Issue 1 2018

Magazine

POWER TRANSFORMER
DIAGNOSIS IN ONE DAY
 DEAR READERS,

For many people the world feels like a much more dangerous place now than
it was a few years ago. In times like these it is even more important to stay
informed and understand other people and cultures. The Global Peace Index,
issued by the Institute of Economics and Peace, recently released a ranking of
the safest countries in the world. Luckily 11 of our OMICRON offices are in coun-
tries ranked within the top 20 safest countries in the world. If you are interested
in the detailed report – please have a look: economicsandpeace.org

And what about the power industry? The electricity grid has been physically
vulnerable for decades. Today we are only just beginning to understand the
seriousness of an emerging threat to the grid’s cybersecurity. As the grid has
become more dependent on computers and data-sharing, it has become more
responsive to changes in power demand and better at integrating new sources
of energy. However, its computerized control could be abused by attackers who
gain access to the systems. Many of the recent cyber-attacks deal with computer
technology and the interconnected nature of the infrastructure.

For some years now, we have been actively addressing the issue of cyber security
and its impact on day-to-day work performing tests in energy installations – read
more about our initiatives on page 27.

Finally some good news: The overall score for the 2017 Global Peace Index im-
proved slightly due to gains in six of the nine geographical regions represented.
This is the first improvement in global peacefulness since start of the recordings
in 2014 – let’s continue in our joint effort to change the world for the better.

Enjoy reading!

Patricia Marte
Editor-in-chief OMICRON Magazine

Publisher OMICRON electronics GmbH, Oberes Ried 1, 6833 Klaus (AT)

Responsible for content OMICRON electronics GmbH

Editorial team and implementation up! consulting, Ruggell (FL)

Picture credits OMICRON electronics GmbH, iStock.com (S. 12–15, 24, 27–31, 33–34, 38, 42, 45), TenneT (S. 17–19),
Elia (S. 25–26), GFTC s.r.o. (S. 32), PCM Guatemala (S. 35–36)

E-mail to the editorial team magazine@omicronenergy.com

2
«Peace cannot be
kept by force; it can
only be achieved by
­u nderstanding.»
Albert Einstein

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
17 27

One for all The cyber dilemma

Leading transmission system operator picks CIBANO 500 to test all How to include security in networked
types of circuit breakers with one system protection technology

12 6

OMICRON Academy training

around-the-clock Power transformer diagnosis in one day

4
PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION

10 An Invitation to the aptitude test 6 Power transformer diagnosis

Why asset prequalification is becoming in one day
increasingly important
17 One for all
14 CT Analyzer: Better than ever Leading transmission system operator picks
A well-known system with new functionalities CIBANO 500 to test all types of circuit breakers
with one system
27 The cyber dilemma
How to include security in networked 24 Going the distance
protection technology MONCABLO helps to detect and locate
insulation defects along several kilometers of
40 Efficient testing for grounding systems power cable
A software-supported, automated solution with
Primary Test Manager™ software and HGT1 34 Eleven in one stroke!
Daily challenges for a service provider during
42 Please do not disturb diagnostic testing
How our MBB1 measurement balanced bridge
helps you enhance noise reduction for single-
phase partial discharge testing
BACKGROUND
44 No data – no strategy
Intelligent asset management with ADMO 12 OMICRON Academy training
around-the-clock

20 Fairies and wizards

REGION Our CCSS team faces new challenges
with every logistics job
32 On site: OMICRON in the
Czech Republic 38 Think digital
Pavel Andrle from GFTC s. r. o. on what it means Our online customer portal –
to be a reliable partner personalized information at a glance

47 Region

NEWS
EVENTS 37 Safety first!
SAA2 warning flash-light
48 What’s going on
Trade shows and conferences

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 5

POWER TRANSFORMER
DIAGNOSIS IN ONE DAY
A team of OMICRON test engineers was assigned
to perform a comprehensive condition assess-
ment of a 200 MVA power transformer. The
power transformer was intended for sale, so the
operator and the potential customer wanted to
get some clear insight into the current condition
of the different transformer components. They
had one clear expectation: All the required tests
had to be performed within one day since the
power transformer needed to be online again the
following day.

