How can you balance cost, performance, and safety when diagnosing faults in power distribution systems?

Implementing proactive maintenance minimizes expenses by tackling potential issues before they escalate. Optimizing performance entails regular monitoring and thorough data analysis of the system. Prioritize safety by ensuring technicians receive thorough training, adhere to safety procedures, and utilize protective gear. Achieving the optimal balance requires strategic planning and a comprehensive approach to system management.

A person with relevant experience will look at all components like, Switchgear, transformer, OHL, and cables connected to the affected circuits and check protection device for malfunction. Visual inspection can rule out termination failures, OHL insulator failure, and switchgear faults. If nothing is found, SF6 can be checked to identify if any compartment is having fault gases. Transformer tests can rule out transformer failure. Simultaneously from relay data cable fault location can start. Cable failures are either third party damages or joint failures. Management plays a crucial role in co-ordinating the team effort to quickly identify fault, do the necessary rectification and safely restore the circuit in shortest possible time.

Invest in effective training and commissioning procedures and quality designs and products. A large portion of in-service failures are due to defects that exist from day one. For example, did you know that 40% of new medium voltage cable systems are installed with at least one substandard component that can be identified with a factory test comparable comissioning process? Imagine spending a little more capital up front and avoiding most of your operating maintenance cost due to service failure.

The key here is to adopt a methodical approach. There is a lot of information to review, start at one end and work methodically starting with visual inspection and moving onto fault diagnosis if the visual doesn’t offer up any clues.

As part of any technical team, it is pertinent that all members have demonstrated knowledge, working experience and competence within a power distribution system. Making yourself resourceful by actively revising the relevant literature is key to the overall team's success. Trusting your team members is everything and has to be developed through various group exercises.

First is to understand what and where the problem is coming from and draw the possible solutions to escalate the detected faults. When you understand the problem you can easily save time and resources for the organization.

Starts with quality products. Everyone is trying to build cheap and it may run for a while but then it becomes a big problem

You may know the general layout of the installation, but no one can know everything. Keep your technical documentation in order, this will help you find the problem faster. If there is no documentation at all, diagnostics can take a lot of time, but there is a general method for how to still find a fault in this case. Divide the installation into parts that can be diagnosed, then divide again until you localize the problem. Working without proper documentation requires thinking through each step and the possible consequences, and therefore requires a higher level of expertise.

Visual inspection is critical to diagnosis fault in distribution power system. Once, it is identified, systematic approach may be adopted based on the historical records.

During any faults , Initial statements and conclusions is very critical . I had an experience where one of 66 KV circuit was declared faulty and staff already started assembly of test bushings for identification of cable fault. The staff concluded actual fault based on feeder differential relay with valid fault data from relay, But the team did not check raw data analog records where it was shown only normal currents. Once the issue found - Already 4 days passed. It is also advised to check supplementary evidences of actual fault like under voltage in LVAC boards or HVAC or Battery chargers etc…before declaring a circuit is faulty Always depends on the staff who show maturity and respect lessons learnt

Following many years of fault finding my experience is that the majority can be solved quickly and cost effectively via visual inspection.

Implement remote monitoring and diagnostic tools to minimize the need for direct physical intervention in potentially hazardous situations. These tools can provide real-time data without exposing personnel to unnecessary risks. Before diagnosing faults, implement proper isolation procedures to de-energize the system. This ensures the safety of technicians and minimizes the risk of electric shock or other electrical hazards.

Investment in instruments can greatly enhance ones capabilities on the field, since electrical energy isn't always visible to the naked eye (unless in the case of arc flash over). The issue isn't always apparent and can be enclosed amongst hundreds of other components especially in large industrial facilities, as such utilizing the appropriate instrument will assist in correcting the issue by identifying the defective/damaged component in any industrial facility. Ensuring these instruments are calibrated and proven greatly increases accuracy and consistency of values attained.

Provide and mandate the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, such as insulated gloves, safety glasses, and flame-resistant clothing. PPE is crucial for ensuring the safety of personnel working with electrical systems. Ensure that personnel involved in fault diagnosis are well-trained and certified in safety procedures. Knowledgeable and skilled technicians are better equipped to perform tasks safely and efficiently, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

Great advice however this should be a given if your not wearing the right PPE and following the right safety procedures then you probably shouldn’t be fault finding.

There might be someone else in your working environment who has dealt with, diagnosed and rectified a fault of the same or similar nature. Draw on the expertise from your team it might just save you time and help you to diagnose the fault.

In my experience analysis of fault shall be on an optimal time, Most important information like Sequence of events, Alarms, records from all connected nodes , statements from staff to be listed in order and quick review of statements against available alarms to be done to move forward. Parallel actions to be taken to arrange spares and manpower to reduce downtime.Draft plan to be made and informed to all relevant groups to plan the respective areas. Initial information may be very vague, hence it is normal to arrange more spares than required , but it will save considerably in restoration.

Foster a culture of collaboration and open communication between different teams involved in fault diagnosis is crucial. Ensure that safety concerns are effectively communicated, and feedback mechanisms are in place to continuously improve safety protocols. I strongly believe that sharing near-miss events is key to accident prevention.

In my experience collecting fault record is very important in many aspects, Certain suspicious tripping either during though fault or initial Energization of transformer can be ruled out by injecting same raw fault wave form to different protection relays and observing its acton in lab.This will rule out for any issues with relay in hardware or firmware bugs which cannot be determined by pure sinusoidal wave forms. Omicron transplay modules can do this job well

When calculating cost I would definitely include time, manpower, parts and include downtime which can be very costly. These parameters can then be used to help justify planned preventative maintenance proposals and regular maintenance proposals. The result being more of the budget is spent preventing reactive issues and downtime and is ultimately a more cost effective way of running production and processes.

Ensure compliance with relevant safety regulations and standards. Staying updated on industry-specific safety requirements and implementing best practices will contribute to a safer diagnostic environment.