Adopting best O & M practices of

EHV protection &

Switchgear Equipment

The Ahmedabad Electricity Co. Ltd

B.S.Dholakia Mgr.(E)
 132 kV SWITCHYARD LOCATION

– Critical location due to

space constrains
compared to new site.
– Pollutants:
• Water vapor from
cooling tower
• Coal dust from coal
conveyers
• Chemical flumes &
salts from water
treatment plant

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 2
 Performance of Switchyard Equipments
• Tracking on insulators
• Deterioration of
 Conductors
 L.M.B / J.B
 RCC/ MS structures
• Equipment response to
system faults
•Equipment Age.
•Operation of bus zone
protection
• Increase in temperature
of clamp / connectors
due to oxidation and
Coal conveyor passing near by loosening .

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 3
 O&M activities
• Following methodology adopted: to increase
reliability.
• Preventive maintenance.
• Predictive Maintenance
 Thermal Imaging of the Equipments
 Condition Monitoring of the Equipment.
3. Reactive Maintenance.
4. Proactive Maintenance
 Replacement based on: past experience
 Adopting modifications to avoid reoccurrence.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 4
 Preventive Maintenance
• Fire retardant barriers & paints on cables
• DC earth fault monitoring & removal
• Separate DC system for switchyard
• Separate trip circuit with distinct DC source
and trip command.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 5
 HOT LINE WASHING
• Washing of Switch yard equipments & insulators
with help of D.M.Water introduced from 1992.
• Frequency: 3 times/year
• Monitoring pollution level & effective washing:
 Conductivity of water before spraying.
 Conductivity of water collected from equipment
area wise
 Starting: more than 1600  mho and at the end
comes down to 15  mho.
• Risk: Chances of tracking, flashover, damage to
equipment and also human safety endanger if not
done systematically.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 6
 Condition Based Maintenance
• Reliable base to schedule Preventive maintenance
• Avoid Un Expected Failure
• Comparing & trending of operating data with base line
• Test method and accuracy, sensitivity& repeatability of
monitoring instruments has major influence on decision
• Rate of degradation is an important factor to:
• Foresee possible failure of equipment.
• Estimate remaining life.
• Gives advanced warning.
• Decide about when to repair/ replace

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 7
 Thermal Imaging

• All objects emits heat energy by infrared radiation

• Detector of Thermal Imaging System converts incoming
radiation to an electrical/ digital signal and display visible
image on LCD Screen.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 8
 Frequency of Condition Monitoring
1 Thermal Imaging of SWYD equipment Every 3 Months
2 C.B. Close, Open & C-O time Every year
3 C.B. time & w.r.t trip relay in SER With every tripping
4 C.B: D.C. Simulation, spring charging current Every year
5 C.T, P.T., N2 pr check & Tan delta values Every year
6 LA leakage current & surge counter Every 3 Months
7 Transformer & bushing tan delta Every year
8 Transformer electric tests Every two years
9 DGA of transformer oil Every 6 months
10 Transformer Oil test as per IS 1866 Every year
11 Numeric relay testing Once in 3 Years
12 D.C Earth fault removal On line, when appears

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 9
 What to Monitor in Transformer
Winding Oil Bushing OLTC
Hot spot,Temp Temperature Thermographs Thermographs
I.R.Value Test IS-1866 I.R.Value Transit resist
P.I.Value B.D.V. Oil level Drive current
Power factor Power factor Power factor Tap C/O time
Magnetize Cur D.G.A. Oil Leakage D.G.A.
Short Ckt test Fan on/off Ratio test
Wind.Resist Pump on/off Oil level
P.D. Breather/ Oil Condition
diaphragm Wear particle

D.P.of insul.
12/23/21 Furan Content
B.S.Dholakia Breather 10
 Proactive Maintenance
• Replacement of equipment on its service life:
• Insulators replaced by anti fog, high creepage type
• Conductor replaced in both the switchyard.
• Deteriorated RCC structures by GI.
• Breakers:132 kV MOCB & 66 kV BOCB by SF6
after 20 & 45years respectively.
• Isolators: Manual operated by motorized operated.
All electrical interlocks testing once / year
• CTs, PTs & Las after 10 to 15 years.
• LMBs: By IP 65, New T.Bs & Re termination.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 11
 Reactive Maintenance
• Replacement / Modification to avoid re occurrence
of problem identified in the equipment in
consultation with OEM.
• It becomes Proactive for other similar equipments.
• SF6 Breakers:
 Replacement of pull rods.
 Modified concentric closing coils.
 Overhauling of breaker
• Additional String above breaker
• Double dropper connection & crimp connections

