The project's core activities will be the development, production, qualification and live testing of pre-commercial sensing systems that aim to satisfy currently unmet needs of electricity networks. Development will be led by Synaptec and Strathclyde, with calibration & qualification carried out by NPL against industry standards. Alstom Grid will define best industry practice and identify key use-cases for the technology based on market drivers. The project will be carried out over 36 months and will be split into 7 work packages (WPs):
WP1. M1-M36 (Synaptec). Project management and engagement with stakeholders.
This work package will ensure progress, commercial focus, and regular contact between partners via bi-weekly calls and quarterly site visits. Software (e.g. MS Project) will be used to aid good project management.
WP2. M1-M18 (Strath, Syn, ITL). Development and assembly of voltage and current transducers.
A range of transducers involving Synaptec's core IP will be developed in this work package to target the most relevant applications and measurement requirements covering low to high voltage and ac and dc systems: i) current sensors -involving Synaptec's hybrid optical voltage monitor operating with such primary current converters as CTs, mA-CTs, Rogowski coils or shunts, and ii) high-voltage sensors - involving Synaptec's hybrid optical transducer housed in a composite insulator.
WP3. M1-M18 (Syn, Strath, NPL, Bellrock). Algorithm, communication platform, and digital interface development.
Synaptec and Strathclyde will design and construct of a sensor interrogation system based on an OEM optical spectrometer, enabling sensor signal conditioning and interfacing with electricity substation equipment using the IEC61850-9-2 communication protocol, and enabling sensor read-out and distributed sensor technology demonstrations within this project. NPL will propose and optimise sampling strategies and compensation techniques. Bellrock, with input from Synaptec, will develop a novel automated diagnostics functionality with an integrated expert system which will enable detection of faults or any potential performance deterioration of the sensors and sensing network.
WP4. M12-M30 (Strath, NPL). Standardisation, metrology and qualification of sensor systems.
As part of this WP, the University will expand its calibration and test facilities to enable testing over an extended range of currents and voltages to enable full compliance testing against IEC standards for a number of selected applications. The extension of this experimental capability will be carried out with close involvement of NPL to specify and calibrate the system components and verify their correct operation to traceable standards. Sensors constructed in WP2 will then be calibrated and their compliance to the relevant IEC standards verified.
WP5. M12-36 (Strath). Long-term sensor reliability, lifetime, and testing campaigns.
The whole-lifetime reliability based on a statistical sample of transducers undergoing a range of environmental tests will be established in this work package to rigorously determine the life cycle capabilities of the technology.
WP6. M19-36 (Syn, PNDC). Live network installation and testing.
For the first time, this sensor technology will undergo live network testing both at distribution and transmission voltage levels. A prototype installation of six sensors will demonstrate new advanced applications facilitated by Synaptec's technology as proposed in WP7.
WP7. M12-M24 (Strath, Alstom). Identification & simulation of advanced network functions.
Strathclyde, with input from Alstom, will identify and demonstrate a range of power system monitoring, control and protection functions that can be enabled by the distributed sensor technology. Simulations using EMTP and Matlab Simulink software will be carried out to determine and quantify the performance and functionality of these novel schemes.
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