DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS (P180) SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS (P180) SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS

Assessment of Alternative Wood Pole Treatments

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Utilities install approximately 2.5 million wood poles each year for T&D structures. To maximize expected life, the poles must be treated with a preservative to mitigate degradation caused by environmental stressors, fungi, and insects & animals. The most common wood pole treatment in use for US utilities is pentachlorophenol (penta) which will cease production in 2022.

This project aims to investigate DCOI, an alternative treatment for wood poles.

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This project plans to subject poles and sample materials treated with DCOI to a multitude of tests to understand mechanical performance, environmental implications, and potential health risks. The outcome of the research could enable utilities to develop specifications, inspection programs, environmental programs, and end-of-life plans for DCOI-treated poles.

Sche

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36 months Pric

e $40k per year, SDF qualifies

Beginning

Cont

act

Joe Potvin, [email protected]

Digital Worker for Distribution

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Enhance Field Worker Productivity and Safety through robust Technology Transfer in the areas of 1) Domain Specific (Distribution, Transmission and Generation) Digital Worker Application Evaluation. 2) Guidance & Practices – Procurement, Implementation and Technology evaluations. 3) Strategic Guidance by facilitating Digital Worker Maturity Model for each member.

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Improve Decision Making - Provide Digital Worker information and learnings in a consistent format based on actual implementations in an environment of rapid innovation. This will inform utilities on the most effective and impactful digital worker applications, technologies and strategies with domain specific learnings as well as a library of shared learnings based on Dx, Tx & GEN Digital Worker efforts.

Sche

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24 months Pric

e $30k per year, SDF qualifies

Beginning

Cont

act

Matt Wakefield, (865) 218-8087, [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Electromagnetic Threats & Mitigation Approaches for Distribution

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The detonation of a nuclear weapon at high altitude or in space (~30 km or more above the earth’s surface) can generate an intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP) referred to as a high-altitude EMP or HEMP. The primary objective of this work is to assess the potential impacts of HEMP on distribution systems and to identify mitigation options that can be utilized to improve system resiliency against such impacts.

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This project aims to provide the following benefits:

• Technical guidance and tools for assessing the potential impacts of HEMP on distribution system and developing engineering solutions for mitigating the impacts.

• Improved understanding of the costs and potential unintended consequences associated with HEMP hardening of distribution systems.

Sche

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24 months Pric

e TBD Coming soon

Cont

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Randy Horton, [email protected]

Alternative Technologies for Recloser Backup Power

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Utilities are expanding the use of reclosers as part of distribution grid modernization efforts. Experience has shown that battery maintenance represents the largest O&M expense related to recloser management. As such, these expanded deployments may increase O&M spending related to battery maintenance. The objective of this project is to investigate the suitability of alternative energy storage technologies to provide recloser backup power.

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This project plans to document current backup power practices, explore and evaluate new battery alternatives, understand the environmental effects on battery life, investigate new approaches to battery health monitoring, and assist utilities with long term monitoring and evaluation of new energy storage technologies. This research may help utilities reduce O&M expenses through more cost-effective maintenance for control backup power systems and by reducing the number of battery replacements.

Sche

dule

24 months Pric

e $30k + $15k optional task, SDF qualifies

Beginning

Cont

act

Jason Anderson; (704) 595-2857; [email protected]

Click here for two-page summary of project



https://www.epri.com/research/products/3002020031


Advanced Distribution Inspection: Using Automation for Inspection

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Inspection of distribution infrastructure is challenging due to size, scope, and cost. Automation of data collection and review could help make inspection more feasible on the distribution system. Automated drones and AI have potential but is not yet proven.

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This research will perform laboratory testing to develop guidance on how best to capture imagery, then will validate it in the field, and will then evaluate AI systems to quantify performance. The results will help utilities understand how to deploy drones for inspection, and how to use AI to automate the data review.

