HIGH VOLTAGE Boa Deep C is using HV of 6600 Volts (6.6 kV) for supplying heavy consumers. This is either done directly, or by supplying transformers for the heavy consumers. ‘The reason for using HV is mainly to reduce the short circuit current. The equipment becomes heavy and expensive if using for example 450 Volt. Another advantage Is the significant reduction of cables sizes. During design and selection of equipment for marine purpose itis tried to reduce the risk of accident from both HV and LV. This is for example that all switch gears, switch boards and transformers are made so it is not possible to reach living electric parts. For HV you shall do several steps before you reach living voltage parts. Never the less, accidents have heppen, and will happen again if not few, but important measures are followed. In the following some key points are expressed and finalized with instruction for work|on the HY plant. High voltage creates some changes in the way to operate and maintain equipment compared to uw. ‘The electrostatic field is related to voltage. This field is the important factor when it comes to high voltage. It is this electrostatic field that causes the disruptive discharge through the Isolation material. If we have concentration of electrostatic fields in one area the chance of having such disruptive discharge will increase. To prevent this we must ensure that there is not made any damage to the cable insuletion Furthermore, the cables in HV plants will act as a capacitance. And the cable will stay charged even after the power is switched off. That is why we have to earth the cables before working on HY equipment. The current is not very high for (disconnected) cable lengths on board a vessel, but still enough to get serious burns, To check the cables for remanence and verify that we are not on a living source we're using a special tool. This check is also used to verify that that the correct circuit is disconnected from switch board. ‘The tool should be checked prior to, and after use. The check after is to validate that the tool was, ‘working during the voltage check. If any doubt of the condition of the tester, consider the HV ‘equipment or cabling to be a living circu. ‘One more important factor is to make sure no back feeding is possible. (Trough transformers secondary side.) HV cables are special cables made to reduce the electrostatic fields. Be very careful not to damagethe cable. You should also be aware of where the HV cables are routed. {all HV cables onboard Boa Deep € is in red color.) HY cables will be found in engine rooms, switchboard rooms, thruster rooms forward, above ceiling in ECR and office, cargo holds, port shaft tunnel, ROV hangar and aft thruster rooms. The access from Ist deck to switchboard room shall never be used as a normal access way. ‘The following compartments are treated as HY room and personnel shall be "instructed" with respect to the danger of HV, and work on such. ‘Switch board rooms port and starboard Thruster room forward and aft Engine rooms starboard and port ROV hangar Health risk from electric shock It is the current that is dangerous. AC (50 - 60 Hz) is 3 -5 times more dangerous than OC. Less than 220 V: Heart problem Between 220 V and 1000 V: will result in both heart and respiration problems. More than 1000 V: Creates respiration paralyzing High voltage can cause small external damages to skin, but still have heavy burns in muscles and Internal organs. Wet skin (sweating) Is more dangerous than dry. ‘Though external injury to skin may not look dangerous, internal organs may be severing injured. Death is very likely, or if lucky enough to survive loss of arms or legs is often the consequence of electric shock from HV. SHORT CIRCUIT ON HV EQUIPMENT To visualize the forces we are dealing with, the following example gives an idea of the power that is released through a short circuit, 10.000 v (10 kv) ‘Arc from the short circuit (Based on 40 KA (40.000 A)) leading to: ‘The air temperature will Increase to 20.000 deg. Celsius.This result in an air volume of 1 M3 expands to 700 M3 at atmospheric pressure. ‘The force one meter from the arc will be about1500 ka/M2, Due to the high temperature the surrounding metal will turn in to plasma To sum it all up: In fact this will be an explosion! To prevent damage to people and surrounding switch boards and HV equipment are furnished with metal clad directing the blow to more safe areas. For example upwards. WORK ON HIGH VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT Electrician with HV certificate is the overall responsible person for management and the maintenance of HV plant, Normatly work on HV equipment shall only take place in port. (It is shorter distance to qualifies ‘medical help in the event of an accident.) If work has to be done at sea, never do this in poor weather conditions. (High Sea) The normal condition for work on high voltage is to have the entire switchboard dead. If this is not possible the required sections to be split as deemed necessary. Ail necessary precautions to prevent accident shall be implemented, EVERYBODY SHALL RESPECT THE SHIELDING OF WORKING AREA! AA checklist developed for Boa Deep C is to be used for work on HV. This shall be used. NEVER TOUCH ANY HV CONNECTION POINTS BEFORE THE EQUIPMENT IS EARTHED AND THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON SAY IT'S SAFE. (YOU LITARLY SPEAKING NOT GETTING A SECOND CHANCE.) ONLY QUALIFIED PERSONELL SHALL WORK ON HV EQUIPMENT KEY WORDS FOR WORKING ON HIGH VOLTAGE ON BOARD 1. To work on HV equipment an Isolation certificate shall be issued. This certificate must be valid before a HV work permit can be validated. Work on HV shall never be considered as a routinework. Hence, a risk assessment or safe job analysis shall be performed. 2, Before the work can commence the whole operation shall be planned in precise steps. During, the work this plan shall be followed. 3. All equipment and machinery shall be secured for unintentionally start or connection, (Isolation certificate) Check for possible back feeding from transformers etc. 4, Diesel engine's starting air shall be shut off and locked in closed position by padlock. 5. All work on high voltage shall be with minimum two persons present. 6. There shall always be one person present, only taking care of the safety, and shall not participate in the work, Normally this will be the chief engineer or other person appointed who has: knowledge of the HV plant. 7. The working area shall be clearly marked, by using red/white marking band and nobody except the work team shall enter inside this area, The leader for coupling and leader for safety shall pay attention to minimum safety distance. (When HV equipment is unshielded.) Signboard for HV work in progress to be posted both at the work site and in switchboard room at the breaker. 8, When working on HV equipment special PPE must be worn, 9. Equipment or part of plant where there shall be performed work shall be tested for no voltage present, and earth cables mounted. An approved voltage tester and earth equipment shall be used. Voltage tester is to be checked following the equipment’s procedure before and after the test. 10. When connecting grounding cables, the earth end shall be connected prior to equipment connection points. LL, Earthing shall stay connected during the whole operation, and shall not be removed before the work site is clear and ready for re-connection. 12, When meager test is performed the local earthing and In switch board is removed. Remember to discharge remanence in cables before equipment is touched, 13. When job is completed earth equipment to be removed and protection shields and covers fitted. 14. A dedicated log shall be kept and maintained for all work that involve touching equipment or part of plant normally under live voltage.