A Cryostat platform for SuperGrid Institute
SuperGrid Institute is aiming to test the new superconductive tapes that will be used in future current limiters, as one of the partners involved in the FASTGRID project.
Phd Paolo ERRANTE “Liquid Spray Injection inside the expansion volume of a CO2 High Voltage Circuit Breaker”
In the framework of the research activities of the High Voltage Substation Equipment program of SuperGrid, it has been proposed to introduce such species by means of an evaporative liquid spray. The interaction between injected droplets and the mixture of hot gases successively flowing into the chamber and vented outside the chamber during the mechanical separation of the electric contacts should allow spray evaporation and transport of the modified gas mixture towards the arc region.
Phd Thibaut LEFORT “Epoxy/ionic liquid networks with and without anhydride: study of polymerization mechanisms and dielectric properties”
Thursday 12/12/2019, Thibaut Lefort has obtained the title of Doctor of Materials of Lyon university after a high quality viva. Hence, the thesis jury has strongly encouraged him to candidate for a Ph.D award granted by INSA in the energy category.
A DC voltage source for long term GIS testing designed by SuperGrid Institute
As part of its research, SuperGrid Institute studies the phenomena of partial discharge under DC voltage. Environmental issues emphasised in the European project PROMOTioN encourage the exploration for possible replacement of SF6 gas and remains a strong component of the study at SuperGrid Institute.
Design and validation tests of 320kV HVDC GIL/GIS
This paper gives an overview of electrical DC phenomena in GIL/GIS, the influence of insulating properties of SF6 and filled epoxy resin, and design of new support insulator for 320kV HVDC GIL/GIS. The busbar system including the insulator was designed not only to satisfy all standard requirements such as mechanical, temperature rise, heating cycle performance but also particular requirements for HVDC applications such as superimposed impulse tests. Finally and for the first time at actual scale, type test according to CIGRE JWG D1/B3.57 was conducted in EDF R&D Les Renardières laboratory to verify the design and insulating performance of the 320kV HVDC GIL/GIS system. The satisfactory results allow to confirm the high technology readiness level of HVDC GIL/GIS.
Phd Raphael CHASSAGNOUX “Dielectric study of liquid and boiling nitrogen – Application to a superconducting fault current limiter”
The increasing number of interconnections in electrical networks and the massive integration of renewable energies nowadays comes with an increase of short circuit currents, and more constraints on high voltage circuit breaker during the current clearance. To solve this problem, a solution consists in inserting a fault current limiting device on electrical lines. Among the available technologies, the superconducting fault current limiter is ideal from the perspective of transmission system operator. However the design of this device is non-trivial, especially the electrical insulation, which is very specific to this apparatus: electrical insulation in a cryogenic environment (liquid nitrogen at - 196°C), superconducting tapes inducing electric field reinforcement, and strong transient heating generating numerous vapor bubbles.
Phd Alexis FOUINEAU “Medium Frequency Transformers design methodologies for high voltage grids and railway grids”
Medium Frequency Transformers (MFT) are an innovative technology compared to low frequency transformers, with the promise of reduced volume and increased efficiency. This PhD thesis focuses in particular on their design for high voltage, high power applications, such as high voltage and medium voltage DC networks, as well as railway networks. In these applications, MFTs are used in converters that can generate specific constraints to be taken into account during their design: non-sinusoidal signals, polarization voltage, target inductance values.
Electric field computation for HVDC GIS/GIL spacer under superimposed impulse conditions
This paper evidences the influence of different parameters on the electric field on DC spacers in GIS/GIL and thus their dielectric withstand under S/IMP tests. A notable difference in term of electric field can be observed in function of impulse polarity, load condition (with/without heating current) and insulating material’s properties. For example, an overstress of 0.3pu was obtained on spacer’s surface in case of superimposed impulse test with opposite impulse polarity, high load condition and high leakage current in gas. Contrary to AC system where the simple LI tests were enough, S/IMP tests with both impulse polarity, ZL and HL conditions are mandatory to verify the insulating performance of HVDC GIS/GIL spacer. This paper gives a better understanding of the electric field distribution in HVDC GIS/GIL and helps for the design and tests
Liquid spray injection in the expansion volume of a CO2 high voltage circuit breaker
Most high voltage gas circuit breakers (HVCB) in operation use SF6 as the arc interruption medium because of its high dielectric strength and good arc interruption properties. However, SF6 also displays a high global warming potential which motivates the investigation of possible alternatives to this gas.
Numerical modelling and influence of defects on space charges in epoxy resin under HVDC stresses
Space charge accumulation on High Voltage Direct Current Gas Insulated Substations can produce electrical field reinforcements in the insulation that need to be taken into account in the equipment design. The TSM (Thermal Step Method) is one of the experimental techniques allowing to determine space charge distributions in insulating materials. However localized defects (i.e. microvoids, delaminations etc) cannot usually be detected by this technique. A new numerical approach to study the influence of structural defects on Thermal Step Method currents is proposed. The method is based on a Finite Element numerical simulation allowing to simultaneously solve electrical and thermal equations. The effect of three different defects were studied. It results that ring defects, with diameters smaller than 0.4 mm, produce less than 10% of change on TSM current signals. This confirms the difficulty to detect small defects by this method. It was also observed that delaminations can produce variations in signal as high as 70%, and even generate signals of opposing sign from the case without defect.
