Power Line
WindSim Power Line
A COOL way to increase existing power line capacity
WindSim Power Line (WPL) provides transmission owners an enhanced view of the conditions of their transmission lines by modeling wind at high-spatial resolution and computing thermal interactions (using IEEE-738) for every transmission span on which the system is deployed. Because WPL provides full visibility of transmission line conditions, WPL is a cost-effective, scalable option for transmission line owners to increase resilience through situational awareness of the transmission system, and thereby reduce the risk of line sag-induced faults and outages. As a Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) solution, WPL enables transmission owners to utilize their transmission lines more efficiently by having a real-time view of the true capacity of their transmission line assets.
Key Benefits of using WPL
- Span-by-span physical modeling
- Current-temperature relations
(IEEE-738) - Forecasts for up to 72 hours ahead
- Identification of critical spans
- Efficiency improvements with DLR
- Real-time line conditions
- Installs without disruption to service
Example of a long transmission line with several angles (line azimuths) in a complex wind field. Line ratings can vary substantially on a span-by-span level. The critical spans are usually located where there are parallel winds.
Software and Services
WindSim Power Line combines local weather monitoring, gridded mesoscale forecasts, CFD modeling specialized for complex-terrain, and the Generalized Line Ampacity State Solver (GLASS, developed by Idaho National Laboratory) into a single integrated DLR system. A successful DLR system is one with reliability, reproducibility, conservatism, and experience at the forefront of the implementation. Therefore, we offer WPL as a spectrum of vetted software tools and consulting services. How do we differentiate our solution competences for success: grid knowledge and the heat transfer calculations, CFD knowledge, mesoscale forecast and ANN (Artifical Neural Network) knowledge.
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WindSim Power Line Applications
Transmission engineers, planners, and asset managers can benefit from WindSim Power Line by more accurately rating lines, identifying critical spans, monitoring system health, and planning for outages. Use-cases include:
Use WindSim Power Line Forecasting to Increase Capacity
Forecasting is essential for applications aiming to utilize more of a line’s capacity. Applications that require forecasting include real-time and day-ahead markets. WPL uses mesoscale data and applies downscaling on these gridded forecasts to obtain a higher-resolution forecast which is more applicable to locations with complex terrain and vegetation.
Identify Critical Lines to Inform Limiting Constraints
The transmission capacity in overhead lines is typically limited by the conductor temperature effect in the sag clearance, which varies in time and along the line spans. This variability is mainly due to weather conditions which are time and space dependent. WindSim Power Line is a tool that can be used to facilitate the determination of critical spans and provide the engineer options on ways to mitigate limiting constraints on the system through scenario analysis.
Improve Reliability of Ambient Adjusted and Static Ratings
Ambient-adjusted and static ratings are currently common ways to estimate the capacity of a transmission line. Both approaches exclude time variations of wind—the primary driver of the line’s true capacity. By excluding wind conditions from the estimates, the true capacity can fall under the estimated capacity given AAR or Static Ratings. Because WPL accounts for realistic and dynamic wind conditions, WPL can promote a more reliable use of AARs and Static Ratings.
Collaborative Development
Idaho National Laboratory and WindSim
WindSim and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) benefit from a collaborative relationship since 2012. This relationship has grown from INL being a customer of WindSim to a cooperative partnership with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, targeted at improving the electricity sector’s ability to model and transfer weather conditions to every single span on the line to accurately perform Dynamic Line Rating across a larger geographic area with high reliability and certainty.
Weather-based Dynamic Line Rating has been validated through industry pilots to ensure it provides a smart grid energy solution for removing artificial or systematic power flow constraints. This is done by informing system planners and grid operators of available transmission and distribution capacity that was previously restricted by Static Line Ratings. WPL is currently deployed and continually validated in partnership with other electric utility partners and commercial meteorological solution providers, which also includes the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). WindSim is looking for additional partners to further deploy this innovative, industry accepted solution!
Why we focus on CFD based Dynamic Line Rating
Sensitivity of Temperature-and-Current Relationships to Wind
Wind is a key factor for estimating Dynamic Line Ratings. A simple sensitivity analysis can show just how dominantly wind contributes to the heat transfers on a line. Temperature and solar are the next important weather parameters essential for dynamlic ratings, but still these parameters are not as dominant or as variable as wind.
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Press Releases
NYSERDA Award
WindSim looks forward to working together with NYPA to improve energy efficiencies with WindSim Power Line. New York Power Authority to pursue $1.5 Million in new technology solutions to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in New York’s Power Infrastracture.
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For More on Grid Enhancing Technologies
WATT – Working for Advanced Transmission Technologies
WindSim working together with industry to bring solutions to the US electric transmission system to improve reliability and efficiency for American citizens and businesses
As the nation’s grid becomes increasingly congested and constrained, new technologies are available to reduce congestion costs and increase reliability and resilience.
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New ScottMadden Report Validates Need for Critical Transmission Infrastructure to Support Clean Energy Goals and Ensure Resilience
A region-by-region study of the transmission challenges and opportunities posed by renewable integration and the need for broader grid resilience ….
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Can new transmission tech boost capacity and save billions? Two proposals aim to find out
New grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) have been shown to cost-effectively increase the power existing transmission lines can carry and the services they can provide without compromising reliability …
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