DAY 2

HOW TO LOCATE FAULTS

Troubleshooting is 80% diagnosis and 20% remedy. It is a process that includes a rigorous search for
any abnormality that caused the disruption and remedial measures to make them normal or
reinstate in the operating state.
The substation equipment is the hard-hub of a power system, and ensuring its safe and reliable
operation is very important. Voltage transformers’ faults, capacitors’ faults, and bus-bars’ faults can
cause long-term failure of a substation.
These causes of substation failures are characterized by diversity and randomness, which make
detecting substation equipment faults very difficult. One effective way to detect substation
equipment faults is to analyze the regulation of behavior in the switching process of a substation.
Therefore, switching process behaviors are deserved to be investigated.
Methods for detecting substation equipment faults currently fall into two categories:
• Static detection
• Dynamic detection
 HOW TO LOCATE FAULTS

• Static detection detects power failure that is caused by a faultless trip of a substation
switch. Such methods only solve the problem of large-scale power failure of a substation
because the operations of the system in a substation are inactive, protection device does
not provide any action signals, and monitoring device is not assigned a scheduled trip.
These methods cannot detect small-area power failures in a timely manner.
• Dynamic detection is a method of continuous detection using assistant facilities, such as
the substation direct current (DC) power supply online loop alarm system, which can
identify faults with power. Dynamic detection is guaranteed by establishing multiple
transmitting substations, which wirelessly connect to nearby faulty probes and then
transmit a fault signal to the global system for mobile (GSM)-receiving website over a
GSM network. However, the GSM system is limited by its capacity, poor switching
function, and terminal-accessing rate.
 HOW TO LOCATE FAULTS

The troubleshooting process steps are as follows:

• Step 1. Identify the problem.
• Step 2. Establish a theory of probable cause.
• Step 3. Test the theory to determine the cause.
• Step 4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the
solution.
• Step 5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive
measures.
• Step 6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.
 PROCEDURES TO EFFECT FAULT CLEARING

The complexity of the system normally determines the level of detail planning that is
required for system clearing procedures. A simple, single-source, radial supply system may
only require opening a single switch or circuit breaker for circuit isolation.

The clearing procedures for even so simple a case, however, should include:
• checking to ensure that no other sources exist
• checking to ensure that the correct isolating device is being operated
• It is important that all persons who may be exposed to a hazard, as a result of a switching
action, be notified prior to the action.
 PROCEDURES TO EFFECT FAULT CLEARING

Complex power systems that require several switching steps to isolate a portion of the system require more
elaborate clearing procedures. It is necessary to use written switching instructions for systems that may have
several sources into an area.

When written instructions are used, a third party, who is familiar with the power system, should review them
for errors and omissions. The consequences of learning about switching errors while in the act of switching
are usually costly, especially when the wrong portion of the system is accidentally de-energized. It is
important that written procedures be shared with all persons who are involved in the switching process.

A single-line diagram should accompany the written switching instructions so that the switch operator can
keep track of the progress through the system. A real-time, single-line mimic bus on a very complex system
allows for the independent monitoring of the switching process through the system as component status is
changed.
 PROCEDURES TO EFFECT FAULT CLEARING

Some mimic-bus systems allow the operator to simulate switching of the system off-
line, which allows for the detection of possible errors before the actual switching is
performed.

The clearing procedures should be completely written, checked, and understood by all
persons involved before they are applied to any portion of the power distribution
system. The instructions and/or procedures should include a verification that the power
has been removed (by live-line testing or other means) followed by the placement of
grounds and the locking/ tagging of isolating devices.
 UNDERSTANDING NETWORK ROUTE IN FAULT CLEARING

We usually depict the electrical distribution system by a graphic representation called a single line
diagram (SLD). A single line can show all or part of a system. It is very versatile and comprehensive
because it can depict very simple DC circuits, or a very complicated three-phase system.
We use universally accepted electrical symbols to represent the different electrical components
and their relationship within a circuit or system. To interpret SLDs you first need to be familiar with
the electrical symbols. This chart shows the most frequently used symbols.

When interpreting a single line diagram, you should always start at the top where the highest
voltage is and work your way down to the lowest voltage. This helps to keep the voltages and their
paths straight.
UNDERSTANDING NETWORK ROUTE IN FAULT CLEARING (EXAMPLE)
 UNDERSTANDING NETWORK ROUTE IN FAULT CLEARING (EXAMPLE)

Area A:
Starting at the top, you will notice that a transformer is feeding power to the whole system. The
transformer steps the voltage down from 35kV to 15kV, as indicated by the numbers next to the
transformer symbol. Once the voltage has been stepped down, a drawout circuit breaker (a1) is
encountered.
Following the drawout circuit breaker (a1) from the transformer, it is attached to a heavier, horizontal
line.
This horizontal line represents an electrical bus, which is a means used to get electricity to other areas or
circuits.
 UNDERSTANDING NETWORK ROUTE IN FAULT CLEARING (EXAMPLE)

Area B:
You will notice that two more drawout circuit breakers (b1 and b2) are attached to
the bus and feed other circuits, which are at 15kV, since there has been no indication of
voltage change in the system. Attached to the drawout circuit breaker (b1), a step-
down transformer is used to take the voltage in that area of the system from 15kV
down to 5kV.
On the 5kV side of this transformer, a disconnect switch is shown. The disconnect is
used to connect or isolate the equipment below it from the transformer.
Circuit breaker (b2) is attached to a fused disconnect switch and it is connected to a
step-down transformer.
Circuit breaker (b3) is a fixed low voltage circuit breaker as indicated by the symbol.
PROPER ELECTRICAL ISOLATION IN FAULT CLEARING

Whilst the applications may differ, the 7 steps for safe isolation is similar for low
voltage and for high voltage. The process goes as follows:
• identify suitable point(s) for isolation
• carry out the safe isolation process
• secure the point of isolation (place notices)
• prove dead
• apply safety earths/grounding
• place danger notices
• issue electrical permit to work
THANK YOU