The New York Power Authority (NYPA) on Aug. 15 said that it is launching a series of research projects aimed at improving the efficiency of power systems and removing potential transmission obstacles that can be faced by New York State utilities.
More than $1.5 million in funding by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will go toward research focused on hardening underground cables, developing software for early identification of system issues, reducing transmission bottlenecks, and pursuing low frequency AC transmission lines to enhance power transfer capability.
NYPA said its research, technology development and innovation team will pursue several projects.
Among the projects is an underground cable advanced monitoring and diagnostic system demonstration.
In an effort to reduce the potential for underground cable leakage and prevent fault problems, this project will demonstrate and evaluate a real-time system that will monitor cathodic protection and assess dissolved gas analysis of high-pressure fluid-filled cables.
Approximately 14 monitoring sensors will be installed in NYPA Westchester County manholes and a DGA analyzer will be installed at the Eastern Garden City substation on Long Island. The project is funded by a $600,000 NYSERDA grant.
The other three projects are:
- Optimized forecasting solution for advanced overhead line demonstration: A new technology that predicts how much power a transmission line can carry will be demonstrated and evaluated for its potential in reducing transmission bottleneck challenges. About 15 weather sensors will be installed on NYPA lines along the 70-mile Moses-Wills-Plattsburgh transmission circuit and the WindSim Power Line Optimization Solution system will be demonstrated on a NYPA server. The project is supported by a $500,000 NYSERDA grant;
- DeepGrid: A Deep Learning Computing System for Resilient Grid Operations: This project proposes to develop a deep learning-based tool capable of identifying and predicting system issues, alerting operators and recommending possible solutions. Working with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NYPA will combine model-based power system simulation with early warnings from data and applications to improve timely decision making. The project is being funded by a $350,000 NYSERDA award; and
- A low frequency alternative current transmission line: This project will investigate the possibility of deploying low frequency AC (LFAC) transmission lines to increase power transfer capability. NYPA said that low frequency AC significantly improves stability, reduces voltage drop along the line, and offers the possibility to reroute power from congested to underutilized transmission corridors. The approach also has competitive advantages for collection of energy from off-shore wind generators using an underground multi-terminal system with a single point of interface to the main grid, it noted. NYSERDA is supporting the project with $100,000 in funding.
