2019 CEA awards for electricity innovation
Recently, Manitoba Hydro picked up two awards at the Canadian Electricity Association’s (CEA) 2019 Centre of Excellence ceremony. These awards celebrate projects demonstrating innovation excellence and leading-edge technology in an electrical utility.
The project Controlled Switching for Energizing Large Transformers addressed the challenge of energizing large transformers that contain residual magnetic fields. Energizing transformers can draw large currents, known as ‘inrush’ currents, and cause significant sustained voltage depressions and harmonics that can lead to flickering lights, equipment damage, and even widespread outages for customers.
To solve this issue and to reduce costs, project team members investigated the application of controlled switching (also known as Point-on-Wave switching). The team applied state of the art transformer modelling techniques and were then able to safely energize a large auto transformer (1200 MVA), and two HVDC converter transformers connected in a parallel using controlled switching, a world first!
Controlled switching for energizing large transformers project team.From left to right: David Jacobson, Waruna Chandrasena, Nandaka Jayasekara, Chun Fang, David Swatek, Pei Wang (all System Planning)
Controlled switching for energizing large transformers team.From left to right: Jaden Wiebe (TSO&M Converter Stations South), Aziz Ijdir (Vizimax Inc.), Jim Corfield, Bryce Miller (Bipole 3 Commissioning), Waruna Chandrasena (System Planning Dept), Gerald Paculan (TSO&M Converter Stations South)
An Advanced Probability Tool for Risk-Based Planning/Prioritization of Transmission Investments also received accolades at the CEA. The team on this project developed a System Reliability Risk Model, a new probabilistic method that factors in system complexity enabling a risk-based prioritization of investments.
It simulates the performance of the transmission system with and without the proposed investments. Then, it calculates the benefit of each option to system reliability and the provincial economy.
It has attracted interest from several utilities and entities including a request from The Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI) for a guideline on risk management of substation equipment and apparatuses.
Advanced Probability Tool for Risk-Based Planning Prioritization of Transmission Investments project team.From left to right: Brent Jorowski, David Swatek, Caroline Nieuwenburg, Bailey Lavallee, David Diakiw, Dange Huang, Bagen Bagen (all System Planning)