ZIMBABWE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AUTHORITY

GRID INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY

To: Mr N Matarutse (Plant Services Manager)

From Mr M Chibowora (Post graduate trainee)

Subject: Attachment report to Grid Infrastructure company

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 GRID INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY

Introduction

Grid infrastructure company co-ordinates the following functions in an Electric Power

system network:
 Power systems protection
 Installation, maintenance and commissioning of protective gear
 Fault level calculations and protective relay co-ordination
 Power quality measurements and analysis
 Cable fault location and pressure tests
 Infrared scanning on motors, furnaces, transformers, swicthgear, boilers, and
refregeration systems
 Dissolved gas analysis of transformer oil by chromatography
 Swicthgear maintenance
 Transformer maintenance
 HV and MV line construction and maintenance
 Substation maintenance and design
 Oil filtration
 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) screening

Sections of Gridco worked under are the laboratory and substations where the following
experiences were gained:
 Dissolved gas analysis of transformer oil by chromatography
 Oil filtration
 PCB screening
 Swicthgear maintenance
 Transformer maintenance
 Substation design and maintenance
 Power quality measurements and analysis
 Swicthgear commissioning

The Laboratory

The most significant gases generated by decomposition of oil are:

Hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), ethylene (C2H4), acetylene (C2H2), C3
hydrocarbons, C4 hydrocarbons. Transformer core insulation is made of cellulosic paper
or pressboard based solid insulation. Where cellulosic materials are involved at a fault,
further gases, chiefly CO2 and CO are also generated. Dissolved gas in oil is removed
from a sample of the oil and analysed quantitatively by gas chromatography. The nature
of the fault can then be diagnosed from the nature of the gases present. Every gas
produced by oil decomposition is produced at a particular temperature. Faults that occur
in a transformer occur at particular temperatures dependant on the nature of the fault. It is
therefore possible to predict the nature of the fault by examining the types of gas present.

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These faults can be inter-turn short circuit, solid insulation breakdown, arcing in the
transformer main tank and so on.

Oil filtration

Moisture in oil is dried out by circulating the oil through an oil filtration plant. The
temperature of the oil is monitored using a thermometer and must not exceed 850C.
Readings of insulation resistance and temperature are taken hourly. A plot of insulation
resistance against time gives the insulation resistance curve. After several hours of
constant readings, the insulation resistance will be seen to rise rapidly. The rise is allowed
to continue for several hours and then the oil filtration plant is disconnected. The
transformer is now dried out.

IR

time

Transformer maintenance and commissioning

The transformer should be isolated from live plant or equipment before any maintenance
work can begin. External connections are checked for tightness and any signs of
discolouration (indicating a hot joint); doubtful connections are cleaned and remade.
Gasketed joints are also checked for leakage in as much the same way as the transformer
is checked for efficient earthing of its tank. All tank surfaces and other parts that make up
a transformer are inspected for any signs of damage or corrosion and repair effected
accordingly. Insulation resistance measurements are recommended to be taken annually.
Tests are carried out using a Megger and readings noted down:

HV windings to earth (5kV Megger)

MV windings to earth (5kV Megger)
Tertiary windings to earth (1kV Megger)
HV winding to MV winding (5kV Megger)

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Readings are normally above 300M for a normal transformer. Protections (alarms and
trips) are checked as well for proper functioning. After energisation, the MV output
voltages should be checked preferably using an AVO to prove that the MV voltages
(phase to phase, phase to neutral) are within defined limits. If the MV output voltage is
outside the wished range, tap changer position should be changed.

Swicthgear maintenance and commissioning

Circuit breakers which were worked on include the following:

Oil circuit breakers
SF6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
Air circuit breakers
Maintenance of oil circuit breakers include testing the dielectric strength of the oil which
should not be below 30kV or 40kV for a gap of 2.5mm depending on the circuit breaker
rating. Generally the SF6, vacuum and air circuit breakers are maintenance free. If the
breaker contacts are accessible, maintenance involves cleaning these contacts and
checking for any signs of welding. Checks should also be made for any signs of
discolouration, cracks and tightness of all connections. All doubtful connections should
be remade. Tests carried out on a breaker include the following:
Ohmic resistance tests across closed contacts.
Insulation resistance test
Timing test that gives the time the breaker contacts take to open as well as to
close
Other tests include testing the trip and close command by remote as well as by local
commands.

Conclusion

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All the experiences and insight gained under GRIDCO are applicable to a Power Station
environment. It is hoped that this experience will prove invaluable in improving the
Power Station’s efficiency and reliability.