Monitoring System for Overhead Line Conductors. Meeting the demands of a changing power environment

Providing sufficient electrical power reliably requires ongoing monitoring of temperatures within overhead transmission lines that are more susceptible to atmospheric changes than buried cables.  Winds, direct sunshine, ambient temperature, rain, ice and snow all affect the temperature of exposed overhead lines and can dramatically impact load limits they are capable of carrying. The fibre optic monitoring system for overhead lines is an inexpensive and highly reliable method that enables real-time monitoring of an entire network or of selected critical spans.

The easy-to-install, low-maintenance system offers a multitude of advantages. By enabling dynamic analysis of network structure, it increases the overall safety and reliability of the grid. It facilitates applying dynamic reactions to transmission requests, resulting in more flexible capacity and revenue management in both the short and long term. And the potential for cost-savings is enormous: downtimes and blackouts can be avoided, and the need for new lines and upgrades (e.g. increasing the height of overhead transmission lines) can be greatly reduced.

Customers dynamically rating the critical spans of their overhead line system can also increase earnings by activating previously unused resources in existing power lines. Dynamic metering of grid capacity and maximized transmission capacity make it possible to respond quickly and dynamically to transmission requests. As new sources of energy are added to the grid, precise load predictions are possible and it is easier to react quickly to overload conditions.

With the help of dynamic network-structure analysis, temperature profile can be monitored over span fields and fittings, depending on the length of the sensor. Load parameters are bundled and transmitted to network control stations online, allowing for real time thermal rating – which means real time supervision of network capacity. This makes it possible to predict load precisely and to avoid wire fatigue caused by repeated high thermal loads. Because decisions based on thermal load often influence upgrading or installation of lines, this translates into better control of grid and wire conditions, as well as optimal sag control and line clearance without requiring new construction activities.

Global Condition Monitoring Solution for High Voltage Cable Systems

LIOS in cooperation with its partner TechImp provide the world’s first combined Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) equipment together with Partial Discharge (PD) solutions to the power industry.  This complemented combination of DTS and PD solutions provides grid owners an even better control and monitoring possibility of their grids.
Together with Real Time Thermal Rating (RTTR), a platform has been created for a complete scope of condition assessment, control, monitoring and ampacity predictions.

The Global Condition Monitoring approach allows most of the failure modes of apparatus and electrical assets to be diagnosed, thus increasing reliability and decreasing maintenance costs, thanks to phenomena correlation.

• Diagnostics allows failure uncertainty to be reduced.
  • Optimization of the maintenance procedures
  • Condition Based Maintenance
• Maximization of the system components availability.

The crucial benefit of this cooperation between two leading suppliers to the T&D market is characterised by the innovative concept of Global Condition Monitoring, based on general purpose platforms, supporting different sensors (PD, DGA, DTS, Tan-delta and Vibrations) through a unique system integrating diagnostic algorithms upon data coming from these sensors. Therefore an overall reinforcement of the diagnostic effectiveness and robustness of the diagnostic power is obtained, but at a lower cost.

Such a superior diagnostic power is achieved by advanced tools, formerly developed for PD, based on TechImp’s unique SID (Separation, Identification, Diagnosis) strategy, which allows noise rejection, PD source separation and identification. TechImp patented technology provides a powerful and efficient diagnostic approach able to disentangle even the most critical PD phenomena, thus improving PD identification from different overlapping PD and noise sources.

TechImp PD separation technology allows different Partial Discharge phenomena to be classified on the basis of their pulse shape and split in different clusters (TF map®), so that further analysis can be carried out on each dataset, separately. This enhances the likelihood of PD source identification, even for non skilled operators.

Now this technologies have been extended to integrate novel sensors and data, adding integrated diagnostic levels based on fuzzy logic and artificial intelligence techniques for a cross-correlation on the whole set of data, giving a better and global coverage of possible faults, comprising, electrical, chemical/physical, mechanical degradation of the monitored electrical asset.

Read more:

	Diagnostic Equipment and Partial Discharge Monitoring Solutions (Techimp website)

LIOS Technology and TechImp providing total solution for Dynamic Cable Rating and Partial Discharge Monitoring

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De facto standard for seamless DTS integration: Direct link to SCADA

The intrinsic temperature measuring system DTS based on LIOS Technology’s design, with fibre optic sensors either installed within the power cable’s cross section (FIMT – Fibre in metal tube ) or attached to the exterior of the cable, makes it possible to record the temperature profile along an entire cable route continuously, and to pinpoint the exact location of hot spots within a metre.