Sche

dule

18 months Pric

e $60k, SDF qualifies

Beginning

Cont

act

Dexter Lewis; (205) 332-5963; [email protected]


Arc Flash Testing of 480-V Bypass Meter Sockets and CT Cabinets

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For some metering equipment, arc flash predictions lead to excessive PPE or introduce the requirement to de-energize prior to work. To date, there has not been sufficient testing to provide a technical basis for these scenarios. This project aims to perform tests that directly inform PPE requirements while working around 480-V bypass meter sockets and CT cabinets.

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This project aims to clearly define existing hazards, based on actual testing, to show employers the hazard and allow employers to provide sufficient PPE. Results may give utilities easy design modifications that could reduce hazard levels to their employees. If test results show that work can be done live, this will improve reliability and safety for the end-user and the public.

Sche

dule

12 months Pric

e $40k, SDF qualifies Underway

Cont

act

Tom Short; 518-288-8020; [email protected]





Managing Deteriorating Underground Structures

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Many underground structures are approaching their end-of-life. These structures are typically very expensive to replace, driving utilities to seek new approaches to slow degradation and extend the useful life of the structure. Emerging technologies and approaches show promise but are not well-understood.

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This project aims to understand how these technologies could be installed, how they impact maintenance, and how they degrade. The results will inform utility decisions to replace or repair underground structures.

Sche

dule

24 months Pric


Beginning

Cont

act

John Tripolitis, [email protected]


Evaluation of Satellite Imagery for Transmission & Distribution Applications

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Satellite-based inspections may allow for wide area infrastructure monitoring. While spatial resolutions may be too low for detailed inspection, the technology has potential for right-of-way monitoring, vegetation encroachment, and damage evaluations. This project aims to identify value and limitations of satellite imagery for these applications.

Valu

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This work combines laboratory and field testing to determine the accuracy of satellite-based inspections. The research team intends to develop minimum inspection requirements as well as acquisition workflow, costs, and timeframes. This information likely has value when evaluating any routine vs. emergency driven utility inspection requirement. Utilities can use the knowledge from this project to make informed decisions for deploying this new inspection method.

Sche

dule

12 months Pric


Cont

act

Dexter Lewis; (205) 332-5963; [email protected]


Distribution Recloser Life-Cycle Management






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Grid modernization efforts are ramping up at many utilities with automation being a key component. Reclosers are a critical to the automation of the distribution system. They operate infrequently but must do so reliably. Manufacturers perform design and production tests according to industry standards, but these tests typically do not include analysis of the long-term performance of the design and materials used to construct the device.

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This project performs performance, sensor accuracy, and accelerated aging tests to understand the life-cycle characteristics of distribution reclosers along with a systematic teardown to determine potential future failure modes and degradation mechanisms. This research will help utilities inform utility specification and selection for new reclosers and give utilities insights into potential future challenges with widescale deployments.

Sche

dule

36 months Pric


Cont

act

Jason Anderson; (704) 595-2857; [email protected]


Improving Grid Safety & Resilience During Extreme Weather Events and Wildfires

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Extreme events are those incidents that the power system was generally not designed to consider. These events expose the weaknesses in system operation and design and bring cause to consider (full lifecycle designs) for resilience, safety and reliability

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This project supports utilities with answered questions about system hardening and protection strategies. The activities include lab testing, field demos, shared learnings and (documented leading practice) associated with resilience, safety and reliability

Sche

dule

36 months Pric

e

$300k/$175k (depending on GWhr throughput), SDF applies

Underway

Cont

act

Doug Dorr; (407) 240-5049; [email protected]


Overhead Distribution Design for Resiliency and Reliability






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Distribution utilities are under continual pressure to improve resiliency and reliability. Overhead designs play an important role in increasing resiliency and decreasing restoration time after major events. This project aims to validate new overhead designs to determine performance and identify opportunities for design improvements.

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This research allows utilities to get experience and visibility to structure performance through full-scale testing which simulates tree strikes. This helps utilities understand how the design perform as a system, and identifies opportunities to improve resiliency prior to deployment.

Sche

dule

Ongoing Pric


Scope Met and Expanding

Cont

act

Joe Potvin; (413) 445-3709; [email protected]



http://membercenter.epri.com/abstracts/Pages/ProductAbstract.aspx?ProductId=000000003002008783

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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS (P180) SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS