Intelligent 3-D Design Enhances Productivity Progress Energy develops advanced modeling and computer-aided tools to further substation design

摘要

ELECTRIC UTILITY ENGINEERS HAVE TRADITIONALLY EMPLOYED 2-D COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN (CAD) drawings to design substations, even after better technology was developed. Utilities have largely ignored advanced CAD tools, especially 3-D modeling features, even though they are the norm in many industries. For instance, the manufacturing industry has been using 3-D CAD models with associated bill-of-material (BOM) information in its design plans for years. Progress Energy Carolinas (Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.) believes the electric utility industry should follow similar processes. Progress Energy is in a good position to reap the benefits of the advanced technology as steady growth in the Carolinas leads to increased demand for electricity, which means building new substations. The utility currently serves 1.4 million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina over a 34,000-sq mile (88,060-sq km) service territory.