Issue 1 2021

Magazine

THE MAGIC OF
ELECTRICAL SCIENCE
 DEAR READERS,
After the immense shock that COVID-19 brought into our lives about a year ago,
the world seemed to stand still for a moment. We became used to the news, the
victories, and the setbacks in the fight against the pandemic. The challenge was
and still is, reacting flexibly and creatively to constantly changing conditions and
finding new ways to bridge our physical distance.

Page 10 gives you an insight into the newly developed training courses offered
by the OMICRON Academy. You can choose a course that’s relevant to you
and select the length of a session that’s appropriate to your prior knowledge,
experience, and field of work.

Furthermore, we supported the on-site commissioning of a newly installed

air-insulated 27.5 kV switchgear system and performed additional offline PD
measurements on the switchgear via video conference. Read more about this
new way of interacting with customers on page 30.

We have another innovative idea prepared for you: You will find an episode of our
new podcast “Energy Talks” for each of the three different articles in this issue.
You can read the articles on pages 8, 10 and 30 and get the link to the Podcast
episodes there.

As we move further and further into the digital world, our software systems’
security is more important than ever before. You can read about what we do
to keep our quality standards as high as possible in the third and final part of
our “Software Quality” article series: “Real Teamwork”, on page 14. These are
challenging times, and we are still far away from our old definition of normalcy,
but we’ve proven at least one thing to ourselves: we are adaptable. And I am
convinced that this pandemic also offers us the opportunity to grow – personally,
emotionally, as a community and a society.

Enjoy reading!

Patricia Marte
Editor-in-chief OMICRON Magazine

Publisher OMICRON electronics GmbH, Oberes Ried 1, 6833 Klaus (AT)

Responsible for content OMICRON electronics GmbH

Editorial team and implementation up! consulting, Ruggell (FL)

Picture credits OMICRON electronics GmbH, Cteam Energietechnik GmbH (p. 8), ENGIE High Voltage Services Noord
(p. 24–25), iStock.com (p. 27, 29, 34–37, 39), Advanced Electrical Services (p. 4, 32), IDUR S. A.(p. 38)

E-mail to the editorial team magazine@omicronenergy.com

2
«We grow through
the challenges
we face.»
Patricia Marte

  Magazine | Issue 1 2021 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 30

Welcome to the CPC Family On-site testing with

help from afar

10 14

OMICRON Academy 4.0 Software quality: Real teamwork

4
PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND

6 Welcome to the CPC Family 10 OMICRON Academy 4.0

Future-proof training methodology
8 Customized and powerful
70 kV high-voltage source for offine testing 14 Software quality: Real teamwork

18 Simple medium-voltage circuit breaker

checks with CMC Test Sets
CUSTOMER STORIES
22 Measurement postprocessing
with ease 24 When ambitions become bigger
CT Analyzer Software V5.10 EHS-Noord talks about their experience using
OMICRON test equipment
27 Take your data seriously
Use ADMO to streamline your business processes 30 On-site testing with help from afar
and increase data integrity

34 Risk assessment of
cyber threats in substations NEWS

37 Viewpoints 42 Energy Talks – our new podcast series

What role do partial discharge (PD) testing Listen to various topics about power system
and monitoring play in the maintenance of testing
electrical equipment?
44 What’s going on
40 Always on hand for quick checks
With CMC Swift, you can easily control your
CMC test set with a smartphone or tablet

REGION

38 On site: OMICRON in Argentina

Valeria Braun from IDUR S. A. gives us her insight
into the powersector

43 Region

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 5

WELCOME TO THE
CPC FAMILY

6
We love our family of CPC multi-functional
electrical testing solutions. Our devoted
development teams continuously strive to
evolve and grow our CPC family’s innovative
capabilities to meet your various needs in a
wide range of testing applications.
We have been manufacturing the CPC and
learning from your experience for more
than two decades. During this time, we have
continuously improved measurement per-
formance and efficiency to make it the best
set of solutions available – as experienced
today by many customers around the world.
We make it easy for you to stay on track
with the status of your electrical power
system and assets. Our efforts don’t end
with providing you with the necessary tools
to improve your measurements, because
we see you as our partner. Through sharing
knowledge and testing experiences, we can
work together to strengthen and grow the
CPC family with innovation and practicality
well into the future.
Get to know our entire CPC family of multi-
functional electrical testing solutions:
omicronenergy.com/CPC100
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 7
CUSTOMIZED
AND POWERFUL
70 kV high-voltage source for offline testing

«You’re not just buying a product.

You’re joining a network that
encourages you to share ideas and
broaden your knowledge base.»
Gerald Bernsteiner,
Managing Director and partner, Cteam Energietechnik GmbH

8
Gerald Bernsteiner is the Managing
Director and partner of Cteam
Energietechnik GmbH, a part of the
Cteam Group. Since its foundation in
autumn 2019, the company has estab-
lished itself as a professional service
provider for operators of power stations
and power grids. Gerald Bernsteiner
was previously employed for more than
20 years by a number of companies in the
switchgear sector. He first came into con-
tact with us in 2014, when he was look-
ing for a solution to measure partial dis-
charge (PD) in switchgear for one of his
projects. The search for a suitable voltage
source to measure PD on construction
sites went on and on, but eventually he
found us. The outcome was an invigorat-
ing and challenging joint project.
Gerald, how did you first hear
about us?
Gerald Bernsteiner: Back then, we’d been
trying to find a suitable voltage source
for partial discharge measurements for
almost nine months. Up to this point, we
had always worked with external service
providers. Some of their systems weighed
as much as 660 lbs (300 kg) and only de-
livered a fraction of the output power of
the OMICRON 70 kV high-voltage source.
Following several false starts, my persis-
tence eventually led me to the experts:
Michael Krüger and Lukas Klingenschmid
of OMICRON. We had a few conversa-
tions and exchanged some emails about
the various options that OMICRON had to
offer before they came to see us. We then
looked at and tested the various voltage
sources they’d brought with them, and
quickly found a solution that came close
to what we were looking for, but we still
had requirements on our wish list.
So what did you do?
I wrote a letter to Santa (laughs). No,
seriously, I thought about it for a while
and drew up specifications that outlined
our requirements. I ignored everything
that I already knew was on the market,
or what I felt wouldn’t be possible. My
wish list included a 70 kV test voltage
for testing 36 kV medium-voltage
switchgear that could also test voltage
transformers and be used to test solid-
insulated bus bars with capacitive con-
trol. I also threw in some other typical
bits of data from other projects, adding
the relevant parameters, capacitances,
and test voltages.
Then Michael asked me if a resonance
system might do the trick – a solution that
covered all our practical requirements.
There weren’t any formal objections. For
example, there is nothing in the standard
that says that this 1-minute voltage with-
stand test for medium-voltage switch-
gear systems, which is normally carried
out at 50 Hz, cannot be carried out at a
different frequency. We also discussed
the situation with customers, and they
didn’t raise any objections either. This
effectively gave us the green light to go
ahead with this solution.
How did you feel about your
collaboration during the development
of the prototype?
It was fantastic! The collaboration
with the engineers was superb – solid
INTERESTING TOPIC?
Listen to the episode in Energy Talks –
the OMICRON podcast series.
Energy Talks features various episodes related to
power system testing. Scan the QR-Code or visit:
omicronenergy.com/podcast
and professional. Once Michael was
finished, we had some training with
you in Klaus, Austria using two field
measurements. That was extremely
helpful. We were able to take the system
with us once the safety analyses were
completed and the manual was printed.
I learned a lot from the way OMICRON
approached the problem.
We’ve just ordered the series produc-
tion version for the 70 kV high-voltage
source. This version further improves
the quality of the signal output of
the CPC 100 and includes additional
safety features.
Overall, I’ve come to appreciate
OMICRON as a reliable partner, espe-
cially when it comes to their support.
I still remember the first measurements
that we took by ourselves. Not every-
thing worked as we would have liked.
However, it was always possible to reach
someone from your team who provided
us with practical information and advice.
Engineers are always happy when they
are able to do something or receive
some tips that help them broaden their
knowledge base.
Thank you for talking to us.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 9
 OMICRON
ACADEMY 4.0
Future-proof training methodology

Our fully equipped, mobile digital substations

correspond to the latest technology.

10
For more than 25 years, the OMICRON
Academy has been offering courses for
energy suppliers, industrial enterprises,
service providers, and manufacturers.
During this period, we have gained a
wealth of experience with regard to
teaching methodology, planning train-
ing courses, teaching materials, and
training equipment. This experience
has led us to develop a new training
concept that perfectly supports our
course participants’ learning success.
We spoke to Oliver Janke, Training
Manager at the OMICRON Academy,
about this training concept.
Oliver, can you briefly outline the
OMICRON Academy’s tasks, and
the subject areas covered by the
current courses?
Oliver Janke: The OMICRON Academy
wants to support the use of our
primary and secondary technical test-
ing and diagnostic solutions in the
best way possible. To ensure maximum
safety and quality standards, we have
designed training sessions for the
specialist personnel using the test sets.
As a result, the courses we offer
are geared towards real-life testing
situations. The content ranges from
equipment and application expertise
to the effective use of test sets to
interpret and evaluate test and
measurement results. We also offer
courses on IEC 61850 power utility
communication. We work with realistic
training equipment found in the field,
and our participants make full use
of the test sets.
The courses are ideal for specialists
working in planning, commissioning,
testing, maintenance, and asset man-
agement at energy supply, railroad,
service companies, and manufacturers.
This year, you have been very
successful in making your training
courses available as webinars – what
other changes do you have planned?
We will continue to offer interactive
online training courses in the form of
webinars in the future. What’s new is
that we will be offering eleven regular
training courses from the schedule
on our website. Participants will have
the opportunity to choose a training
course that’s relevant to them. They
can also select the session’s length
appropriate to their prior knowledge,
experience, and field of work. That
way, we can guarantee maximum
quality assurance and comparability.
However, we will still offer training
courses that are perfectly tailored to
customer requirements, individually
customized for content and location.
Different participants will still benefit
from sharing their experiences with
others attending the regular training
courses held on the dates set at our
training centers.
We have also extended and modern-
ized our training infrastructure in
the training centers. This is especially
important to us, because we place
particular emphasis on the practical
relevance of all our training courses.
Could you outline the new
choice of options within a
training component?
The training component “Automated
Grid Protection Testing with CMC”
will include the key themes of grid

OMICRON ACADEMY – MAIN TOPICS

› Protection testing
› Analysis and monitoring of
power transformers
› Testing instrument transformers
› Analysis and monitoring of
rotating machines
› Testing transmission lines
› Measuring equipment testing
› Testing circuit breakers and switchgear
› Cable analysis and monitoring
› Analysis of grounding systems
› Power utility communication

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 11

«The neuroplasticity of our brain makes life-
long learning possible, provided we neither
overtax it nor challenge it too little. So in
our new concept, it was essential for us
to align with our participants’ knowledge
and  experience levels.»
Oliver Janke,
Training Manager,
OMICRON Academy
12
protection, industry, and energy gen-
eration. It is held over three days, and
there are two levels. Anyone wanting
a comprehensive introduction can
register for the full package. If some-
one only wants a quick introduction
and basic information, they can just
take part on the first day. This option
is especially beneficial for participants
from industrial enterprises.
Participation on days two and three is
better suited to advanced users. The
learning goals are distance protection,
and differential protection, as well
as parameter-based testing with
Test Universe and system-based test-
ing with RelaySimTest. To start with,
there will be a quick refresher and a
more in-depth look at the issues dealt
with on day one.
For experienced participants, we offer
the additional, three-day “Advanced
Overcurrent, Distance, and Differential
Testing with CMC” course. This goes
into great detail and focuses on more
complex protection functions (such
as the additional distance protection
functions Synchrocheck and Auto-
reclosure, line differential protection),
and the automation of protection
testing with XRIO, PTL, and the
OMICRON  Control Center.
We certainly cover primary-side topics
as well by offering courses such
as “Time-Optimized Maintenance
Tests in the Substation”. This offer
includes three individual one-on-one
courses focusing on transformer,
circuit  breaker, and current and voltage
transformer diagnostics. After an intro-
duction to maintaining the equipment,
participants can also develop their skills
in theoretical and practical exercises.
In the first part, participants will learn
how to carry out ratio, winding resis-
tance, capacitance, and dissipation
factor measurements efficiently with
TESTRANO 600 for transformer diag-
nostics. In the second part, they will
become acquainted with CIBANO 500
and the measurement principles
for circuit breakers, and learn how
to further simplify them with our
Primary Test Manager™ (PTM) test soft-
ware. Then they will learn how to assess
the condition of the current and voltage
INTERESTING TOPIC?
Listen to the episode in Energy Talks – the OMICRON podcast series
Energy Talks features various episodes related to power system testing.
Scan the QR-Code or visit:
omicronenergy.com/podcast
transformers with CT Analyzer and
VOTANO 100. Various measurement
procedures will also be addressed, such
as generating test reports effectively.
What is the benefit of scaling
the courses?
The neuroplasticity of our brain makes
lifelong learning possible, provided
we neither overtax it nor challenge
it too little. So in our new concept, it
was essential for us to align with our
participants’ knowledge and experi-
ence levels. This is done far more
successfully by adapting levels and
selecting content, rather than by using
a “one-size-fits-all solution”.
This is also why we have designed our
courses and course packages for differ-
ent target groups so that beginners can
build on sound basic knowledge and
advanced and experienced users can go
deeper into the subject matter. This way,
course content is remembered more
easily and becomes firmly established.
We want to encourage “deep” thinking,
create references to basic knowledge
from the lessons we’ve learned, and
encourage valuable discussions.
You have also expanded the infra-
structure for your training courses –
what’s new about it and how do
participants benefit from it?
Along with our existing mobile protec-
tion laboratory with relays, simulation
boxes, technical models, and access to
a power transformer, we now provide
very modern and fully equipped mobile
digital substations for training purposes
worldwide. This gives us a training
infrastructure that is as realistic as
possible. It corresponds with the most
up-to-date digital technologies and can
be put to practical use during the train-
ing course. Participants can learn the
testing methods of tomorrow, today.
What would you recommend to
participants for ensuring a successful
learning experience?
They should actively participate in
the courses, ask lots of questions, and
discuss their experiences with each
other. It pays to be inquisitive! For in-
stance, in the practical section, you can
set up your own experiments outside
the tasks we have arranged. This allows
participants to make mistakes and
learn from them without hesitation.
In this way, they can utilize the full
potential of our courses.
Thank you for taking the time to
be interviewed!
The staff at the OMICRON Academy
will be happy to help you choose the
training course that is right for you.
Please send an e-mail to:
academy@omicronenergy.com
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 13
SOFTWARE QUALITY:
REAL TEAMWORK
In the first installment of our series of articles (Issue
1/2020) we looked at the subject of “Usability”, and in
the second at the development process (Issue 2/2020).
In this third and final installment, we’re going to
examine the role of customer feedback and its impor-
tance in the quality of our software.