8:00 a.m. – Arrival at the substation
The power transformer was disconnected from the grid
upon arrival in the morning. To perform all required tests in
the allotted period of time, a smart choice of test systems
was required: TESTRANO 600 for all common electrical diag-
nostic tests, its accessory CP TD1 for power/dissipation fac-
tor testing as well as DIRANA for dielectric response analysis
and FRANEO 800 for sweep frequency response analysis.
Due to their compact design, all the testing systems easily fit
into one car. The Primary Test Manager (PTM) was the only
software needed for the convenient operation of all these
test systems on site.
8:15 a.m. – Starting the first tests
The operator had sent a picture of the asset nameplate to
the test engineers prior to testing the 22-year-old, 200 MVA,
220 kV/110 kV power transformer. A star connection is
located on the transformer’s primary and secondary side. All
bushings have a resin-impregnated paper (RIP) insulation.
The transformer and its bushings had already been config-
ured and all test jobs prepared the day before using the PTM
software. This enabled the test team to immediately start
the different test jobs on site, which greatly minimized the
time the transformer was required to be offline.
8:30 a.m. – Initial screening of the power transformer
The operator had taken an oil-sample in advance to perform
a dissolved gas analysis (DGA). This kind of initial screening
gives a first insight into the transformer’s condition.
The gas concentrations listed in the DGA report were
entered into the designated DGA form in the PTM
software. All common assessment methods were auto-
matically applied and the results were displayed in
comprehensible graphs.
In this case, the results did not indicate any obvious abnor-
malities, such as partial discharge or signs of aging. Never-
theless, further diagnostic tests were required to assess the
overall power transformer condition prior to its sale.
9:05 a.m. – Dielectric response analysis
The DIRANA test system was set up to perform the dielectric
response analysis and the clamps were connected to the
transformer bushings. An additional guard was connected
to the tank to suppress unwanted currents from the substa-
tion environment.
As a next step, the oil temperature was entered into the
PTM software. Everything else was measured and calculated
automatically. It took only 17 minutes to complete the

