Analytics Provide Insight for Electrical Reliability Improvements at Naval Facilities

Since 2009, CDM Smith has supported the Naval Facilities Engineering Command’s (NAVFAC’s) systemwide utilities asset management (AM) initiative, performing more than 50 task order assignments worldwide. The AM program is essential for achieving NAVFAC’s mission to “support the warfighter with safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility services.” As utilities infrastructure ages, more extensive maintenance and capital replacement projects are needed. 

Responsive, equipped with technical expertise and ready to take on their challenges as our own, we have provided NAVFAC with utility inventory and condition assessments, in depth electrical analyses, trusted data and careful recom­men­da­tions for improve­ments at over 65 instal­la­tions worldwide. Through power studies, we collaborate with the instal­la­tion’s onsite engineers to: 

• depict an accurate state of the existing utility
• estimate foreseeable demand changes
• program future require­ments for electrical system reliability
• improve the safety of the workers on the system
• recommend operational improve­ments
• assess the effec­tive­ness of system protection
• provide guidance on system sustainment

With each unique situation, our team carefully considers the base’s needs and delivers the right remedy. At some instal­la­tions, we have implemented compre­hen­sive master plans, including power system analysis and arc flash risk assessments, to signif­i­cantly increase system reliability, resiliency and safety. By conducting these innovative and detailed analyses, we are able identify defi­cien­cies and recommend improve­ments that increase overall system performance. 

Electrical Master Plan Study at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain
For this electrical master plan study, CDM Smith inves­ti­gated, collected data and analyzed the existing utility system infra­struc­ture and made helpful recom­men­da­tions for NAVFAC to accommodate Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain’s growth plans. As part of the master plan’s power system analysis, we analyzed power factor correction, short-circuit, protective device coor­di­na­tion, arc flash, load-flow and motor starting.

The results of this study provided NAVFAC and NSA Bahrain an under­stand­ing of the current-situation, and a complete power-system model that accounted for all planned future loads, and provided solutions to maximize utilization and efficiency of the electrical powers systems through 2025. CDM Smith prepared a total of 16 actionable recom­men­da­tions to the Navy to improve the power factor at NSA Bahrain. Through our guidance, the Navy is expected to avoid future excess reactive-energy financial penalties from the local utility and to defer plans to construct a new substation, with an estimated cost of $25–50 million. 

The nodal analysis model, or deep dive, combines a detailed electric system GIS dataset with risk and reliability inputs to help identify defi­cien­cies. This approach allows us to make necessary corrective actions that ensure electric utility system readiness at Naval shipyards. 

Electrical Deep Dive at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine
Leading a deep dive on the electrical utility at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we provided an assessment of utility readiness that accounted for the variety of missions served, system config­u­ra­tion, asset condition, criticality, inter­de­pen­dency and reliability.

Our team leveraged author­i­ta­tive data sets and cutting-edge processes to produce a framework that can be applied to additional utilities. We developed a GIS tool that enables spatial analysis of asset inventory and condition, risk, mitigations, projects, outages, critical customers, facility Mission Dependency Index and historic capital improve­ments. The designed tools and data sets allowed for future adoption into Navy information systems. 

Electrical Deep Dive at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawaii
CDM Smith performed an electrical deep dive the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to improve power system reliability at this mission-critical shipyard. We analyzed approx­i­mately 6,133 linear and nonlinear electrical assets during this process, including substations, trans­form­ers, switchgear and circuits. Historical customer-service tier information was mapped to show customer criticality in relation to the location of high-risk utility service assets identified in the spatial analysis. We then presented a summary of visu­al­iza­tions identifying the individual analysis elements used, conclusions and infra­struc­ture recom­men­da­tions to address the electric utility system defi­cien­cies. Based on our recom­men­da­tions, NAVFAC quickly implemented short- and long-term projects to reduce unplanned outages and increase utility readiness.