R&D

Fields of our research Next Generation Power Grid and Substation R&D

Development of the voltage stabilization control system using the synchro-phasor data

Wide Area Monitoring And Control System, or WAMACS, which is based on PMU, or the Phasor Measurement Unit, is gaining attention to respond to an unexpected failure in an effective manner and prevent a wide-area power failure, as the reference to the need of such a system has increased since the great North America blackout in 2003. For this, the Power Transmission and Substation Laboratory of KEPCO Research Institute installed 40 PMUs in 23 key substations in the Greater Seoul Area, in order to prevent the real-time power supply information to the system operator by establishing a Korean version of WAMAC, while optimizing the load shedding system in case of a large-scale accident. Currently, the HQ of KEPCO and the Power Supply Operation Center Korea Power Exchange are using this system. Also, it is planned that the departments which are using this system will install 200 more units of PMUs to upgrade the system into an adaptive wide-area system monitoring and protective control system based on real-time information.

[ HCI Display of Smart WAMAC System ]

Smart WAMAC System Demonstration
KEPCO Power System Operation Center Demonstration
Test-bed Environment Construction(KEPRI)

Pilot Application of Lightning Arrester for Ultra High Voltage Power Lines

The Power Transmission and Substation Laboratory has developed a lightning arrester that can reduce failures due to lightning dramatically. They installed 61 units of these arresters in 345kV Shinyangsan-Gori NP T/L, 62 in Shingimpo-Shinpaju and Shinseosan-Asan T/L, and 90 units in two Hanbit N/P T/L, totaling to 213 units, for a pilot operation program. The lightning arresters for power lines have proven their effects, so that 44% of 154kV lines are equipped with them already. And, many have been pointing to the need to apply these to the 345kV system to prevent failures due to lightning, as well. The initial pilot application of 345kV power line lightning arrester was successfully completed in the 345kV Shinyangsan-Gori NP in August 2013, followed by the second application test in two lines (Shingimpo-Shinpaju T/L, Shinseonsan-Asan T/L). Based on these test programs, the technical standard for the lightning arresters to be used on 345kV lines was completed. Accompanied by the successful development of the mounting brackets that we had to rely on imports before, which reduced the application cost significantly, it was now possible to reduce the failures in the ultra high voltage lines due to lightning dramatically. And, the Department of Power Grid and Substations Operation has been proceeding with a mid/long-term application plan to realize zero lightning failures in power lines.

[ Internal Type Lightning Arrester ]

Internal Type Lightning Arrester
Suspended Lightning Arrester

Overall Management of the Development of HVDC Technology and Construction of the Demonstrative 80kV HVDC line in Jeju

Due to the increased supply of renewable energies, which are more prone to fluctuation and the need to connect the systems with other countries to enhance the country’s energy security, HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) systems are gaining more attention, as they are advantageous in connecting with other systems with different frequencies or voltages, with less losses in long-distance power transmission considering the necessary investment in the power transmission line. As such, the Power Transmission and Substation Laboratory of KEPCO Research Institute started developing the HVDC technology for South Korea and began an R&D project to develop the 80kV HVDC prototype and construct a demonstration line in 2010.
With this research project, the Power Transmission and Substation successfully installed a demonstrative 80kV HVDC power line in Jeju over four years from 2010 to 2013, in order to demonstrate the HVDC conversion and power transmission installations. In addition, the lab also conducted demonstrative tests for the designing, manufacturing, construction, and system connection, playing a leading role in developing the conversion technology of our own and the power transmission equipment to be used for HVDC. The demonstration equipment which has been built based on the success of this project will be used for the demonstration of the development outcomes of the superconducting DC cable and conversion equipment of our own.

[ HVDC conversion equipment tour ]

Opening Ceremony of HVDC Facilities

Establishment of the Basis to Provide Earthquake Information to Respond to the Damages in the Power Infrastructure during an Earthquake

If the power system is damaged by an earthquake, which is an expectable natural uncertainty, it is necessary to respond to such a damage in the earlier stage in an appropriate manner. For this purpose, it is essential for the related departments and personnel share the exact and accurate information on the damages. Normally, an earthquake damage in power facilities happen when the vibration of the earthquake at the site of the equipment exceeds the seismic design criteria. For this, the Power Transmission and Substation Laboratory of KEPCO Research Institute utilized the existing real-time earthquake monitoring network data to implement an in-house webserver (http://edes.kepri.re.kr) to provide information on the damages inflected on our 737 substations that are 154kV or higher. the whole project took two years to complete. This newly developed earthquake damage information system uses the data from the measurement data obtained from 15 345/765kV substations operated by KEPCO Research Institute and the 119 Seismic Monitoring Stations ran by the government at the same time to estimate the seismic vibration and the level of damages in the sites where the institute has not installed its seismographs. With this, the institute provides a web service where the initial stage earthquake response information can be shared with various related departments and personnel to allow rapid restoration of the damages.

[ Web Service Screen of earthquake damage information system ]

Distribution chart of the magnitude 5.1 earthquake in the coast of Taean