CenterPoint Energy Super Bowl LI Coordination and Hurricane Harvey Operational Efforts David Mercado, P.E Real Time Operations Engineering Manager CenterPoint Energy SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
CenterPoint Energy Overview and Background • T&D business serves 5,000 square mile Greater Houston area Fourth largest city in US • Over 2.4 million meter customers • • Two challenges will be addressed Preparation efforts prior to Super Bowl LI • Hurricane Harvey Operational Efforts • SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Super Bowl XLVII 2013 Power Outage SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Super Bowl LI Coordination • Initial Power System Evaluation Evaluated opportunities to improve the design of key distribution substation • serving NRG stadium Phase 1 - Converted key substation from a single breaker design to a dual • breaker design Phase 2 – Converted substation from a dual breaker design to a four breaker • ring Increased reliability mitigating possibility of complete substation outage due • to breaker failure or transmission line fault SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Super Bowl LI Coordination • Outline Departmental Roles and Responsibilities • Developed a Super Bowl coordination committee • Representatives from various departments across the company Communications, Corporate Security, Customer Service, Electric Operations, • Gas Operations, Human Resources, Logistics, Technology Operations, and Safety • Held regular discussions starting 12 months prior to the Super Bowl event • Coordination was also conducted with external entities Federal Department of Homeland Security • Local law enforcement • City of Houston emergency management • NFL and NRG stadium security • SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Examples of Electric Operations Coordination Efforts • Distribution Operations • Identified and inspected 36 overhead circuits associated with Super Bowl LI venues • Released and completed 25 work orders related to improvements • Identified and inspected 34 circuits associated with Super Bowl LI venues for vegetation management issues • Transmission Operations • Inspected 138 kV transmission circuits that serve substation feeding NRG stadium • Inspections resulted in the installation of avian protection on seven transmission structures and one insulator string replacement SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Examples of Electric Operations Coordination Efforts • Major Underground • Met with NRG stadium site electricians and contractors to develop testing procedures for NRG stadium equipment and response to faults • Performed VLF (Very Low Frequency) testing on the conductors feeding NRG stadium • Replacement of one pad mount transformer at NRG stadium due to leaking bushings • Installed 30 locking manhole covers in key major underground locations for increased safety and security SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Examples of Electric Operations Coordination Efforts • Substation Operations • Performed infrared testing at substation feeding NRG stadium • Performed dissolved gas analysis on both transformers at substation • Installed new ballistic fencing around distribution substation feeding NRG stadium SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Hurricane Harvey – A Record-breaking Storm • 52 inches of rainfall in southeast Texas • Harvey made landfall multiple times • Category 4 near Port Aransas, Texas • Tropical storm in Cameron, Louisiana • More than 42,000 lightning strikes • Record number of tornado warnings in southeast Texas • 17 substation out of service or inaccessible due to high water • 7 transmission lines locked out • 293 distribution circuits locked out SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Operational Action due to Substation Flooding • Developed switching plans to bypass substations threatened by flood water • Developed plans in advance for substations prone to flooding • Developed plans in real time for substations as risk during Harvey Coordination with System Protection engineers • Coordination with Substation personnel • Temporary Bypass Substation Configuration Imminent Flooded Substation Configuration SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Mobile Substation Use • Key distribution substation serving densely populated community flooded • Mobile Substation installed and power restored to customers with 2 weeks of flooding • Various technologies were utilized including drones, amphibious vehicles, and airboats SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Flooding Impacts on Transmission Towers • Various transmission tower foundations along the banks of river crossings washed out • Transmission lines locked out due to contact with rising water • Temporary poles were set and power restored SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Hurricane Harvey Video SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Key Takeaways from Super Bowl and Hurricane Efforts The 5 P’s – Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance • Planning and preparing for Super Bowl readiness resulted in a successful • hosting of the event Advanced preparation and storm hardening minimized impacts from • Hurricane Harvey Learn from past experiences • Previous power outages during events like the Super Bowl brought • awareness of the need to prepare and assess system readiness Past storms and flood events helped indicate where vulnerable • substations prone to flooding exists SEPTEMBER 5 - 7, 2018
Recommend
More recommend