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 12
 Case Study-1

Insulator Flash over

Power outage due to dirty insulator flash over

are expensive and nuisance to the consumers.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 13
 Effect of Cooling tower vapor
• Vapor contains sodium,
calcium and magnesium
salts, are highly conductive. Photograph of
• Retention of pollutants on ICT tower
insulator surface forms with vapor
conductive layer. cloud
• During high humidity
pollution layer becomes
conductive
• Flash over takes place due to
leakage current flows on the
insulator surface in presence
of moisture & contamination
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 14
 Tracking & Flashover of Insulators
• Pollution level study through CPRI (Yr: 97-98)
• Year 2000 onward problem aggravate due to:
 Bore well water used in place of French well
water. Soft water from bore well water started in
place of French well water.
 COC of Cooling water increased to save the water.
• Introduction of Anti fog type and 45 mm/kV
specific creepage insulators did not helped
• HLW increased from 3 to 9 times per annum.
• Cooling tower drift eliminators replaced to reduce
effect due to drift loses.
• All insulators on strings, breakers, isolators,
bushings coated with silicon based RTV coating
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 15
 POLYMERIC INSULATOR
• Tried as suggested by CPRI

•Performance deteriorated in 3 years.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 16
 High Voltage, RTV Insulator Coating
• Hydrophobic in nature:
water film brakes to droplet
• Contaminants can not film
out over insulator surface
hence continuity brakes..
• Prevent leakage current ,
tracking and surface flash
over on insulator
• Not affected by:
UV light, corona discharge,
non corrosive, no effect of
chemical & salt attack
• Long life > 10 years
• HLW reduced to one /year
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 17
 Case Study-2

Condition based Maintenance

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 18
 132/66/6.6 KV, 65 MVA I.C.T.-Case study 2
• ICT is in service since the year 1978. (i.e. 22 yrs).
• It connects 132 KV and 66 KV switch yards for
bulk power transfer between two gen. Stations.
• It supplies power to 110 MWs station auxiliaries.
• Problem experienced: 
• Hot spot survey indicated 93.7deg. C. temperature
at Y phase 66 kV side bushing.
• Short shut downs were taken to attend Y phase LV
bushing’s external connections but even after that
temperature increased to 140.9 deg. C

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 19
 Thermographs of ICT LV Bushing

Before: 6.9.2000 After: 20.9.2000

*>66.4°C *>75.0°C

75.0
65.0
70.0
60.0
65.0

55.0 60.0

Area1
50.0 55.0 M ax
A re a 1 5 0.2
M ax. 50.0
45.0 1 4 0. 9

45.0
Ref . Temp.
40.0
4 7.0
40.0
Re f. T em p .
35.0 4 1. 5
35.0

30.0 30.0

25.0
*<26.3°C
*<22.0°C

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 20
 Fault Finding and rectification - Case study-2

• Electrical tests of Transformer was not indicating

any abnormality.
• DGA test was not indicating abnormality
• Y phase LV bushing top cap and thimble joint
found over heated & got welded due to extra heat
generation.
• Y phase bushing replaced by spare available from
OEM
• It was not exactly matching at connection. We had
to modify to suit our transformer.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 21
 Heating of Thimble Connection

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 22
 Results ( Case study-2)

• Highest temperature on bushing reduced to 50.0

deg C from 140.0 deg C.
• Temperature rise was only 3 deg.C. compared to
other bushing.
• Transformer is working in normal condition.
• Total outage time was 24 hours.
•  Forced outage and catastrophic failure avoided.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 23
 DGA after 21 years of service:( Case study-2)

Dates Methane Ethane Ethylene Acetylene Hydrogen

p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m. p.p.m.
26.4.00 17.00 6.00 4.00 2.0 17.00

1.9.00 19.04 5.43 5.51 1.74 13.42

11.9.00 19.26 4.92 5.97 0.96 19.73

14.9.00 12.29 4.96 5.21 1.46 13.10

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 24
 Thermal Imaging of CT
• Temp rise on E Gen. CT body
•Removed & sent to works
• Similar temp rise observed
passing 800 A for 15 min,
during test at OEM works

• Top chamber with primary

connector & terminal pad
replaced & again tested.
• No temp rise observed.
PHASE   B

H OT SPOT   40.6

REF TEMP   28.0

•Heat run test can help to avoid
TEMP RISE   12.6 such problem at site.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 25
 Thermal Imaging based defect in Switchyard

99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04

132 kV 320 191 181 51 29
66 KV 143 114 82 137 80
Before: 6.9.2000 After: 20.9.2000

