Inside NTH's New Netbank Structural and Geotechnical Design Project
In 2015, NTH was retained by DTE to conduct field assessments and office analysis of their existing transformer support structures to evaluate the possibility of utilizing their existing structure designs to support a new series of larger, more efficient, transformers as part of a system upgrade to meet increasing customer demands. After the initial analysis revealed the structures would not support the new transformers, NTH was retained to modernize their support structure design standards for the multiple transformer sizes they planned to use across Southeast Michigan going forward.
There were some project challenges that included the fact that the team was developing a standard design, not a single structure for one location, and that the structures needed to be serviceable over time. Due to the 100-year service life and likelihood of reconfiguration in the future, these structures had to be designed to facilitate repairs and adapt to changing needs. This design had to be versatile enough to be used over a large geographic area while still being able to be right-sized for the specific needs at the desired installation location at the time and adapt to the changing service demands in that area over its lifetime. Throughout the design process, thought had to be given to how these structures would be used, not only today but also 50-plus years in the future.
DTE’s project requirements exceeded by the design NTH developed and optimized over the course of the project. With the new standard design, DTE can now change between the large platform configuration and single or twin-single structures, or visa-versa, within a matter of days instead of the weeks required previously. This transformation can be achieved without excavation, using small lift equipment in the tight alleyways, and requires no field welding.
The new design standards allow DTE to keep pace with their customers by operating more efficiently, being able to respond to changes in demand more readily, respond to damage and outages, and keep cost down while investing in the future of Southeast Michigan.
There were some project challenges that included the fact that the team was developing a standard design, not a single structure for one location, and that the structures needed to be serviceable over time. Due to the 100-year service life and likelihood of reconfiguration in the future, these structures had to be designed to facilitate repairs and adapt to changing needs. This design had to be versatile enough to be used over a large geographic area while still being able to be right-sized for the specific needs at the desired installation location at the time and adapt to the changing service demands in that area over its lifetime. Throughout the design process, thought had to be given to how these structures would be used, not only today but also 50-plus years in the future.
DTE’s project requirements exceeded by the design NTH developed and optimized over the course of the project. With the new standard design, DTE can now change between the large platform configuration and single or twin-single structures, or visa-versa, within a matter of days instead of the weeks required previously. This transformation can be achieved without excavation, using small lift equipment in the tight alleyways, and requires no field welding.
The new design standards allow DTE to keep pace with their customers by operating more efficiently, being able to respond to changes in demand more readily, respond to damage and outages, and keep cost down while investing in the future of Southeast Michigan.
RSS Feed