Wide-Area Instrumentation of Power Networks using Existing Infrastructure

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.

The project stands to make a huge impact on the UK economy by taking to market a transformative technology via a new SME. Since this sensing technology is able to leverage the standard telecomunication-grade optical fibres that are installed on power networks, it could lead to the elimination of many costs conventionally associated with power network instrumentation, and simultaneously address the challenge of providing wide-area sensor coverage with minimal investment. This could lead to greater integration of our electrical and environmental sensing systems, and to extensive, wide-area, real-time knowledge of the state of electrical transmission and distribution systems.

This project will benefit every element of the energy "trilemma", and the academic or commercial strength of project partners, by fully developing a new technology with the potential to cost-effectively enhance the integration, coverage and performance of power system instrumentation:

Economic: The technology has unique potential to hugely reduce costs incurred by utilities in instrumenting transmission circuits, and to enable the required scale-up of instrumentation over the coming years at minimum cost. By developing partnerships between Synaptec and UK OEMs, the project will impact on the growth of the broader UK supply chain and enable the UK to export solutions to foreign markets experiencing similar problems. Strathclyde and NPL's involvement in taking this technology to market and in standards development will enhance their international reputations for carrying out leading industrially-relevant R&D.

Social: The key social impact will be increased security of energy supply to households and facilities such as hospitals and factories, by improving the robustness of electrical networks (including shorterning the duration and reach of outages). Importantly, the technology will enable this higher level of robustness without substantial expenditure that could lead to raising the consumer retail price of electrical power. The technology has also been identified by transmission operators SSE and National Grid as an enabler for the undergrounding of transmission circuits near areas of natural beauty that is ongoing across the EU.

Environmental: Enhancing our control and protection functionality, and hence the stability of the UK power network, will permit higher levels of renewable generation and energy storage devices to be connected. This will lead to a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions, and will contribute to a more sustainable and diversified future energy system that improves health, the environment, and our reliance on imported power.