MARIO LINS, Innovation Security Officer

At OMICRON, we see helping to
increase the level of information
security as one of our responsibilities.
We always try to eliminate any
vulnerabilities in the product during
the software development process.
Our Secure Software Development
Life Cycle (SSDLC) includes a variety
of mechanisms that are designed to
detect vulnerabilities and potential
threats during development and
deal with them accordingly. The
quality of our software plays a very
important role here.
After the product has been
launched, we must continue to
ensure that it contains no security
vulnerabilities. However, security is
not something that’s set in stone –
despite all the security measures, a
new, previously unforeseen security
breach can occur at any time. To
prevent any unnecessary risk for our
customers, it’s important that we
respond to it in a systematic manner.
Our handling of vulnerabilities and
disclosure workflow provides us with
the basics for dealing reliably and
efficiently with any newly discovered
vulnerabilities in our products. The
new omicronenergy.com/security
platform that we’ve already estab-
lished on our website details the
transparent way in which we intend
to handle any reported vulnerabili-
ties. Customers are thus able to use
a secure messaging system to report
any vulnerabilities they discover to
us. When we receive a vulnerability
report, we employ a risk-based ap-
proach to evaluate and prioritize the
vulnerability. We then release details
of the relevant vulnerabilities on our
website with recommendations on
how to eliminate them. This means
our customers can always find out
whether any new vulnerabilities have
been discovered and what can be
done to counter them.

14
LUKAS BACHMANN, Project Lead StationGuard
Developing a solution without
involving your customers doesn’t re-
ally work. After all, a good solution
is developed for a specific purpose,
and StationGuard is a perfect ex-
ample. We started its development
three years ago and it marked our
entry into the cybersecurity sector.
StationGuard is an intrusion detec-
tion system (IDS); a system that
monitors network traffic in a sub-
station. This works differently from
the way it does in an office. Since,
for example, we always know who
is sending messages across the
network within a substation. We
know what each device does and
how it communicates. This means
that anything that doesn’t conform
to these known scenarios must be
a fault. StationGuard detects these
faults and raises an alarm. This
novel approach hardly ever results
in false alarms and detects new
types of attacks. It’s not a case of
“Someone’s trying to access port x.”
It’s more one of, “Someone’s
tripped a breaker. Is that allowed?”
Our aim here is to make the
security concept easier for users
to understand.
We put a huge amount of effort
into reconstructing the network
traffic in such systems, virtualizing
entire power systems and all their
devices so we can test our product.
In the lab we’ve simulated the way
various devices in a substation
communicate with one another,
which gives us the ability to
physically test our solution.
The development of StationGuard
was initiated by one of our custo-
mers: a Swiss energy provider
worked very closely with us during
the entire development process.
A vast amount of what we do in
product development arises from
customer suggestions and wishes.
The detailed customer feedback had
a significant impact on the progress
of the StationGuard project on
more than one occasion, as we were
continually learning something new.
Before the product launch, we
set up trial installations at various
customer sites in Europe, the USA,
Asia, and Africa. Our product can
only work properly when we’re
familiar with the network traffic –
and switchgear and substations
differ markedly in their construc-
tion depending on where they are
in the world. That’s why we felt
it was so important to visit our
customers during the development
phase. Customer feedback is vital
to the quality of our software.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 15
 ANJA KURTH, Technical Support
The work we do in Technical
Support can be likened to the job of
a copilot: the copilot helps control
the various instruments and takes
care of radio communications. We
too help to control the various
instruments and analyze the results.
Thus we act as an essential commu-
nication link between the customer
and our colleagues in product de-
velopment, picking up the feedback
and passing it on.
We’re involved in the develop-
ment of our products from a very
early stage. We have access to
the Beta versions of the soft-
ware and can use it before it’s
released to the market, which
gives us the opportunity to look
carefully at all its features and
provide important feedback. In
our HV lab we test the hardware
and software, carry out mea-
16
surements, and learn how all the
functions work.
Customers are not restricted at
all in how they use our solutions,
which means there are hundreds
more application scenarios than
could ever be addressed during the
development process. This is just
one area where Technical Support
gets involved. I’ve been part of the
team for four years now and we
receive inquiries about new topics
every single day.
Partial discharge measurement
is my area of expertise. We
recently launched the MPD 800 –
a completely remodeled system
for testing and measuring partial
discharges.
The MPD is not new – it’s been
around for 20 years and has conse-
quently seen a number of develop-
ment stages, since market require-
ments and customer wishes certainly
change over time. The new software
is much more modular in structure.
Our customers can create profiles
to match their requirements, which
reduces complexity. A great deal of
customer feedback has also found its
way into the development process.
We’ve included a lot more features,
with new functions added and
existing ones enhanced.
I believe that our customers
consider the user-friendliness of
our solutions to be very important:
they can set things up in advance,
and we provide a guided workflow
with tips and suggestions about
how to evaluate the measurements.
After all, a test result is only
illuminating if the user knows what
it actually means.
BJÖRN CIALLA, Trainer and Application Engineer
As a trainer, it doesn’t take long
for me to get a good idea of how
customers are finding their way
around our products. Training is
not just a matter of showing them
how to use our devices and our
software, we also want to teach
them the basics. I get a real kick
out of showing customers how to
set up a test and enter everything
manually – and then demonstrat-
ing how it all works when it’s done
automatically. This is the best way
of letting them know what makes
our products tick. You always need
a little more time at the beginning
to set everything up properly – but
then all the tests in similar fields
can run automatically. Testing a
device, for example, no longer
takes five to seven hours; it’s all
done in just 30 minutes. That’s an
incredible time-saver.
The development of our products
in Digital Substation Testing
Solutions and Cybersecurity
Solutions is currently very dynamic.
We need extensive customer
feedback, especially with products
that are just starting out. This gives
customers the opportunity to help
determine the direction that the
ongoing development of a product
takes. Ideally, the end result is a
product that is more intuitive and
simpler for customers to use. That
in itself is really exhilarating.
For us, training means using the
software yourself and operating
the devices yourself. My role as a
trainer involves really getting inside
our solutions to see how they work.
I try to think out of the box, and
I don’t just handle applications
according to the book. It’s a way
of really becoming familiar with
our products and their functions,
knowing what their quirks are, and
finding bugs that can be fixed.
As a Regional Application Engineer,
I also have a lot of contact with
customers; I’m frequently on
the road supporting our sales
colleagues during their site visits to
customers and providing demon-
strations in substations.
In my roles as a Trainer and an
Application Engineer, I’m able to
pass on customer feedback directly
to the product management team.
I’m able to let them know what
works well, which functions our
customers picked up on intuitively,
which ones require a little more
time, what features are still needed,
and where we need to focus. This
feedback has a crucial role to play
in the quality of our software.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 17
SIMPLE MEDIUM-VOLTAGE
CIRCUIT BREAKER CHECKS
WITH CMC TEST SETS

Connecting a CMC 430

to the VDS interface

18
The requirements for circuit breaker
testing differ greatly, due to the
different voltage levels and the
variety of technical setups involved.
The innovative connectivity and
extensive testing capabilities of
CIBANO 500 make it the first choice
for specialized medium-voltage and
high-voltage circuit breaker testing
with detailed analysis options. But if
you want a fast condition check that
only measures the basic values, then
a CMC test set (CMC 353, CMC 430,
CMC 356, CMC 256plus) can be a
useful  alternative.

