Storm Hardening the Distribution Grid with the 5k Dynamometer

2022 was a big year for hurricanes in Florida and a real test for the electric grid. In late September, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida’s west coast, resulting in widespread damage and the deadliest hurricane in Florida since 1935. The category 5 hurricane was followed two months later by Hurricane Nicole, a category 1, which moved from east to west across the same region as Ian. 

The human cost of such destruction should first be acknowledged, for it was devastating for many families. As for the grid, both storms caused widespread power outages, and Florida Power & Light (FPL) – the electric utility responsible for much of central Florida – reported collecting $1.3 billion from their customers to recover costs from Ian and Nicole. Despite this staggering cost, FPL’s grid faired relatively well, thanks in large part to the utility’s multibillion-dollar upgrades in recent years. 

Extreme weather is not going anywhere – it is only getting worse – and electric utilities across the country are working to make the grid safer and more resilient. So what steps are they taking and how does Vulcan Line Tools factor into the solution? 

Distribution Engineering

Creating and sustaining a safe and resilient grid starts with good engineering. A primary concern for the electric grid during extreme weather events is the risk that high winds will knock down the power poles. Ian is a prime example, with winds reaching 150 mph at its peak. Yet, Florida’s recently strengthened grid faired particularly well, losing no transmission poles and seeing a significant decrease in distribution pole losses compared to storms prior. This was no accident; engineers designed the poles, measured their span lengths and calculated the required sag and tension of their conductors to withstand worst case scenarios like Ian’s high winds. 

Distribution poles are essentially a large statics problem; wires and equipment add individual forces to the pole they are attached to, and if too much force is applied, the pole will fail. To avoid such failures, engineers use strength ratings to measure how much stress a pole or piece of equipment can withstand before it fails.

To design new poles or storm-hardening existing ones, factors like strength ratings, changes in temperature, and extreme loading from ice and wind are crucial considerations. When properly accounted for, engineers can determine the appropriate sag and tension of each pole’s conductors so that no failures occur in worst case scenarios. 

Distribution Construction

Despite the precision of detailed engineering, the strength and resilience of a distribution system relies entirely on how well it is constructed. If FPL’s distribution poles were engineered with perfection but their construction crews paid little mind to the details, the 2022 hurricanes would have been much more destructive. To avoid such shortcomings, construction crews need a precise way to measure the sag and tension in a conductor so that they do not exert excessive force on the pole. 

VLT’s Solution: the 5k Dyno

Historically, construction crews have lacked specialized tools to precisely monitor conductor sag and tension as they install distribution poles. Our 5k Dynamometer solves this issue, allowing construction crews to efficiently calculate conductor tension with minimal burden on workflow. 

Here is how it works: we input the utility’s sag charts into our app to account for loading district and conductor type. Next, construction crews place the dyno in line with the hoist, where it outputs the conductor’s tension on both the tool’s screen and the VLT app. When the desired tension is met, users can record measurements in a PDF if they desire. 

At Vulcan Line Tools, we strive to bridge the gap between engineering and construction, and the 5k Dynamometer does just that. The tool’s exceptional technology grants engineers the peace of mind that their plans will be applied with precision. What’s more, it is small and durable, allowing linemen to take measurements without hoisting a huge piece of equipment into the bucket or worrying that it will break. By simply using a Dyno during construction, utilities ensure that their infrastructure investments are protected. The Dyno offers a simple and effective way to ensure the distribution grid is storm-hardened, safe, and resilient. 

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