DC networks, power quality and plant reliability
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Brian Stewart (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
| Description | It has been shown through modelling that harmonic frequencies propagate through an HVDC power system and are not sufficiently reduced when filters are in place. These have consequences for understanding the potential failure modes and insulation faults that can arise in DC and HVDC power cables as well as other DC system components. The results also show the locations where measurements on practical HVDC systems should be concentrated in relation to power quality (PQ) (harmonics) and electrical insulation discharges to evaluate the intergrity of the assets. Some initial evaluation of confidential HVDC data provided under NDA to University that PQ may potentially have a series impact on electrical infrastruture. The electrical stresses on some components are significant. Further evalution of how best to quantify the PQ and evaluate the impact of these quantified values on electrical insualtion requires further evaluaton. Other confidential HVDC data indicates that PQ measurements vary under transient events, and also load events. Methods of quantifying PQ and related electrical stresses on the reliability of electrical insulation within DC systems is being further investigated. |
| Exploitation Route | Industrial partners and utlities will better understand the impact of harmonics and propagation in DC systems and be able to identify effective strategies and policies for measuring, maintaining and managing the elctical insulation within DC assets. In addtion, for utilties and partners to be able to quantify better power quality metrics for future asset reliability evaluation. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| Description | Standardisation of measurements for DC electricity grids |
| Amount | € 999,937 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 20NRM03 DC grids |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Title | HVDC Simulation Model for Harmonic Studies |
| Description | The model has been developed to understand the harmonics and the propagation of the harmonics within HVDC systems. This is to permit an undertsading of which harmonics are generated under different loads and different external inputs so that an understanding of the electrical stresses on the insulation of HVDC equipment may be better understood. The model also includes frequency and phase dependent cable models to improve the understanding of harmonic propagation along HVDC system cables. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Intiial results of the model are currently being written up for publication. The model demonstares that significant harmonics progarate though the system and will impact on the insualtion of all HVDC components, particularly the cable insualtion. The work will inform the practical locations where harmonics and PD measurements are made by Startjclyde on real HVDC systems. In addition the work will inform the University of Manchester's research into the nature oand impact of harmonics in the development of cable insulation faults. The simuations will also inform Imperial College London on the impact of converter systems harmonics with a view to improve converter design or direct mitiagtion stratgies for reducing coverter harmonics. The model will be made available at the time of successful research publication |
| Description | HVDC Measurement Data - SPEN |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Department | Scottish Power Energy Networks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic understanding of power qualty (PQ) interpretation and analysis of HVDC waveform data |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access through NDA to limited HVDC Western Link interconnector data and SPEN expert engineering and industrial input into project. |
| Impact | Anaysis of some limited HVDC data. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Bi-Annual Project Advisory Group Meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project deliverables and research activities were presented to the Project Advisory Group consisting of more than 10 industrial stakeholders and partners in the project. Advice and guidance on the relevance of the research and project outputs to date was provided by the Group including insights into future stakeholders project value, project impact, future monitoring strategies and improving operational processes on HVDC links. Advisory Group members recognised the challenges not gaining access to undertake on-site measurements due to COVID and other HVDC opertational issues and decisions were taken to address these challenges with alternative access to available data as appropriate from partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Industrial Project Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Industrial presentation of research activity to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Industrial Project Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of project outputs to date plus collboaration activities to enable access to PQ measurement data from an HVDC station |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Initial engagement with Mutual Energy HVDC Practitoners and Engineers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Zoom meeting where Dr Arshad and Professor Stewart presented an overview of the project to 3 Mutual Energy Engineers with the aim of making practical measurements on Mutaul Energy's HVDC systems. The meeting agreed that measurements and interpretation of measurements would be beneficial to Mutual Energy and an understading of the long term reliabilty of HVDC systems. The intial plans for an NDA were put in place and a two-way NDA was exchanged for signing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Meeting with National Grid Transmission Innovation Team and Engineers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Zoom meetign where Dr Arshad and Professor Stewart presented an overview of the project and project objectives. Discussion took place on how National Grid Transmission could engage in the project. Additional possibilties of research projects were also discussed. Outcome - Strathclyde wre invited to particpate in the new National Grid Universities Framework agreement for awarding projects. Process currently ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | Power Network Demonstartion Centre Technical Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on project was given to 8 engineers. Discussion on how PNDC could assist and complement HVDC grid measurements and permit practical PQ emulations and measurements to be made using LV/MV/Tri-pahse systems to test and evaluate different load waveforms for PQ metrics forHVDC systems. Disussion took place on how measurements and assistance for the production of practical PQ waveforms under different load and fault conditions for HVDC. Plans in place for measurements in 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation to SPEN - University of Strathclyde Liaison Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Stewart presented an overview of the project to the Liaison working group. Discussion and questions tool place and a decision was taken arrange a follow up meeting with lead SPEN HVDC Engineers on the HVDC Western Link to dicuss practical engagement in the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Quarterly Meeting of Research Grant Expert Panel Comprising Industrialists |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Ongoing quarterly meeting dialogue of researchers from the University of Manchester, University of Startjclyude and Imperial College with indutrial representatives comprosong the Expert panel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Technical Discussions with SPEN HVDC Lead Engineers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presnetation of project was given to SPEN HVDC Engineers. After discussion, due to COVID-19 and limited access to make HVDC measurements, SPEN engineers agreed to share some of theor own HVDC measurement data to assis the project in terms of harmonc analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | Technical Discussions with SSE HVDC Lead Engineer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Due to COVID-19, the research has moved temporarily onto modelling HVDC systems. A lead HVDC engineer provided key input and direction into modelling converters and harmonic propagation within HVDC systems. The input directly influenced the initial HVDC simulation designs to be used to back-up and validate future measurement on practical HVDC systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |