On line monitoring of electrical equipments

Utility perspective and experience

S Naved Masood | Executive |Protection & Testing Department | North
Delhi Power Ltd. Abstract This paper will present a Utility experience of Monitoring and Managing the
Assets through Modern Online testing and monitoring techniques in order to enhance the life of high voltage power equipments. The Initiative of the Utility to go for various Online Monitoring and Testing techniques has resulted in improved reliability of Power supply and cultivated a Proactive and Predictive approach towards equipment maintenance. Online Testing and Monitoring has benefitted the Utility in area of Capacity building through improvisation in analytical approach and decision making skills. We have predominantly applied various online techniques on different power equipments to improve their reliability and dependability along with overall quality of power supply.

Index Terms Harmonics, distribution utilities, preventive maintenance, breakdown,

power transformer, condition based monitoring,

1. INTRODUCTION
Traditional testing techniques of the high voltage equipments have been a regular feature in the Power distribution sector. Now days, with rapidly evolving technology, various innovations in field of online testing equipments have made upkeep of power equipments easier than ever. On line monitoring approach for electrical equipments has been a regular practice followed by Process industries rather than electrical distribution Utilities in India. Need based maintenance have been a common approach in most of transmission and distribution companies. Preventive maintenance practices supersede the idea of targeted predictive maintenance in absence of adequate condition monitoring of power equipments. Same was the case in erstwhile DELHI VIDYUT BOARD till its unbundling in 2002. When NDPL came into existence, it took great pains to become the most trusted and admired provider of reliable and competitive power. Thus being a customer conscious utility, NDPL has put forward its best efforts to reduce breakdowns to zero.

2. CONDITION MONITORING APPROACH

The increasing demand for quality and reliable power necessitates zero tolerance to any kind of defects in the network. In order to achieve maximum reliability and enhanced life, the critical equipments like power transformers, circuit Breakers, lightning arrestors, etc needs to be monitored and maintained at regular intervals. 2.1 THERMOSCANNING During its initial days of foundation, NDPL faced a very high failure rate of EHV clamps and accessories of switchgears in grid substations. Due to which, major challenge faced at that time was to maintain reliability of the network. To offset the failure rate in grids, condition based maintenance with infrared thermographs had been launched. Based on which it was decided to adopt the policy of run, repair and replace for the power equipments. By adopting this method, failure rate of equipment accessories have come down drastically. It has also helped in detection of accurate source of abnormalities; as a result it was possible to eliminate the root cause of abnormalities. This resulted in reduction of hot spots & unwanted network tripping. After controlling on the hot spots, we have enlarged the scope of this technique to do the condition based monitoring on the network equipments. More over it is used for detecting abnormalities in cable terminations and cable joints. Following important points need to be considered while carrying out thermo scanning for electrical switchgear: 2.1 A LOADING The electrical equipment being inspected must be at least over 40% of normal loading condition in order to detect problems with the thermal imager. Maximum loading conditions are ideal, if possible. 2.1 B SAFETY During thermo scanning, standing in front of open, live electrical equipment requires Personnel protective equipment (PPE) and depending upon the situation and incident energy level this may include Flame resistant clothing, Leather over rubber gloves and leather work boots. 2.1 C EMMISSIVITY Emissivity describes how well an object emits infrared energy or heat as the same affects how well a thermal imager measure objects surface temperature. Specific emissivity of any object can be rated in the scale of 0 to 1.0 and for thermal imagers to report accurate temperatures, the higher emissivity the better. Materials that low emissivity, are usually reflective and do not emit thermal energy well. Thermal imaging performed for electrical inspection purposes is a comparative/ qualitative process and usually, focus is to look for a spot that

is comparatively hotter than similar equipment under same loading condition. In NDPL network thermo scanning is widely used as online diagnostic tool for monitoring of various connections, OLTC by detecting the hot spots and abnormal temperature pattern. Figure 2: Comparative chart for IR Thermograph Various jumper Connections with hot spots usually appear warmest at spot of resistance and gradually cooling with distance from that spot and this could be due to Loose, overtightened, or corroded connection with increased resistance. At NDPL, we have devised guidelines to monitor the extent of temperature rise between similar components under same load conditions which is described in the table below: 2.1 CASE STUDIES THERMAL DISTRIBUTION PROFILE ANALYSIS

CASE I Identifying Criticality in 66/11KV 20MVA Power Transformer

The thermal distribution profile shown in figure x.xx clearly indicated non circulation of oil in the radiators. Corrective actions were taken afterwards and the next image showing maximum temperature of the radiators to be around 44.3C at an ambient temperature of 30C while the temperature captured on the tank up to 45C.

Fir 3: Image shows Non circulation of Oil in the Radiators captured after corrective action

Fig 4: Thermal Image

CASE II Identifying Criticality in 66/33KV 50MVA Power Transformer

Abnormal thermal pattern has been observed at Tap changer of 50 MVA Power transformer at Jahangirpuri Grid station. The maximum temperature of OLTC has been recorded to be 62.7oc at an ambient temperature of 37oc as shown in figure x.xx below. On inspection, carbon deposition has been found on the collector rings