6
measurement and assessment. This is extraordinarily fast
thanks to the combined Frequency Domain Spectroscopy
(FDS) and advanced Polarization and Depolarization Cur-
rent+ (PDC+) techniques.
9:40 a.m. – Power/dissipation factor measurement
Next, the capacitance and power/dissipation factor
of the transformer bushings were measured using
TESTRANO 600 and its CP TD1 accessory. Testing with
variable frequency increases the measurement sensitiv-
ity, which enables defects and faults to become visible at
an early stage. An additional “tip-up test” was performed
with different voltage levels to detect contact problems
within the bushings.
The results were available two hours later and were sat-
isfactory, aside from one bushing where the frequency
sweep detected a power factor value that was too high.
This would not have been obvious during pure main
frequency testing.
1:00 p.m. – Preparation for all common electrical tests
After a lunch break, the team took a closer look at the
conductors and the core of the transformer using some
common electrical tests. To prepare for this, the CP TD1
was disconnected and the system setup was changed.
The team had already defined the jobs in the PTM soft-
ware, so the testing procedure was clear and the team
could start testing immediately.
1:10 p.m. – Short-circuit impedance measurement
A three-phase, short-circuit impedance measurement
was performed on the high-voltage side of the trans-
former. The low-voltage side was shorted. Afterwards,
the setup was changed on the low-voltage side to per-
form all further tests.
Only three cables were needed: One cable was con-
nected to the high-voltage side, one to the low-voltage
side and one to the tap changer of the transformer. The
color-coded design of TESTRANO 600 makes test setup
more intuitive, ensuring safe and reliable measurements.
1:30 p.m. – Turns ratio and excitation current
measurements
The transformer turns ratio was measured on all taps.
TESTRANO 600 controlled the tap changer and switched
from tap to tap automatically. The measured values
did not reveal any abnormalities. Any detected devia-
tions were below the tolerance limit according to the
IEC 60076-1 standard.
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 7
DIRANA enables an easy measurement approach for fast
water determination in the paper.
While measuring the turns ratio, the excitation currents for
all three phases were also determined. The results showed a
typical HLH phase pattern, which fits with the three-legged
core design.
1:45 p.m. – DC winding resistance measurement
A DC winding resistance measurement was performed on
both the high-voltage and the low-voltage windings. On the
high-voltage side, the winding resistance measurement was
combined with a dynamic resistance measurement (DRM)
to analyse the transient switching process of the OLTC. The
combined measurement was performed in single-phase
mode, which provided good isolation of the phases during
the switching process. The resistance measurement on the
low-voltage winding was performed as a three-phase test.
Thirty minutes later, the measurements on the high-voltage
side were completed for all 19 tap positions and showed no
cause for concern. After 5 more minutes, the three-phase
measurement of the low-voltage side was also finished.
8
2:30 p.m. – Demagnetization
Whenever DC voltage has been applied to a transformer
core, for example during the DC winding resistance test, the
core will become magnetized. The remaining residual mag-
netism can cause high inrush currents which could harm the
transformer, especially when it is switched back into service.
In addition, the magnetized core can cause false interpreta-
tions of subsequent measurement results, such as sweep fre-
quency response analysis, which was planned to be carried
out directly afterwards.
Conveniently, the prior setup could be used for the demag-
netization. TESTRANO 600 automatically demagnetized the
transformer core, resulting in a remanence of less than 1%.
2:55 p.m. – Sweep frequency response analysis
Finally, the test team prepared the sweep frequency
response measurements in order to obtain a new refer-
ence measurement, or a so-called ‘fingerprint’, before the
FRANEO 800’s connection technique ensures
the highest level of reproducibility.
transformer was decommissioned and transported to
its new owner.
Since high-voltage is not applied during testing, the two
test engineers could work quickly in parallel. While one
engineer performed the measurements on each phase
using the PTM software on the laptop, the other engineer
was already connecting the system to the next bushing.
Thirty minutes later, all relevant phases of the primary and
the secondary sides of the transformer were measured.
The fingerprint was taken, and all important plots and
data were saved in the PTM software asset database.
3:40 p.m. – Result assessment and reporting
The overall impression of the power transformer was
that it was in good condition. None of the diagnostic
tests performed showed any mechanical or electrical
abnormalities or faults. Only one bushing was conspicu-
ous and seemed to be in poor condition. As a result of
TESTRANO 600 provides an intuitive connection
concept using color-coded cables.
the tests, the defective bushing could be located and
changed prior to the sale, thus preventing possible early
failure for the new owner.
All asset and testing data is now available in the PTM
software database. Based on the operator’s require-
ments, a comprehensive, customized report was gener-
ated directly on site, which was forwarded to the poten-
tial customer to verify the transformer’s condition status.
4:00 p.m. – Leaving the substation
The test equipment was packed into the car and the test
team left the substation. The power transformer, in turn,
was ready to be reconnected to the grid.
Get more information here:
www.omicronenergy.com/en/power-transformer-bundle
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 9
AN INVITATION TO THE
APTITUDE TEST
Why asset prequalification is
becoming increasingly important
At first glance, incorporating an ad-
ditional step in the tender process
does not make sense. However, upon
a second and more informed glance,
it appears to be a very important step
for establishing the efficiency of work
practices and increasing the quality of
the assets. Many utilities struggle with
a multitude of devices from different
manufacturers. Before ordering new as-
sets, they may publish a tender volun-
tarily or are required to publish a tender
that describes the requirements which
have to be fulfilled by the product.
In order to select the new assets ac-
cording to their technical feasibility
before any pricing issues are evalu-
ated, a prequalification process can be
introduced that a manufacturer and
10
their product have to undergo before
applying for a tender. Such a process
segregates the technical requirements
and the commercial interests.
In addition, the technical requirements
can be continuously checked, even if
there is no tender published. After the
manufacturer has prequalified, they can
for instance, apply for tenders within
the next 4 years without recertification
as long as the main features of the prod-
uct do not change in the meantime.
Important steps
The prequalification procedure consists
of several steps. They are ordered in
such a manner that the first steps deal
with quite general issues that could
be applied to all new assets, indepen-
dent of whether they are transformers,
circuit breakers or protection devices.
The later steps are very specific and,
in the case of protection devices for
example, can describe the prequalifica-
tion procedure for certain protective
functions in detail.
How does this process deal with
quality and efficiency?
For quality management, it is essential
to document the process. This is also
valid for the prequalification process
which requires:
› Rules of procedure
› Application form for prequalification
› General eligibility requirements
› Installation of a scoring system
› Eligibility requirements for protection
devices
› General process description
› Description of protection functions for
400-kV-network
› Description of protection functions for
transformers
› Typical protection settings
› etc.
 Step 1: Application for prequalification

