UNDERGROUND

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As the capabilities of real-time monitoring technologies for network assets continues to ... each offers differing – a
TOP 5 ROI

OUTCOMES UNDERGROUND

Cable Monitoring

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Unearthing greater efficiency As the capabilities of real-time monitoring technologies for network assets continues to advance, transmission and distribution operators are increasingly looking to these systems to facilitate a smart grid approach to optimise grid efficiency.

Optimised assets = more efficient energy Many network components can now be remotely monitored continuously, enabling visualisation of assets, immediate alert to issues, data-informed diagnosis and decision making, followed by a rapid resolution of identified issues. In distribution networks, smart network capabilities extend to selfdiagnostics and self-healing. When deployed correctly, such technologies can provide a quantifiable return on investment, through protection of assets against damage or destruction, improved asset utilisation, load management efficiencies, and improved overall network performance.

What about monitoring for underground cables? Underground power cables are a growing priority for many network operators.

Not only is the install base increasing, but cables are high value and often network critical assets, and not as readily accessible as other grid components.

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Though cables have accounted for a high percentage of faults in underground distribution systems, monitoring solutions have lagged. This was due to higher technology costs, lower sensitivity and lack of a communication network to support the monitoring technology. Today there are several viable cable monitoring systems available for new and existing cable installations, across transmission and distribution, for land and subsea cables and superconductors. Like all critical grid assets, there are two overarching benefits to online cable monitoring: (1) facilitating the condition monitoring task, and (2) supporting network operation and planning with increased insights.

Monitoring underground Of the various technologies available for online underground cable monitoring, each offers differing – and sometimes complementary – asset condition insights aimed at optimising transmission and distribution cable management and reducing operational costs.

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Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) DTS is the most widely utilised online monitoring technology for cables. It provides continuous monitoring of underground power cable temperatures along the entire power circuit, detecting hotspots, and delivering operational status.

Real Time Thermal Rating (RTTR) or Dynamic Cable Rating (DCR) As an extension of DTS, RTTR monitoring balances the need for asset protection and network performance optimisation, providing condition assessment and power circuit rating information, allowing ampacity prognosis and intelligent data processing. To achieve this, RTTR takes inputs from DTS, as well as historic cable load data, and combines these with other calculated values.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) Also using fibre optics, DAS provides precise fault detection and location for rapid fault rectification, as well as protection from third party interference (TPI) both on land and subsea.

A Combined Approach Several of these technologies can be used in tandem to provide complete coverage of cable assets, addressing condition monitoring and demand management needs – in short, faults can be reduced and operating ampacity of the underground system can be increased. insulect.com/cable-monitoring

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Return on investment implications: Top 5 The importance and value of such monitoring technologies will be unique to each organisation. To help with the ROI evaluation process, we’ve summarised the top five advantages of cable monitoring and their ROI implications. We also introduce a set of tools you can use in calculating ROI and building a strong business case.

We’ve used the AP Sensing power cable monitoring systems as reference in this document (not all systems will be the same).

#1 Real-Time Cable Health Continuous visualisation As with any online condition monitoring system, operators can at any time determine the status of their assets via an overview screen. This asset visualisation is done via graphical user interface, mapping the circuit layouts, with sections colour coded according to thermal status.

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Data points are continuously fed into the computation engine from each optical fibre, with measurements captured every few minutes over thousands of meters of cable. These provide an accurate temperature profile and assessment of the actual ampacity, based on proven industry standards and finite element modelling.

Preventative protection Continuous access to cable condition data allows operators to identify hot spots before they turn into cable faults and power outages. They enable more informed operational decisions on cable loads and ampacity levels.

Alarm management engines signal when limits are exceeded and assets put at risk. Sections of a cable can be flexibly defined as separate zones, with unique alarm types and levels able to be assigned to each zone. Like most systems, there are various reporting and analysis capabilities. Detailed data such as temperature graphs and hotspot tables are always available and readily accessed to support analysis and decision making. Data can be readily integrated into control and management systems.

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#2 Load Management Insights Efficient asset utilisation Possibly the greatest benefit to networks is the ability to more confidently and effectively carry out load management – dynamically loading to balance supply and asset life according to network conditions. Real-time measured and calculated data provide improved network planning insights, such as steady state and transient thermal analyses. Current loads can be compared with estimates made during the planning stage to determine by how much steady-state loads can be safely increased. Systems similarly compute all data needed to plan for peak loads and emergencies. This means networks can be operated at the highest possible safe ampacity level.

Case Study: Maximising asset utilisation, operational cost savings and network insights at an Australian utility insulect.com/cable-monitoring

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Informed decision making Ampacity calculations allow cables to be utilised more flexibly. Where safe margins for operating ampacity are maintained as standard, such as in distribution systems, real-time cable condition data can be used to dynamically manage the ampacity levels, resulting in significant increases in operating ampacity. Ampacity calculations allow operators to intentionally overload a cable, to meet short-term or long-term operational challenges. In these cases, lost asset life can be clearly quantified as a more cost-effective solution over other operation alternatives, such as the need to build a second circuit.

Emergency ratings allows a network to operate the circuit safely even under critical circumstances. Emergency ratings based on real data are trustful side rails in such situations.

