Smart Low Voltage Fuse Carriers
This challenge from UK Power Networks (UKPN) seeks innovators who can provide an alternative fuse carrier to that used in current practice. UKPN would like a low-voltage fuse carrier that allows voltages and currents to be measured and transferred wirelessly to the remote terminal unit, which eliminates the trip hazard presented by trailing leads and offers a more dynamic solution than currently adopted.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
14/08/2023
Challenge closes
22/09/2023
Benefit
UK Power Networks (UKPN) is looking to use open innovation to find a smart wireless low-voltage fuse carrier which eliminates the trip hazard presented by trailing leads. Selected solution(s) will be trialled in pilot studies by UKPN, with the possibility of further adoption upon successful trials. UKPN expect to monitor up to 6000 substations, therefore a solution which is successful in trials has the potential for deployment on a significant scale.
Background
UK Power Networks (UKPN) is the UK’s biggest electricity distributor, delivering power to 19 million people in 8.3 million homes and businesses, making sure power flows reliably, safely, and securely. UKPN own and maintain electricity cables and lines across London, the South East and East of England, an area of 29,250 square kilometres.
UKPN’s priorities are to tackle the climate crisis by connecting renewable energy, electric car chargers and low carbon heating, meet their customers’ evolving needs by improving their services, support their customers in vulnerable circumstances and go above and beyond for the communities they serve. This challenge focuses on improving health and safety in UKPN’s operations, which is also a high priority and in turn allows UKPN’s workers to operate in safe environments and continue to improve their services.
UKPN have a number of substations which have monitoring of the low voltage (LV) network to allow for better understanding of power demands and faster, more targeted response in the case of a fault, all of which improves system efficiency and reliability. A typical LV distribution board consists of a transformer way feeding the LV busbars and upto six feeder ways. The cable is energised using fuse carriers across the busbar and feeder stalks.
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