Client Background
Our client is an electrical utility responsible for the supply and distribution of bulk electrical power to industrial and residential customers in six administrative regions within their country.
Urbanisation contributes to a growing customer base in their capital city with its population of 2.7 million people, resulting in an increased demand for electricity from their ageing and poorly maintained network that was not designed for the increase in customers on the network.
The client approached Martec to assist them with identifying the best condition monitoring technologies which would help them to identify and detect defects before failure, and ensure the safety of their maintenance staff when conducting maintenance.
Key Challenges
The client’s main challenges include:
- An ageing infrastructure A higher demand for electricity than the currently designed capacity of the network assets
- Overloaded assets due to a high demand on the network resulting in the negligence of routine maintenance
- The lack of reliable and timely maintenance on many of the assets in the network.
- Numerous catastrophic failures in their MV (6.6 kV and 11 kV) substations which lead to extended power outages
Martec Intervention
- Establish the primary root cause failures on the different assets within the electrical network.
- Identify the best condition monitoring technologies to detect the various types of problems and defects on the different assets in the network (including overhead lines, transformers, switchgear and cables).
- Consult with the client to establish the best overall solutions based on client budget, number of assets, failure history and asset risk ranking.
- Supply condition monitoring products for the substation maintenance teams.
- Provide practical and theoretical training on the condition monitoring products provided.
Value add
- The client received a customised solution that provides a wide network coverage, within the limits of their budget.
- The customised solution allowed the client to take action and perform proactive maintenance before catastrophic failure of network components.
- Insight into the condition of their assets and peace of mind that their critical assets are monitored in real-time.
- Their team was trained on condition monitoring capabilities and services for a wide range of network assets which equipped them with the know-how to proceed in future.
- Improved substation safety for the clients maintenance teams.
Tools and technology
- SDT270 ultrasound technology to detect partial discharge, corona, arcing and tracking in substation components.
- Radar Engineers Radio Frequency “Sniffer” for immediate substation safety.