Geomagnetic Disturbance Risk Mitigation by Doble Engineering (Akron)

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/11/2017
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Location
First Energy Corp

Categories No Categories

Engineering

SYNOPSIS: Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMD) originate from solar flares at the
surface of the sun traveling to earth and interacting with charged particles in the earth’s
atmosphere. Large power transformers connected to the EHV transmission system may
experience both winding and structural hot spot heating as a result of severe GMDs
inducing currents in power lines. This could overload the electric grid system triggering
voltage collapse or worse, damage to large power transformers. The primary impact on
power transformers is a result of the quasi-dc current Geomagnetic Induced Current
(GIC) that flows through wye-grounded transformer windings.
Per NERC standard TPL-007- 1, effective January 1, 2017, utilities must conduct both
initial and ongoing assessments of the potential impact of a “1-in- 100-year” benchmark
GMD event on their equipment and the bulk power system as a whole including:
• GIC Disturbance Vulnerability Assessment for system’s ability to withstand benchmark
GMD event without causing wide area blackout, voltage collapse, or transformer
damage. Applicability: regional transmission authority planning coordinators, with
information from generation and transmission companies
• Transformer Thermal Impact Assessment to ensure that all high-side, wye-grounded
transformers, rated at >200kV, can withstand thermal transient effects associated with
benchmark GMD event.
Applicability: generation and transmission companies, with GIC information from
regional transmission authorities
PRESENTATION: The presentation starts with a brief review of the phenomenon
of geomagnetic disturbance. The presentation will then be focused on the general

requirements of NERC Standard TPL-007- 1 regarding GMD risk mitigation with the
particular emphasis on the following:
1. Impact of GMDs on Transformers
2. Thermal Impact Assessment Requirements
3. Thermal Impact Assessments on Service-Aged Transformers
4. Q&A
The Speaker: Mr. Domenico Corsi manages the transformer consulting group at
Doble Engineering where he oversees the investigation and consulting on large power
and distribution transformers worldwide. Since 2004 in that capacity, Dom has had the
opportunity to inspect transformer factories around the world and to witness the
manufacturing of both core and shell form transformers under varied manufacturing
processes at different companies.
From 1993 to 2004, prior to joining Doble Engineering, Mr. Dom Corsi worked at Ohio
Transformer at progressively advancing positions from Design Engineer to Director of
Engineering. Between 1989 and 1992, Dom worked at ABB Power T&D Co. Inc. as a
Design and Development engineer of medium power transformers rated from 10 to 100
MVA.
Dom holds an M.S. Degree in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (RPI) of Troy, NY and a B.S. degree in EE from Gannon University, Erie, PA.

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