José Luiz Pereira Brittes

Substation power transformer risk management: Reflecting On reliability centered maintenance and monitoring

The main objective of this article is to propose a methodology for prioritizing actions in predictive maintenance substation equipment, applied to Power Transformers, which are eventually responsible for the income revenue of energy companies (generation, transmission and distribution). This is a reflection on the failure analysis and risk management with optimal use of predictive maintenance, to reduce or eliminate transformer shutdowns. Using statistical concepts, this proposal goes through various stages of application, and addresses power transformer differences (generation, transmission and distribution), aspects of life cycle, operation, maintenance, aging, depreciation, aspects of reliability, risk of failure and effectiveness of predictive techniques. The basic process concept lays on stratification and consolidation of data from studies in the area of reliability centered maintenance, combined with historical information, taking also into account the diagnosis on equipment condition based on monitoring and predictive concept.

Management of available power in substation transformers based on reliability

This work presents a methodology for estimating the maximum power that can be extracted from distribution substation transformers based on (i) estimated values of future load, (ii) current temperature values measured at various locations within the transformer, and (iii) transformer reliability requirements. The final goal of the methodology is to provide a sensible means of controlling transformer overloads, especially at peak times during the daily load curve. The methodology has been implemented as a software tool running on computers in the Distribution System Control Center. The software makes use of real-time data acquired directly from the local loading control subsystem installed in two major distribution substations within the CPFL (Companhia Paulistra de Forca e Luz) system.

Characteristics of high power density transformer without a special license to traffic

The increased demand for electricity and the search by grid reliability gain have raised the interest of manufacturers and electric utilities regarding the development of the operating limits of the equipment. In order to meet this goal, the uses of new materials have been increasingly explored. Regarding power transformers, the use of new materials has given emphasis to the solid and liquid insulators. In this sense, this paper presents the features of a mobile transformer with high power density from the use of new materials. The densification of power proposed aims to allocate the maximum power to the transformer, considering the size and weight that do not need special license to traffic.

Análise da dinâmica de P&D&l na construção do Sistema Setorial de Inovação de energia elétrica para o Brasil

Este artigo mostra evidencias de que as empresas brasileiras do setor de energia eletrica vem construindo trajetorias cada vez mais intensivas em tecnologia, materializadas em seus esforcos envidados em atividades de P&D&I. Analisa a dinâmica da inovacao tecnologica nesse setor a luz de sua motivacao para inovar, das estrategias organizacionais (competitivas a tecnologicas) e da cadeia produtiva, formada pelos processos de geracao, transmissao, distribuicao e comercializacao de energia. A titulo de ressaltar sua relevância estrategica para o Brasil, note-se que o setor de energia eletrica cresceu a taxas medias superiores ao PIB nacional durante a primeira decada deste seculo, aumentando cerca de 4% ao ano pelo lado da demanda (EMPRESA..., 2011a). O presente artigo explora a hipotese de que as empresas de energia eletrica apresentam complexidade tecnologica e, por sua monta, tem investido em tecnologia e inovacao, contribuindo com a construcao de um Sistema Setorial de Inovacao (SSI) no Brasil. Evidencia-se isso por meio da avaliacao da dinâmica de P&D&I e das acoes institucionais de quatro empresas de energia do Brasil (Cemig, Furnas, CPFL e Eletronorte), sendo que essas se consolidam em centros de P&D&I, redes de pesquisa, execucao de planos de P&D&I e acoes conjuntas com agencias governamentais. Porem, o uso de indicadores organizacionais e setoriais permite depreender que os esforcos de inovacao tecnologica ainda nao sao suficientes para a constituicao de um SSI robusto.

Consumer loading characterization based on measurement campaigns - A prospective approach

This paper presents a prospective approach on how load curves can be typified using the NCEA (National Classification of the Economic Activities) instrument and also based on energy measurement campaigns commonly carried out. The proposed method intends to obtain load curves sufficiently robust, despite the available measurements may not have statistical significance. The proposed hypotesis tries to identify more representative consumer groups within a certain activity regarding parameters like the consumer class, consumption pattern, average energy, load factor and other available parameters. The results presented, pertaining here to the measurement of Group B (which according to the 1160 NCEA activity involves container manufacture, metal works, etc) indicate that these curves have the potential to replace the curves currently used in engineering (based on GIS) with data obtained through the measurement campaigns for tariff revision.

