INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

EVALUATION OF NTDC TECHNICAL

SPECIFICATIONS - PAKISTAN

August 23, 2022

INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

CONTEND
1. Scope of works of the consultancy services .................................................. 3
2. Review of technical documents for procurement of auto-transformers ........ 5
2.1. Bidding documents .................................................................................... 5
2.2. Auto-transformers specification ................................................................... 8
2.3. Fire prevention nitrogen injection system ..................................................... 9
2.4. Revised type test policy 2019 ....................................................................10
2.5. Schedule of technical data for 500 kV auto-transformers ...............................10
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

1. SCOPE OF WORKS OF THE CONSULTANCY SERVICES

The consultant will review the technical specifications of the sub-station equipment
to be purchased and installed for the three projects (Arifwala, Sialkot and Vehari)
as well as the technical specifications for the installation, commissioning and
erection of the sub-station equipment. Review of civil works specifications and
transmission lines is not expected.
The consultant will only review the technical specifications of the main and critical
components of the sub-stations projects, therefore an exhaustive review of all the
technical specifications is not expected.
1st degree recommendations:
The consultant’s review will focus on the existing NTDC specifications and
characteristics of the equipment detailed in the relevant tender documents to
identify eventual material gaps compared to international state of the art that may
limit or affect the operation of the three projects. The consultant will focus on
critical equipment (auto-transformer, circuit breakers,…) that could affect the
operation of the three projects.
The consultant must take into account the local constraints and existing system
code.
Based on its experience, the consultant will detail quantitatively or qualitatively
the impact of the current specifications on the project’s performance and they will
prepare the required modifications to the technical specifications to solve the
deviations. They consultant will detail the cost implications of such modifications.
The cost of existing and purposed equipment must be given in a tabular form to
have clear indication of any impacts.
Those recommendations are known are 1st degree recommendations.
2nd degree recommendations:
As a complement to the 1st degree recommendations, the consultant will identify
eventual enhancements to the current technical specifications considering
international best practices that will improve the overall performance of the three
projects.
Even that those enhancements are not necessary to guarantee the operation of
the projects, they may improve the overall performance of the projects during
their lifespan and, in this regard, the enhancements should be economically (i.e.
including externalities) justified. The consultant will detail quantitatively or
qualitatively the impact of the recommendation on the project’s performance,
including cost implications.
Those recommendations are known as 2nd degree recommendations.
The recommendations must not limit or hinder the compatibility of the three
projects with the rest of the grid equipment.
The consultant may consider, indicatively, the following aspects during its review.
▪ Possible deviations in specifications with respect to applicable standards.
▪ Unnecessary stringent conditions in existing specifications restricting
competition.
▪ Possible missing parameters affecting quality of the equipment to be
procured.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

▪ Digitalization of the assets and predictive maintenance.

▪ Efficiency of the equipment and its relationship with tender selection.
▪ Cost impacts and savings.
During its review, the consultant must take into account the resiliency of the
equipment to the climate change, namely as an important increase of the
temperature in Punjab is foreseen.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

2. REVIEW OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS FOR

PROCUREMENT OF AUTO-TRANSFORMERS
The documents of the tender for the procurement of auto-transformer bank for
upgradation of existing 220 kV Vehari substation to 500 kV Vehari substation
NTDC are listed in the table below. For each document, the table indicates which
part of the document has been analysed by RTEi.

N° Title of the document Content Scope RTEi

Part 1 : Bidding procedures
Bidding documents - AFD-01-
[1] Part 2 : Supply requirements Part 2
2022
Part 3 : Contract
General technical specification for
Whole
[2] 1-Spec_500_kV_Transformer the supply of single-phase auto-
document
transformers 525/231 kV
1-Fire prevention Nitrogen Whole
[3] Fire detection and fire protection
injection System(F) document
Whole
[4] Revised Type Test Policy 2019 Type test requirements of NTDC
document
Schedule of Technical Data
Whole
[5] FOR 500KV AUTO To be filled by bidders
document
TRANSFORMERS

2.1. Bidding documents

Part 2 of the document [1] is broken down into the following chapters. For each
chapter, a table summarises the RTEi recommendations, classified according to
the two categories defined above.

1- List of goods and delivery schedule

This section lists the equipment to be supplied and the associated quantities,
including spare parts.

Section
Kind of
of the Description Impact
recommendation
document
List of The list of spare parts is complete.
goods RTEi questions whether it is
Item 1.6: 2nd degree necessary to request spare parts Cost savings
Spare for bushing CTs and tertiary
parts busbar
The required delivery period is
240 days. This period seems to
short for manufacturers. One year
Delivery seems more realistic.
and Planning
1st degree Given the current crises,
completion enhancement
schedule particularly with regard to
difficulties in the supply of raw
materials, the delivery periods
tend to increase.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

2- List of related services and completion schedule

Not applicable. Table to be filled by the Purchaser.