The manufacturer applies for prequalification for

a certain product category. The utility informs
them about the process, sends them the speci-
fication sheet and invites them to deliver the
necessary documents.

Step 2: Suitability check for manufacturer

The utility checks to see if the manufacturer is

suitable in general, for instance, if they have tech-
nical support, enough resources to produce the
assets, or how long spare parts are available for.

Adaptions
Suitable Unsuitable

With a documented procedure, a com-

parison of assets from different manufac-
turers will be achieved. All assets have to
Step 3: Product check according to
undergo the same tests and the best one
the specification sheet
will be selected from a technical point of
view. The tests in a prequalification pro- The manufacturer returns the necessary docu-
cedure can be developed in a way which ments (including features of the product, test
allows most parts to be used directly for results, etc.). Using a ranking system given by the
any of the assets (same type of asset). This specification sheet, the utility rates the product.
leads to shorter test times with compa-
rable results.
Adaptions
Suitable Unsuitable
Additional benefits
This enhanced process can be applied
to any type of asset used by a utility.
It decouples the prequalification from
Step 4: Further product tests
the tender and can be out-sourced to a
certification institute. Both of these things For new manufacturers, the utility can initiate
alleviate time pressure. Whilst manufac- further tests according to:
turers and their new assets must undergo
numerous tests, this approach guarantees › Commissioning guidelines of the utility
that only devices which are suitable for › IEC 60255-121
the utility are offered during the ten- › IEC 61850
dering process. On the other hand, the › Critical faults from the past
manufacturer can use an official prequali- › Influence of CT saturation
fication certificate document for market- › Performance with relays of other manufacturers
ing issues.

Adaptions
Suitable Unsuitable

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 11

OMICRON ACADEMY TRAINING
AROUND-THE-CLOCK
With 18 training centers across the
globe, training activities often take place
simultaneously in different time zones at
one time of the day. We help participants
12
to get the most out of their test sets and With customers in more than 160 coun-
expand their knowledge of assets and tries, there is probably a training course
applications. Even a short training course going on somewhere right now in a
thus generates long-term benefit. classroom or on site.
9:00 p. m. (UTC +7)
Hong Kong, China
In Hong Kong, a pleasant
evening with a walk in the
city closes an interesting
and inspiring training day.
8:00 a. m. (UTC –6)
Mexico City, Mexico
Participants still have time
for another coffee at the
hotel before the two-minute
walk to the training center
in Mexico.
8:00 a. m. (UTC –6)
Houston, USA
At the same time in Houston,
participants are about to
start their day in the fully
equipped indoor substation,
our “playground for test
engineers”.
2:00 p. m. (UTC +0)

Stafford, United Kingdom

In Stafford, participants are
performing hands-on testing.
They practically apply the new
skills they have learned in the
morning.