Figure 5: Abnormal thermal pattern of Tap changer and CAPA

1. LIGHTNING ARRESTORS

In addition to regular maintenance checks, Online monitoring of Lightning arrestors installed at various 66 and 33KV levels in NDPL grid stations is being done half yearly. A thorough monitoring of the lightning arrestors is being done to check the efficiency of the metal oxide arrestors in service and to assess the Residual life of the Lightning Arrestors operating at 66 and 33 KV levels. These online tests are performed by using a Metal Oxide Surge Arrester Test Set (SCAR-10, make-ISA) which performs the tests according to IEC standard 60099-5 A1 ED. 1.0 Section 6: Diagnostic indicators of metal-oxide surge arresters in service Method B1 and B2 The current flowing through LA is the total leakage current having capacitive leakage current and Resistive leakage current components. The increase in voltage stresses results in higher resistive leakage current amounting to higher total leakage current in LAs. Among the various harmonics contents in Resistive current, the third harmonic component is predominant. Online condition monitoring of LAs is done through measuring the content of third harmonic component of the leakage current along with total leakage current and the same is important for evaluation of LAs in service. A schematic diagram for measurement of third harmonic leakage current by using the Test set is as given in figure xx Conclusive remarks/recommendations have been given after detailed analysis of data through various indigenously developed algorithms. Valuable suggestions taken from different OEMs were combined with our own experiences to finalize the criteria for judgment of the life of the Lightening arrestor as shown in table xx

Figure 7: Inferences and results for Online LA testing

2. SWITCHGEAR
NDPL has a vast network of 57 grid stations and there are approximately 850VCB at 11 KV level across the grid stations. In NDPL we have used one of the best online tools available in Numerical relays installed at different grid station to assess the condition of circuit breaker. Cumulative breaking current function (KA2) is one such feature which is available in the Numerical relay of various vendors like Schneider, ABB and Siemens and the same can be utilized to analyze any deterioration in the breaker.. Main objectives of this project were:-

To identify the VCB at 11 KV Level that has undergone deterioration. Reduction in operation and maintenance cost. To calculate the residual life of vacuum circuit breaker at 11 KV. To do complete testing of breaker where deterioration rate of breaker is high. CUMULATIVE BREAKING CURRENT MONITORING

4. A

We have used one of the best online tools available in the Numerical relay installed in grid station to assess the condition of the circuit breakers. We monitor an inbuilt parameter kA in the Numerical relay which regularly calculates the total amount of fault current seen by the relay for every breaker operation. This kA value along with no. of breaker operation seen by the breaker and Dynamic Contact resistance values has significantly helped in assessing the Residual life of the breaker. This scientifically developed algorithm has helped in bringing down the number of planned preventive maintenance activities, as previously, there was no such method to assess the accurate time period to carry out scheduled maintenance. Online monitoring of the breaker has helped NDPL in gradually shifting its focus from performing time based to need based maintenance activities of the breaker and thus achieving higher levels of consumer satisfaction across the industry. This function gives the cumulative breaking current in (kA) 2 for different ranges in relays. It also provides the total number of device breaking operations and is activated by tripping command generated by the relay.

Figure 8: Breaking operations relationship

current

and

4. B CASE STUDY The data was collected from the 22 NDPL grid stations from SEPAM relay installed on 11 KV outgoing feeders residual life analysis was calculated based on the algorithm discussed. For understanding, one of the case studies is discussed for 66 KV BADLI grid station.

Figure 9: Data collection for kA study Inferences are graphically shown below:

Figure 10: Graphical inferences of collected data for kA study

4. C

INFERENCE Average fault level of this grid is near 3KA. Data shows that the two feeders SIRASPUR TALABWALA NO. 1&2 have KA2 > 1800 and moreover the life lost is also greater than 10%

4. HARMONICS STUDY
In the recent years there is a large growth in usage of electronic equipments, variable speed drives, fluorescent lamp with electronic ballast, computers, UPS etc. These non linear loads generate considerable harmonics resulting in increased harmonic level in power system which pollute the quality of the power. Electricity regulatory commissions and utilities all over the world have taken note of these ill effects and have started imposing penalty for harmonic dumping by the end users into supply lines. From utility perspective it becomes imperative to carry out a detailed study of the harmonics across the network and to get an insight into the actual scenario so that timely mitigation of its ill effects would become possible. Power quality analyzer from FLUKE has been used by NDPL for data collection from number of outgoing feeders. The instrument is equipped with an internal memory that allows measurement values to be stored over long period. In the event of power failure an internal UPS provide back up for 20 seconds and can with stand such events several times in succession.

Figure 12: Spectrum and harmonics data collected using power analyzer

Harmonic study across the NDPL grid stations has provided a roadmap to take necessary steps in curbing the losses developed due to presence of harmonic in the system. Number of feeders has been segregated on account of quantum of harmonics present and proactive measures have been adopted to mitigate the same.

5.

CONCLUSION

Through this paper we have envisaged to showcase various online condition monitoring techniques used by NDPL for life assessment of the high voltage equipments and adopting suitable proactive measures to avoid any major miss happening in the distribution Network. Also, this paper is a presentation of one more achievement of Power utility to make best use of available technology focusing Reliability, capacity building, predictive approach towards maintenance, contribution in grid Stability and more importantly Customer delight by providing quality power supply.

REFERENCES 1. "Interruption Life of Vacuum Circuit Breakers", proceedings IEEE 19th international symposium on discharges and electrical insulation in Vacuum, China, 2000. 2. Distribution Arrester Research; M.V.Lat, J.Kortshinski; IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-100-No.7, July 1981. 3. Maintenance of Surge Arrester by Portable Arrester Leakage Current Detector; S.Shirakawa, F.Endo, H.Kitajima, S.Kobayashi, K.Kurita; IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Volume 3, No.3 July 1988. 4. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board; Engineers Handbook.
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