Improving substation maintenance best practices for greater success
BY BUDO MILOVIC, DV-Power
Currently, substation maintenance—regular or emergency—operations and best practices must fit the utility’s goal of accomplishing more with less, in order to maximize assets and minimize outages. A caveat to this weighty goal is to accomplish more with less with a reduced workforce and under tight budgets. Field workers face this reality daily. Therefore, to overcome such challenges, maintenance crews have to be properly...
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulates medium- and high-voltage switchgears around the world. In its pure form, this non-toxic, inert gas helps the power transmission & distribution (T&D) industry operate more safely by extinguishing high-temperature arcs. With a much higher...
Detecting contamination and deterioration in SF6 breakers to ensure longevity BY LINDA NOWAK, Doble Engineering Company The purpose of “Doble testing”, or power factor testing, SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) circuit breakers is to detect the presence of contamination and/or deterioration of the...
In today’s society we are faced with many obstacles, one of these obstacles is the high cost of electricity around the world. Electricity prices for commercial, industrial and institutional have increased a considerable amount. There are many reasons why this is occurring,...
Electric Substation apparatus, transformers and circuit breakers, are the workhorses of the electric transmission grid. Our focus in this article is on the issue of dielectric media leaks. Specifically, oil in large power transformers and oil or SF6 gas in power circuit breakers. Oil and gas leaks...
A coalition of large energy consumers and ratepayer advocates has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), urging the agency to prohibit transmission owners from independently planning "local" transmission projects exceeding 100 kilovolts (kV). The coalition argues...
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology revolutionizes long-distance power transmission, offering improved efficiency and reliability over traditional alternating current (AC) systems. This article explores the latest developments and applications of HVDC substations, providing a technical...
As substations become more interconnected and automated, they are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. These critical nodes of the power grid are essential for ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply, making their protection paramount. Strengthening substation automation controls is key to...
The transition to renewable energy is reshaping the power landscape, with grid-scale battery storage systems playing a pivotal role in this transformation. These systems are crucial for balancing supply and demand, particularly at the substation level, where they enhance grid stability and...
In recent years, digital twin technology has emerged as a game-changer in various industries, and the power sector is no exception. Digital twins are transforming how substations are managed by creating virtual replicas that provide insights into performance and potential issues. A digital...
The electronics industry is experiencing rapid growth and innovation, with devices becoming more advanced and ubiquitous. As this industry continues to flourish, it’s crucial to consider the environmental impact of electronic manufacturing and the materials used in these devices. One area...
