ENA months

£99,000

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Project Contact, National Grid plc

A new method of temperature measurement is proposed here to investigate the thermal profiles of assets as part of the condition monitoring process. This project will investigate the feasibility of a system that can consider environmental and loading factors, which can influence the readings taken to determine condition. This project will look into the feasibility of using data fusion algorithms to create a low cost, robust, 3D infra-red imaging system combined with environmental and load measurements. The project will demonstrate how the effects of the assets health, environmental factors, and load level can be separated. To measure a 360° thermal profile of an asset, first and foremost there needs to be sufficient clearances available. In cases where this prequisite is satisfied, there are two choices, either move the measurement device around the asset by human or robotic methods, or have multiple stationary measurement devices. Having multiple stationary measurement devices makes the data collection much simpler. However, if multiple measurement devices are required, then the overall system must be economically viable.Since only small temperature fluctuations are expected, the selected camera must have a sub-Centrigrade resolution. The 3D thermal image can be superimposed upon a detailed 3D model. This proposed 3D imaging system will automatically monitor the asset over an extended period (e.g. weeks) while recording the environmental conditions. This will enable changes in the outer appearance of the asset, which can be hidden by environmental factors such as rain, and heating/cooling on only one side of the asset from wind or sun light, to be extracted from the measurement of the assets condition. The new measurement system will have very wide applicability to monitoring asset condition. However, a Cable Sealing End (CSE) will be used as an example for this project. CSEs in a laboratory environment will be monitored using the novel 3D thermal imaging system. High voltage and high current tests will be performed, and will be used to provide a measurement of the normal thermal profiles. One CSE will then have water Injected into it, and the differences in the 3D thermal profiles will be observed between the two CSEs. Ambient conditions will be monitored to take into account variations in climate in the interpretation of the results. This project will:1. Develop a prototype 3D infra-red imaging system that will be used to provide a new method of taking infra-red readings. 2. Perform long term monitoring of the CSE in a HV environment using a 3D infra-red scanning setup. This will allow the normal thermal profile of the CSE to be understood in more detail, under controlled laboratory conditions. Ambient laboratory conditions will also be measured to take into account any local variation in environmental conditions. A moisture ingress test will be attempted to understand how the thermal profile of the CSE varies during the presence of water. Asymmetrical behavior will be looked for, which has not been previously investigated e.g. heating effect on one side of the CSE. The objectives of this project are to:1. Understand the potential benefits that can be obtained from taking 3D IR images of assets.Identify the impact that moisture ingress has on the thermal profile readings in the CSE.

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02/12/22