Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Canadian Society is highly dependent on the stability of the electrical power grid. Transformers are a critical component of the power system and the research in this Strategic Project grant aims to increase their efficiency, stability and lifetime. This can greatly increase overall power grid stability by maintaining consistent transformer operation, with the goals of avoiding catastrophic power failures and minimizing costs to the utility company. Powertech Labs (a BC Hydro subsidiary) has been a leader in researching techniques for transformer diagnostics, condition assessment and life extension. In particular, the degradation of the insulating paper at the windings of the electrical transformers is a key determinant of the technical end of life of a power transformer. This degradation generates specific marker compounds that can be used to diagnose the transformer's status. Ideally, these markers should be detected online, in the transformer during operation. However, this is currently not possible because there are no appropriate sensor materials that can detect the marker compounds. Thus, the target of this Strategic Project grant is to fill this critical need by developing a series of luminescent sensory materials that will respond to the presence of insulation degradation marker compounds in electrical transformers, based on vapoluminescent cyanoaurate coordination polymer materials recently discovered in the Leznoff group (which e.g. are sensitive to 1 ppb of ammonia) and patented by SFU. The synthesis of new [Au(CN)2]-based polymer materials, their analytical testing in air and immersed in transformer oil for sensitivity, response speed, marker compound concentration changes, and processing method will all be completed. The overall goal is to develop an in-line electrical transformer performance and maintenance monitoring system incorporating these new materials, which will represent a new, innovative manufacturing product for Powertech Labs, and the resulting improved electrical power grid will benefit all Canadians.