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Title: Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances

Abstract

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 tomore » 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.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2];
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
  2. ABB Power Systems, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; DNA; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Defense Nuclear Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
5985934
Report Number(s):
ORNL-6665
ON: DE92004906
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; 58 GEOSCIENCES; MAGNETIC STORMS; POWER SYSTEMS; VULNERABILITY; ELECTRIC UTILITIES; HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES; MAGNETOSHEATH; OVERHEAD POWER TRANSMISSION; POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS; SOLAR WIND; POWER TRANSMISSION; PUBLIC UTILITIES; SOLAR ACTIVITY; 240100* - Power Systems- (1990-); 240200 - Power System Networks, Transmission & Distribution- (1990-); 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Barnes, P. R., Rizy, D. T., McConnell, B. W., Taylor, Jr., E. R., and Tesche, F. M.. Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.2172/5985934.
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Barnes, P. R., Rizy, D. T., McConnell, B. W., Taylor, Jr., E. R., & Tesche, F. M.. Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5985934
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Barnes, P. R., Rizy, D. T., McConnell, B. W., Taylor, Jr., E. R., and Tesche, F. M.. 1991. "Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5985934. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5985934.
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@article{osti_5985934,
title = {Electric utility industry experience with geomagnetic disturbances},
author = {Barnes, P. R. and Rizy, D. T. and McConnell, B. W. and Taylor, Jr., E. R. and Tesche, F. M.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.2172/5985934},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5985934}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1991},
month = {9}
}
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Technical Report:
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https://doi.org/10.2172/5985934
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