Insulation Condition Assessment of Power System Components in the Future Smart Electricity Grid

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Renewable energy distributed generation has been identified as the key feature of the future smart grid which will make the power system network more efficient, reliable and sustainable. To this end, power electronic devices are being increasingly added to the existing grid. These devices, due to their mode of operation, inject substantial harmonics into the grid giving rise to distortions in the voltage and current waveforms, which, in turn, leads to increased voltage stresses in transformers, machines, cables and cable accessories, and causes faster degradation of the electrical insulation, shortening the life of the equipment. "A rush to install wind turbines has outstripped the usual developmental learning curve, one in which new technologies mature by trial and error, and define equipment that is well suited for the job at hand. In this 21st century land rush to cash-in on wind energy, developers are often trading low initial costs for higher total costs of ownership which eventually is shouldered by wind farm owners and operators. Nowhere is this more evident than with wind-turbine generator (WTG) step-up transformers". This statement, appeared in Wind Power News - June 9, 2010, is, in fact, substantiated by the alarming rate of failures reported of transformers and cable terminations connected to wind and solar farms, which is the cornerstone of the proposed research. The research will begin by examining the harmonic based stresses in power system equipment, which will lead to mitigation techniques and/or improvements to insulation design or materials, as well as to the development of diagnostic methods for the early detection of potential problems. The knowledge and technology outcomes of this research are of significant importance to the development of the Canadian smart grid, and the applied research will enhance the teaching and training of engineers that will contribute to Canadian manufacturers of power system equipment and Canadian consulting industries as technology leaders.