Hydro-Québec

About: Hydro-Québec is a government organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Electric power system & Dielectric. The organization has 2596 authors who have published 4433 publications receiving 100878 citations.

The use of the genetic algorithm for in-situ efficiency measurement of an induction motor

Abstract: In-situ efficiency determination of working motors in an industrial plant, if done nonintrusively, is less expensive than laboratory tests, which need disconnection of the motors from the loads. This paper presents a new approach to nonintrusive in-situ efficiency determination of an induction motor. By monitoring the input voltages, the input currents, the input power and the motor speed, an equivalent circuit based optimization process using the genetic algorithm calculates the motor efficiency. The convergence and the precision have been improved by taking into account several load points in the objective function, as well as the temperature dependency of the stator and rotor resistances. A sensitivity analysis of the method to parameter changes is also presented. Experimental results confirm. The validity of this method.

Fluid heating device incorporating transformer secondary winding having a single electrical turn and cooling means optimized for heat transfer

Abstract: A fluid heating device which comprises a non-conductive magnetic core having a primary winding of an electrically conductive wire. A secondary electrically conductive jacket surrounds or is concentric with the primary winding in close contact therewith through a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive medium. The primary winding has an input connection connectible to a voltage supply source. A power control device is connected to the input connection. The secondary electrically conductive jacket has passages therein for the flow of a fluid, at predetermined flow rate, from an input to an output of the passages. The fluid extracts heat from the secondary conductive jacket, generated by joule effect, whereby to heat the fluid and simultaneously cool the jacket to maintain the secondary electrically conductive jacket at a substantially constant temperature.

Manhole explosions due to arcing faults on underground secondary distribution cables in ducts

Abstract: Arcing faults on low-voltage insulated conductors are widely considered to be self-extinguishing and consequently not very hazardous to people or property. Nevertheless, a number of arcing faults recently occurred on Hydro-Quebec's underground secondary 120/240 V and 347/600 V systems and caused manhole explosions in downtown Montreal. To trace the probable cause, a series of staged tests was performed in IREQ's high-power laboratory. The results obtained proved that in wet, dirty ducts an arcing fault can take the form of an interrupted arc which is difficult if not impossible for common overcurrent protection systems to detect. Any such fault that has a long duration produces a significant amount of gaseous by-products which escape to the ends of the duct where they can ignite or form explosive concentrations. >