Investigation of key factors affecting the polarisation based diagnostics of power transformers. To avoid system wide power interruptions, major assets in the electricity network must be always operating satisfactorily. One of the key assets in the electricity network is the power transformer. Currently many transformers are over 50 years old and failure of a transformer may result in long interruptions in supply and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. The ageing of transformers needs to ....Investigation of key factors affecting the polarisation based diagnostics of power transformers. To avoid system wide power interruptions, major assets in the electricity network must be always operating satisfactorily. One of the key assets in the electricity network is the power transformer. Currently many transformers are over 50 years old and failure of a transformer may result in long interruptions in supply and the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. The ageing of transformers needs to be properly monitored to avoid catastrophic failures. This project will provide an innovative solution for the better understanding of the ageing processes of transformers and help
managers make correct decisions for maintenance and replacement strategies.
Read moreRead less
Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for ....Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for assessment of cable condition will be developed using unique data from the ageing experiment and computer models of fundamental phenomena. Successful conclusions from this project will save the industry partner and other electricity distribution companies tens of millions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883074
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Distributed Generation Evaluation Facility and Power Control. The development and demonstration of Distributed Energy Resource solutions will assist the deployment of greenhouse gas reduction strategies and of reliability improvements with particular benefits for rural and remote electricity supply. Small generation units can be the best solution for some reliability and voltage support issues in rural/remote networks. The research will show how these can be operated and the benefits achievable ....Distributed Generation Evaluation Facility and Power Control. The development and demonstration of Distributed Energy Resource solutions will assist the deployment of greenhouse gas reduction strategies and of reliability improvements with particular benefits for rural and remote electricity supply. Small generation units can be the best solution for some reliability and voltage support issues in rural/remote networks. The research will show how these can be operated and the benefits achievable for sources including renewables in a manner that is accessible to communities and with a rigorous set of test scenarios that will satisfy concerns from utilities. The flexible system nature is the significant development previously unavailable to researchers/developers.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Remote Area Power Systems with Hydrogen Energy Storage for Isolated and Regional Communities. The distances and difficulties of transporting diesel to remote areas substantially add to the cost of electricity - making it many times the cost of supplies available from the grid. Consistency of electricity supply is dependent on reliable transport access and substantial storage for fuel on site. This project will reduce emissions in energy generation and provide the opportunity for mainly ....Hybrid Remote Area Power Systems with Hydrogen Energy Storage for Isolated and Regional Communities. The distances and difficulties of transporting diesel to remote areas substantially add to the cost of electricity - making it many times the cost of supplies available from the grid. Consistency of electricity supply is dependent on reliable transport access and substantial storage for fuel on site. This project will reduce emissions in energy generation and provide the opportunity for mainly renewable, high-quality electricity supplies at reduced cost for remote and isolated communities. This will make communities more self-sufficient, enhance the quality of life and provide opportunities for initiatives, including economic and employment generating activities, to benefit the communities.Read moreRead less
Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategi ....Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategies for effective operation and control of hydro turbines with Basslink. Particular attention will be paid to the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Tasmania.Read moreRead less
Modelling and control of electromagnetically propelled arcs in joining processes. Magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) joining is a non-traditional manufacturing process for tubular steel components. Parameter selection and tuning have to date been experimentally determined via exhaustive trial-and-error techniques. Therefore the full capabilities of the process have not yet been realised. The project aims to model and optimise the complex process and thus facilitate the development of new a ....Modelling and control of electromagnetically propelled arcs in joining processes. Magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) joining is a non-traditional manufacturing process for tubular steel components. Parameter selection and tuning have to date been experimentally determined via exhaustive trial-and-error techniques. Therefore the full capabilities of the process have not yet been realised. The project aims to model and optimise the complex process and thus facilitate the development of new and effective control strategies. It is expected that novel power source designs will emerge as an outcome of the research proposed.Read moreRead less