Checking tripping behavior

using the switching time of the
circuit breakers
The physical proximity of the protec-
tion device, circuit breaker, and the
common interfaces make a system
test that includes medium-voltage
circuit breakers particularly useful in
the context of protection testing. For
example, when testing with a CMC,
a basic trip check that uses the times
of the switching operations can be
performed easily and quickly.

Any anomalies in the tripping be-

havior can be an early indicator that
there is a problem. A delayed trip
time revealed by a first-trip measure-
ment (first activation after a long
time) can show that lubricants are
drying up in the mechanical parts of
the circuit breaker.

Switching time measurements in

disconnected circuit breakers
The switching time can establish
whether the interruption to all

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 19

 Testing CMC + StateSequencer CMC + EnerLyzer (Live) CIBANO 500

Switching operation times   

Coil currents  

Motor current  
Static and dynamic contact
resistance (µΩ) 

Testing tripping units 

Contact travel of main contacts 

Switching time
Circuit breaker check Circuit breaker analysis
measurement

20
current paths occurs in the
prescribed time. To meet the
protection concept requirements,
the absolute switching time must
interact closely with the pulse-
generating protection relay. The
measured switching time per pole
also reveals whether the circuit
breaker’s mechanical parts are
working synchronously.
The Test Universe State Sequencer
module is particularly suitable for
draw-out circuit breakers. It allows
the switching time processes to
be compared with the poles and
auxiliary contacts. This can be a
valuable sign of deterioration.
Switching time measurement in
operative circuit breakers
In modern, gas-insulated medium-
voltage switchgear, the circuit
There is a noticeable
difference in the setup
of medium-voltage and
high-voltage circuit
breakers and in their
physical proximity to the
protection devices.
breakers’ primary contacts are not
often directly accessible. There-
fore, switchgear usually has a
three-phase VDS interface (volt-
age detection system), making it
far easier for the testers to check
the circuit breakers with the CMC.
The easy access allows test leads to
be connected without additional
tools – keeping the cabling effort
to a minimum. EnerLyzer and
EnerLyzer Live (only available for
CMC 430) can use voltage signals to
indirectly access the main contacts
and directly access the auxiliary
contacts and the input and output
signals of the circuit breaker.
Measurement with the VDS
interface is only suitable for radial
feeds with a single-sided supply.
The secondary signals of current
transformers can also be used for
ring lines under load, although
with inverted logic. Suppose a
further analysis of untypical switch-
ing times is required. In that case,
a current clamp and EnerLyzer
or EnerLyzer Live can be used to
obtain additional values relating to
the coil and motor  current.
So in circuit breaker testing, it is
always worth aligning the testing
requirements with the existing
testing equipment. A simple check
of the medium-voltage circuit
breakers using a CMC test set can
be a useful alternative to compre-
hensive testing solutions.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 21
 MEASUREMENT POST-
PROCESSING WITH EASE
Our CT Analyzer specializes in test-
ing, calibrating and assessing all dif-
ferent types of current transformers
with the push of a button.
With this latest software release,
our development team has made
sure that the software’s functional
range has once again been consid-
erably enlarged for postprocessing
measurements.
It’s our customers’ wishes that
inspire us. So, after we presented
22
the new PC software with the
last release, many customers
approached us and requested a
simultaneous view of multiple
tests and comprehensive reporting
possibilities. In the current release,
we have implemented these wishes
and more.
Multi-test view
It is now possible to open multiple
tests at once in the CT Analyzer PC
software. This new feature makes
comparing settings and results from
several measurements, for example,
measurements in between different
phases or cores, easier and faster.
Advanced reporting
With Advanced reporting, multiple
tests can be integrated into one test
report. For example, this is handy for
CT units that have multiple cores, or
when reports are required, which
compare the results from all phases,
or any other use case that requires a
report creation in bulk or in combi-
nation with several measurements.

Reporting template designer
Excel®-based reporting templates can
now be easily customized with the
new reporting template designer tool.
Result simulation / re-calculation
without connected device
It’s also possible now to perform a
simulation or recalculation of the
measurement results only using the
PC software. The CT Analyzer doesn’t
necessarily have to be connected.
CUSTOMER WISHES BOOST
OUR CREATIVITY:
CT ANALYZER SOFTWARE V5.10
The latest software and firmware version 5.10 is
available free of charge. Some more advanced
functions can be purchased with the PC Software
Upgrade Option.
New License available: CT Analyzer PC Software
Upgrade Option (ordering number: P0000413)
This license unlocks additional functionalities of the
CT Analyzer PC Software:
› Multi-test view
› Advanced reporting
› Reporting template designer
› Results simulation / re-calculation without
connected CT Analyzer
Each license can be activated for up to three
Windows users. The license is compatible with
the firmware packages: Standard, Advanced and
IEEE Protection. Don’t fall behind! As a registered
OMICRON customer you can get the latest version
at my.omicronenergy.com
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 23
WHEN AMBITIONS
BECOME BIGGER
EHS-Noord talks about their experience using
OMICRON test equipment

24
 ENGIE High Voltage Services Noord (EHS-Noord), founded
in 2016, is one of the five high voltage departments within
ENGIE Services NL, and we’re located in the northern part of
the Netherlands. As a nationwide service provider with more
than 6,000 employees we make a substantial contribution
to making the Netherlands’ energy supply more sustainable
and decentralized. ENGIE Netherlands is part of the global
energy player ENGIE which operates in close to 70 countries
on 5 continents.
Our concept for dealing with the energy transition
The energy transition poses a significant challenge to almost
all asset owners, and as a service provider, we are under pres-
sure to accelerate the restructuring of the energy infrastruc-
ture. With our specialists at EHS-Noord, we want to add value
to realizing this important transition and help our customers
prepare their energy supplies for the future.
Our primary task is to help customers and principals to
realize safe, reliable, and maximum available high voltage
electrical installations. We strive for perfection in which the
experience and knowledge of our specialists is focused on
a professional and unique service. This requires continuous
development of people, processes, and technology – and
these three factors are closely linked to each other.
Our choice for testing equipment
After an extensive study about customer expectations, it
became clear which qualified staff was needed and what
kind of resources were required. We’re convinced that
an effective specialist department exists by virtue of its
employees’ knowledge and skills and the availability of
the right tools and resources.
«The advantage of having a
CMC 356 with Test Universe is
that we can use different testing
methods for each customer,
installation, and application.»
The measuring and testing equipment must meet our
service requirements as a high-voltage specialist. Even
more importantly, it must be future-proof, grow with
our ambitions, and be compatible with other measure-
ment equipment. In addition, the testing method must be
“accepted” by our clients. In the end, we chose OMICRON’s
testing solutions. Currently we use the following OMICRON
equipment; two CMC 356 units with the Test Universe soft-
ware package, one CT Analyzer and one CPC 100.
Our expectations in daily business
In our daily work, we come into contact with many different
customers, installations, and applications. The advantage
of having a CMC 356 with Test Universe is that we can use
different testing methods for each customer, installation,
and application. For example, we can link the different
Test Universe modules and create a specific test file for each
test case or customer request. When all the tests are done,
we can modify the test report to create a professional, clearly
understandable summary that contains everything that
meets the customer’s needs.
Our field of application
Our field of work is focused on commissioning primary and
secondary medium and high voltage installations. During
commissioning we perform various tests with CMC 356,
CT Analyzer and CPC 100. Recently, we carried out the
complete commissioning and control tests for a Distribution
System Operator (DSO) at a new HV/MV station in Eemshaven,
the Netherlands. Below is a list of the functionalities we tested:
› Time overcurrent relay
› Star point transformer protection
› Voltage regulators of the high voltage transformers
› Differential protection of a transformer field
› Arc protection with an optical fiber
› Circuit breaker failure of an MV installation
› SOTF (Switch On To Fault) functionality
› Differential protection relay
› Distance relay
› Current and voltage transformers
› Restricted Earth Fault (REF) function (both secondary
and primary current injection).
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 25
Our experience in testing
The added value of OMICRON equipment is that they
cover many different testing applications and their ease
of use. For example, one day we may be testing a time-
overcurrent relay, the next day a differential protection
relay or a voltage regulator, and the day after, a synchro-
nizer in a power plant. This is all possible with a single
test set that makes testing clear and easy.
Another advantage is having the ability to create test
templates (OCC files) for different types of relays. We
only need to set up such a test file once and we can
reuse it repeatedly. This saves a lot of time, especially
if we have to test several relays of the same type. In
addition, the use of test templates ensures consistency
with the guarantee that every technician tests the
protection relays the same way. This ensures a high level
of reliability and quality.
Our need for support and training
In order to get as much as possible out of the testing
equipment, ENGIE High Voltage Services Noord chose
a multi-day in-company OMICRON Academy training
course in mid-2019. This is essential, especially for
experts who are already familiar with their test sets.
Using two test towers, the highly skilled trainer varied
between theoretical parts and practical tests and mea-
26
surements. In addition, the trainer responded seamlessly
to the practical experiences of the participants. Here are
some of the topics covered during our training course:
› Creating OCC files with XRIO
› Creating a file to test differential relays
› Creating a file to test distance relays
› Reading COMTRADE files in Test Universe with
Advanced TransPlay
› Creating Annunciation Checker file to test IN and
OUTPUT signals from a relay
› How to test power quality meters
› CB configuration for SOTF or auto-reclosure tests
› How to test a relay without a start contact (pick up)
› Setting a pause module during testing of a relay
that is patched
In addition, and this is important, we experienced
cooperative and professional support from OMICRON.
If we need to have a test checked or require additional
support, we can easily contact their 24/7 technical
support. In summary, it was a pleasure to work with
OMICRON’s testing equipment.
Involved authors at ENGIE High-voltage Services-Noord:
Andre Poelman, Departmental Manager
Ify Emma, Technical Specialist
Sander van Dijk, Technical Specialist
TAKE YOUR DATA SERIOUSLY
Use ADMO to streamline your business processes
and increase data integrity

