The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology received €830,000 for research and diagnostics of partial discharge phenomena in power grids, with the University of Rostock receiving an additional €230,000 as a cooperation partner.
MOMOS (Multiphysics Online/Offline Monitoring System) is the title of the project under which scientists at the German Aerospace Centre ( ) will be conducting research into sustainable power grids over the next three years. In Greifswald, partial discharge phenomena that occur in generators, transformers and connecting cables, for example, were investigated and analysed.
Partial discharges, also known as pre-discharges, can cause significant problems at the component level of the power grid system. If the intensity of such discharges exceeds a certain level, this leads to pre-damage and, in extreme cases, to component failure. This can result in the failure of parts of the power grid and thus jeopardise the security of supply to consumers. The aim of MOMOS is to design a monitoring system for assessing the condition of power grid components throughout their entire service life. The system should be usable on both components that are in operation and those that have been shut down, and should ensure that components can be replaced based on their condition, among other things. In addition to increasing supply security, the MOMOS project also aims to achieve sustainable and resource-efficient use of power grid components. This is not yet the case with the current state of research and development. Most of the current power grid components are oversized and are often replaced prematurely.
The project was led at INP Greifswald by Dr Sergey Gorchakov. "MOMOS allows us to contribute not only our extensive knowledge of plasma technology, but also our experience in modelling physical processes," says Gorchakov. The physicist saw a particular challenge in the task of finding a connection between various stress factors such as mechanical loads, chemical processes, thermal stress and ageing processes.
"For the INP, the project provides an opportunity to further establish itself in the related field of diagnostics and simulation of transient gas discharges and to secure and expand its already leading international role in the scientific community," Gorchakov continues.
The "Future-Proof Power Grids" funding initiative is part of the German government's 6th Energy Research Programme. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) are using it to fund projects that offer solutions for use in smart distribution grids, transmission grids, grid planning and grid operation management. The funding initiative is thus helping to improve the environmental compatibility, economic efficiency and resource efficiency of electricity grids and the security of electricity supply in Germany. At the beginning of August, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research gave the go-ahead for the research initiative "Future-Proof Power Grids". A total of 83 projects with a total funding volume of around 157 million euros have been selected for funding by the two ministries.
