2008 Student Contest Winners
Undergraduate Level Contest Winners
First-place went to the team led by Nai Feng of The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Team Members included Joseph Cargal, Pedro Diaz, and Cody Smith.
Second-place went to the team led by Frederick Caleb Sieck of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Team Members included Christopher G. Hoyt.
Mixed Level Contest Winners
First-place went to the team led by Ms. Quiaohui Hu of The University of Texas - Arlington, Arlington, Texas. Team Members included Shun Liang, Weiping Xiao, David T. Chessmore, Huang Feiran, and Cheng Yunzki.
Second-place went to Travis S. Shricker of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
Design Topic
Design a device that would monitor existing distribution transformers operating in the utility grid.
Summary
Development and testing of a low-cost, light-weight monitoring device that would communicate to the electric utility when a distribution level transformer shows signs of approaching failure. The initial phase involved a student contest.
Design Plan
In general, the students were asked to prepare a paper design of a monitoring device that would be easily installed inside, on, or nearby an existing distribution level transformer. The purpose of the device would be to alert the electric utility of a possible failure before the failure occurs. Therefore, the monitor may have needed to detect one or more of the following: arcing, voltage, current, or oil temperatures. Additionally, the device was to be capable of communicating to the utility at least twice daily. Although the communication aspect of the device needed to be addressed, the primary concern - as shown in the evaluation criteria weighting below - was the monitoring functionality.
It was not necessary to create a working prototype. The design could have included a device that fits on or in the transformer OR is attached on a primary line coming into the transformer. Successful contestants needed to show that they have an understanding of failure modes of transformers and that their design addresses these modes in a practical, low-cost manner. Because distribution transformers come in a variety of assorted sizes and configurations, the assumed transformer type for contest purposes was as follows: 50 Kva, pole-mounted steel cylindrical canister with a diameter of 25 inches and a height of 49 inches.
The evaluation criteria parameters were: safety of the design, ease of installation, light weight, cost, functionality, and communications.
Background
There are approximately 41 million distribution transformers in the United States either metal cylinders mounted on poles running down streets and alleys or boxes mounted on concrete pads. Many of these may be approaching the end of their design lives. Therefore, the market potential in the US alone for a device that would predict imminent failure is enormous. CCET's goal was that one or more winning entries in this contest would be the basis of project that would result in a working prototype and eventually a commercial product.
Status: First phase (Fall 2008) was a student contest to develop a conceptual design. This project was completed and four contest awards made. Consideration is being given to use of the winning design to produce a prototype followed by testing as a CCET development project.