3- Technical specifications
Reference is made to technical specifications [2] and [3].
There is no specific technical data filled by NTDC for the auto-transformers of
Vehari (for example [5] is empty and the tables are to be filled in by the
manufacturer), meaning that the technical data to be considered are those defined
in the general technical specification [2].
This can lead to confusion or even misunderstanding. The bidding documents
should at least clearly state which type of transformer is expected in relation to
Table 1 - STANDARD RATINGS OF AUTO-TRANSFORMERS of the general technical
specification [2] (Type A, B or C).
In addition, the site conditions are not defined. Some generic environmental
conditions are defined in the general technical specification [2] but some data
should be defined in the bidding documents, such as:
- Ensure that the ambient conditions (temperatures) are those indicated in the
general specification [2], this data is important for the design of the
transformer,
- Define the altitude of the site (if above 1000m, this can impact the insulation
design)
- Define the atmospheric pollution level and the required creepage distance (it
depends on the site)

Kind of
Section of the
recommend Description Impact
document
ation

Bidding
At least, mention the type of AT requested Compliance
documents – Part
1st degree (A, B or C) according to table 1 of the with
2 Supply
general technical specification [2]. specifications
requirements

For the sake of clarity, RTEi recommends

that the technical characteristics required by
Schedule of NTDC be pre-filled for each AT. So, for each
Compliance
Technical Data table and item, one column should be
1st degree with
FOR 500KV AUTO dedicated for NTDS requirements (data
specifications
TRANSFORMERS required by NTDC) and another column
dedicated for the manufacturer (Data to be
supplied by the manufacturer)

Compliance
Bidding Site conditions are missing. RTEi strongly
with site
documents – Part recommends defining the site conditions,
1st degree conditions
2 Supply such as ambient temperatures, altitude and
(performances
requirements required creepage distances.
)

4- Drawings
The list of drawings to be provided by the tenderer is described in chapter 4:
Drawing - Part 2 of the bidding documents. This list is completed by the general
technical specification [2] (clause 14) and well detailed. This documentation will
be provided by the tenderer for the bidding stage. Nevertheless, this
documentation will need to be updated during the execution of the project,
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

following the design stage. RTEi cannot find any requirements regarding the
schedule for submission of plans/drawings during the execution phase. This
schedule is important, especially to manage the interfaces (civil engineering,
control and protection, HV connections, etc.). For example, detailed drawings,
weight, dimensions will be required after the final design of the transformer to
design the civil structures of the transformer.

Kind of
Section of the
recommend Description Impact
document
ation

Bidding Insert a clause to request specific data and

documents – Part drawings in due time during the execution
Project
2 Supply 2nd degree phase of the project, to manage the
management
requirements - interfaces (Civil aspects and control and
Drawings protection aspects).

5- Inspection and tests

According to clause ii. of chapter 5.1 Type tests, NTDC allows type tests carried
out within the last 15 years prior to the tender opening date. This 15-year period
seems quite long and will require careful analysis by NTDC to ensure that all
conditions are met for acceptable testing (design/manufacturing changes, non-
substitution of components, etc.). To minimise this risk, RTEi recommends
reducing this period to 5 years, which is common practice in this type of tender.

Kind of
Section of the
recommend Description Impact
document
ation

Bidding
documents – Part RTEi recommends reducing the period of
2 Supply acceptable type tests to 5 years (instead of
2nd degree Performances
requirements – 15 years), which is common practice for this
Inspection and kind of equipment.
tests

To be noted that the NTDC type test policy [4] does not cover the auto-transformer
itself but only bushings and insulators.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

2.2. Auto-transformers specification

This chapter covers the review of document [2] 1-Spec_500_kV_Transformer.

Section of Kind of
the recommen Description Impact
document dation

Red lead should be forbidden from epoxy

§5.10.2 2nd degree Health
primer

It is recommended to request water-based

§5.10.4 2nd degree Environment
coating without solvents.

It is recommended to add a clause on the

position of the conservator.

Proposal
§6.11 The conservator should be positioned so as not Easily
2nd degree
(Conservator) to restrict access to the bushings and maintenance
equipment. It must be placed either on the roof
of the tank, or at the end of the tank on the
side opposite the tertiary bushings. Its
positioning must not hinder access to the tap
changer if it exists.

It is recommended to add devices to protect

workers against fall.

Proposal
A fall protection device must be installed on
each transformer. The devices remaining in
place must allow normal operation of the
transformer. The design of the devices must
ensure the safety of workers in all
circumstances.
The time required to set up the device and
secure it must be less than 20 minutes.
§6 The location of the securing devices must be
2nd degree Safety
(Accessories) determined according to the traffic and work
plan of the operators, the characteristics of the
transformer, the access routes and the
restriction of the risks involved (air draught
required, pendulum effect in the event of a
fall).
The system must allow at least two people to
be present at the same time.
The device shall consist of:
- an anchorage point during transport
- a device for access to the roof of the
transformer
- a protection device based on brackets

NTDC requires oil-filled or condenser bushings.

For condenser bushings, there are three main
insulation systems:
• Resin Bonded Paper (RBP)
• Oil Impregnated Paper (OIP)
• Resin Impregnated Paper (RIP)
§7 (Bushing) 1st degree Performances
The feedback on oil-filled bushings (France and
abroad) is very poor. Many fire transformers
have been caused by oil-filled bushing failures.
In France, RTE prohibits the use of this type of
bushing.
RTEi strongly recommends the use of RIP
bushings only.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

To enable early detection of bushing errors and

§7 (Bushing) 2nd degree improve the reliability of the transformer, Performances
online monitoring systems can be added.

In the foreword of the specification, it is stated

that additional requirements have been added
to increase the strength of the tertiary windings
(enhancement of the rated capacity).
Another additional solution is proposed: a
physical barrier between the phases, which is a
current practice in France.

2nd degree Performances

Proposal
Tertiary windings of voltage Um ≤ 36 kV are
not designed to withstand a short circuit
between phases. Each phase shall be separated
by an external metal enclosure insulated from
the tank, fitted with a stainless earth terminal
placed on the opposite side to the transformer
tank.

The rates stated in the document to capitalize

the losses appear to be a bit underestimated in
§11 (Losses
order to take into account the cost of the losses Performances
and guaranted 2nd degree
in the comparison of the offers. For information, and costs
values)
RTE uses rates that are double those given by
NTDC.

Some electrical ratings must be consistent

between equipment, especially insulation levels,
duration of short-circuit and short-time
withstand current.
After review, RTEi has detected some
inconsistencies in these ratings, in the
specifications of auto-transformers (AT) and Consistency of
Table I 1st degree circuit-breakers (CB). electrical
For example, the rated duration of short-circuit ratings
is one second for CB and three seconds for AT.
As it depends on the protection plan of the
electrical network, the same duration should be
required for all equipment.
The same for insultation levels which are
inconsistent between equipment.

2.3. Fire prevention nitrogen injection system

This chapter covers the review of document [3] 1-Fire prevention Nitrogen
injection System(F).
The requested system is based on transformer protector system (rapid
depressurisation, oil-gas separation tank, nitrogen injection). The cost is
estimated around 50 k€ per transformer.
This system is very little used in Europe and not at all in France, due to poor
feedback. The strategies used in France consist rather in physically separating the
transformers from each other (firewalls) to prevent the spread of fire and in
installing, depending on the case, fire protection systems by spraying water.
In addition, new CIGRE research and the emergence of new standards (IEEE
C57.156) are orienting the general philosophy not towards rapid depressurisation
(several tests have shown this to be ineffective) but towards reinforcing the tank
to withstand an internal arc without explosion.
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

Section of Kind of
the recommen Description Impact
document dation

1-Fire
prevention
Poor feedback in Europe of the requested Availability of
Nitrogen Alert
system. transformers
injection
System (F)

2.4. Revised type test policy 2019

This chapter covers the review of document [4] Revised Type Test Policy 2019.
As already stated in chapter 2.1, RTEi recommends reducing the period of
acceptable type tests to 5 years (instead of 15 years), which is common practice
for this kind of equipment.

2.5. Schedule of technical data for 500 kV auto-

transformers

This chapter covers the review of document [5] 1.1. Schedule of technical data for
500 kV auto-transformers.
This schedule is composed of three parts:
- A: Technical data for 500/220 kV AT
- B: Technical data for bus bar
- C: Technical data for nitrogen injection explosion prevention and fire
protections system
The schedule is empty and has to be filled in by the manufacturers. For part B-
technical data for bus bar, the required data from NTDC are also stated, while for
parts A and C, there is no required NTDC required date, the schedule is completely
empty.
Recommendation n°1:
Even if the data is redundant with the general transformer specification [2], it is
recommended treating parts A and C as part B: for each data item, provide two
columns with one column indicating the NTDC requirement (if applicable) and the
other column to be filled in by the manufacturers.
This makes the schedule more usable by NTDC to directly compare the data filled
in by the manufacturers and the NTDC requirements. It also clarifies the NTDC
requirements by highlighting the requirements applicable to the transformers of
the tender (the specification is generic and covers several types of transformers).
Recommendation n°2:
More importantly, some project-specific data is missing. This data should be
defined in the bidding documents [1] or in the schedule [5] and are essential to
design the auto-transformers and accessories.
The missing data is:
- Rated short-time withstand current: 40 kA? 63 kA? other?
INGPKAS01 Evaluation of NTDC technical specifications - PAKISTAN 23/08/2022

- Electrical data for bushing CTs: ratings

- Site conditions as defined in chapter 2.1 of this document

Section of Kind of
the recommen Description Impact
document dation

Some project-specific data is missing. This data

should be defined in the bidding documents [1]
or in the schedule [5] and are essential to
Schedule of design the auto-transformers and accessories. Performances
technical data and
The missing data is:
for 500 kV 1st degree compliance
auto- • Rated short-time withstand current: 40 kA? with
transformers. 63 kA? other? specifications
• Electrical data for bushing CTs: ratings
• Site conditions as defined in chapter 2.1 of
this document

Schedule of It is recommended treating parts A and C as

technical data part B: for each data item, provide two columns Compliance
for 500 kV 2nd degree with one column indicating the NTDC with
auto- requirement (if applicable) and the other specifications
transformers. column to be filled in by the manufacturers.