Electric Transmission & Distribution Research at ORNL

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Transmission Systems

Overview

As the Northeastern Power Blackout of August 14, 2003, made clear, the electric transmission system in the United States is under ever-increasing stress, threatening both reliability and commerce. While electric industry restructuring has opened wholesale electricity markets to competitive investment in generation, investment in transmission facilities has failed to keep up.

Researcher holding 3M
ACCR conductor sample

Every region in the country is experiencing a decline in transmission capacity relative to the growth in load. Difficulties in obtaining right-of-way, regulatory uncertainty, and the fact that AC electric power transmission is inherently a communal asset, shared by all generators and loads, contribute to the problem.

Fortunately advances in technology can offer considerable help, if they can be developed and commercialized.

Our Research

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing advanced technologies to address national transmission challenges through research sponsored by DOE's Transmission Reliability Program, which is part of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), and other partners. Specific areas of research and development include:

Creation of the Powerline Conductor Accelerator Testing (PCAT) Facility at the National Transmission Technology Research Center (NTTRC) near the ORNL site. Construction of this facility is in response to recommendations from the National Transmission Grid Study that directed DOE to "develop national transmission-technology testing facilities that encourage partnering with industry to demonstrate advanced technologies in controlled environment. Working with TVA, DOE will create an industry cost-shared transmission line testing center at DOE 's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (with at least a 50 percent industry cost share)."

ORNL Reporter article on PCAT
National Transmission Grid Study

Performance testing of the new composite high-performance conductor — aluminum-conductor composite-reinforced (ACCR) — developed by the 3M Company. In a development agreement with DOE, announced in June 2002, 3M is completing the development phase and field testing of its new conductor design. ORNL will perform outdoor thermal testing of the ACCR for 3M.

Development and performance testing of the other new high-performance conductors. Future planned activities include:

Testing indoor conductors in a unique facility with a 56-foot ceiling and 1400-foot length
Testing conductors at full-system voltage and current
Applying and testing power electronic systems for transmission system control
Developing and testing sensors for transmission system monitoring

PCAT facility fact sheets

Other fact sheets and links

Research Partners

Much of the research on power transmission is conducted in collaboration with TVA, 3M Company, and others.

Contacts

For more information on power transmission and distribution, contact John Stovall, or (865) 574-5198.

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the Department of Energy's multiprogram national research and development facilities,
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:27 PM