Every part of the energy industry

is already experiencing the digital
transformation, and this is having
a growing impact on the internal
processes of energy suppliers. Many
companies now consult the data from
their Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) system to optimize their process-
es. However, it is only possible to get a
holistic view of the processes if all the
relevant asset data and information is
included in the analysis.

There is a big difference in the type of

information available, depending on
the type of asset. In contrast to primary
technology assets, which are essentially
defined by their design data, additional
parameterization plays an important
role as a basic function in secondary
technology assets. Consequently, the
asset master data is not the only thing
that must be documented and consid-
ered. Additional information, such as
the parameterization and configuration
of the equipment, and the associated
firmware and software versions, should
also be collected.

Assets are usually managed as an

enterprise value in an ERP system.
Additionally, Enterprise Asset Manage-
ment (EAM) becomes important for
managing the assets according to their
possible functionality. However, the

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 27

actual configuration (parameterization) As the life cycle of an asset proceeds, so
the density of the data increases – and
is subject to the network operation,
with it the significance of data integrity
and this should be managed by a
system specifically designed for this
purpose. This requires a distinction to

g
in
on
be made between the fields of IT and

si
is
m
Operational technology (OT).

om
ec
D
Digitization: risk or opportunity?
The technology used in the digitization
of network operations introduces new
risks. For example, urgent decisions con-
cerning information security must be

ic r
rv he
es
se urt
taken, which affect critical issues such

F
as integrity, reliability, or availability, for
ensuring uninterrupted grid operation.

On the other hand, digitization also

opens up opportunities for getting the
most out of supply networks or manag-
ing them more dynamically, which is
fundamental to the energy transition.

da re
up wa
te
Processes urgently need restructuring
rm
so that all the required data and
fi
e/
ar

information can be saved and stored

w
ft
So

without gaps and presented coher-

ently. Otherwise, a torrent of data and

e
ic
information without structure could

rv
se
overload employees. This is the last

t
rs
Fi
thing that would make work easier.

Managing asset data

The life cycle of an asset is extremely
helpful for understanding the informa-
tion it generates and how it is reused.
Data is continuously being generated
over the life cycle of a substation.
Sometimes this data originates from
many different sources and has to be
managed with a sensible and uniform
approach. In turn, the information can
only be harnessed productively if the
quality of the underlying data is good.
It must also be possible to integrate
data management systems into the
existing IT infrastructure.
Since there are only a few suitable soft-
ware solutions available on the market,
conventional data files, spreadsheet
programs, or in-house systems are
used instead. Although these solutions
meet the data handling requirements
in the short term, they can only be
further developed with great effort and
cost – and very often at the expense
of data integrity. Since employees may
change during an asset’s life cycle, it
can mean that data will be collected
again and again – given that this is still
possible later on in the cycle. Asset data
is usually collected in the early phases
of a life cycle, although it is often
only used in the later phases. This is
another reason why it must be available
over the long term.
Integration in existing systems
In order to make the digitization of
network operations as smooth and
structured as possible, a software solu-
tion that integrates all relevant opera-
tive asset data is practically unavoid-
able. A meaningful and efficient link
to the existing ERP / EAM system is also
essential. ADMO – our intelligent data
management software for electrical
power systems – offers exactly that.

28
 al
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ERP Workforce
management
The following is an example of how the (WFM)
data exchange takes place between
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ERP / GIS / SCADA and ADMO.

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be centrally available, so that it can in- DATABASE Customer

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fluence process optimization. This is the Portal

Top

only way to generate a complete and

reliable picture that ensures sustainable …
optimization decisions can be made.
Digitization in the energy industry can
be seen as an excellent opportunity GIS SCADA ADMO
for improving business processes and Network topology

simplifying data handling. Complete integration of the data management system into the IT environment.

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 29

ON-SITE TESTING WITH
HELP FROM AFAR
Advanced Electrical Services (AES) – a
Calgary-based, NETA-accredited provider
of medium- and high-voltage commis-
sioning services throughout Western
Canada – received a contract from a
customer to perform the on-site commis-
sioning of a newly-installed, 27.5 kV air-
insulated switchgear. The commissioning
was to be performed according to NETA
standards, but in addition, the customer
also wanted AES to perform off-line
PD measurements on the switchgear.
“We had not been involved before
with PD testing on switchgear, but we
remembered that OMICRON has a lot
of experience in this area,” says Tim
Gannon, Field Service Manager at AES.
“So, we contacted them for on-site
support with the PD measurements.”
A PRPD pattern from the initial PD measurement that indicates
objects at floating potential.
30 Magazine | Issue 1 2021
Not simply for production testing
“PD measurement has been used for
several decades to assess the insulation
condition of high-voltage and medium-
voltage electrical equipment,” explains
Mathieu Lachance, one of the Regional
Application Specialists in our North
American office who was contacted
by AES. “In the past, PD measurements
were mostly performed during the
production stages of different assets,
for example, during research and
development, as well as factory type
and acceptance tests,” he explains.
“Nowadays, PD measurement is
also increasingly applied to several
equipment types during on-site
commissioning, periodic maintenance
and continuous monitoring.”
A PRPD pattern from the PD measurement performed at 19 kV
after corrective actions were taken.
Remote PD testing support
“This was an excellent opportunity for
us to introduce AES to all the features
of our newly-released MPD 800 PD
measurement and analysis system,”
recalls Mathieu. “However, due to the
travel and health safety restrictions
that were being implemented across
many Canadian provinces at that time,
our application engineers would not
be able to go on site to assist AES
with the off-line PD measurements,”
he adds.
“AES already has a tremendous
amount of experience when it comes
to medium- and high-voltage tests of
air-insulated, vacuum, and GIS switch-
gear,” says Mathieu. “Therefore, all
parties involved felt comfortable going
 Z
HV
PD measurement setup according
to the IEC 60270 standard
Ck