Most commonly the measured temperature profile data is transmitted via standard interfaces from systems of the DTS as required, and be either displayed or further processed by PC, PLC or SCADA systems. As a result of the increasing demands placed on the ability to network and integrate measuring systems into management systems, LIOS offers network components that summarise DTS data from several DTS units and transport or convert it to the required network standards and protocols like Modbus, DNP3, IEC60870-5 or XML based data interfaces (e.g. POSC).

Equipped with the Embedded Communication Module (ECM) the Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) evaluation unit is accessible by Ethernet/ LAN, holds its own IP address and is compatible with DHCP.
The on-board storage facility of measurement data provides automatic buffering of network break downs. It can handle multiple protocols, so the DTS can be directly linked to PLC or SCADA systems and communicates in various industrial protocol standards providing measured data and customised alarm information.
Hereby, the evaluation unit communicates as a TCP /IP server with several clients.

Features of the embedded communication module of the LIOS DTS controller:

• Configuration and operation of the DTS via two independent channels:
  • RS232
  • Ethernet TCP/IP
• Onboard storage of measurement data
  • Buffers up to 72 hours of measurement data and initiates data transfer automatically after communication link was re-established
  • Individual file access to measurement data through CHARON_02 (onboard data storage 1 GB)
• Allows to operate individual Plug-In-Interfaces for customer specific protocol solutions
  • The DTS can communicate in parallel with its proprietary protocol and one or more customer specific protocols like DNP3, IEC60870-5-104, IEC61850, POSC WITSML, Modbus (Master/Slave) etc.
  • Individual assignments for protocols and client addresses (IP) possible
• Ethernet communication to and from clients with high bandwidth
• Module comes with built-in user configurable Firewall and enables reliable operation even in WAN’s
• Secure data transmission and individual authorisation according TLS- Standard (RFC 2246)

The most common industrial protocols used in electrical systems worldwide are introduced in the following section. However, also other protocol standards are available or can be implemented for the ECM. Please contact us in case of questions.

MODBUS
The MODBUS protocol was published by Modicon in 1979. It is a quite simple single master – multiple slave protocol widely used in general purpose SCADA applications. It provides binary (bit) and 16-bit integer data, but no floating point values, polled by the master, i.e. the slave cannot send data spontaneously. The protocol specification is openly published and royalty-free. In the DTS ECM, TCP/IP is used as transport layer.

IEC 60870-5
IEC 60870-5 provides a communication profile for sending basic Telecontrol messages between systems. It was developed by the IEC Technical Committee 57 (Working Group 03) as a protocol standard for Telecontrol, Teleprotection, and associated telecommunications for electric power systems. The result of this work is IEC 60870-5. The protocol provides inter alia bit, integer and floating point data with or without time stamps. Data is transmitted from controlled stations (slaves) either by polling or spontaneously. In the ECM the IEC 60870-5-104 companion standard, defining standard TCP/IP connections as transport layer, is used.

DNP3
DNP3 (Distributed Networking Protocol) is an open standard managed by the DNP User Group. Initially; the DNP3 protocol was developed by Westronic (now GE-Harris) in 1993. It is widely used in electrical systems worldwide, including North and South America, the UK, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It has gained wider use beyond electrical utilities, e.g. for water supply as well. The DNP3 protocol is also referenced in IEEE Std. 1379-2000, which recommends a set of best practices for implementing modern SCADA Master-RTU/IED communication links.
The protocol provides bit, integer and floating point data and time stamps. Data is transmitted from the outstation (slave) either by polling or spontaneously. The ECM uses TCP/IP as transport layer, but even in this mode the DNP3 protocol additionally uses its own protocol stack for synchronisation and error checking. This provides extra security.

IEEE Lays Groundwork for Adoption of DNP3 Protocol as New IEEE Standard
IEEE, the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology announced that work is underway for the formal recognition of Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3) as an IEEE standard. Designated as IEEE P1815, the standard will promote interoperability across hundreds of operational systems with thousands of installed devices, as well as strengthening security protocols while maintaining compatibility with existing object models.

Seen at EnergyCentral’ T&D News 19 January 2010

Smart Grid starts at TPC 345kV substation in Taiwan

State-run Taiwan Power Co. (TPC) has equipped its 345kV substation HouLi with a real time condition monitoring DTS system providing current ratings and ampacity predictions. A rugged fiber optic sensor cable is attached to all phases of the 4 cable systems, the tie lines as well as the outdoor terminations for real time distributed temperature sensing. Furthermore, the substation’s service tunnels are controlled by DTS in order to activate forced ventilation.

LIOS Technology has provided its integrated Real Time Thermal Rating (RTTR) solution which offers real time ampacity predictions and emergency ratings based on the actual temperature readings and the mathematical model of each configured cable section following the IEC 60287 and IEC 60853 international standards. LIOS’ dynamic cable rating system is a powerful tool for steady state and even transient operations to derive the conductor temperatures of each high voltage power cable phase. Based on the thermal history of the monitored circuits RTTR indicate emergency ratings to ensure save and stable grid operation even during peak hours and dynamic load demands.

