What is RLA?

Plant assessment of an existing power plant can be compared with human health examination. Utilities need to get, regularly over the HPPs life time, information about the condition of main system and key components to talk management decision about necessary /profitable investments in order to:-

• ENSURE PLANT SAFETY.
• ENSURE THE LONG –TERM VALUE OF THE HPP.
• IMPROVE THE OPERATING RESULTS (increase revenues, reduce O&M cost).

Targets for assessment:

• Give an overview of current condition of all systems.

• Clear identification of weak points.

• Proposal for specific inspections to identify the problem and necessary measures.

• Rough overview of necessary repair / modernization scope.

To meet these targets the assessments follow a clear structured procedure. We are applying the three phase approach for elaboration of a systematic approach / methodology enabling:

• To define the scope of assessment
• To systemize the necessary date collection.
• To rate system / components in terms of:
• Risk
• Residual life
• Improvement Potential.

• Cover the main system / components the ratings shell be based on statistical date, experience date and/or simple calculations.
• Enable a multidisciplinary date collection / inspection on-site.

Why need RLA?

In recent times, asserting health of any equipment and estimating its residual life has achieved importance due to economic compulsions for plant life extensions as well as to avoid forced outages of critical and safety related systems. Optimizations of designs have pressed design engineers for lesser margins, thereby, demanding high accuracy between diagnostic parameters and long term material behaviors. The estimated parameters and mathematical relationship developed in this work will help in residual life estimation, comparison of different kinds of materials for future development of insulating materials and also to understand long term behavior for reliable performance. It is expected that such authentic ageing data along with judiciously maintained operating records and advanced diagnostic techniques will lead to reliable estimation of residual life of equipment for its safe and economic life cycle management.

For the execution of RLA studies we have special test equipments listed as below

12 KV AUTOMATIC CAPACITANCE AND TANDELTA

This summary is prepared to bring to your kind attention about the necessity and features of our 12KV Automatic Capacitance and Tan delta test set which is a self- contained test set, designed for field and shop testing of electrical insulation on voltage, current, Capacitance, power, Power Factor / Dissipation factor and interference Current while tested on bushings, Circuit Breakers, Transformers, Cables, Rotating machines, Insulating oils etc. This test can be done before commissioning of the apparatus and it is equally important to test during the maintenance program.

APPLICATION:

Power factor testing of electrical insulation is one of the most recognized and highly regarded procedures is both preventive maintenance process and manufacturing of electrical power apparatus such as Transformers, Circuit breakers, Rotating machines etc. The results from tests on two winding transformers, three winding transformers, regulators and reactors provide valuable information’s regarding the general condition of the ground and inter winding insulation of transformers. The results also provide valuable information concerning the dryness of the transformer and are helpful in detecting undesirable operating conditions.

CIRCUIT BREAKER ANALYZER:

Circuit Breaker Operation analyzer to test dynamic performance of circuit breakers and is designed for testing circuit Breakers of all types. This portable analyzer test report gives a clear understanding of the behaviors of the breaker during operation. Various important setting can be made on the breaker by correlating the status of interdependent events shown on the result.

Due to the fact that Circuit breakers, especially those used in EHV circuits are a critical part of a system that requires 100% reliability; it is recommended that they are inspected periodically and after carrying out any maintenance work. A record of breaker performance immediately on commissioning at site provides a reference with which further test results can be compared and variation from the original performance can be easily identified.

Measures timing, bounce, simultaneity of contacts.

Analyzer contact travel characteristics for speed, insertion, contact gap, over travel and rebound.

Records trip and close coil current characteristics

Registers the signature of dynamic Contact Resistance of main and arcing contacts.

Prints test results in a graphical format with test header and calculation footer.

GAS ANALYZER:

Automatic Dew point Meter is a fully self-contained portable instrument, specifically designed to measure the moisture of air, SF6 and Nitrogen gas on a spot check basis. This meter can change the displayed engineering units from ˚C Dew point to either ˚F Dew point, ppm(V), ppb(V), g/m3 and ppm(W).

THERMAL IMAGER (Thermo vision Camera)

Thermograph is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to “see” and “measure” thermal energy emitted from an object.

Infrared cameras that incorporate temperature measurement allow predictive maintenance professionals to make well informed judgments about the operating conditions of electrical and mechanical targets. Temperature measurements can be compared with historical operating temperatures, or with infrared readings of similar equipment at the same time, to determine if a significant temperature rise will compromise component reliability or plant safety.

SWEEP FREQUENCY RESPONSE ANALYSER:

Sweep Frequency Response Analysis (SFRA) is a tool that can give an indication of core or winding movement in transformers. This is done by performing a measurement, albeit a simple one, looking at how well a transformer winding transmits a low voltage signal that varies in frequency. Just how well a transformer does this is related to its impedance, the capacitive and inductive elements of which are intimately related to the physical construction of the transformer. Changes in frequency response as measured by SFRA

techniques may indicate a physical change inside the transformer, the cause of which then needs to be identified and investigated.

• Shorted Turn
• Core Fault
• Hoop Buckling
• Axial Collapse
• Clamping Failure
• Confirmation of Serviceability After Bushing Failure
• Relocation

POWER QUALITY ANALYSER

12 Kinds of Power measurements for power control and applicable to power quality control including Harmonics Analysis. Can display Waveform and Vector, and can confirm the wiring connections too. Complies fully with the international safety standards IEC 61010-1 CAT.III 600 V.

MEASUREMENT PARAMETERS

Voltage, Current, Frequency, Active power, Reactive power, Apparent power, Active energy, Reactive energy, Apparent energy, Power factor (cos θ), Demand, Harmonics, Quality Swell/Dip/Instantaneous Stop, Transients/Over Voltage, Inrush Current, Unbalance Rate for all type of Electrical Circuits.

VIBERATION ANALYSER

This instrument is designed for Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance work without the need for “expert” interpretation. Not only can it be used in a condition based maintenance program it is also an ideal instrument for supporting a Preventive Maintenance (PM) program. By setting a base line measurement you can compare the PM results to the base line before and after any work. This is also an excellent practice when commissioning equipment back into service.

A large step towards a well planned machine maintenance.

With X-Viber, measurements are fast and easy, because of the Route function.

Vibration level, temperature and RPM is measured with the same instrument, which simplifies the measurements.

Balancing, Spectrum measurement and Analyzing are also possible with X-Viber. 

In measurement you can measure:

The total vibration level within the selected frequency range.

The total Bearing condition value within the selected frequency range The total Envelope value within the selected frequency range.

The speed of the machine (RPM) Bearing temperature.

Analysis of the five (5) highest vibration levels and frequencies.

This instrument allows the maintenance technician to learn condition monitoring as a step-by-step process. First they learn how to establish a route of the plant equipment. Next they learn how and where to measure. For example what point they should be on and in what direction they should be measuring in. (Vertical, Horizontal etc.)

Features:

• Route via X-Trend software.
• Total Level.
• Envelope.
• Bearing Condition Value
• Analysis
• Temperature
• Speed
• Off Route Spectrum