Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10108452· OSTI ID:10108452

Barnes, P. R.; Rizy, D. T.; McConnell, B. W. ^[1]; Taylor, Jr., E. R. ^[2]; Tesche, F. M.

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. ABB Power Systems, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

A geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) by its nature occurs globally and almost simultaneously. Severe geomagnetic storms cause problems for electric power systems. The vulnerability of electric power systems to such events has apparently increased during the last 10 to 20 years because power system transmission lines have become more interconnected and have increased in length and because power systems are now operated closer to their limits than in the past. In this report, the experience of electric utilities during geomagnetic storms is examined and analyzed. Measured data, effects on power system components, and power system impacts are considered. It has been found that electric power systems are susceptible to geomagnetically induced earth-surface potential gradients as small as few (2 to 3) volts per kilometer, corresponding to a storm of K-6 intensity over an area of high earth resistivity. The causes and effects are reasonably well understood, but additional research is needed to develop a better understanding of solar-induced geomagnetic storms and the responses of power systems to these types of storms. A better understanding of geomagnetic storms and the power systems` responses to GMDs is needed so that mitigation measures can be implemented that will make power systems less susceptible to severe geomagnetic disturbances. A GMD caused by a large high-altitude nuclear detonation is similar in many ways to that of solar-induced geomagnetic storms except that a nuclear-caused disturbance would be much more intense with a far shorter duration. 49 refs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Defense Nuclear Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10108452
• Report Number(s): ORNL--6665; ON: DE92004906
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
240100
240200
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
GEOSCIENCES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOSHEATH
OVERHEAD POWER TRANSMISSION
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
POWER SYSTEM NETWORKS
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
POWER SYSTEMS
SOLAR WIND
VULNERABILITY