ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

- BEST PRACTICES

Prepared by
Partha Mukherjee
Sr.Supdt.
Elect. Maintenance
PROTECTION SYSTEM

• Replacement of aging Electromechanical relays with

Numerical relays along with DR feature in 400 KV
lines, Generator, 6.6 KV and 415 volts drives. This will
ensure protection reliability and simplicity in testing
and calibrations.
• 3rd Harmonic Leakage Current Monitoring of LA to
avert the LA failures
• Megger all protection cables related to Transformers,
Motors, SWGR ,GRP during OH
PROTECTION SYSTEM
• Replacement of protection cables of 400KV breakers,
SWYD to GRP to avoid false tripping on account of
cable failures

• GT and UAT stability test is carried out after every unit

OH

• Replacement of LT SWGR contactor module with

Circuit Breaker module for rating > 110 KW to increase
reliability
TRANSFORMERS
• Furan analysis of transformer oils to keep track on residual life of
Power transformers

• Replacement of transformer oil on the basis of Tan-Delta,

Resistivity and Acidity

• Paper moisture content of transformers with DOMINO :

Measures relative saturation & PPM periodically for medium
to large capacity transformers

• On-line DGA for GTs to identifying the incipient faults

• Replacement of HV bushings on the basis of trend inTan Delta

value and oil leakage
GENERATOR
• IR measurement of Stator winding in annual OH &
monitor the trend to identify the stator earth fault
problems at early stages

• Conditions of rubber gaskets are checked and

replaced during annual OH in critical areas

• Condition assessment and RLA are carried out in

Generators during capital OH

• Reverse flushing of stator water is done to check any

deposit in bars/ teflon tubes.
MOTORS
• Flexible copper cable of suitable rating is terminated
between power JB & motor TB . This reduces motor
TB flashovers/failures due to vibration, elimination of
frequent connection /disconnection of cable from motor

• Tan Delta testing of HT motors :

To assess the insulation life of critical motors
windings tan delta measurement is carried out in
OH & trending is started

Based on these results, corrective/diagnostic

action are taken.
SWITCH GEARS
• Failures of 6.6 KV MOCBs in frequent start drives
observed due to the following problems:
a) mechanism failure ,
b) pole stuck-up,
c) oil leakage ,
d) pole timing mismatch and
e) contact resistance etc.

Results in breaker flashovers/ failure of motors on

account of single phasing.
Vacuum contactors with back up fuses , single phase
preventor and surge arrestors are installed.
SWITCH GEARS
• Check auto changeovers in all HT/LT SWGRs during
OH of units

• Replacement of gaskets to avoid dust ingress in all

Swgrs

• To avoid flash overs in 6.6 KV SWGR due to rodents

entry,6.6KV busbar was insulated with flame proof
insulation tape
 SWITCH GEARS

Exposed Bus Bar Insulated Bus Bar

CABLE TRAYS
• In horizontal cable trays fine coal dust is accumulated in
the inter cable v groove spaces of closely laid cables

• This dust causes spontaneous ignition in the long run

• Repositioning cable trays from horizontal to vertical

opposition is done to avoids these problems.
CABLE TRAYS
New C&M Technologies Applied
• Thermography of Switchyard equipments, power
transformers, TBs , power JBs of critical motors , HT/
LT SWGR periodically to detect hot spots

• Motor Current signature analyser to detect motor faults

at earlier stages

• Cable fault locator to detect HT/LT Cable fault

• DC fault locator (Growser) to detect dc earth fault in

the system

• Acoustic measurement kit to analyse partial discharge

inside generator.
THANK YOU