Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_NGTO026 | |
| Title | Health Monitoring of cables using Acoustic Emission Measurement Techniques | |
| 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 |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 September 2018 | |
| End Date | 01 December 2018 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £62,500 | |
| 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%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGTO026 |
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| Objectives | A technology which has shown great potential for the monitoring of structures and components is Acoustic Emission (AE). AE is the radiation of acoustic (elastic) waves in solids, that occurs when a material undergoes irreversible changes in its internal structure, for example because of crack formation or plastic deformation due to ageing, temperature gradients or external mechanical forces. The waves generated by sources of AE can be detected by mounted sensors positioned some distance away and are of practical interest in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). AE has previously been successfully used in a variety of applications, including metallic and concrete bridge structures, aerospace landing gear components and aerospace fuselage parts with advanced/mixed materials and complex geometries. Trials have demonstrated the capability of the technique to detect corrosion and damage; but this has not been demonstrated on the electrical transmission network and a challenge that has impeded its industrial use is the ability to determine when damage has reached a level where maintenance and/or manual inspection is required. Utilising existing testing apparatus, we will adopt the following method in this study: Develop and carry out a laboratory based demonstration of the proposed AE system capable of detecting the onset of damage for this application at differing locations along a sample of cable. This will allow the signal propagation through a complex structure to be understood and enable identification and specification of damage mechanisms. Carry out an accelerated long-term fatigue test on a sample of cable using hydraulic actuators to demonstrate the capability of the technique to identify the onset of damage. Further techniques, such as Digital Image Correlation of Video Strain Gauging will be employed to validate the AE measurements. The following will be taken into consideration to obtain the best results: Identification of optimum positions for location of the AE sensors. Monitoring of a live sensor within the laboratory environment to assess background noise. The aim is to investigate the possibility of identifying potential failure modes by utilising AE for monitoring cables on the transmission network. This study will adapt existing instrumentation, sensing capabilities and techniques with a view to identifying the required steps needed to develop the technology into a deployable system. The key deliverables of this project are: laboratory based demonstration of the proposed AE system capable of detecting the onset of damage for this application at differing locations. Complete a long-term fatigue test on a cable sample. Specification for autonomous system capable of prognosis, together with the necessary steps to achieve. Report of the projects findings, conclusions and scope for further development. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the capability of AE for the monitoring of cables within a laboratory based environment. On completion of the work, the team will be aware of the requirements necessary to scale-up and apply the developed technique. | |
| Abstract | National Grids transmission network consists of many kilometres of cables across Great Britain. The entire network needs to function at a very high level of reliability to ensure an undisrupted electrical supply for consumers. The routine inspection of each individual component to ensure mechanical, structural and electrical performance is an essential, but expensive and time consuming process; especially for cable systems, which are mostly submerged below ground.Cables and their accessories are subjected to mechanical loading during their time in service. Some failure mechanisms within cable systems are purely mechanical (such as longitudinal splitting of the over-sheath, thermomechanical damage, and mechanical fatigue near cleats) and are often a precursor to electrical failure. Being able to detect the mechanical failures would provide more lead time to manage the assets and take mitigating action. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the capability of Acoustic Emissions for the monitoring of cables within a laboratory based environment. On completion of the work, the team will be aware of the requirements necessary to scale-up and apply the developed technique. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 08/11/22 | |