*>66.4°C *>75.0°C

75.0
65.0
70.0
60.0
65.0

55.0 60.0

Area1
50.0 55.0 M ax
A re a 1 5 0.2
M ax. 50.0
45.0 1 4 0.9

45.0
Ref. Te mp.
40.0
4 7.0
40.0
Re f. T em p .
35.0 4 1. 5
35.0

30.0 30.0

25.0
*<26.3°C
*<22.0°C

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 26
 Case Study-3

Condition based Maintenance

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 27
 15 MVA U.A. Transformer
• 11/6.8 KV UAT was commissioned in the Yr.’78
• It supplies power to unit auxiliaries when unit is
on load.
• Electrical testing carried out during annual shut
down of 21 days starting from 6.01. 2002.
• Problem experienced:
• Resistance on each tap of all the three phases
measured.
• Resistance of B phase OLTC was closer to R
phase except tap no 7 and resistance of Y phase
was almost double compared to other two
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 28
 Fault Finding
• Short circuit test and Ratio test were abnormal.
• B phase OLTC, contact no 2 was found burnt.
• Lot of carbon & Copper particles were found
deposited on moving and fixed contact below Y
phase barrier.
• OLTC side oil drained completely and transformer
side oil drained up to inspection window.
• Ratio test and resistance was checked from inside of
the tank on OLTC barrier board, found OK.
• It established that transformer-winding part is
healthy but problem is with the OLTC.      
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 29
 UAT-OLTC (ASEA make)

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 30
 OLTC - CONTACT

Fixing
New Defective arrangement

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 31
 Rectification

• Contact was prepared and replaced.

• All electrical tests were carried out after
completion of job and found normal.
• DGA, C-tan delta of transformer on load before
and after transformer.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 32
 Resistance Measurement:
Tap No AB AB BC BC CA CA
before after before after before after
1 58 40.4 122 40.7 66 40
2 57 40.0 129 39.8 70 39.3
3 56 39.5 123 38.9 63 38.9
4 50 39.0 93 38.4 58 38.5
5 56 38.2 111 38.0 58 38
6 58 37.6 120 37.7 64 37.5
7 55 37.0 117 37.1 104 37.0
8 54 36.2 120 36.4 63 36.8
9 50 35.2 103 35.5 60 35.8

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 33
 Ratio Test:
Tap No A12-a2 B12-b2 C12-c2
before after before after before after
1 16.99 1.6920 17.8 1.6920 16.99 1.6920
2 16.78 1.6746 17.9 1.6746 16.78 1.6746
3 16.57 1.6603 18.57 1.6570 16.57 1.6570
4 16.37 1.6337 18.57 1.6337 16.37 1.6337
5 16.16 1.6176 18.9 1.6192 16.16 1.6192
6 15.95 1.5997 18.7 1.6013 15.95 1.6012
7 15.75 1.5780 18.9 1.5750 15.75 1.5797
8 15.54 1.5603 19.2 1.5602 15.54 1.5602
9 15.34 1.5340 19.5 1.5340 15.34 1.5340
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 34
On line D.G.A Monitoring of Transformer:

• DGA is proven technique to know type of defect

at incipient stage in Transformer.
• It indicates condition at the time of DGA event.
• It do not guarantee of status still next DGA event.
• Fault may occur between the two DGA events.
• Transformer remains unmonitored in-between.
• On line monitoring bridges the gap between two
DGA snap-shots.
• Key gases are evolve with different fault condition
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 35
 Hydran- 201
• Two principle systems are being used.
• H2 monitoring: It is predominant & continuously
produced by electrical arcs, spark, PDs etc.
• Hydran monitors Hydrogen and hydrocarbons
dissolved.
• Indicates composite value of H2,CO,C2H2 & C2H4
in P.P.M.
• Local & Remote monitoring on P.C./ SCADA.
• Gives alarm at Hi & Very Hi values.
• It gives trend of gases evaluated in a day/ month.
• Storage 0f 6 months data.
12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 36
 On line monitoring of transformer

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 37
 Steps to improve equipment safety
• Replacement of O.C.Bs
by SF6 / VCB in 132 KV /
66 KV / 11 KV and 6.6
KV switch gears.