HV … High-voltage transformer
Ca
Z … Blocking impedance (optional)
Ca … Test object
M Ck … Coupling capacitor
M … Measuring impedance

ahead and performing the on-site PD
measurements with remote support
from our team via video conference.”
Mathieu adds, “We are committed to
helping our customers in the power
industry, but now that includes ways
we never thought of before. This
remote support solution allowed
the PD test to take place in a timely
fashion, despite the travel restrictions.”
“The MPD 800 system was shipped
to AES before the scheduled testing
date,” recalls Mathieu. “This allowed
our application engineers to
provide the AES team with an initial
remote training session to review
the setup and all the measurement
and analysis capabilities of the new
MPD 800 system before the on-site
PD measurements took place.”
Tim Gannon from AES explains, “We
have good technicians, so as long as
they had the equipment, the docu-
mentation, and the added remote
support from OMICRON, they could
easily get through the setup and
measurement. So, it wasn’t an issue
that the OMICRON engineers could not
physically be on-site to support us with
the PD measurements.”
Customized profiles simplify testing
“It was very important that our
on-site team felt comfortable with
the MPD 800 system,” adds Tim. “To
this extent, the system’s
MPD Suite software is well
suited. A customized testing profile
was created for us by the OMICRON
engineers, specifically tailored to our
application. This profile only included
the PD measurement and analysis func-
tions we would require during the test
and therefore avoided any confusion.”
Mathieu explains, “Such customizable
profiles allow MPD 800 users to only
select the functions they need for a
specific PD testing application and
hide the rest. This optimizes the testing
experience and saves time.”
Issue found inside switchgear
“The switchgear successfully passed
an AC dielectric withstand test,

«A fast analysis of the PRPD diagram

was performed by our support
engineers during the video conference.»

Mathieu Lachance,
Regional Application Specialist, OMICRON
also known as a ‘Hipot’ test,” recalls
Mathieu. “However, during the initial
PD measurements, high PD levels were
detected on all three phases at a volt-
age of approximately 5 kV,” he adds.
“Our support engineers performed a
fast analysis of the phase-resolved par-
tial discharge (PRPD) diagram during
the video conference,” he adds. “The
conclusion was that some conductive
parts were left at floating potential
inside the switchgear. These conduc-
tive objects were apparently neither
insulated nor grounded properly.”
“In order to locate the source of these
partial discharges, we decided to
isolate and test different areas of the
switchgear by opening and closing
some of the breakers,” says Mathieu.
“This process of elimination helped
narrow down the search area to the
main bus compartment.”
Tim Gannon from AES recalls, “At this
point, a visual inspection was per-
formed to verify the findings of the
32
PD measurements. After opening and
inspecting the switchgear, our on-site
team quickly found several anomalies
inside the main bus compartment.”
“Pieces of hardware used for the
assembly were left uninstalled inside
the switchgear along with a pair of
electrical pliers,” Tim adds. “In addition,
there were some critical errors found
in the switchgear assembly, such as
unconnected corona rings.”
Mathieu explains, “Objects that are
left behind can result in partial dis-
charges that will cause the insulation
to deteriorate and create an abnormal
amount of ozone over time. This can
eventually damage the equipment or
lead to in-service failure with signifi-
cant economic losses. It also poses a
considerable risk to the safety of
on-site personnel.”
Visual inspection confirms PD results
“The findings of the visual inspection
confirmed the initial results of the
«When we conducted the visual
inspection, it was reassuring to
find exactly what the PD data
was showing us.»
Tim Gannon,
Field Service Manager, Advanced Electrical Services (AES)
aes-ab.com
PRPD analysis,” Mathieu adds. “The
pieces of hardware were removed,
and the corona rings were connected
according to the manufacturer’s
specifications. Afterwards, the PD
measurements were repeated, and all
PD apparent charge levels were below
100 pC, which was the passing criteria
at a voltage of 19 kV.”
Tim Gannon from AES remembers,
“In terms of PD testing, I think the
thing that really opened my eyes was
when we started to visually inspect
the switchgear and actually found the
things that the PD data showed us.”
He adds, “To be a believer, or to be
convinced that PD testing is something
we should invest our time and money
in, it is of course, very reassuring to be
able to find the things that the PD test-
ing equipment detected beforehand.”
Adding PD testing to the arsenal
“I think that being able to work
together with the OMICRON team to
find an actual issue on behalf of our
customer definitely opened doors
for us.” Tim says. “PD testing is still
relatively new for many of our custom-
ers, but it is definitely something we’re
going add to the arsenal of diagnostic
tests that we’ve been doing,” he adds.
“Through our recent experience, we
can now recommend PD testing to all
of our customers with the assurance
that it really works.”
Service satisfaction
“Due to time constraints, we were
under a lot of pressure to perform
these off-line PD measurements
on switchgear without much prior
experience,” Tim recalls. “From the
beginning, OMICRON has been very
enthusiastic and, in terms of the
support they gave us, they’ve gone
above and beyond what I have experi-
enced with other manufacturers.”
“We were happy to be involved with
the OMICRON team, because we
needed that level of dedicated support
to ensure the successful and timely
execution of this project,” Tim adds.”
We will continue to use OMICRON as
our number one source for PD testing.”
Dedicated to innovation and support
Mathieu concludes, “With 20 years of
experience in the field of PD testing on
medium- and high-voltage electrical
equipment, we not only continuously
strive to provide our customers with
innovative electrical testing solutions,
such as the new MPD 800 system but
also with essential worldwide support,
even in challenging times.”

INTERESTING TOPIC?
Listen to the episode in Energy Talks – the OMICRON podcast series

Energy Talks features various episodes related to power system testing.

Scan the QR-Code or visit:
omicronenergy.com/podcast

WHAT IS Partial discharge, or PD, is defined as a localized di-

electric breakdown of a small portion of an insulating
PARTIAL DISCHARGE? material. It occurs when the local electric field exceeds
the local dielectric strength of the insulation. When a
PD event takes place, a current pulse of a short duration
(in the nanoseconds range) is generated. This current
pulse can be measured using different kinds of sensors.
In many cases, PD is detectable at the early stage of the
insulation deterioration process. Therefore, PD measure-
ment and analysis offers operators an early warning and
allows time to plan corrective actions when needed.

