Capabilities
Lenox Lab Facility
The Transmission & Distribution laboratory in Lenox, MA provides a unique test facility for a variety of T&D research topics. Explore the laboratory below by clicking the popover (red dots) at a selection for the test sites. Click the popover to keep the popover open.
- Arc Flash
- Burndown of bare and covered conductors
- Flammability of equipment under fault condition
- Damage to crossarms and insulators under fault conditions
- Performance of sensors during faults
- Grounding and stray voltages; step and touch voltages during faults
- Evaluation of vegetation faults
- Fuse cutout and single-phase recloser performance
- Conductor slap
The test fixture applies a three-point bending test to composite crossarms. This test includes the capability to enclose the crossarm and elevate the temperature to investigate load-deflection characteristics in extreme heat.
Outdoor DA test area for long term testing of automation components, to understand the performance overtime.
Lightning and grounding testing up to 800kV to improve distribution automation equipment reliability.
Three phase accuracy test set is used for testing distribution sensors and can be energized at 19.2kV with current from 0A to 600A.
This facility is an MV and LV test area and an outdoor aging yard for distribution assets.
EPRI can configure this multi-purpose test area to perform cantilever pole strength testing.
The energized-downed-conductor area has been used to record signatures of live, downed conductors across multiple scenarios.
Evaluation of vehicle grounding and step/touch voltages around energized vehicles.
Three phase reconfigurable transmission line more than 500 meters long.
Three impulse generators including a 5.6MV tower simulating lightning and switching surges.
Research substation to investigate component, monitoring, and diagnostic performance.
Long-term testing of degradation and inspection methods for LV connectors.
Accelerated aging of composite poles and crossarms.
Replication of user-defined human and animal perceptible shock scenarios.
Hover over these links to locate a test site on the map above:
Arc fault tests Arc flash DA Full-Scale Test Area Composite Structure Aging Composite Crossarm Test Area MLV Yard Stray and Contact Voltage Distribution Automation Loop MV Termination Cable Testing Pole Strength Testing Full-scale Structure Tests Energized Downed Conductor Vehicle Grounding 23‑kV loop Reconfigurable Transmission Line DA Lightning & Grounding 5.6MV Impulse Generator Drone Test Yard 138kV Test Substation Above Ground Test Vaults Underground Explosions Tests Low Voltage Connectors
138 kV Yard
Located in Lenox, MA is EPRI’s 138kV research substation. This substation as a multitude of capabilities with a few examples being: on-line monitoring evaluations, ground grid analysis, bushing testing and robotics evaluations. This research substation has the ability to be energized while subjecting assets to various harsh environmental and loading conditions. In addition, with it being a research substation, EPRI is able to follow well defined test protocols. Click the popover to keep the popover open.
Hover over these links to locate a test site on the map above:
138kv-Transformers Disconnect Switch Bushing Tanks Concrete Universal Test Pad Circuit Breaker Arresters Water Sprinkler System Post Insulators Composite Poles & Cross Arms
