Electrothermal Coordination in Cable Based Transmission Grids

Electrothermal coordination (ETC) is introduced for cable based transmission grids. ETC is the term covering operation and planning of transmission systems based on temperature, instead of current. ETC consists of one part covering the load conditions of the system and one covering the thermal behavior of the components. The dynamic temperature calculations of power cables are suggested to be based on thermoelectric equivalents (TEEs). It is shown that the thermal behavior can be built into widely used load flow software, creating a strong ETC tool. ETC is, through two case scenarios, proven to be beneficial for both operator and system planner. It is shown how the thermal behavior can be monitored in real-time during normal dynamic load and during emergencies. In that way, ETC enables cables to be loaded above their normal rating, while maintaining high reliability of the system, which potentially can result in large economic benefits.