SPARK/STAR/2023/33

Sparking and Blowing of DC fuses with Damage of LT equipment at 132/33KV

Grid and its premises

SITUATION:

At 132/33 KV Grid Station, THREE nos of distribution transformer of 250KVA, 33/0.4 KV each
are connected from 33 KV Bay for the purpose of supplying of LT voltage for different
applications (Lighting Load and SCADA connection and others Load to the adjacent building).
One day there had been Phase to ground fault on B phase conductor at the nearby end
Transformer Premises, which resulted severe damages, sparks, flashes on the LT systems.

Observations:

1. Tripping of Station Transformer feeder resulted at Grid premises.

2. Damages at Grid Premises
a. Blowing out of FUSES
i. MAIN DC FUSES on the battery charger.
ii. DC FUSES of Main DCDB.
iii. Few fuses on CRP (Control and Relay Panel) of both 132 KV and 33
KV.
iv. Secondary side Protection Core Fuses of 132KV Bus PT at PT console
Box
b. Defect of 2 nos Numerical Relays on 132KV Panel.
c. Flashing and damage of MODEM Router Box, RTU panel, GPS units
d. Sparking on Earth Links/ flange/ flats Connected to different panels at Grid
Control Room.
3. Damage at REMOTE end TRANSFORMER PREMISES
a. Severe Sparking on DP structures, LT ACDB Earth Points with Blowing out of
FUSES of ACDB.
b. SPARKING on EARTH LINKS/ FALTS
4. Damages at Remote end Control Room ACDB
a. Burning of Aux Coil of Contactor.
b. Burning of SCADA panels

TASK:

Planning was done to attend the issues and extend permanent solution to the
cause of such incident.

ACTION and ANALYSIS

Post incident Attention:

1.Both 132kv main incoming supply were hand tripped, due to the failure of DC supply at this
GRID So the Grid was undergone with FORCED BLACKOUT.
2. Tracing of all blown fuses was done and replaced with good one.
3. DG set was taken into service for Aux AC supply to the system.
4. Blown fuses of 132KV Bus PT was also replaced.
5. The snapping Bph wire was rectified.
6. The Earth Links were tightened and GI Earth wires were resized to its place.

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7. After availing the Main DC supply, the 33 KV station transformer and other feeders were
charged in successive manner and stood OK.
8. EARTH FLAT connection from REMOTE TRANSFOREMER PREMISES (50 meters
from this Grid Premises) to GRID MAT was done before energization of REMOTE
TRANSFORMER system.

ANALYSIS of the INCIDENT: -

Reasons of HIGH Voltage: - The snapping of 33 KV Phase wire and connecting to DP

structure at REMOTE END Transformer Premises resulted of heavy fault current and
tripping of VCB connected to this bay at Grid Sub-Station. (Figure-1.1)

The detail investigation, was done on the Earthing System at REMOTE END Transformer
Premises and available Transformers, Structures and others.

1. NO Earth Pits were found, as inquired from DISCOM WING that the Pits are being in
buried manner.
2. NO Earth Mat at this premises.
3. The Earth flats connected to the panels were in slight loose connection as confirmed
due to sparking on these points.
4. No any defined Structure Earthing, even 0.415 KV side Transformer Neutrals.
Because of this improper Earth loop, the closed path from the driving source became poor
and resulting with HIGH VOLTAGE appearance on the Earth Point, called GPR (Ground
Potential Rise). The earthing on 33 KV B phase, resulted the voltage rise on the healthy (R
and Y). Simultaneously, the Voltage on the DELTA winding of the station Transformer also
became high on the RY Phase as compared to the YB and BR phases.
Now the reflection of this voltage on the LT side (Star connected) became prominent due to
the weak and separate Earth connection. The Individual voltage on the healthy R and Y
phases became very high causing the failure and damage of the items as described above.
The other reason of Failure is also that rushing of fault current at different weak elements
(Like GPS UNITs, MODEMS, Electronics Relay etc..) to Source Ground

Stn TFR
R Y B
2 33 KV of Power
V2 TRF Transformer
V6

V5
V4 V1
V3
V6
V3

Weak Earthing not

Figure- 2.1.1 Transformer
connected to 33
Snapping of Bphase arrangement
KV Mat
conductor

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RE-OCCURRENCE OF THE INCIDENT ON SAME the DAY :

1. During first incident, on of the GI Earth Wires out of 2 nos from DISCOM DP Structure
were being in damaged condition, not noticed properly as the string was damaged at
the bottom point as like shown in figure.
2. The system was charged from Grid end to avail Aux AC supply from the Station
transformer at the grid premises along with other 2 Nos of Transformers at REMOTE
END premises. The LT loads were not extended to the system.
3. The incident repeated coincidentally at the time of extension low light load from the
ACDB board.
4. Accidentally the damaged Earth GI wire slides down touching the same B phase
conductor resulting with flash over at the spot and total damage of GI earth wire.
5. This time the fault current on GRID side was reflected with 8 Kamp, causing with
outage of both 33 KV side of Power Transformers and simultaneously the 33 KV VCB
of Station Transformer Bay from Grid end.
6. But this time only it was found with FLASH OVER of the MODEM ROUTER BOX at
GRID PREMISES.

RE-OCCURRENCE OF THE FAULT was re-analysed and again it was emphasized on

the strengthen of REMOTE ENDAREA EARTH SYSTEM.

Proper Earthing with MAT connection with Relay gradation and renovation of the
DISCOM structures at REMOTE ENDTRANSFORMER PREMISES were done. Bith
Remote and Local GRID MAT allowed for INTER_CONNECTION to avoid GPR (Ground
Potential Rise)

RESULTs and RECOMMENDATIONS

After provision of REMOTE END EARTH MAT and inter-connection, this problem
was resolved.

RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS:

1. Provision at REMOTE ENDTRANSFORMER PREMISES

a. Provision of Earth Mat with CONTOUR EARTH ELECTRODES at 6 mtr inter
electrode distance, considering poor Soil resistivity 6 mtr pipe Electrode with
Chemical Earthing is preferable.
b. Specific Earth Pit for Transformers and other structures used at this premises
as per IS.
c. Rectification of the DP structures with replacement of insulators, defunct/ non-
available LAs.
d. Renovation/Replacement of the ACDB with proper SFU (Switch gear Fusing
Unit).
e. Arrangement protection scheme should also be done.
f. This Mat must be connected to GRID EARTH MAT to avoid GPR.
2. Earthing connection to All LT board panels, CRPs, DCDBs, Chargers etc.. must be re-
checked regarding its Earth Connection and connection to Mat.
3. The relay setting and CTR available to be re-visited and re-set as per system
requirement.
4. Voltage Relay, available at the Battery charger to be revisited and set with OV of 110
% and UV of 85 % with time delay of 1 sec.

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 SNAPSHOTS OF DAMAGES AT THIS GRID PREMISES

BLOWING OF DCDB FUSES

BURNING OF MODEM
RTU CABLE TERMINAL ROUTER BOX

DEFECT OF NUMERICAL BURNING OF CRP SPARKING ON

RELAYS TERMINALS AIRTEL MODEM

SNAPSHOTS OF DAMAGES AT REMOTE ENDTRANSFORMER PREMISES

BURNING OF MCCB AT
REMOTE ENDSWITCH BURNING OF EARTH SPARKING AT
YARD TERMINAL POINT DP STRUCTURE

SPARKING AT
SPARKING AT SPARKING AT
PANEL BOX
PANEL BOX AB SWITCH HANDLE

SPARK/STAR/2023/33