Processing on Energised Transformers

ENERVAC CORPORATION

WARNING! WARNING!

It can be extremely dangerous to work on live transformers Utmost care must be taken Use experienced personnel only Fatal injury could occur

GROUNDING

Ensure that the oil processing system is earthed

Dangerous voltages can, under exceptional circumstances, be transmitted from the transformer to the oil processing system, resulting in the oil processing system floating up to these voltages. The system must be properly earthed. At the very least the grounding rod should be made from 10mm diameter galvanised steel and connected to the system with suitable copper braided flex. A connection to the transformer grounding cable should also be made. It is also advisable to ensure that any earth cable brought into the system for the purpose of supplying power is firmly connected at both ends Use wire braided hoses

GROUNDING Hotstick/Barehand clearances

900 800 700 600 500 Clearance (cm) Ground Clearance (cm) Phase

cm
400 300 200 100 0 0 100 200 300 400 kV 500 600 700 800

GROUNDING

GROUNDING

BEFORE STARTING (1)

Ensure that the oil processing system is filled with oil to just below the High Oil Level point in the vacuum chamber. It is imperative that when the system is first switched on and oil flow begins that there is no net loss of oil into the system as this runs the risk of draining the conservator and exposing the bushings in the transformer.

CHAMBER OIL LEVEL

BEFORE STARTING (2)

Ensure that both the inlet and outlet oil hoses are filled with oil. For the same reason, there must not be a net loss of oil from the transformer and the possibility of introducing air into the transformer must be minimised

(This can be easily accomplished with the TOLMS)

BEFORE STARTING (3)

Ensure that top up oil is available and close to hand. Under certain conditions, where the transformer is very wet, there will be settling out of free water at the bottom of the transformer. It is advisable to drain as much of this free water as possible before connecting to the oil processing equipment. This must be done slowly. It is critical to observe the transformer oil level when draining water as the fluid level will drop.

BEFORE STARTING (4)

Under no circumstances must the fluid level drop below the minimum level indicated on the conservator tank, as there is a risk that the bushings will become exposed, resulting in a flashover. If a great deal of water is being drained it is advisable to top-up the transformer from the top-up oil supply via the oil processing plant. Recirculate oil within the oil processing system to heat it and degasify it and then slowly top-up the transformer. Repeat until all the free water has been drained from the transformer.

OPERATING PROCEDURE (1)

If using the TOLMS, attach the level sensor and inlet solenoid valve assembly to outlet connection on the bottom of the transformer.
The level sensor is a pressure sensor that will operate on transformers that are up to 20m high. The absolute sensor output is not critical, the concern is only for changes to the reading. It is important to allow the sensor reading to stabilise for 30 minutes prior to using the automatic shut-off system. Changes in the level of the oil in the transformer will produce changes in the output of the sensor. If the sensor reading moves too much the plant will close the inlet solenoid valve and shutdown as it assumes that there is a leak of oil out of the system. Small changes in the oil level in the transformer are permitted, as they are not critical and will happen as the oil processing system cycles between high and low level

OPERATING PROCEDURE (2)

Attach a one-way (check) valve on the far end of the outlet hose, ensuring flow is from the oil processing system into the conservator. This valve will prevent any possibility of the vacuum level in the oil processing system from draining the conservator. If the TOLMS is available then this step is not required see flow schematic

OPERATING PROCEDURE (3)

Connect the oil hoses to the transformer

Make sure the hoses are filled with oil!

This requires great care and is potentially one of the most dangerous aspects, especially connecting the outlet hose from the oil processing system to the top of the transformer or conservator tank if flange on body is not available. It is highly recommended that the transformer should be switched off to make these connections Great care is needed to avoid approaching the live terminals too closely. (10kV will jump 3cm)

VISUALISATION

TOLMS

TOLMS

TOLMS

START SLOWLY!

Prior to opening the valves on the transformer it is advisable to prepare the oil processing system by internally recirculating oil that is in the system i.e. having V-3 (bypass) open and V-1 and V-2 (inlet and outlet) closed. If the TOLMS is used then the oil should be circulated around with V-203, V-204 open and V-201, V-202 closed. Once this oil has reached temperature, processing of the transformer can begin.

START SLOWLY!

Monitor the conservator oil level at all times at this early stage. Slowly open the inlet valve, V-1, and outlet valve, V-2, on the oil processing system and also any manual valve on the inlet and outlet from the bottom of the transformer. Slowly close the recirculating valve. Oil is now flowing through the system and the level will be monitored automatically

START SLOWLY!

Important note: If the transformer is relatively small compared to the oil processing equipment then do not process on full flow. Throttle the inlet and outlet valves down or partially open the internal recirculation valve, V-3. As a rule of thumb, do not exceed 10% of the oil volume, expressed as a flow rate e.g. 10,000 litres of oil maximum flow rate 1,000 litres per hour

DURING PROCESSING. (1)

If the TOLMS is not used then a great deal of vigilance is required! The conservator level must be monitored at all times !

The condition of the hoses must be monitored at all times!

The flow rate must be monitored at all times

DURING PROCESSING. (2)

Oil volume in a transformer changes with temperature The volume of oil in the transformer changes significantly between day time and night time. It may be necessary to temporarily top-up the oil during night time operation, especially if the TOLMS is being used. This oil can be drained during the day time shift.

Take care when introducing oil into the unit, minimise the chance of oil getting into the system.

SHUTDOWN

Normal Shutdown

Switch off the heaters, wait 30 minutes. Open the recirculating valve, V-3, on the degasifier. Close the outlet valve at the bottom of the transformer and the inlet valve, V-1, on the oil processing system. Continual running oil out of the degasifier until the oil level is at the desired level in the transformer. Control this via the recirculating valve and the outlet valve. Remember that this level will drop when the transformer cools down. Close the inlet valve on the transformer.
The transformer is now isolated (deep breath!)

SHUTDOWN CONTINUED

Switch off the inlet pump. Close the outlet valve, V-2, and switch off the outlet pump. Close the recirculating valve, V-3. If possible shutdown the transformer for 5 minutes. If not possible then carefully remove the hoses from the transformer and remove the oil level sensor and inlet solenoid valve assembly.

SHUTDOWN

EMERGENCY Once the oil level in the conservator reaches the Minimum oil level, it is crucial to prevent any further drop in oil level. CLOSE THE OUTLET VALVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSFORMER FIRST and worry about the oil processing system last! Once the outlet valve of the transformer is closed no more oil will leave the transformer and there is time for an orderly evaluation of the problem that caused the oil level to drop

What Can Go Wrong?

Tripping of the Bucholtz relay the relay will not trip on a small or infrequent release of bubbles but will if the amount of introduced air is large. Proper design of the degasifier will minimise this possibility. Oil leakage from burst hoses the TOLMS will minimise the risk of the transformer flashing over internally through lack of oil. Float-up of the degasifier proper grounding and wire-braided hoses will minimise this. Flash-over of the transformer through dumping of contaminants into the transformer e.g. sludge, free water. Correct operational procedure will minimise this risk

Remember.

Not every transformer can be processed energised if the oil test shows poor results, process off-line! It is not worth getting killed to process online.

Heads Up! Oil parameters..

Free water where possible do not process on-line where free

water exists. If it must be processed on-line, drain as much free water as possible from the transformer, taking all precautions to maintain the correct oil-level in the transformer. Free water introduced into the degasifier will destroy the vacuum level. Dissolved water a limit of 50 PPM should be observed. Over this value, consider off-line processing. Acidity if higher than 0.2 mg KOH/mg, check for physical appearance of sludge. If present, consider off-line processing.