HT and LT VCB Maintenace

भिलाई इस्पात
Bhilai Steel
सयंत्र Plant
Power & Blowing Station
Presentation on
Operation and Maintenance of HT and
LT breaker
HT bus bar section in PBS-2
HT Vacuum circuit breaker in PBS-2
1. MSG at STG-4, 6.9KV- Sec5 (extd.), Sec-6 (extd.), Sec-7 & Sec-8, RSSB
2. ASG at STB, 6.6KV- ASG-8 & ASG-9
3. ASG at Boiler-7, 6.6KV- ASG-7
4. CWPH, 6.6KV HT board
5. ESGB, 6.6KV- Sec-5 & Sec-6 Extd.
6. BPTG, 11KV HT board
7. TRT, 11KV Generator breaker

Type of Vacuum circuit breaker in PBS-2
1. Schneider VCB, 6.9KV, HWX model( MSG and ASG)
2. CGL make, 6.9KV, VCB (RSSB and CWPH)
3. CGL make, 11KV, VCB (BPTG)
4. ABB make, 6.6KV, VD4 model, VCB (Annex building and B-7 S/s)
5. ABB make, 11KV, VD4 model, VCB (TRT)

Do’s
1.Follow Safety Protocols:
Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as insulated gloves, helmets, safety
shoes, safety goggles and flash arc suit.
Ensure compliance with lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures to prevent accidental
energizing of the equipment.
2.Conduct Regular Inspections:

Regularly inspect bus bars, insulators, and associated connections for any signs of
damage, wear, or corrosion.
Check for loose connections, as these can lead to overheating and electrical faults.
3.Clean Insulators and Conductors:

Periodically clean dust, grime, and contamination from insulators and conductors. Use
dry cleaning methods if possible, or, if safe, clean with specified solvents.
Do’s
4.Monitor Temperature:
Use infrared thermography to detect hotspots in connections, bus bars, or
terminals. Elevated temperatures indicate potential issues with load handling or
loose connections.
5.Perform Insulation Resistance Testing:
Measure insulation resistance to ensure there are no leakages. This can prevent
short circuits or arcing, which can lead to serious faults.
6.Verify Grounding Systems:
Ensure the grounding system is intact and effective, as it is essential for the safety
and stability of the HT bus system.
7.Inspect Protective Relays:
Regularly test protective relays to ensure they will respond correctly to fault
conditions, providing protection against overloading, overvoltage, or ground faults.
Don’ts
1.Don’t Work on Live Circuits:
1. Never work on an energized HT bus. De-energize the circuit and verify the absence of
voltage before commencing any maintenance.
2.Avoid Using Unapproved Tools or Equipment:

1. Only use insulated tools and equipment rated for the voltage level of the HT bus.
Unapproved tools can lead to short circuits or personal injury, and damages of
equipment
3.Do Not Ignore Minor Faults:

1. Small issues like loose connections, minor insulation damage, or slight discoloration
should not be ignored, as they may lead to severe problems if left unaddressed.
4.Don’t Skip on Insulation Checks:

1. Skipping insulation resistance tests or dielectric strength tests can allow undetected
insulation weaknesses, leading to short circuits or arc faults.
Don’ts
5.Avoid Overloading the Bus:
1. Ensure that the HT bus is not overloaded, as excessive current can cause
overheating and permanent damage.
6.Do Not Bypass Safety Devices:

2. Never disable protective relays, circuit breakers, or other safety mechanisms, as
these are critical for protecting equipment and personnel.
7.Don’t Allow Water or Moisture Near Equipment:

3. Keep the area around the HT bus system dry, as moisture can lead to corrosion,
tracking, or insulation breakdown.
8.Avoid Quick Fixes on High-Tension Components:

4. Temporary repairs or makeshift fixes can compromise safety. Use proper repair
procedures, and replace faulty components rather than patching them up.
Hazards
1. Electric Shock
•Hazard: The voltage level in a 6.6 kV HT bus section is lethal, and even
brief contact with energized parts can result in severe or fatal electric
shock.
•Precautions:
• Always de-energize and isolate the bus section before performing
any work, using lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Verify that the bus is de-energized by testing for the absence of
voltage with a properly rated meter.
• Wear high-voltage-rated personal protective equipment (PPE) such
as insulated gloves, shoes, and clothing.
Hazards
2. Arc Flash and Arc Blast
•Hazard: Arc flash and arc blast incidents can release intense heat, light,
and pressure waves, causing burns, blindness, and potentially life-
threatening injuries.
•Precautions:
• Maintain a safe approach distance from live bus sections according to
regulatory standards and industry guidelines.
• Use arc-rated PPE, including flame-resistant clothing, face shields,
and gloves, especially during tasks like racking in and out circuit
breakers or testing.
• Use infrared thermography or other detection tools to monitor and
identify any abnormal heat that could lead to an arc flash.
Hazards
3. Overheating and Thermal Burns