• Application of fire stop

and fire retardant coating
for cables.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 38
 Steps to improve equipment safety
• Installation of polymeric
LA for ICT-1 & 2 to
reduce secondary damage

• Replacing explosion vent

by PRV for ICT-1 and 2.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 39
 Replacement - BUS ZONE PROTECTION.
• Old relay mal operated from 1985 to 1989 many times ,
kept out of service since 1990.
• Replaced by low impedance relay and commission in year
1999, Now operating correctly.
• New relay has self monitoring, check zone facility, CT
switching through Isolator switch contacts.
• Do not operate on CT saturation, through fault.
• Two bus operation is possible
• It isolate faulty zone correctly, Save complete collapse of
System.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 40
 Introduction of Numeric Proactive Relays
 They have value added functions:
• Self diagnostic
• Drift less operation
• Disturbance recorder helps to monitor:
 Pinpoint fault location in case of distance protection
 Fault current & Voltage dip through wave form
 Breaker operation can be monitored.
• Replaced for EHV feeders,
• Generator & HT switchgears are under replacement.
• Relay test kit use are of digital,automatic & replay of
dynamic system recorded by relay is possible.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 41
 Islanding & Inter tripping Scheme
• PLC based inter tripping & Islanding scheme
 Self diagnostic
 Operation within 1 ms.
 SER having 1 ms resolution.
 Trending of electrical parameters 2 sec resolution
• DAS connecting generation stations, EHV s/s and
T&D fault room
• DG set for safe shut down of TPS Units.
• Black start facility for CCPP

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 42
 Summing Up
• Condition Based maintenance has proven to be
the most effective and reliable base to schedule
preventive maintenance.
• Condition monitoring by way of accurate fault
diagnostic and appropriate action can avoid
unexpected failures.
• Development of interpretation skill is as
importance as carrying out any test.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 43
 Summing Up
• Failure of any equipment opens an avenue to
analyze for the root cause of that failure. Such data
can be helpful to modify or upgrade the base
product in consultation with OEM, which in turn
helps to avoid re-occurrence on similar products.
• Many good practices prevailing in different
constituent can be made as SOP to improve
reliability of WREB grid operation,& availability
of power to the end users.

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 44
 THANKS

The Ahmedabad Electricity Co.Ltd

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 45
 Specific Creepage w.r.t. Pollution (IEC-815)

CLASS ESDD POLLUTION SPECIFIC

mg/sq.mm CREEPAGE
1 0.03-0.06 LIGHT 16 mm/KV

2 0.1-0.2 MEDIUM 20 mm/KV

3 0.3-0.6 HEAVY 25 mm/KV

4 > 0.6 V.HEAVY 31 mm/KV

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 46
 Electrical contactor
After Attending

*>120.0°C *>60.0°C
Contactor
Contactor
120.0 60.0
110.0 55.0
100.0 50.0
90.0 Area1 (R Ph.) 45.0 Area1 (R Ph.)
Mean Max.
80.0 Mean Max
170.8 221.5 40.0 49.7 57.0
70.0
35.0
60.0
Area2 (Y Ph.)
Area2 (Y Ph.) 30.0 Mean Max
50.0
Mean Max 45.9 49.6
40.0 98.7 112.1 25.0

30.0 20.0 Area3 (B Ph.)

Mean Max
Area 3 (B Ph.)
20.0 15.0 43.5 47.8
Mean Max.
97.5 114.1
*<20.0°C *<15.0°C

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 47
 Panels Terminals
After Attending

*>65.0°C *>52.0°C

65.0
Ref. Temp. 50.0
60.0
41.7
55.0 45.0
50.0
45.0 40.0

40.0
35.0
35.0
Area1(B ph.)
30.0 Max. 30.0
25.0 70.5
25.0
20.0
15.0 Area1(B Ph.)
20.0 Max
10.0 42.4

*<10.0°C *<18.0°C

Hot Spot : 70.5 Hot Spot : 42.4

Ref. Temp. : 41.7 Ref. Temp. : 41.7
Area
Temp.
1 Rise : 28.8 Temp. Rise : 0.7

12/23/21 B.S.Dholakia 48
 Switch yard Equipments
After Attending
*>65.0°C *>56.0°C

65.0 55.0
60.0 50.0
55.0 45.0
Ref. Temp.
50.0 38.6 40.0
Ref. Temp.
45.0 35.0 32.4
40.0 30.0

35.0 25.0

30.0 R Ph.(Bus side) 20.0

R Ph.(Bus side)
Max. 15.0
25.0 Max
126.7
10.0 34.0
20.0
5.0
15.0

*<14.5°C *<2.0°C

Hot Spot : 126.7 Hot Spot : 34.0

Ref. Temp. : 38.6 Ref. Temp. : 32.4
Temp. Rise : 88.1 Temp. Rise : 1.6

12/23/21 A.E.Co.Ltd. 49