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Substations & Protective Equipment
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Substations and protective equipment are staples in the electric power system. They are responsible for stepping down and routing the voltage delivered from the power plants to the end user. Typical technologies found in a substation include transformers, feeder lines, capacitor banks, switches, and breakers, and more recently communication devices and software have been integrated with the conventional devices. The majority of substations and the individual substation components are aging and/or are not utilized as assets as effectively as they could be (overused and/or underused). A substation represents a major security asset because of the key power system components within its physical structure and mission-critical communication devices. A loss of substation power delivery components can result in a loss of power affecting thousands of people. Loss of increasingly interdependent communications can lead to possibly less severe immediate losses, but can prevent recognition of developing or incipient power system problems and failures, and prevent rapid recovery from outages.
Substations and protective equipment usually have a large environmental footprint and consist of high-cost capital equipment, making the components hard to replace. One of the challenges that system operators face is utilizing current assets more efficiently, so they extend the lifetime of the equipment and avoid needing to replace the heavy, high-cost equipment. Another challenge is there are no modular, inexpensive, and reliable "next generation" technologies. In addition, next generation equipment must be integrated seamlessly into both the substation and the whole electric delivery system. Security threats, both physical and cyber, present a new challenge for utilities to protect their systems. A lack of standardization of the components and the larger system hinders the process of integrating next generation components and security measures into the electric grid.
Next Generation Components and Systems
Developing next generation components and subsystems will help the electric delivery system meets the needs of the 21st century consumer. The system must be capable of faster switching. It will take a rethinking of the entire subsystem to move from today's mechanical devices to solid state devices which can react faster. Cost-effective solid state devices, such as fault current limiters, FACTS devices, and transformers will help avoid replacing underrated equipment, improve overall power quality, and easily integrate new generation equipment with the current system. Fault current limiters can help protect FACTS devices from near faults, reduce the impacts on other equipment of faults that are felt through the system, and enable open access to the system for energy storage and distributed generation devices. Power electronics and high-temperature superconductivity are some of the next generation technologies that can be integrated to limit fault currents.
In addition synergies may be achievable between technologies to improve their combined performance. For example, the combination of a fault current limiter with a superconducting cable could mitigate post-fault cable recovery time and allow reduced designed size of a superconducting cable to support replacement of conventional cables with higher capacity superconducting cables within existing ducts. It is important to look at the entire subsystem and not just the individual components.
Asset Management and Security
In order to use the existing equipment most efficiently, system operators need better operation and diagnostic support tools to identify developing or incipient problems, and for longer-term asset management. These tools include real-time monitoring to increase throughput, real-time load forecasting, and self-diagnostic equipment capable of addressing internal problems such as cracked bushings, contact wear, and loose connections. Integrating these tools with algorithms for asset managers will help manage the growing need to replace and upgrade existing infrastructure and reduce catastrophic failures, maintenance costs, and improve the overall reliability of the systems.
Reliable and cost-effective sensors are needed for diagnostic use and to enable decision support tools. The sensors must be non-intrusive, capable of surviving in high voltage environments, and inexpensive. A standard data protocol will help to integrate the sensors with current decision support tools. There are many different types of sensors - e.g., infrared, gas analyzers, nanotubes - that need to be developed to address the various components of the subsystem.
In cases where sensors are not immediately available, due to unavailability, or insufficient deployment penetration of new embedded sensor components, operating experience, test results, forensic analyses and/or data mining of new data bases can be used as an interim surrogate for future embedded monitoring.
OE Linkages
The GridWorks program will coordinate with HTS, EDT, and the GridWise activity in OE in developing next generation components and subsystems. GridWorks will also work closely with activities taking place within DHS and in private industry in developing the subsystem of the future. Asset management and security activities are being primarily pursued in the GridWise program and are not a priority focus of GridWorks.
Overview of GridWorks | Overview of the Electric Grid
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Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability - GridWorks