P37.117: Using Voltage and Current Measurements for Monitoring Asset Conditions
Objective
The project objective is to effectively use existing data streams of voltage and current to evaluate substation equipment health. The focus of this project is on voltage and current signals that are already being measured for other functions (i.e. protection, control, metering) and readily available in many substations, without the need for additional sensors specific to asset health monitoring. Research interests include improved understanding of online voltage and current waveforms as indicators of asset health, evaluation of the effectiveness of commercial solutions, and development of novel techniques.
Research Value
The project can provide the following benefits:
- Improved risk assessment of substation assets using minimal quantities and types of data
- Reduced operation and maintenance (O&M) cost for monitoring major substation equipment health
- Increased reliability of power supply through early warning of asset failures
- Enhanced safety by reducing unexpected catastrophic equipment failure
Planned 2025 Research
This project seeks to enhance knowledge of HVDC and FACTS technologies in the following ways:
Evaluate capacitively coupled voltage transformer (CCVT) signals across CCVT degradation: This project intends to catalog CCVT failure signatures to link incipient CCVT failure to various voltage waveforms. Research may be performed on a combination of CCVT computer models and some quantity of physical CCVT assets, depending on the level of member engagement. The project intends to stress CCVTs to push them toward failure through thermal cycling, with additional waveform data collected and compared to baseline. The forensic examination of failed CCVTs may identify which CCVT component failure was the primary cause of degradation, possibly offering a link between waveforms and specific component degradation. The intention of this task is to improve our understanding of the complexities of CCVT failure, gather data for future development of CCVT failure detection algorithms, and enhance EPRI’s skill set of CCVT forensic analyses for member applications.
Evaluate link between voltage/current data and state-of-the-art transformer failure indication techniques: This research constitutes a review of literature to examine what transformer failure detection techniques or algorithms have been proposed but not yet developed into commercial technologies. The intent of this task is to identify which methods may be most promising to transition from a theoretical space to more applied evaluation in a substation test bench or controlled high-voltage field deployment by EPRI and its members near term.
Anticipated Deliverables
| Deliverable | Date |
|---|---|
| Evaluation of CCVT Secondary Voltage Recordings During CCVT Failure (Technical Report) | December 31, 2025 |
| Methods to Evaluate Large Power Transformer Health Using Online Voltage and Current Measurements (Technical Report) | December 31, 2025 |
Past EPRI Research on Topic
| Product ID | Title | Description | Published Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002027137 | Testing and Lessons Learned on Using Voltages and Currents: Key Transformer Parameters | This technical update provides updated results of laboratory tests from the EPRI 138-kV research substation and Charlotte-based lab test plans to evaluate ABB Hitachi’s transformer analyzer. | December 2023 |
| 3002027138 | Using Voltages and Currents: Applicable Assets | This report is a review of literature to determine which substation assets are likely candidates for health monitoring using voltage and current signals. | December 2023 |
| 3002024635 | Using Existing Voltages and Currents in Substations for Transformer Diagnostics: 2022 Update | This deliverable provides the results of laboratory tests from the EPRI 138-kV research substation to evaluate ABB Hitachi’s transformer analyzer. | December 2022 |
| 3002021406 | Using Existing Voltages and Currents in Substations for Transformer Diagnostics | This technical report describes the installation of the voltage and current system in Lenox to monitor the key transformer parameters from Hitachi Energy. | December 2021 |