Jon Giesecke, director of JLG Associates, LLC and the North American Distributor for PowerPD, Inc., presented two back to back “Level II Condition Assessment Courses”

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station, run by Constellation Energy Group, invited JLG Associates to provide transformer and switchyard training to their PdM teams.  The training was held on the shore of Lake Ontario at the Nuclear Learning Center.  This location is one of the nation’s finest training facilities; and is an example of what a training facility should be modeled after. 

The feedback from the trainees and observers was very positive.  “One of the best courses given, excellent, great”, were some of the comments.  Dan Pelletier, the training coordinator for Nine Mile has kindly offered to give personal recommendations for this course.  Please feel free to contact Dan via email Daniel.Pelletier@constellation.com

The course objectives follow:

Upon completion of this course each individual will be able to:

A.     Understand the value of benchmark/base lining critical switchyard electrical equipment

B.     Know what technologies to use.

C.     Learn to use data from several technologies when make a critical decision

D.     How often to test and when to test.

E.      How to apply the severity criteria

F.      How to make appropriate recommendations for action

G.     How to calculate a benefit analysis

H.     How to complete an equipment condition status report.

Understand the use of each of the below listed technologies. 

A.     Vibration Analysis

·        Used to detect changing or already damaging conditions within the transformer or cooling pumps.

·        Learn the data acquisition locations on a transformer and the most important readings to take on a pump.

·        Learn the operation of the VB1000.

            Ultrasonics/Acoustic Analysis

·        Used in two ways in Switchyards and Substations; Airborne, for leak detection; Contact mode, for detection of electrical leakage and partial discharge.

·        Know what signature to expect when high amplitude arcing is occurring in oil filled equipment.

·        Understand where/ when/ why to take readings and the frequency ranges to use.

·        Learn the operation of the TP500A & Fault Detector.

B.     Oil Analysis, DGA, Furan, and oil quality

·        Gain an understanding of the importance of Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) and oil quality testing. Also, understand the importance of noting changing values and taking appropriate action as required.

·        Gain an understanding of Furan Analysis, why it’s done and it’s value in the L2CA program.

C.     Infrared Thermography

Gain an understanding of Thermography as it applies to switchyard equipment.

·        Know what technology to apply next when a hot spot is detected.

·        Learn about emissivity and spot size ratio.

·        Equipment specific severity criteria is given

·        Techniques to reduce/eliminate sun glare issues

·        Equipment failure modes covered in detail

·        Substation component identification for the IR Thermographer

·        Understand cooling system operation and critical issues on power transformers

D.    Functional tests

Understand what functional tests are required on various equipment, and how often and when to perform them.

·        Transformer cooling systems

·        Load Tap Changers

·        Voltage Regulators

E.     Visual inspection

Understand what to look for on each piece of equipment listed below and why.

·     Control cabinets

·     Overhead connections

·     Disconnects

·     Station Batteries

·     Transformers

·     Cooling systems

·     Circuit breakers

·     Control house

·     Grounds          

Learn to use the diagnostic test equipment used for each of the technologies and the frequencies of use necessary for a complete L2CA program.

·     Vibration

·     Partial Discharge

·     Arc Signature

·     Infrared Thermography

·     Corona Detection

·     Surge/Lightning Arrester Testing          

            Understand the need for Baseline data collection and the use of trend data.

F.            Learn L2CA reporting including the use of an Equipment Condition Status       Report (ECSR)

·     Understand why equipment would be placed on a ECSR watch list.

·     Explain anomaly reporting

·     Know that the severity criterion for oil filled equipment is different than that of line-of-sight, and what level of severity to apply to various equipment i.e.; Transformers, LTC’s, Circuit Breakers

J.        Create a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) from actual data.

·     Learn why anomaly tracking and avoided cost documenting are important to the L2CA program.

·     Understand the avoided cost benefit calculation process.

·     Build an actual CBA using your own case history.

For detailed information on training for your PdM team, please contact,

Jon Giesecke, Director

JLG Associates

(610) 518-1615

 jgiesecke@powerpd.net