Research & Collaboration
What makes us unique?
SuperGrid Institute owes its success to the people who make up our various research departments. Our teams come from diverse backgrounds in industry and academia, and their wealth of experience and skills make the Institute unique. Each individual brings specific expertise to the table.
This melting pot of knowledge offers opportunities for specialists from different fields to collaborate on new and innovative solutions to technical problems.
The Institute also benefits from close collaborative relationships with industry and academic institutions. The complementary strengths of our partners provide insights and innovative approaches to technical challenges. At the same time, we retain total independence in our research. Public-private investments and collaborative projects finance our work.
SuperGrid Institute’s state-of-the-art research facilities, test platforms and laboratories at the Villeurbanne and Grenoble sites are key to the success of our five research departments.
Latest scientific publications
Study of convective condensation in a thermosiphon loop
In this article, we focus on the condenser of a loop thermosiphon designed to cool power electronic component. The objective here is to condense Novec 649, our chosen working fluid for this loop. It is a fluid recently developed by 3M, which is known for having low environmental impact and non-flammable. We first present a theoretical analysis with the calculation and the hypotheses leading to the design of the multi-tubular condenser. Then we present a full size thermosiphon built for experimental validation. A discussion then addresses some of the design hypotheses. Three main parameters are studied : the tilting angle of the condenser (from horizontal to vertical orientations), the temperature of the coolant and finally the mass flow effect at different saturation temperatures. In our setup, we dissipate up to 2.4 kW at the evaporator level. The produced vapor is then condensed in the heat exchanger using cold water flowing at countercurrent. A number of measurements are made via thermocouples and pressure sensors located at both ends of the condenser to measure the average heat exchange coefficient.
Electro-thermal simulation methodology for HVDC cable GIS termination
This paper presents a simulation methodology that can be used to evaluate the electric stresses in GIS/cable termination under different operating conditions including polarity reversal and superimposed impulses.
Follow up of space charge distributions in HVDC cable during a Pre-Qualification test using the Pulse ElectroAcoustic technique and the Thermal Step Method
In order to better understand the evolution of space charge and electric field distortions during the application of electro-thermal stresses to a HVDC cable system, the present paper shows the follow up of periodic space charge characterizations on a HVDC cable during part of a Pre-Qualification test using both the Pulse ElectroAcoustic technique and the Thermal Step Method. The focus is on the evolution of space charges distributions during load cycles and high load sequences according to the Cigré TB496 recommendation.