More information at
omicronenergy.com/pd-testing

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 33

RISK ASSESSMENT OF
CYBER THREATS IN
SUBSTATIONS

34

Andreas Klien,
Cybersecurity Expert,
OMICRON
Andreas Klien, our Cybersecurity Expert,
has been addressing cybersecurity issues
and specifically monitoring cyber risks
in electrical power systems’ communi-
cation networks for almost 10 years.
Since 2018, he has been the head of the
Power Utility Communication business
area. With the StationGuard Intrusion
Detection System (IDS), he has helped
develop a solution with innovative
approaches that set new standards.
In this article, he gives an insight into
the risk assessment of cyber threats
in substations and the demands this
consequently makes on an IDS.
Challenges in the energy industry
The problem facing network operators
today is the control they’ve lost over
their own substations. For instance,
a successful cyber attack allows an
attacker to take over important control
«Security auditors ignored substations for a
long time, but now they are an essential
part of every risk assessment.»
functions or deactivate protection func-
tions. It does not take long for consider-
able damage to be done. Firstly, attack-
ers can bypass the existing substation
firewalls – for example, via maintenance
computers connected directly to the
devices or the network. And secondly,
security systems do not usually speak
the same language as protection and
control engineers, which means that
further valuable hours or even days can
elapse before an attack is discovered.
For network operators, an IDS is specifi-
cally used to protect certain substations,
and in a broader sense, it also helps to
harden the entire power grid.
In contrast to the flexibility expected
from the IT landscape’s infrastructure,
substations are set up based on specific
requirements. Therefore, security
solutions don’t need to handle plug-
and-play situations; instead, they should
meet the requirements for securing a
predefined, static network. For modern
IEC 61850 substations, there is also a clear
set of rules setting out which devices
are allowed to communicate what. The
entire system is described once in the
SCD (System Configuration Description)
file, and after successful commissioning,
it often remains unchanged for years.
Adaptation is usually only necessary when
substations are being extended, or old
devices replaced in maintenance work.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 35
Cyber threats and their assessment
Security auditors ignored substa-
tions for a long time, but now they
are an essential part of every risk
assessment. Risks due to environ-
mental factors or inherent in the
system are no longer the only ones
that need to be recognized; in the
digital age, it is also important to
assess the threat of cyber attacks.
To minimize the risk of a successful
attack, it is critical to identify all
vectors that could be used by at-
tackers or malware to compromise
the substation. As recent attacks
have shown, there is no connection
between the risk level and specific
protocols. Substations based on
IEC 60870-5-104 are affected just
as much as modern IEC 61850
substations. Older installations
with generations of devices, for
which security aspects were still
of minor importance during their
development, bear a particular risk.
A modern IDS that can only check
communication within the substa-
tion network at the protocol level
is inadequate in this day and age.
An IDS must also understand the
significance of what is happening
to recognize new attack scenarios
effectively. This understanding
will help the IDS provide protec-
tion and control engineers with
straightforward and easily under-
standable alarm messages. Unlike
cryptic reports, this saves valuable
time in analyzing a potential
attack on the control systems of
critical infrastructure.
Alarms not only have to be clear,
but they also need to be accurate.
Too many false alarms can quickly
lead to the loss of confidence in a
monitoring solution, and worse,
to an indifferent reaction. An IDS
must also understand routine test-
ing and maintenance activities to
prevent such problems and include
them accordingly.
Conclusion
Modern technology in substations
offers many advantages to
network operators. It protects the
equipment and helps stabilize
the networks. The idea that using
modern technology increases the
likelihood of being the target of a
cyber attack is a popular miscon-
ception. It doesn’t matter if you’re
using an antiquated system or the
latest technology, all risks have to
be assessed, and relevant actions
need to be taken no matter what.
With modern cybersecurity solu-
tions, the communication networks
of both variants can be effectively
protected against threats.

Attackers always use the paths

of least resistance. The easier it is
to gain access, the more likely an Remote access/
Attack vectors
company IT
attack is, even if only for practice Control center
purposes. Maintenance processes
have become one of the most popu- Station PC 2 Settings
lar vectors. Remote connections 1 IEC 60870-5-101,
104, DNP
3 3a
for diagnostics, and office laptops
connected directly to devices for Maintenance PC
Gateway
parameterization, have both been
used by attackers in the recent past.
Test documents

Monitoring network traffic 5 4 4a

StationGuard was specifically
developed to detect cyber attacks
in substations immediately and
provide optimal support for protec-
tion and control engineers.
Test set
Test PC
To minimize the risk of a successful attack, it is critical to identify all vectors that
could be used by attackers or malware to compromise the substation.

36
 VIEWPOINTS
What role do partial discharge (PD) testing and monitoring
play in the maintenance of electrical equipment?

“In order to prevent electrical equipment from failing
when in service, it is important to be able to assess its
insulation condition. PD testing can be periodically
performed to achieve such assessments and pinpoint
even the smallest problems. It is important to correlate
current PD measurements with past results. This allows
you to have a more complete overview of the insulation’s
condition status and potential changes. As electrical
equipment ages, PD measurements should become more
frequent. Overall, PD testing
helps you to determine when
timely maintenance actions
are needed to prevent costly,
unplanned failures.”
“The way that PD monitoring is used varies according to
the type of electrical asset and how critical it may be in
the network. If you have a critical asset, then it is generally
advantageous to begin PD monitoring from the start,
because you want to make sure that this asset is always
online. If there isn’t an urgent need, then you may want
to consider implementing PD monitoring later when you
either see a problem detected with PD testing or as the
asset ages to track PD development over time. Continuous
PD monitoring enables you to
trend developing faults to de-
termine when further PD test-
ing and maintenance, or even
replacement, are required.”

Patrick Zander, Samuel Scheller,

PD Monitoring Sales and Product Manager,
Applications Specialist, PD Monitoring Solutions,
OMICRON OMICRON

INTERESTING TOPIC?
Listen to the episode in Energy Talks – the OMICRON podcast series

Energy Talks features various episodes related to power system testing.

Scan the QR-Code or visit:
omicronenergy.com/podcast

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 37

ON SITE: OMICRON IN ARGENTINA
Valeria Braun from IDUR S. A. gives us her insight into
the power sector
IDUR S.A. was founded in 1992 by Rodolfo Braun. The company
specializes in high quality solutions in the electrical testing and
measurements sector. They have been representing OMICRON
in Argentina and Uruguay since 1994, where they have a solid
share of the market.
How is the energy grid structured?
Valeria Braun: The Argentine Interconnection System or SADI
(Sistema Argentino de Interconexion) transports the energy
throughout the entire country. Since Argentina is a large coun-
try (8 biggest in the world), the grid consists mainly of 8,700 mi
th
(14,000 km) of 500 kV high voltage lines. The grid is completed
by thousands of kilometers of 132 kV lines as well as 330 kV,
220 kV and 66 kV lines.
What resources are being used to generate power?
Nowadays there’s a capacity of 41,564 MW installed. This is
achieved through:
› Thermal Electric Centrals 61%
› Hydroelectric 26%
› Nuclear Power 4%
The remaining 9% is generated by renewable energy sources
including solar, biomass and wind turbines. The goal for 2025 is
to ramp up production of renewable sources to 20%.
What are the hot topics for the energy supply market
at the moment?
Without question, renewable energy has been in the spotlight
as we try to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. An ongoing
plan called RenovAR was set in motion many years ago, and it’s
38
already in phase 3. The plan encourages installing both solar
and wind turbine parks by offering tax reductions and other
benefits. However, many of these projects are already behind
schedule due to a lack of funding.
What kind of challenges are your customers facing?
The uncertainty of energy rates is the biggest challenge our
customers are facing these days. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic,
the Argentine Government has frozen energy rates through
2020, and 2021 tariffs are still undecided. In a country with a
very high inflation rate, this type of policy can result in a lack
of investments and less maintenance from both preventive
and corrective sides.
When looking towards the future, where do you see the
biggest challenges in the power sector and in general?
The biggest challenge would be the modernization of
the power grid, for example, adopting the IEC 61850
communication standard so all substations can move to a
digital grid, is going to require hard work. The transition
for increasing the installed capacity with renewable energy
sources is also a big challenge.
Valeria Braun,
General Manager,
IDUR S. A.
www.idur.com.ar
 Latin America

