Upgrading the Nuts and Bolts of the Electrical Grid for A New Generation
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- Europe
- America
Country
- Sweden
- United States
Product
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- BEST's shielded iron core inductive fault current limiter (iSFCL)
Tech Stack
- Simulation and Modeling Tools
- Field Grading Materials (FGM)
- High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS)
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Innovation Output
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries
- Utilities
- Electrical Grids
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Energy Management System
- Smart City Operations
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is a collaboration between ABB AB Corporate Research Power Technologies in Sweden and the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University (FSU-CAPS) in the United States. ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies, providing solutions for a wide range of industries, including utilities and electrical grids. FSU-CAPS is a research center focused on advanced power systems, working on innovative solutions to improve the reliability and efficiency of electrical grids. The collaboration aims to address the engineering challenges of modernizing the electrical grid, particularly in the areas of high-voltage cable components and fault current limiters.
The Challenge
The modernization of the electrical grid to a 'smart grid' involves not only IT and embedded systems but also the critical 'nuts and bolts' components like transformers, cable joints, terminations, bushings, and fault current limiters (FCLs). These components are essential for the grid's reliability and efficiency. The challenge lies in engineering these parts to handle increased voltages and power ratings while minimizing size and cost. Additionally, the adoption of superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) faces technological and business hurdles, including the high cost of cooling and the complexity of integrating these devices into the grid.
The Solution
To address the engineering challenges, ABB and FSU-CAPS have employed advanced simulation and modeling tools, particularly COMSOL Multiphysics, to optimize the design of high-voltage cable joints, terminations, and bushings. These tools allow for a detailed analysis of the electromagnetic, thermal, and fluid phenomena involved, enabling engineers to minimize the size and cost of these components while ensuring their reliability. Additionally, the collaboration is focused on developing superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) using high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The use of computer modeling and simulation has been critical in overcoming the design challenges associated with SFCLs, such as cooling costs and the integration of these devices into the grid. The team has made significant progress in optimizing the geometries and dimensions of SFCLs, making them more viable for commercial use.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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