3:00 p. m. (UTC +1)

Klaus, Austria
Meanwhile at OMICRON’s
development center in Klaus,
the trainer explains special
application functions in front
of our power transformer.

4:00 p. m. (UTC +2)

Manama, Bahrain
Simultaneously in Manama,
participants are engaged in
discussions with the trainer
and other delegates where
they enjoy learning from
each other.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 13

BETTER THAN EVER
CT Analyzer – a well-known system with
new functionalities

CT operators make high demands on CT test sys-

tems. They should be safe, accurate, mobile, fast,
reliable and flexible.

The CT Analyzer was designed as a unique,

lightweight, multi-functional instrument to meet
the highest standards for performing excitation,
ratio, polarity, winding resistance and burden
impedance measurements on all types of conven-
tional current transformers (CTs).

With the latest release, the CT Analyzer now has

new PC software, improved features, new acces-
sories and a rework of the front panel, making
the device better than ever for CT testing.

Improved functionality
CT Analyzer’s sensitivity and its application range
have been improved. You can now perform ac-
curate excitation characteristics measurements of
CTs with a wide knee-point range between 0.1 V
and 40 kV. This makes the CT Analyzer an even
better tool to test all different types of CTs, from
small metering devices to large protection CTs
typically installed in power equipment such as
power transformers.

14
«With the latest release,
the CT Analyzer now
has new PC software,
improved features,
new accessories and a
rework of the front pa-
nel, making the device
better than ever for CT
testing.»

The front panel of the CT Analyzer has also been

modified to comply with the latest design stan-
dards ensuring easy readability of buttons and
improved usability.

New operating software CT Analyzer Suite

The new CT Analyzer Suite is a complete rede-
sign of the operating software supporting you
through every single step of the testing process.
During test preparation, you can make the neces-
sary test and asset-related entries in the struc-
tured software form. Before test execution, wir-
ing diagrams help you check the correct wiring
of your measuring setup. Immediately after the
tests you get an overview of the test results and
an automated assessment of the CT condition.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 15

Customized CT assessment
To date the CT Analyzer allowed a CT assessment
to be carried out according to all CT-relevant
international standards. In order to carry out an
assessment which goes beyond the international
standards (IEC, IEE), the new CT Analyzer Suite
offers you the flexibility to define and use local
national standards (for example Canadian or
British standard) as well as your own corporate
standards or assessment rules for all important CT
parameters (such as ratio error, phase displace-
ment, transient parameters, dynamic current
range and burden-dependent CT performance).

Additionally, OMICRON offers the facility to

create such individual assessment rules based
on your own requirements.

New accessories
The CT Analyzer also gets some new, helpful
accessories for transport and operation.

The new multi-functional trans-

port case is a heavy-duty option
with wheels and serves as a “sturdy
outer housing”. All control elements
of the CT Analyzer are on the front,
allowing the device to be left in the
case while testing. The lid is designed
to be raised for use as a bench for a
laptop while the CT Analyzer stays in the
case. Attachable end plates can be used
for mouse control or technical documents
and offer further space for accessories.

The new backpack is a smaller and lighter

carrying option with wheels, extendable
handle and shoulder straps. It is designed
for simple mechanical protection.

Go with the best and get the

improved CT Analyzer!