FACTS
› Capital: Buenos Aires
› Inhabitants: 45 millions
› Currency: Argentine Peso
› Language: Spanish
› National dish: Barbacue (Asado)
› National drink: Mate and Wine
› National sport: Soccer

DOS AND DON’TS

IN ARGENTINA
› Taste an “Asado” with a good bottle of
Malbec Wine.
› Visit Perito Moreno Glacier Park as well as
the Iguazu Falls.
› Never reject a “Mate” – it’s frowned
upon … (but since the pandemic, this might
be a good option)

Buenos Aires: La Plata Cathedral and Plaza Moreno Fountain

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 39

ALWAYS ON HAND FOR
QUICK CHECKS
With CMC Swift, you can easily control your CMC test set
with a smartphone or tablet
It’s a situation most test technicians are familiar with:
cramped conditions in equipment rooms and rows of
cubicles with protection relays that need to be tested.
There’s rarely a decent spot to sit or put things down, which
is why the testing laptop can end up on the test-set, the
carrying case, your lap, or even on the floor.
When Florian Fink, CMC Swift Product Manager at
OMICRON, talks to our customers, he is regularly confronted
with reports like this, and the feedback he’s gotten from our
survey on the use of mobile devices also confirms them. Most
testing engineers also want a control option that is simple,
40
user-friendly, and above all mobile, especially for conduct-
ing simple, manual tests with the CMC. The test laptop could
then stay in the car for simple checks.
Florian is working together with the development team on
an app that makes it easy to operate our test sets with a
smartphone or tablet. CMC Swift is about to enter an open
beta phase for gathering more feedback from real-life situ-
ations that can be incorporated into a customized solution.
Smartphones and tablets are already part of day-to-day work
in most companies, whether for workforce management,
checklists, documenting test steps, or just for communication.
With CMC Swift, operating the CMC test set for simple
checks can be added to that list. We’ve been consistently
gearing the app’s development to suit our customer’s
needs. We’ve focused on developing functions relevant to
real-life situations and implementing outstanding usability
for conducting the individual test steps.
CMC Swift’s development also aimed to exploit mobile
devices’ full potential – making the daily routine of manual
checks far easier for testing engineers. Unlike the rigid
front panels that are directly installed in the test sets, CMC
Swift allows test technicians to move freely and make
accurate entries from any position. The app wirelessly
connects smartphones and tablets to the NET-2 interface
of our CMC test sets via WiFi.
With CMC Swift, testing engineers can output analog
voltages and currents via their CMC and inject or measure
binary signals. Using this approach, wiring and process con-
trol checks and energization and tripping tests for protection
functions (such as overcurrent protection) can be conducted
quickly and easily. The tester is supported by an application-
specific keyboard, allowing numerical quantities or ramp
steps to be adapted effortlessly. Events that happen during
checks can be tracked directly using an event list, meaning
that the app is also perfect for fast troubleshooting.
If you want to know more, try the app for yourself! You
can use CMC Swift for free during the beta phase to
experience its benefits.
For more information about the beta phase,
please scan the QR code!
omicronenergy.com/cmcswift
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 41
 OUR NEW PODCAST SERIES
Listen to various topics about power system testing

We're excited to announce the official launch of
our new, regular podcast series, “Energy Talks”. This
podcast series offers you episodes in which our own
experts, users and industry peers share their practical
knowledge and experienced views on various topics
related to power system testing.
Find more information about all available episodes
on our podcast page, which you can access using the
QR code in this article. Please note that our podcast
page and all episodes are available in English only.
channel. You can listen and subscribe to “Energy Talks”
as well on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Deezer and Apple
Podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to our “Energy Talks”
podcast series to never miss an episode.
We are looking forward to your feedback:
podcast@omicronenergy.com
Enjoy listening!

You can also find our “Energy Talks” episodes in the Listen to Energy Talks:
news section of our website and on our YouTube omicronenergy.com/podcast

42
SERVICE CENTERS IN LATIN AMERICA
Our commitment to our customers is to provide them with
extraordinary technical support

In order to be closer to our customers in Latin

America, we have established two highly
qualified Service Centers located in Mexico
(Mexico City) and Brazil (Sorocaba).

Following our standards, these Service Centers Vinicius Bardini,

perform repair and calibration services with the Coordinator of Service
same quality and reliability as those performed in Centers in Latin America,
the factory, providing greater agility and speed. OMICRON

Magazine | Issue 1 2021 43

 OMICRON
GOES VIRTUAL WITH EVENTS
1 st Power System
Protection Summit (PS ) 2
In an effort to stay connected to our
customers and share knowledge
amid COVID-19, we organized the
1 Power System Protection Summit
st
(PS 2). We want to thank IEEE Africa
Council and SEL for their trust and
sponsorship.
PS2 took place virtually
October 19–21, 2020. It is the first
and only event focused on power
system protection in MEA.
The industry platform was attended
by 462 participants from 50 countries.
OMICRON Energizing Women
(OEW)
OEW is a purpose driven initiative
undertaken by OMICRON with
the objective of energizing young
female electrical engineers and hel-
ping them pave the way to success.
OEW hosted 4 pioneering female
electrical engineers who took part
in an inspiring panel discussion
attended by 31 fellow female
electrical engineers.
FOR MORE INDUSTRY RELATED EVENTS VISIT:
meapowersystems.com
Participants joined an enriching
program of 16 technical and keynote
sessions discussing the latest MEA
power system protection needs and
trends. The keynote speakers for
the event were Dr. Alex Apostolov
from PACWorld and Steffen Kaiser
from OMICRON.
The event was well-received by
customers, with some calling it PS2 kicked off with OMICRON
“a smart initiative.” PS speaker,
2
Energizing Women (OEW); an initia-
Eng. Mohammed Rashad from tive with the objective of energizing
Alfanar shared: “I have 11 years of young female electrical engineers.
experience in the field of power More information below.
system protection, but I gained even
more experience at this event.” Stay tuned for PS2 2021!
The panel discussed the challenges
of being part of a male-dominated
field, perception, and the struggle
of balancing personal and work
life. The 4 panellists weighed in by
sharing their own struggles and
journeys to success.
OMICRON ENERGIZING
At future OEW events, male pro-
WOMEN (OEW)
fessionals from the industry will be
invited to share their insights and
suggestions for creating a better
environment for female engineers.
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 43
 OUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
By embracing new digital communication tools, we can
support you in more ways than ever before
Due to these challenging times, we mobilised
quickly to find new ways of staying in touch with
you. We were able to act fast and utilize new digital
technology for reaching out to you with knowledge
and support …
OMICRON ACADEMY
TRAINING WEBINARS
Our training webinars are built around real testing
situations and given by experienced trainers – they
are ideal for technical staff from electrical utilities,
industrial plants, equipment manufacturers and
service companies. We can also customise our
webinars to suit your needs.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
With the shift from physical events to virtual ones,
our dedicated team swung into action to find new
digital platforms for hosting events. As a result,
we are now able to host different types of virtual
events in various languages, with the aim of con-
necting the power system engineering community.
Dutch: Klantendag
French: Rendez-vous Test et Réseau
Russian: Protection Day
English: OMICRON 3D Transformer Class
OMICRON Diagnostic Forum
Magazine | Issue 1 2021 43