BOLD HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION STRUCTURES
(Breakthrough Overhead Line Design)
Although we are still at baby steps developing systems to transport power energy wirelessly, a next generation of structure types has already been developed worth to mention and remark.
Next generation of transmission structures design started back in 2012 by AEP team. Since then successful stages have been developed related to engineering design, testing(EPRI), approval, manufacturing, construction(Nov. 2016-Indiana) and in-service monitoring(2016-2018).
1. Testing and engineering analysis:
-EPRI (Lenox-MA) :
*Single-phase corona cage testing
*Three-phase power frequency testing (wet and dry corona & audible noise)
*Lightning performance
*Switching performance
*Spacer-damper mechanical testing. BURNDY LAB (Manchester, NH)*Lattice structure testing facility. CELPI (Bucharest-Romania)
*Single-phase insulator and hardware assembly power frequency testing. HPS LAB (Wadsworth-OH)
*Spacer-damper mechanical testing. KINETRICS (Toronto-Ontario)*Single-phase insulator and hardware assembly power frequency testing. HPS LAB (Wadsworth-OH)
*Full-scale structure testing. VALMONT (Valley-Nebraska)
2. First Tline in-service:
Indiana, Nov. 2016: rebuilding of the existing 1940’s vintage Robison Park – Sorenson 138kV line as a double-circuit line, with one circuit operating at 345 kV and the other circuit at 138 kV (up to 5000 amps)
3. Second TLine in-service:
Indiana, Nov. 2018: Rebuilding approx. 9 miles of 345kV TLine from Meadow Lake to Reynolds Substation.
4. Comparison Traditional versus new BOLD structures:
5. Advantages:
*Reduced impedance combined with increased surge impedance loading results in more efficient power flow across long distances. Increased power carrying capacity between 40-60%
*Tower height reduction up to 30% minimizing the visual impact.
*Resistive loss reduction up to 33%
*Smaller environment footprint, minimize the right of way width requirement
*Magnetic field reduction up to 50%
6. Disadvantages:
TBD.
*Researchers used an EPRI-designed suite of radio frequency sensors to monitor various aspects of the first generation of in-service BOLD TLines, including electrical performance, structure loading, and motion. AEP and EPRI deployed the sensors on the new Indiana line in late 2016 and plan to monitor performance for two years. For 2018, EPRI has slated additional tests at two BOLD lines at lower voltages (230kV and 161kV)
*Researchers used an EPRI-designed suite of radio frequency sensors to monitor various aspects of the first generation of in-service BOLD TLines, including electrical performance, structure loading, and motion. AEP and EPRI deployed the sensors on the new Indiana line in late 2016 and plan to monitor performance for two years. For 2018, EPRI has slated additional tests at two BOLD lines at lower voltages (230kV and 161kV)