16
ONE FOR ALL
Leading transmission system
operator picks CIBANO 500 to
test all types of circuit breakers
with one system

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 17

 Founded in 1998, TenneT is a leading
European electricity transmission
system operator (TSO) with its main
activities in the Netherlands and
Germany. With over 22,000 kilome-
tres of high-voltage connections it
ensures a secure supply of electricity
to 41 million end-users.
TenneT discovered CIBANO 500
while looking for new ways to ap-
proach proper circuit breaker main-
tenance and repair.
State-of the-art circuit breaker
testing
“I am constantly looking for innova-
tive approaches to testing that can
offer added value,” says Roel van
Hees, who works for TenneT as a
technical specialist for primary assets
in the Southern part of the Neth-
erlands. “So, in 2016 after I heard
about OMICRON’s circuit breaker
test set CIBANO 500, I was given a
product presentation. Regarding
high-voltage circuit breakers (CBs),
we mainly perform timing measure-
ments. However, I was amazed to
see that this device can also measure
the static contact resistance of all
the phases of a CB simultaneously,”
he continues. “What I liked even
more was that without any change
in the measuring setup, a dynamic
contact resistance measurement
(DRM) of all the phases can be per-
formed. What finally convinced me
to buy a complete CIBANO 500 test
set was how easily a measurement
can be set up and performed with
the Primary Test Manager™ (PTM)
software,” he summarizes.
18
Software-supported condition
diagnosis
“Regarding measurements on high-
voltage CBs, I really appreciate the
fact that after testing, CIBANO 500
and PTM supply me with more infor-
mation than I ever had in the past
when using other devices for the
same measurements,“ Roel van Hees
recounts. The PTM software supports
the user during diagnostic testing
and the condition assessment of var-
ious primary assets, including CBs. It
provides a well-structured database
for managing all asset-related data
used for obtaining a comprehensive
overview of the asset’s condition.
“After a DRM measurement, the
graph produced by PTM really gives
me a lot of valuable information
about a CB’s contacts,” Roel van Hees
describes. “The PTM software is also
very easy to use and I can adjust all
of the parameters for each specific
measurement. After the measure-
ments, I have an extensive array
of options for analyzing the test
results,” he explains. “This helps me
detect the actual condition of a CB.”
Testing HV breakers and GIS with
one system
“When performing a condition
assessment on CBs, the flexibility
of CIBANO 500 is very beneficial
to me,” Roel van Hees confirms.
”As every measuring parameter is
adjustable, I can use the system
for measurements on different CB
brands and types. This is important
when you have a large network
with a multitude of different CBs
 «I really appreciate the fact that
like TenneT has,” Roel van Hees says
after testing, CIBANO 500
smiling. “CIBANO 500 really meets
all of my expectations for test-
and PTM supply me with
ing HV CBs.”
more information than I ever
“In mid-2017, I read about the new
CSM feature for timing measure-
had in the past when using
ments on GIS circuit breakers in
the OMICRON newsletter. I ordered
other devices for the same
a CSM Upgrade Option, because
I really liked the idea of safe timing
measurements.»
measurements where both sides of
the breaker are grounded through-
out the entire measurement,” says
Roel van Hees. “Now we have a
complete test set for performing all
kinds of measurements on a wide
variety of CBs,” he concludes.
Roel van Hees
The best support Technical Specialist, TenneT
“Another reason for choosing an
OMICRON device is the amazing www.tennet.eu
support you receive,“ Roel van Hees
is convinced. “If there is any kind
of problem with a device
or a measurement it will
be addressed and solved
quickly by OMICRON’s
technical support team. In
general, it’s really great that
OMICRON actively responds
to their customer’s wishes.
Many of our wishes have
already been granted.”

