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Fault Assistance CentreDavid Talbot & Chris Armstrong

24-25 September 2014

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Agenda

Solution and case studies

Questions and answers

Fault overviewIntroduction

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Connecting the North West

5 million

25 terawatt

2.4 million

£8 billion of network assets

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Introduction

Together with latest techniques and equipment the FAC will prevent many faults from becoming permanent

Early location and repair of faults before they become permanent, avoids loss of customer supply

The FAC enables early intervention to reduce the impact of cable faults on the LV underground network

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Fault progression

Irregular voltage dips

Transitory

Irregular fuse operations

Intermittent

Repetitive fuse

operations

Persistent

Open circuit or welded

short circuit

Permanent

Impact on customers

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Probability of further fault activity

Probability

Minutes Hours Days Weeks

Insulation cooling

Moisture absorption

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Frequency of faults

1 2 3 4 50

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2

3

4

5

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Number of Events

Time elapsed between

faults

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Faults showing distance from substation

Fault BFault D

Fault C Fault A

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What does it cost our business?

Impact of transient faults on CIs and CMLs

Greater than 3 events

35% of CIs and 31% of

CMLs

Greater than 5 events

19% of CIs and 16% of

CMLs

£1.4 million lost revenue

£700,000 saving

If 3rd and 4th trip can be reclosed within 3 minutes

Improved customer satisfaction

Incentive revenue

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 180

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Transient Events

LV transient faults over a year

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LV fault management - REZAP

Multiple-shot auto-recloser Single phase impedance based fault location

Controlled, reset and monitored remotely via Gateway

Can be installed on LV boards - indoor substations

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LV fault management – Modular REZAP

Single phase impedance based fault location

Multiple-shot auto-recloser

Controlled, reset and monitored remotely via Gateway

Can be installed in LV cabinets – outdoor substations

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LV fault management – Bidoyng (smart)

3 phase impedance based fault location

Single-shot auto-recloser

Monitored via Gateway

Can be installed in most pillars and cabinets – outdoor substations

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WEEZAP

Improves supply reliability and restoration through fault management and detection

World leading LV vacuum circuit breaker

Safe LV interconnection, live monitoring and control

Advanced measurement and protection capability

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Travelling wave using two units

Fault disturbance recorder with communications

Single TDR for permanent faults

TP22/23 fault location equipment

Multiple TDRs for transient faults

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TP22/23 fault location equipment

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Exploiting the potential of LV devices

Solution: Kelvatek’s Fault Assistance Centre (FAC) that will actively monitor the equipment installed on ENW’s LV network – trial under IFI

Only key ‘champions’ can perform this analysis

Devices are widely used to reduce CI and CML figures

Further benefits can be obtained from the data they

provide

Analysis of data is a specialised

subject area/training

issue

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Business case

Actively monitors equipment installed on LV network

Faster fault location and repair

Identification of 2nd and 3rd faults on the network

Observation of fault ‘pecking’

Identifies circuits with overloading problems

Identifies areas with poor health

Helps us understand how best to use the LV kit

Fault Assistance

Centre business benefits

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FAC process flow

Transient identified

Electricity NW fit REZAP/Bidoyng/

TP22/23

Details sent to Kelvatec FAC

Fault location from Kelvatek to

Electricity NW

Confirm location

Repair fault

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Fault found - Radcliffe

Details sent to Kelvatek

FAC

Fault location returned of 146 metres

Next rupture confirmed with sniffer (two metres

out)

Fault repaired in four days of

fitting REZAP

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Fault found – Radcliffe

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Fault found - Radcliffe

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Fault found - Radcliffe

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Melting Bidoyngs

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Melting Bidoyngs – winter 2013/14

Red phase fuse

blowing in outdoor cabinet

Bidoyngs fitted on all

three phases

Received 2000

primary fuse

ruptured / fuse

replaced messages

Visited site, found

Bidoyng had

‘melted’

Conclusion Load related transient – 550 Amps

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New Street – first fault

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New Street – first fault

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New Street – second fault

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New Street – second fault

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Multiple faults

Second fault developed several months later

Overlaid first fault

Will this fault ever develop into a transient ?

?

How does a DNO deal with

these faults

!

Targeted asset

management

Second fault never taken fuses

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Summary

• Expensive and time consuming to repair permanent faults

• Impact on customer satisfaction

Impact

• Faster fault location and repair

• Identifies circuits with overloading problems

• Improves customer service• Saves money

Benefit • FAC exploits potential of

existing LV fault devices• Actively monitors the

equipment installed• Data supplied to

determine fault location

Solution

• LV transient faults difficult to find

• Faults progress to permanent state needing lengthy repair time Challenge

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&QUESTIONSANSWERS

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Want to know more?

Thank you for your time and attention

futurenetworks@enwl.co.uk

www.enwl.co.uk/thefuture

0800 195 4141

@ElecNW_News

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