•Hazard: Excessive current or poor connections can cause components in
the bus section to overheat, creating a burn risk for personnel and
potentially leading to equipment damage.
•Precautions:
• Use infrared thermography to inspect for hotspots or signs of
overheating in conductors, bus bars, and joints.
• Ensure all connections are tight and in good condition, as loose
connections can generate excessive heat.
• Avoid direct contact with surfaces or components that may be hot.
Hazards
4. Fire Risk
•Hazard: High voltage and current can lead to electrical faults,
overheating, and ultimately fire, especially in areas with flammable
materials.
•Precautions:
• Install fire detection and suppression systems near the HT bus
section, especially in enclosed switchgear rooms.
• Keep the area around the bus section free of combustible materials.
• Ensure all components are rated for the load they handle and
regularly maintained to prevent overheating or arcing.
Hazards
5. Insulation Failure
•Hazard: Over time, insulation materials may degrade, increasing the risk of
short circuits or ground faults. Insulation failure can result in arcing or
flashover, posing severe risks to personnel and equipment.
•Precautions:
• Conduct regular insulation resistance testing to monitor the condition
of the insulation.
• Visually inspect insulators and bus bar coverings for cracks,
discoloration, or other signs of wear.
• Replace damaged or degraded insulation immediately to prevent
possible faults.
Hazards
6. Mechanical Hazards
•Hazard: HT bus sections include moving parts such as circuit breakers
and switches. Sudden movement of spring-loaded components can cause
injuries.
•Precautions:
• Ensure all moving parts are properly secured or discharged before
performing any work.
• Avoid placing hands near spring-loaded mechanisms unless the
breaker is fully de-energized and safe to work on.
• Follow manufacturer safety protocols for operating or servicing
breakers and switches.
Hazards
7. Grounding Hazards
•Hazard: Poor grounding in an HT bus section can cause dangerous
potential differences, leading to unexpected shocks or equipment
malfunctions.
•Precautions:
• Regularly inspect the grounding system to ensure it is intact and
effective.
• Test grounding connections during routine maintenance to verify low
resistance.
• Never bypass grounding equipment, as it is essential for personnel
safety
Standard maintenance procedure of HT Bus Bar Section
Before starting the maintenance job , obtain Line clear permit to work on the equipment
from the competent authority.
•Measure IR value of the bus section, before starting the job and record it.
•Mark the dead bus boundary and ensure that it is safe to open the back and top cover.
•Clean the panels of dead bus section.
•Open the back and top covers of the panels of dead bus-section.
•Physical inspect the insulators and shrouds for any cracks or deformation and replace the
defective ones.
•Clean the insulators and tighten them.
•Physical inspect and check for any entry points for rodent . if found ,properly plug them.
•Tighten the bus bar connections.
•Measure IR value once again to ascertain that the job has been performed
satisfactorily. Fasten/fix the back and top covers at their respective location, if the value
are OK.
•Return the line clear permit.
•Record the findings in respective maintenance records.
Maintenance procedure for HT bus-bar and section
2. Isolation of bus sources 3. Lockout/ Tagout
1. EL-16 work permit 6. Bus Earthing / Ground
4. Voltage Test 5. Discharging of Bus

The contact resistance is in the order of μΩ and it is
approximately 20 μΩ. Important Point: In a circuit breaker, the
main contacts are usually made up of copper and conduct
current in closed positions.
Electrical Testing
IR testing
High Voltage/Burden testing
Contact resistance checking

Thank
You

HT and LT VCB Maintenace

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

HT and LT VCB Maintenace

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

HT and LT VCB Maintenace

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

भिलाई इस्पात

2. ASG at STB, 6.6KV- ASG-8 & ASG-9

3. ASG at Boiler-7, 6.6KV- ASG-7

4. CWPH, 6.6KV HT board

5. ESGB, 6.6KV- Sec-5 & Sec-6 Extd.

6. BPTG, 11KV HT board

7. TRT, 11KV Generator breaker

2. CGL make, 6.9KV, VCB (RSSB and CWPH)

3. CGL make, 11KV, VCB (BPTG)

5. ABB make, 11KV, VD4 model, VCB (TRT)

2.Conduct Regular Inspections:

3.Clean Insulators and Conductors:

2.Avoid Using Unapproved Tools or Equipment:

3.Do Not Ignore Minor Faults:

4.Don’t Skip on Insulation Checks:

6.Do Not Bypass Safety Devices:

7.Don’t Allow Water or Moisture Near Equipment:

8.Avoid Quick Fixes on High-Tension Components:

3. Overheating and Thermal Burns

2. Isolation of bus sources 3. Lockout/ Tagout

1. EL-16 work permit 6. Bus Earthing / Ground

4. Voltage Test 5. Discharging of Bus

High Voltage/Burden testing

Contact resistance checking

You might also like