TANZANIA ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED

From: HCE-SWHZ To: ZM-SWHZ,

PE-SWHZ,
RM RUKWA
ZPTE-SWHZ

Ref: HCE-SWHZ/ Date: 18th November, 2021

RE: ANALYSIS FOR EARTH TRANSFORMER AT SUMBAWANGA

SUBSTATION.

Dear Sir/Madam,
As well as known that, we had emergency case on 33/11/0.4kv
500kVA Earth transformer at sumbawanga Substation. Reported on
Saturday 06th November 2021 leakage of oil earth transformer. We
arrived at sumbawanga to attend emergency to maintain power
reliability to our customers. We achieved to stop leakage on time.

After all process of power restoration, after some minutes we observed

abnormal sound on earth transformer and oil leakage.quckly power
was isolated and we founds carbon on overflow oil.
We did the action of removing it from the circuit for further test and
measurements such resistance test, voltage ration and Insulation test,
with visual inspection and results indicated Red phase winding already
insufficient.

Through management, MTS, ZMSWH, RM at sumbawanga and

others, they tried for their level best to insure we back on time to
supply reliability power to our customers.
On Suturday 13th November 2021 around 10:00am we received the
earth transformer from Tabora and we off loaded it.
Moreover, we did the test and measurements on received earth
transformer, and results were hunky-dory. Sunday 14th November
2021, around 18:54pm, earth transformer energized and we backed on
normal power supplying to our customers.

On Monday 15th November 2021, around 16:00pm we received

information for the pressure relief has been operated and oil
transformer overflow on earth transformer that was replaced.as
technical team we were supposed to attend immediately emergency
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again and to sort out the means how we could supply power to our
customers. We archived to swap power cable from 10MVA/66/33KV
to 5MVA/33/11KV in order to supply power to 33kv Bus bar, for
insuring that power in all districts at Rukwa having a supply of power.
Apart from that, we did the action of removing it from the circuit for
further test and measurements such resistance test, voltage ration and
Insulation test, with visual inspection and results indicated Red phase
winding already insufficient.
In view of above we observed that, it is abnormal situation, and to start
doing analysis of the events.

(A) The aim of Earth Transformer in Circuit:

Earth transformer is just like as others transformer. But the application
of it just to protect the main transformer that manufactured on
VECTOR connection, to provide the path to GROUND in case of
Faults, where can cause OVER VOLTAGE or OVER CURRENT.
Earth transformer manufactured on STAR connection to provide
neutral point that connected to the GROUND at low resistance (0.1 or
0.01 Ohms) During earth faults we expect current to flow through
earth transformer on low resistance.
According to earth resistance to be high compared to normal values, it
was not easy for current to flow on 1500Ohms, stating to circulate in
the winding on earth transformer and finally causing disaster on earth
transformer.

(B): Analysis on protection system:

In fact the previously earth transformer were installed in circuit
directly without any protection system, these because of thinking that
any faults that will occurs on section of or in earth transformer will be
cleared by the protection system that installed to protect Main
Transformer, in fact it was applicable on time but without thinking
tomorrow. In reality, we didn’t have protection system on earth
transformer.

(C): Analysis on Measurements:

So far, we did analysis on 33kv bus bar, Power Cable from Main
Transformer to bus bar, Power cable from Main Transformer to Earth
Transformer, Surge Arrester installed on main Transformer and
finally Ground earth resistance test.

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-We didn’t discover anything on power cable main transformer to bus
bar.
-We didn’t discover anything on Surge arrester installed on 33kv side
of main transformer.
- We observed damage on power cable from main transformer to earth
transformer.
- We observed the value of earthing resistance that, it is not good for
the substation
- 1500 Ohms measured value of earth resistance on the point whereby
neutral point connected.
On the side of heavy current we concluded that, the source of these
events were poor earth resistance at substation. These caused by
rehabilitation that going on at substation. Earthing system were
affected
In addition to, we did not have staffs from our side attached early on
construction going on now to safe guard our infrastructure.

(D). Measure. (Plan):

Through these events, I would like to suggest that, before we replace
again earth transformer after receiving from maintenance we ought
first to insure the ground earth resistance at substation is well
improved.
Without doing that, the same situation could happen.
So far, we ought to think to install protection system that could help to
protect earth transformer. For over current and buchholz relay at list
to safe guard it.

(E).Recommendation:
Through these, in fact I would like to advice you that during
preventive maintenance we ought to have enough time for preventing.
If the time will be limited, we could not archive the meaning of
preventive maintenance
We could be having a lot of emergency unnecessary.

Written by:
Eng: Mkalawa Anselem
HCE-SWHZ: