CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

Chapter

CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

1. CONCEPT OF GIS MAINTENANCE
1.1 Basic Concept of Maintenance and Inspection. In case of GIS, the part covered with gas remains under a good environmental condition without being influenced by water and air pollution in open air, in contrast to the conventional air insulation type equipments. SF6 Gas has been expected to allow longer life of the contacts by high ability of arc extinction and the insulation ability, and nowadays, it is deemed to have succeeded in realizing longer life. In addition, the mechanical coordination has been more developed in every part by means of the structural simplification. On the other hand, it is noted that the GIS overhaul inspection requires some measures; name~ 4ithdrawing of gas, air drawing out for vacuum and air supply, and the efficiency is 5u59eptl3ble to the surrounding air and air dust. The comparative analysis of the faults reveals, as shown in Fig.1 that the rate is about 1 %, which is very low and satisfactory in comparison to the values reported in air insulation equipments. As far as the GCB (Gas Circuit Breaker), which forms the most important part of GIS, is concerned, almost of the faults (about 80 % of the total) ate caused in the operation mechanism such the oil pressure mechanism, air pressure supervisory mechanism, control relays and piping etc. while the internal faults, such as the one in the breaking part is very few in number (several percents). Then the analysis of the fault occurrence shows that the greater part of the faults (about 60 %) took place within one year since the inspections, as is evident in Fig. 2{ from which it is derived that there are many cases in which these faults would be attributed to the inspections themselves, for example neglecting to bolt. It is summarized that:

1.

GIS has been developed for longer life.

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2. Considering the working property of the overhaul inspection and also the aspects shown when the faults happen, it is desirable to avoid said overhaul inspections as much as possible. Accordingly, it is expected that further effort to avoid the overhaul inspection will allow a smaller number of faults. As mentioned above, the Japanese concept is to intend maintenance without overhaul inspection. For detail of the Japanese maintenance standard of GIS.

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CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

1.2 Concept of External Diagnosis

As explained hereinbefore, maintenance without internal inspection is considered to assure a high reliability in case of GIS, since it is designed for longer life. However, in order to decrease other faults than the ones attributable to the internal inspections, a preventive maintenance is required with adequate understanding of the equipment conditions, and making eventual modifications whenever necessary. For said preventive maintenance, the external diagnosis shall be the ones, capable of meeting the following conditions: 1. To grasp exactly the inside conditions without overhaul. 2. To allow effective diagnosis by a few people 3. To understand as much as possible the equipment conditions during operation In Japan, said external diagnosis has been developed based on the concept described above and it has been adopted partially. The detail of the maintenance and inspection standard as we11 as the external diagnosis are also discussed in next section

2. STANDARD FOR MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION

This standard is based on the idea that overhaul inspection is not made except the case when it is necessary/for some parts easily affected by open air such as operation mechanism part, in conformity with the concept, as mentioned in 1-1, for nomaintenance and no-inspection. The maintenance inspections are classified as follows: 2.1 Inspection Tour This is made during a tour of inspection to check. externally a presence of abnormal condition in GIS when it's operating:

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Inspection Remark Item General External Items

Inspection Contents

Operation of switch indicator and

switch indicating lamp - Occurrence of abnormal noise and abnormal smell - Presence of overheat discoloration of terminals - Crack or damage of porcelain tubes and its pollution - Rust and damage of earthing case and support structure

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Operation - Indication of pressure gage (Air, Oil, gas pressure gage) In operation box and panel, Device and - Indication condition of operation indicator of gas compressor an inspection susceptible of Control Panel an easy front visual checking is required Control Panel -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Air Leak - Presence. of air leakage noise from air system

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Oil Leak - Oil leakage from oil pressure system

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Drainage - Drainage from air tank and piping

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.2 Periodic Inspection This should be made every certain period in order to maintain GIS always under a normal condition, so that it can fully accomplish its purpose. 1. Usual Inspection This is made mainly from outside of GIS when stopping operation. Inspection Item Switching Operation Test Detail of Inspection - Switching indication Period Remark

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Every 3 If no operation is Years made through one year, it is preferable to - Reading of pressure gauge prior and operate once a year, posterior to operation (air, oil, gas using operation spressure gauge), and checking of air witches to open and leak noise and oil leak. close several times at a time or operation stop. - Operation checking of operation

CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

meter

External General Item Operation Device and Control Panel

-Fixing condition of bushing terminal

Every 3 Mechanical Checking years is required

- Checking of humidity, rust and Every 3 Mechanical Checking pollution in operation box and panel years is required - Oil supply and cleaning. -Checking of fixed condition of low voltage circuit wiring

Measuring Test

Measurement resistance

insulation Every 3 For main years conductive part: Equal to or more than 1000 M. - Checking of burn-out heater OHM Every 3 years

of

Other items pertinent to that of inspection tour

(NOTE): This is performed in equipments which structurally allow said test. 2. Precise inspection

This involves an overhaul inspection to be made when it is needed mainly for operation mechanism section while GIS stops operation, as well as Parts-replacement of said section in conformity with this standard.

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CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

Inspection Item

Inspection Contents Period - Repair of rust, deformation damage in spring Remark

Operation -

every 6 - Adjustment of stroke joint section years

Device and - Checking of abnormal condition found in pins of fixing section Control -Oil supply Panel - Inspection and repair of auxiliary switch Adjustment of oil dush pot and oil replacement - Inspection and repair of valves - Checking of air leak in pneumatic operator and oil leak in oil operator

- Parts-replacement according to replacement standard Measuring Test - Switching characteristics test (Measurement of every 6 contact closing time and parting time and three phase years unbalance by voltage and pressure at site). - Measurement or minimum operation pressure
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and voltage. - Trip 'free test - Pressure switch test (Air, oil and gas) - Checking of pressure gauge - Measurement of consume in air, oil and gas operators Other items pertinent to usual insp. 2.3 Temporary Inspection This implies temporary inspection (including overhaul inspection) made for sections where said inspection is regarded as necessary in the following' cases: 1. 2. In case of detecting abnormal conditions In case of attaining the specified switching operation number every 6 years

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Inspection Condition

Inspection Content

Remark

In case of reaching the specified -Overhaul inspection and repair number: (In case that the following items attain the specified operation number. wore parts. - Unloaded operation - Leading and lagging small current operation - Load current operation - Loop current operation - Current similar to the rated breaking current operation. -Inspection and repair and replacement of parts wherever needed of breaking or disconnecting section, and replacement of

In case of discovering abnormal conditions by inspection tour or usual inspection

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3.

EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS OF GIS

As mentioned fn the point 1-2, it is required that some appropriate external diagnosis should be applied to GIS for the purpose of fully detecting said faults. In Japan, some external diagnosis has been already put into practical use for said purpose offering the expected results. At this present, another new external diagnosis is in course of development and study with help of other manufacturers, for which we expect to make further study of their effect on the equipments or their application method from now on. 3.1 Types of External Diagnosis Following is the outline of some technique already introduced into practical use and the one under study:

PRACTICALLY USING EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

1. Measurement of Operating Time and Operation Number Operating time measurements are performed through digital time meter or' electromagnetic oscillograph. During its operation, said time measurement is carried out by means of auxiliary switch with equalization, while when stopping its operation, a direct measurement is possible in the main circuit using earthing devices. On the other hand, for the measurement of operation number, the available method is to record the obtained number of CO operation using operation number counter, which is a counter usually used. 2. Measuring of SF6 Gas Pressure and Gas Analysis The pressure of SF6 gas is constantly observed by use of temperature-compensatingdensity switch, because of the fluctuating property with the surrounding temperature. When the gas density becomes equal to or lower than the allowed level, the alarm contact is switched on, with close relation to the GIS insulation ability and breaking ability. The gas analysis is helpful for easily finding of abnormality in internal insulation system, allowing the measurement of water content in. gas1 and that of purity as well as the detection of decomposed gas caused when a harmful partial discharge happens internally. In case of a fault with internal arcing, the detection of decomposed gas reveals allocation of this fault. Corresponding devices are portable gas chromatograph with micro-comput9r, gas detector tube, water content meter, gas tester etc. 3. Detection of Metallic Alien Substance located in GIS through Ultrasonic Wave Mike
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There is a case that some materials or forms of metallic substance existent in GIS tank may float in electric field at the operation voltage, causing partial discharge, which greatly
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CONCEPT OF GIS (GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR) MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL DIAGNOSIS

reduces withstand voltage efficiency of 013. In this case, said metallic substance can be discovered by detecting the ultrasonic wave which originates from the repeated fine collisions of these' substances with tank. The analysis procedure is to attach said ultrasonic wave microphone to the tank surface of GIS for analyzing thus detected ultrasonic-wave through the analyzer. 4. Measuring of partial discharge existent in GIS It is effective to control the internal partial discharge volume for easy discrimination of electric abnormal condition in GIS. Though this measurement of partial discharge is one of the most difficult measuring method, it is possible to confirm the absence of partial discharge in spacers themselves or in their vicinity by means of such a device that allows to detect the electric charge of partial discharge, using both the shield ring on the grounding side of the insulation spacer and the stray capacitance on the high voltage side.

Effective External Diagnosis

The methods considered effective under development are as follows: 1. Internal prospect by X-ray Internal X ray photographing of GIS is considered effective as an available method to discover slacks in bolts, which cause the greater part of the internal fault. For this application, enough attention should be given to - a internal prospect executed during operation, with lower level of X ray irradiation not to do harm to human body nor to the equipments. This has an advantage of, offering vivid images and is practical indeed. 2. Low speed drive method The torques of the switching equipments is minutely changed during the operation when something in GIS is damaged or playing, or when grease is mature. For vivid images of such a minute change in torques, the effective measures are to execute the operation at low speed, for which it is required to add a device driven at low speed when the equipments stopped. 3. Detection method of minute oscillation in tank The electric faults caused in GIS appear as minute oscillation in tank, which is detected through this method. Following Table - l includes the summary of external diagnosis which are effective against some failures assumed concretely based on the above description on the external phenomena resulting from inside conditions, with introduction of the effective detection methods (external diagnosis) corresponding to said phenomena.
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3.2 Concept for Application of External Diagnosis There are many kinds of external diagnosis, as listed above; however, none of them are possible to become available for every condition of the equipment, because it is excessively difficult to grasp conditions of equipment completely and exactly. Accordingly, it is indispensable to make an overall judgment by an appropriate combination of various methods according to the purpose and equipment condition. In the following four periods, these methods will be applied to GIS: 1. Factory test 2. Installation test at site 3. During operation (constantly or at the time of inspections). 4. At the time of abnormal condition. 3.3 Technical Subjects for Future External Diagnosis The pertinent standard will b4 established indicating the types' of diagnosis applicable to above four stages and the control value in each case, based on the future study in detail on effect and sensitivity of said methods under development In addition, a diagnosis system by computers will be established, since the analysis based on a constant data accumulation is effective for operation number, gas pressure, temperature rise and partial discharge, for the purpose of continuous and constant supervision, as far as the application form is concerned.

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