Our nation’s electrical-energy infrastructure is vital to every aspect of life. When a large substation transformer is damaged unexpectedly, whether by terrorism or acts of nature, it is essential to have an easily deployable backup system – and that’s where the WVHTC Foundation’s Portable Community Infrastructure Resiliency System comes in.

About the Portable Community Infrastructure Resiliency System

Substation transformer damage can result from a number of natural events including earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Large-scale power outages caused by transformer damageare very costly. For example, the estimated cost of the U.S.-Canada blackout of 2003 is upwards of $10 billion. The cost of an outage in the New York Metropolitan Area has been estimated in the range $400-967 million per day.

There are additional concerns over coordinated terrorist attacks on transformer yards. Since so many industries depend upon reliable electric power, large-scale disruption of our electrical infrastructure by natural or man-made means will undoubtedly seriously affect our economy and our national security.

As a rapid response to potential catastrophe facing our nation’s electrical-energy infrastructure, WVHTC Foundation researchers are developing a portable system capable of replacing a damaged substation transformer with relative ease and improved safety.

How It Works
The Portable Community Infrastructure Resiliency System uses a lightweight solid-state power converter that can be rapidly deployed in an emergency -- an emergency transformer light enough to be airlifted by helicopter when local highways are blocked or the transformer yard is in a remote location. The extreme weight of traditional substation transformers would preclude this type of rapid transport.A communication hub built into the system provides an important tool for utility workers that must install and restart electric services with possible damage to transmission lines and equipment connected to the transformer station.

The communications hub will give emergency workers a more complete picture of the scene so they can respond to damage and hazards beyond the transformer station. It will also allow utility workers to call in other emergency services and provide communications for other emergency responders.

The WVHTC Foundation is developing the Portable Community Infrastructure Resiliency System in conjunction with Western Kentucky University Applied Physics Institute and Murray State University. The project is funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS).