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Predictive rating models for wind farm export cables

Predictive rating models for wind farm export cables
Predictive rating models for wind farm export cables
With plans for future offshore wind farms having larger power ratings and being situated much further offshore, there will be a growing trend towards the usage of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission technology for submarine cables [1]. HVDC submarine cables provide lower investment cost for long-haul transmission, higher operating voltages and have no reactive power consumption, thus they have less losses than AC lines. DC transmission schemes may consist of a single polarity cable (monopole) carrying full circuit power with sea return, but there is a preference for having two cables of positive and negative polarity (bipole) each carrying half circuit power.

The power output generated by these wind farms is not constant, fluctuating with wind speed [2]. They generate a lot of electricity when they are working at their maximum, but most of the time they generate at a much lower rate. The conventional rules for calculating cable ratings use thermal models based on steady state conditions with maximum load. This approach often leads to cables being oversized compared to real requirement. Incorrectly rated subsea cables can lead to poor asset utilisation. Therefore, new modelling techniques are essential to drive down the cost of connecting offshore renewable energy projects to the grid. Using predictive rating modelling to assess cable requirements more accurately, should result in a smaller and (therefore cheaper) cable; thus reducing the cost of connecting wind farms to the electricity grid.

This research project uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to create a 2D predictive model a pair of extruded XLPE HVDC submarine cables, laid side by side in a trench on the seabed. Historical wind farm output data will be used to compare the performance of cables using conventional assumptions with those using the predictive model. Adoption of such approaches by the industry could lead to substantial savings on wind farm export cable systems, improving the viability of offshore wind and delivering long term cost savings to the consumers.
Phuan, S.P.
f0ee7c9e-f14e-4938-8478-369f20547d2c
Pilgrim, J.A.
4b4f7933-1cd8-474f-bf69-39cefc376ab7
Lewin, P.L.
78b4fc49-1cb3-4db9-ba90-3ae70c0f639e
Phuan, S.P.
f0ee7c9e-f14e-4938-8478-369f20547d2c
Pilgrim, J.A.
4b4f7933-1cd8-474f-bf69-39cefc376ab7
Lewin, P.L.
78b4fc49-1cb3-4db9-ba90-3ae70c0f639e

Phuan, S.P., Pilgrim, J.A. and Lewin, P.L. (2013) Predictive rating models for wind farm export cables. 6th UHVnet Colloquium – High Voltage Technologies and Metrology, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 16 - 17 Jan 2013.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)

Abstract

With plans for future offshore wind farms having larger power ratings and being situated much further offshore, there will be a growing trend towards the usage of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission technology for submarine cables [1]. HVDC submarine cables provide lower investment cost for long-haul transmission, higher operating voltages and have no reactive power consumption, thus they have less losses than AC lines. DC transmission schemes may consist of a single polarity cable (monopole) carrying full circuit power with sea return, but there is a preference for having two cables of positive and negative polarity (bipole) each carrying half circuit power.

The power output generated by these wind farms is not constant, fluctuating with wind speed [2]. They generate a lot of electricity when they are working at their maximum, but most of the time they generate at a much lower rate. The conventional rules for calculating cable ratings use thermal models based on steady state conditions with maximum load. This approach often leads to cables being oversized compared to real requirement. Incorrectly rated subsea cables can lead to poor asset utilisation. Therefore, new modelling techniques are essential to drive down the cost of connecting offshore renewable energy projects to the grid. Using predictive rating modelling to assess cable requirements more accurately, should result in a smaller and (therefore cheaper) cable; thus reducing the cost of connecting wind farms to the electricity grid.

This research project uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to create a 2D predictive model a pair of extruded XLPE HVDC submarine cables, laid side by side in a trench on the seabed. Historical wind farm output data will be used to compare the performance of cables using conventional assumptions with those using the predictive model. Adoption of such approaches by the industry could lead to substantial savings on wind farm export cable systems, improving the viability of offshore wind and delivering long term cost savings to the consumers.

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More information

Published date: 16 January 2013
Venue - Dates: 6th UHVnet Colloquium – High Voltage Technologies and Metrology, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2013-01-16 - 2013-01-17
Organisations: EEE

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 347547
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/347547
PURE UUID: 531993cd-d409-4526-82ff-e5a61201f5cf
ORCID for J.A. Pilgrim: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2444-2116
ORCID for P.L. Lewin: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3299-2556

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Jan 2013 10:10
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:25

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Contributors

Author: S.P. Phuan
Author: J.A. Pilgrim ORCID iD
Author: P.L. Lewin ORCID iD

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