Research Projects Wind Engineering

Some of the research projects that Kjeller has been involved in so far.

Icebox

Icing on power lines can cause major disruptions in electricity supply networks. These disruptions lead to excessive costs for repair as well as consequential losses. There is also a risk to human safety for employees tasked with the repair of power lines in harsh environmental conditions. Icing on power lines is a problem experienced in most high-latitude countries of which Norway has some of the highest recorded ice loads. The project aims to predict, prevent and efficiently remove ice loads from power lines.

In the Icebox project Kjeller Vindteknikk is responsible for four work packages which includes development of:

  1. Sensor technology for ice monitoring as well as meteorological measurements in harsh environments.
  2. A system for real time monitoring of icing on power lines, including probabilistic icing forecasts
  3. State-of-the art numerical models for atmospheric icing
  4. Icing maps including effects of climate change, to be used for planning and design of Norway’s future power grid

The Icebox project is led by Statnett, with support from the Norwegian Research Council under the ENERGIX program.

The project started in 2018 and will end in 2021

 

Modelling of forest damage 

Maximizing the Resilience and Carbon Sequestration in Managed Norway Spruce Forests (MARCSMAN). In this project Kjeller Vindteknikk is performing high-resolution simulations of wind and snow loads for selected managed forest areas in Norway. The simulated weather data will be important input in the development of a model analyzing the risk of forest damage due to strong winds and heavy snow. The project is led by NIBIO (Norsk Institutt for Bioøkonomi).   

The project started in 2020 and will end in 2023

Overhead line design in a changing climate

In cooperation with CEATI in Canada, Kjeller Vindteknikk has developed a report summarizing the latest research on regional climate change and how this is affecting and will affect overhead power lines in different regions.

On the background of this overview, adaptation measures and design approaches are suggested to ensure grid resiliency against projected climate change.

The project was financed by CEATI and was published in 2018.

Development of measurement and analysis systems based on synchronized scanning lidars

In this Skattefunn project, Kjeller Vindteknikk develops measurement and analysis systems based on synchornized scanning lidars to measure wind and turbulence conditions in wide fjords. The project links onto Kjeller Vindteknikk’s measurements work for Statens Vegvesen on several planned fjord crossings on the new E39 road. Wind and turbulence measurements are important input parameters during the design of bridges on these crossings, however, accurate measurements in the middle of the fjords can be challenging. Both acquisition setups and analysis tools are developed in the projects where 4 synchronized scanning lidars are set up in each fjord location. 

Frontlines

Kjeller Vindteknikk received funding from the Norwegian Research Council to develop a tool which estimates icing on transmission lines. The project Frontlines ran from 2015 to 2018 and engaged several renowned international research institutes and the main grid operator in Norway, Statnett.

Icing on transmission lines can in extreme cases cause line rupture if the transmission line is not dimensioned for sufficient ice loads. An improved understanding of the scale and location of icing can prevent future line failures and reduce transmission losses in the form of corona discharge. 

 

WISLINE

In corporation with the Norwegian Metrological Institute, Kjeller Vindteknikk participated in the WISLINE-project with the aim to study wind, ice and snow loads on infrastructure and the environment. The purpose was to quantify the impact from climate change on technical infrastructure and environment caused by severe wind, icing and wet snow.

The project is financed by the Norwegian Research Council and ran from 2015 to 2018. 

 

Wet snow on transmission lines

In cooperation with CEATI in Canada, Kjeller Vindteknikk is developing a worldwide overview over how ice load from wet snow is acknowledged in dimensioning of transmission lines.

On the background of this overview recommended design criteria on wet snow icing on transmission  lines will be developed and highlight potential deficiencies in national regulations.

The project was financed by CEATI and the final report was published in 2016.