Sustainable Campus Model at the University of Campinas—Brazil: An Integrated Living Lab for Renewable Generation, Electric Mobility, Energy Efficiency, Monitoring and Energy Demand Management

The aim of this article is to describe the concept of a Living Lab to be implemented at the University of Campinas through a partnership between UNICAMP and CPFL (local Utility Distribution Company). This project was recently submitted to a strategic and priority call from the Brazilian Regulatory Agency (National Electric Energy Agency—ANEEL, acronym in Portuguese). The Living Lab is divided into six subprojects integrating energy efficiency with research and development in distributed generation. These subprojects include: 300 measure points for a Power System Control Center; 400 kWp PV-Minigrid installation, distributed into 18 plants; Electric Mobility with a recharge facility and an electric bus; retrofit in an electrical facility as a prototype; an innovative IoT-based DMS energy management tool; and training in Distributed Generation (DG), Smart Grid and Energy Efficiency. The complementarity of the subprojects will empower the living lab in terms of innovation, research and teaching in energy management, measurement and verification, photovoltaic energy generation, electric mobility and sustainability in energy consumption at the University. All these actions comply with the ISCN/GULF Sustainable Campus Chapter policies, signed by UNICAMP a few years ago. This paper is important because it will result in a replicable model for sustainable campuses for Latin America, with a detailed step-by-step procedure covering local mini-grid EMS, IoT-educational DMS, Mobility, real-time retrofitted efficiency and institutional energy governance, which is a pioneering approach in South America.

Ergonomic and Psychosocial Aspects of Electrical Energy Maintenance Activities on Transmission Lines

In recent years, the electric power sector has undergone considerable changes, contributing to the increase of accidents, mainly in the maintenance activity of transmission lines. The purpose of this project is to identify ergonomic and psychosocial aspects in this activity, through the Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA), applied to an electric energy concessionaire. This research is underway and the initial results point to the relevance of the organizational aspects associated to the profile of the new workers.

“Smartizing” power quality assessment based on IEC smart substation automation

Power Quality is a multidisciplinary systemic challenge. It involves huge data collection, many utility areas, and many other players outside the utility. Because it must connect massive amount of measured current and voltage data from various process levels to almost all utility corporate areas, allowing power conformity, energy availability and high service quality (achieving national and international standards), power quality should be the most suitable area to gain benefits from the smart grid derived concepts. However, issues like substation automation, Common Information Model (CIM) and other attributes from the IEC Smart Grid conceptual landscape are not, by themselves, enough to perform a plug and play power quality (or other area) solution. This article will first discuss the conventional power quality assessment, and subsequently will propose a new approach to “smartize” the power quality assessment from the utility power quality data collection to both its corporate treatment and the external players. The referred utility provides energy to a highly dense urban area as well as to an industrial area. Altogether, both areas account for about seven million consumers, supplied by more than 400 substations scattered over 570 municipalities.

T&ERTTA, technical & economical real time transformer assessmemnt: An innovative approach on power transformer life cycle management

This exploratory paper introduces T&ERTTA, a new methodological approach for technical & economical power transformer assessment in digitalized substations, providing improved life cycle management, integrating Utility Maintenance, Planning and Operation areas. The integrated asset management is achieved via a smart real time function that relates transformer true available life to its planned life and its amortization profile. Based on new smart substation CASF concept, which provides friendly usage of substation detailed operation and maintenance (O&M) real time data base, the methodology calculates real daily loss of technical transformer life, based on solid insulation degradation and other key substation/transformer data, computing its life much more accurately than standardized life loss analysis based on temperature. By means of correlating it with the expectation of planned technical life and transformer amortization period, T&ERTTA allows optimal safe daily dispatch, according to dynamic - or more flexible - planning criteria for system operation and/or expansion, including modularization of the substation assets revenue, investments postponement, and MW investment assertiveness, helping Utility strategic decision-maker in critical processes.