Novel Partial Discharge Detection Technique based on an Overhead Transmission Line Sensing Architecture. Overhead power transmission systems are a common instigator of fires through the production of sparks from faulty insulators. Australia is experiencing extended hot and dry conditions that amplify the risk of these events becoming large scale bushfires, causing millions of dollars of damage and destroying immeasurable amounts of native flora and fauna. The overhead transmission line sensing ....Novel Partial Discharge Detection Technique based on an Overhead Transmission Line Sensing Architecture. Overhead power transmission systems are a common instigator of fires through the production of sparks from faulty insulators. Australia is experiencing extended hot and dry conditions that amplify the risk of these events becoming large scale bushfires, causing millions of dollars of damage and destroying immeasurable amounts of native flora and fauna. The overhead transmission line sensing system proposed in this research will provide power companies with a cost effective insulator condition monitoring tool to continually survey Australia's aging electrical infrastructure. This ensures a reliable electricity supply to consumers, while also protecting the ecosystems of Australia's bushland. Read moreRead less
On-line Monitoring and Modelling of Electric Loads for Improving Operational Conditions of Power Systems. Recently, the Tasmanian Electricity System has been connected to the National Electricity Market through Basslink. The behaviour of loads to deviations in frequency and voltage becomes critical when transmission constraints begin to control market outcomes. The project will deliver vital information regarding load behaviour and models representing load responses to frequency and voltage excu ....On-line Monitoring and Modelling of Electric Loads for Improving Operational Conditions of Power Systems. Recently, the Tasmanian Electricity System has been connected to the National Electricity Market through Basslink. The behaviour of loads to deviations in frequency and voltage becomes critical when transmission constraints begin to control market outcomes. The project will deliver vital information regarding load behaviour and models representing load responses to frequency and voltage excursions with the objective of optimising power exchanges within the National Electricity Market. This will allow Tasmania to take advantage of various renewable technologies. The research will focus on the quality of electricity supply in Tasmania and the national power grid, and on the consequent economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Integration of Distributed and Renewable Power Generation into Electricity Grid Systems. This project aims to contribute into infrastructure development for connection of distributed and renewable power generation with electrical grid systems. The project proposes to develop innovative methodologies for cost-effective operation and control, protection coordination and fault detection, islanding operation, grid interaction and voltage instability with distributed and renewable generation. This pr ....Integration of Distributed and Renewable Power Generation into Electricity Grid Systems. This project aims to contribute into infrastructure development for connection of distributed and renewable power generation with electrical grid systems. The project proposes to develop innovative methodologies for cost-effective operation and control, protection coordination and fault detection, islanding operation, grid interaction and voltage instability with distributed and renewable generation. This project has special application for facilitating integration of regional renewable and distributed energy sources, such as wind, solar, mini-hydro, etc. into national grid systems.Read moreRead less
CONTROL AND INTERFACING OF GRID-CONNECTED IGBT INVERTERS FOR SMALL-SCALE WIND GENERATORS. The project aims to investigate methods for extracting and converting intermittent energy from variable speed wind generators and supplying to electricity grids. Low cost power conditioning units for integrating small-scale wind generators will be designed, developed and commercialised. It is expected that this project will lead to a systematic design procedure for grid connected inverter technology using ....CONTROL AND INTERFACING OF GRID-CONNECTED IGBT INVERTERS FOR SMALL-SCALE WIND GENERATORS. The project aims to investigate methods for extracting and converting intermittent energy from variable speed wind generators and supplying to electricity grids. Low cost power conditioning units for integrating small-scale wind generators will be designed, developed and commercialised. It is expected that this project will lead to a systematic design procedure for grid connected inverter technology using a novel current control technique, and extraction of more energy from small scale wind turbines especially at low wind speeds. Successful commercialisation will result in significant reduction in cost resulting wider application of wind turbines, substantial economic benefit to the commercial partners as well as Australian communities in rural areas.Read moreRead less