By adding continuous and cost – effective monitoring of the electric transmission and distribution grid TPC consequently follows its Smart Grid strategy and helps to utilize electrical energy more efficiently.

Related posts:

• Essential for Smart Grid: Distributed Temperature Sensing for Real Time Power Cable and Overhead Line Monitoring
• Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems (DTS) are optoelectronic devices which measure temperatures by means of optical fibres functioning as linear sensors.

Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Monitoring for Oil & Gas Production & Reservoir Engineering

How to get more from available resources

Technology is the key driver in the quest for greater efficiency. In the oil and gas industry, there is keen interest and high demand for low-cost, reliable, and easily installable systems to enhance downhole production and recovery.
Trusted partner
Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems have shown great promise for helping the Oil & Gas industry meet the global demand for energy. LIOS Technology GmbH – a trusted partner to the Oil & Gas industry and a leading expert in fiber optic sensing technology – has unleashed the potential for this technology on a number of exciting oil well projects in the Far-East. Along with Integrated Intelligent Smart Well Service Company, the team has successfully developed downhole temperature sensing systems that meet the sector’s unique requirements for performance, cost-effectiveness, and systems feasibility.

Field-proven reliability

Oil reservoirs represent a harsh environment for sensitive electronic components. Equipment deployed downhole must be able to perform 100 % reliably while withstanding heat, pressure, moisture, vibration, and corrosion. Breakdowns can cause unacceptable delays and lost output costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. LIOS Technology offers the most reliable and functional continuous downhole temperature sensing and logging system available for both simple and complex wells. Our modulebased system and open standard protocols enable us to offer you customized solutions for your unique needs.

Features

• Impressive track record – more than 2000 successful fixed installations in more than 80 countries on all continents
• Dependable and field proven system design – no sensitive electronic components or power supply downhole, only the Fiber Optic cable acting as the sensor
• Rugged and durable semiconductor laser diode sensor. Fulfils Telcordia GR-468 quality standard with average product lifetime of 25+ years
• Patented OFDR technology (MM or SM) based on Raman effect delivers temperature readings accurate to within ± 0.06° C (±0.1 F) and 0.5 m (1.5 ft) along the entire sensor length from distances up to 30 km (98425 ft) away
• Market leading calibration features like automated point calibration using 3 rd party temperature source, multi fiber segment calibration and double ended calibration operation mode
• Low-cost third-party optical pressure gauges can be added using the same fiber optic cable for even more detailed measurements
• The multichannel LIOS DTS unit can accommodate up to 8 independent fibers, enabling comprehensive surveillance and Real Time Field Management (RTFM) of multiple wells
• Entirely self-contained DTS unit transmits measurement data via cyber secure, TLS encrypted link to remote SCADA database systems. No on-site PC to power or hack into
• No need to visit well-site to collect data
• Entire DTS system is independently certified for quality by VdS [the German asset insurers association] and many other international certifying bodies

24/7 Data-to-Desk – Easy to install and integrate
Here at LIOS Technology, our goal is to deliver optimal communication solutions to you. We supply your specialists with accurate and real-time information delivered to their desks round-the-clock so that critical decisions can be made immediately. LIOS Technology can easily and economically interface its DTS temperature and pressure measurement system with your system to create a fully Data-to-Desk solution customized to your needs.

Success story for permanent downhole sensing – Maximize your ROI with DTS

Technology is the key driver in the quest for greater efficiency. In the oil and gas industry, there is keen interest and high demand for low-cost, reliable, and easily installable systems to enhance downhole production and recovery.

“Installation of LIOS DTS in the Darat Field in Brunei has proven to increase the value of the wells from our customer significantly because of early detection of faulty gas lift valves, resulting in quick repair and increased production.”

Lt Col (B) Mahmod Yakop (Founder & Managing Director, AMRTUR Corporation Sdn. Bhd)

In a co-operation between Shell International Exploration and Production (SIEP) and LIOS Technology GmbH (LIOS) the feasibility and economical added value of permanent downhole temperature sensing have been successfully demonstrated in a number of recently deployed on- and offshore projects in Brunei BSP. This shows that once certain maturity and robustness in a technology has evolved and an agreement on standards has been implemented low-cost equipment can be designed, manufactured, and deployed even for low-cost wells. The applied design and working practices enable permanent in-well sensing for a large-scale role out. Additionally, a common database has been developed and successfully deployed. The reservoir engineers in BSP have now full access to the low-cost DTS installed wells around the clock, every day of the year.