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#3 Fault Location & TPI Protection Detection of cable faults is made possible through Distributed Acoustic Sensing, a complementary technology to DTS and RTTR systems. It utilises the same sensing optical fibre for measurements which are used to determine:

• Cable fault detection and high precision location • Third party interference (TPI) detection

Rapid fault rectification Conventional cable fault location procedures – using Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR) – provide limited accuracy (cable length dependant) and take hours to carry out, including time required to deploy teams to the suspected fault area. Utilising real-time data from online systems solves the accuracy and time problems that TDR has. Cable fault information is available immediately. The fault location can be pin-pointed to an accuracy of 10 metres or less. With this data, operators can make rapid, informed decisions on faults, mobilising repair teams and directing them with confidence to the fault site. In short, faults can be rectified with speed and minimal downtime. This difference in time to reinstate power will in many cases result a significant financial saving to the business.

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Third party interference Underground cables are susceptible to interference or damage by third parties, due to excavation and other ground works carried in the vicinity. This is applicable to land cables (digging, drilling) as well as sea cables (anchor drops and drags). Distributed Acoustic Sensing can identify cable integrity threats like construction work and cable theft. DAS Systems can alert operators to a potential integrity issue prior to damage occurring, allowing them to enact protection procedures and prevent or at least minimise cable damage.

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#4 Asset Management A lot can happen during the 40+ year expected service life of an underground cable. Where adequate condition information is not available, many events can go unnoticed and contribute to shortening cable life. The difference between periodic testing and continuous monitoring can be early catastrophic asset failures in the order of millions of dollars. With additional insights from a continuous monitoring system, the asset management task is made more pro-active and cost effective.

Identify the impact of changes on the ground around the cable over its lifetime.

Better outage management for planned maintenance and preventative works.

Immediately identify effects on the cable caused by construction and demolition (roads, pipes, buildings).

Control the heat transmitted into the surroundings in environmentally critical areas (parks / protected areas).

Make calculated decisions to safely overload when required.

Operate cables within temperature limits to maximise cable life.

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#5 Network Planning The advantages of online cable monitoring extend beyond failure prevention and existing asset optimisation. Insights gained from this information can be useful to future network planning decisions too.

A more detailed picture A better understanding of the real condition of existing assets is possible, including how they have aged, what impact the load profile and environmental factors have had, how much expected life is remaining, and what new assets are required and when.

• Historical view of cable usage, demands, trends, change. • Compare data on cable condition with network load profiles and other relevant data sources. • Inform decisions regarding when to replace, overload, operate beyond design rating, add or forego secondary circuits, etc. • Delay asset replacement and continue operating existing assets within safe limits and under close watch using monitoring data. • Influence future cable design, including the potential to save by confidently downsizing the specification to a “right-fit”, rather than building excess safety margins in. • Budget for and schedule resources more effectively.

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Cable Monitoring ROI As we’ve seen, there are many advantages to online cable monitoring. But how these benefits are quantified will differ by company. Every company does business cases and return on investment in their own way. Sometimes it can be viewed as a painful or time consuming process – but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of great resources online to supplement your organisation’s process where needed. We’ve included some ROI tools here too, in the hope they can provide some additional support.

What does ROI really mean? The true meaning of ROI can sometimes get lost in everyday use. An ROI Analysis helps you decide whether to proceed with a given investment (e.g. project), based on the rate of return on the money invested into the project, over a given period. Essentially this means the investment return (increased revenues, decreased overheads, reduced service disruption costs, etc) outweighs the costs (new equipment, people, systems, inventory, etc) in terms of cash flow. It can also be used as a comparative indicator, to assess different project investments side by side, when multiple projects are vying for the same investment capital.

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Monitoring new cables versus existing assets In certain situations, existing underground cables can be retrofit with online monitoring. This involves installing a fibre optic line/s along the length of the cable, hence why it is not always possible. This adds further cost over having fibre optic embedded into the cable at manufacture, however can often be a viable solution with a positive ROI.

Quantifying return on investment From the previous five sections of this document, below is a summarised list of the potential areas of saving to consider in your calculations.

REDUCE FAULT FREQUENCY

LOWER FAULT RECOVERY COSTS

+ ELIMINATE TIME-BASED CABLE TESTS

EXTEND EXPECTED ASSET SERVICE LIFE

DYNAMIC LOADING GAINS

OPTIMISED CABLE DESIGN (REDUCED SAFETY MARGIN)

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So how do you do this? To help with your evaluation – whether for a cable monitoring project or anything else you’re investigating – here are a few tools you can make use of and adapt to suit your needs.

ROI WORKSHEETS

BUSINESS CASE REPORT

Costs and benefits modelling Breakeven analysis Payback calculations Net Present Value (NPV) • Internal Rate of Return (IRR) • • • •

• Concise template readily adaptable to your needs • Covers business need and fit • Project schedule and resources • Impact and risk summary

• Adapted version of the above Word template • Same core components

BUSINESS CASE PRESENTATION

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• Easily transferred to your company PPT style

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Where to next… MORE INFORMATION Hopefully you’ve gained some valuable insights into the potential advantages for your organisation and how to quantify them – whether it’s improving efficiency, reducing risk, or better decision making. For more information on the AP Sensing products and customer case studies, follow the links below.

AP Sensing

AP Sensing

CABLE SYSTEMS

CASE STUDIES

GET SUPPORT s Cable monitoring is a complex application. Insulect’s engineering team provide support during the evaluation and specification process, right through to install and commissioning. We can work with you every step of the way.

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Contact Insulect today for a no obligation ROI analysis for a specific project or network planning need. Australia, New Zealand, Pacific.

1300 446 565 OR +61 3716 6700 [email protected] insulect.com/cable-monitoring