TRANSFORMER FAILURE REDUCTION TARGET,

08/17/2023
North Eastern Region.

INTRODUCTION

A meeting was constituted on this date between 0900hrs – 1330hrs with the following members.

Members;

1. David Mwai – Ag. Chief Eng. Technical Services, N.E.

2. John Kamau – In charge O&M, Kiambu County

3. James Mwaura – Electrical Plant, N.E.

4. Michael Mwai - Electrical Plant, N.E.

The deliberations were made, and proposals put across towards reduction of distribution
transformer failures. Moreover, need to expedite the same to reduce/mitigate the losses.

NOTES

A. CAUSES OF TRANSFORMER FAILURES.

Technically, the known causes were categorized into various factors depending on the aspects
involved.

1. Voltages
- High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) earthing integrity.
o Inadequate, poorly done or vandalized earthing conductor.
o Poor earth resistance values (> 20Ω for LV and > 10Ω for HV). Should be less than.
o The PME (Permanent Multiple Earth) missing, vandalized or with poor earth
resistance values.
- Lack of surge diverters, and arcing horns.
- Terminal TX installation lacking properly earthed surge arrester.
- Long Medium Voltage (MV = 11 or 33kV) lines causes high receiving end voltages.

2. Currents
- Improvised or inadequate HV and LV fuse grading. Ought to adhere to the correct fuse
current rating depending on the TX full load current rating.
- LV phase balancing and loading.
- Clashing or twisted conductors of LV phases.
- Trees on wayleave trace. Prompt trace maintenance to be adhered to.
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TRANSFORMER FAILURE REDUCTION TARGET,
08/17/2023
North Eastern Region.

3. Workmanship
- Lack of the right tools for the job.
o Cable lugs ought to be properly sized and secured using a crimping tool. Avoid use of
pliers and binding wire for connection of conductor to the TX HV and LV termination
rods.
o Lack of use of equipments; voltmeters, ammeters, insulation resistance and earth
resistance meters for the measurement of the various guiding parameters to confirm
sanity and integrity of the substation.
o Lack of adherence to TX handling policy.
It was passed as policy that only a supervisor ought to pick the TX from stores, do
primary tests (continuity and insulation) in stores and test also after reaching site
before installation.
o Poor dressing of HV & LV conductors at the Substation.
o Poor tensioning of the LV conductors. This leads to poor sagging, thus causes
clashing and twisted conductors.

4. Materials
- Lack of availability of materials in stores.
- Lack of availability of funds.
- Compromised or poor Quality of materials available. User dept. ought to be thoroughly
engage in the procurement and acceptance processes.

5. Vandalism
- Known measures are already in use to mitigate this. Further addition action needed for
the activities.
o Actions including, securing the TX on the H-pole, HV Ring fencing, Customer
awareness through media against vandalism.

B. PROPOSED ROAD MAP

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 TRANSFORMER FAILURE REDUCTION TARGET,
08/17/2023
North Eastern Region.

With a case study of Kiambu County.

 County O&M Eng. offices to form dedicated substation team headed by a supervisor or
experienced union staff. The said team would only focus on this target with the activities
mentioned here below.
 Proposal is to have each depot with such a team. It was noted that currently 3No. Depots
have; Thika, Kiambu and Ruiru. The model is to be replicated to the other depots; Gatundu,
Githunguri, Limuru and Kikuyu who majorly rely on the main team.
- It was further noted that the depots without such a dedicated substation team had
significantly a majority of the tx failures in comparison with the depots that have a team.
 It was agreed the teams to tackle the task, prioritizing on the most problematic SSs and
move sequentially to eventually achieve reinstatement of as many of these substations as
possible.
 The Corrective Maintenance and Routine Activities in each of the substations would be;
- Correct cable / conductor terminations; ensure proper lagging
- Check and correct HV and LV earthing integrity; wiring and earth resistance values.
- Check and correct HV and LV fuse connections and current ratings.
- Check and correct Phase Balancing and Loadings (per phase and total TX loading)
- Correct TX Cable/conductor substation dressing.
- The Substation team is to liaise and get information from KYN teams.
- Notify Mains team in case of visible poor sagging for action.
- Notify and work with Electrical Plant team in cases requiring specialized expertise and
assistance in corrective maintenance of the TX.
- O&M Eng. to facilitate system reinforcement schemes where needed.
- O&M and Technical Services to facilitate training where needed.
- The team to ensure proper documentation on corrections and recommissioning.
 In light of these activities, it was seen inevitable that the team would need a dedicated KPLC
fleet vehicle and a dedicated hiab for the county for this purpose.

C. FURTHER

Commitment and passion from the state holders.

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