DRM screen with results graph

and some typical information
you can get from it.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 19

FAIRIES AND WIZARDS
Our CCSS team faces new challenges with
every logistics job

20
The “Central Customer Care & Sales Support” (CCSS)
team faces new challenges almost every day. “We are
responsible for an order from the moment it’s placed
until it’s delivered to the customer,” explains Nadja
Wozasek, coach of the 10-person CCSS team in Klaus,
Austria. “In addition to creating the order confirma-
tions, delivery notes and invoices we also take care of
the payment terms and customs formalities as well
as the organization of the shipments themselves.”
Around 40 packages are dispatched to destinations
around the world by OMICRON every single day.
Hazardous goods
One particular challenge is the growing number of ship-
ments containing hazardous goods, which is mainly due
to the increasing use of batteries. At the moment, one
other team member aside from Nadja has the relevant
certification to commission the dispatch of hazardous
goods. In order to retain their certified status, both
Nadja and her colleague need to attend a refresher
course and take a subsequent exam every two years.
Nadja has many anecdotes from her time at OMICRON:
“A powerbank, for example, is a bad choice for a give-
away because these can only be sent through the post
according to strict rules, such as a maximum of two
pieces per package. Due to these restrictions, shipping
small gifts rapidly becomes unprofitable.”
Experience counts
Knowing what can be shipped worldwide and what
cannot comes with experience. After all, there is no
checklist that the team can refer to if needed. Also, they
often receive no insight into local regulations or import
quotas. “We work closely with our legal team to clarify
legal requirements. But that does not always help us
get any further. In some countries, a lot depends on the
goodwill of local officials,” explains Nadja. “We then
creatively look for legal ways to make it easier to import
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 21
The joint intercultural training helped all participants to understand
and learn from each other.
the goods.” Previous experiences are also stored in the inter-
nal administration system for individual orders or for different
countries. “Of course, you always have to bear in mind that
what was allowed yesterday may be banned today, and vice
versa,” emphasizes Nadja.
Personal responsibility
In addition to product exports, 15 test sets are imported every
day, such as units that need to be calibrated. Nadja and her
team are personally responsible for any errors that may occur
in customs clearance. “Assuming we have not acted negli-
gently, the company would reimburse us for any fines that we
would incur. However, we would have to bear personal respon-
sibility for any actions resulting in convictions,” adds Nadja.
Complicated logistics
Apart from the export and import of test sets, the CCSS team
also deals with shipping office furniture and IT equipment to
22
new offices across the world – which is not always a straight-
forward process. Trade fairs and exhibitions are another
major challenge for the team: “In some countries, we have to
clearly declare which materials will be left on site and which
will be sent back. If brochures left over after a trade fair are
quickly packaged up and sent back without being declared, it
can lead to fines of several thousand euros,” says Nadja.
Intercultural exchange
The work of the CCSS team also requires a certain level of
sensitivity and understanding when it comes to intercultural
differences. Every year the responsibility for particular sales
regions is reassigned within the team. This can sometimes
lead to challenges for the team members. “For example,
people from different countries often have different ways
of working and appreciate personal exchanges. That’s the
first thing that I had to get used to when I began working
in this team,” Nadja recalls. “The internal ‘Intercultural
 «For example, people
from different countries
often have different
ways of working and
appreciate personal
exchanges.»

Nadja Wozasek
Coach Central Customer
Care & Sales Support,
OMICRON

Training’, which I highly recommend to my colleagues,

has helped me a lot. And through these contacts I
have also learned a lot about myself.” Her awareness
of world politics has also changed thanks to her job.
“Today I know that changes in diplomatic relation-
ships will have consequences for my job,” she explains.
“It makes you worry if you can still complete an order
before the legal requirements change.”

In 2017, the CCSS team processed more than

11,000 orders with 34,000 individual items. Our goal
is for all of our customers to receive their orders as
quickly as possible. “Sometimes, especially if authori-
ties or banks get involved, this is unfortunately no
longer in our hands,” concludes Nadja.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 23

 Elia, the transmission system opera-
tor in Belgium, is busy completing
a large-scale expansion of its high-
voltage power grid in Flanders called
the Stevin project. One phase of this
project was to add four buried cable
circuits, each comprizing three 380 kV
cables over a distance of 10 kilometers
(6.21 miles) between two substations.

Ensuring reliable operation

“The Stevin project is critically im-
portant for strengthening the high-
voltage grid in Belgium,” says Pieter
Leemans, Elia’s Asset Manager for MV
and HV cables, “so we must guarantee

GOING THE
the functionality and stability of the
new cable links. The best way for us to
do this is through real-time monitor-
ing of the dielectric condition.”

DISTANCE “Not only did we need a partial

MONCABLO helps to detect
discharge (PD) monitoring system to
perform a site acceptance test on the
high-voltage cable dielectric to be sure
that the cable links were PD-free before
commissioning,” he explains, “we also

and locate insulation defects need the same system to continuously

assess PD activity during operation of
along several kilometers of the entire cable system.”

power cable
“We chose OMICRON’s MONCABLO
solution because it provided the best
match for our criteria for a cable
monitoring system. Most importantly,
we were impressed with OMICRON’s
flexibility, structured organization and
detailed explanation of how it would
meet our system requirements and
implementation milestones.”

Multiple monitoring points

The MONCABLO PD monitoring system
was installed on all four 3-phase cable

24
circuits, covering 24 outdoor termina-
tions and 132 buried connections,
making a total of 156 monitoring
points. “Each monitoring point has
three high-frequency current trans-
formers (HFCTs) to collect PD signals
at the grounding connections of each
phase, which are connected to a data
acquisition unit to pre-process the
data,” clarifies Mario Sarens, the Elia
Project Leader responsible for on-site
installation. “Multiple data acquisition
units are connected in a daisy chain by
a fibre optic cable to a data collection
unit, which then sends the data to our
central server and SCADA system in
Brussels,” he adds.
Localizing defects thresholds. This enables quick, detec-
“The MONCABLO system is designed tion-based responses and will help us
to detect and identify the exact loca- reduce maintenance needs.”
tion of PD-related defects along the
entire length of each cable,” says Pieter An intuitive web interface
Leemans, “but the system can also “We can swiftly access stored PD data
inform us by e-mail when PD activity from any remote location using the
exceeds pre-set warning and alarm MONCABLO software’s intuitive web
«The MONCABLO system has a flexible
design that was successfully customized to
match our cable system layout and special
installation requirements.»

Solving installation challenges

“The MONCABLO system has a flex-
ible design that was successfully
customized to match our cable system
layout and special installation require-
ments,” he explains. “For example, the Mario Sarens
groundwater level is high in this part Stevin Cable Project Leader, Elia
of Flanders, so we installed the buried
monitoring components at the cable
joints in sealed cement containers,
and the HFCT sensors were immersed
in gel to keep them dry and maintain
their integrity.”

“An additional challenge was how to

power the buried monitoring equip-
ment. In the end, we installed a low-
voltage power cable alongside the
high-voltage cables over their entire
length,” Mario Sarens describes. “This
solution was the result of collaboration
between OMICRON’s and Elia’s techni-
cal experts to produce the best design
for the LV cable that keeps HV interfer-
ence to a minimum while also ensuring The cement boxes protect the HFCT sensors and data acquisition unit against
ground water and dust.
personal safety,” he concludes.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 25

interface,” he continues, “we can view «The MONCABLO system is designed
the PD status of each monitored acces-
sory as well as real-time and historical to detect and identify the exact lo-
trend curves for each phase of every
cation of PD-related defects along
cable circuit. Various automated features
enable us to conveniently evaluate the the full length of each cable. It can
PD data. OMICRON’s unique 3PARD dia-
gram and automatic cluster separation
be extended to monitor other pa-
allow us to separate external noise from rameters in order to reduce our
PD signals and determine the phase of
signal origin,” he describes.
future maintenance activities on our
380 kV cable system.»
Correlation with other monitoring data
“As well as PD monitoring, MONCABLO’s
software can be expanded to cover
other parameters, such as verifying the
functionality of cross-bond joints and
detecting cable sheath faults,” says
Pieter Leemans. “The data from multiple
monitored parameters can be displayed Pieter Leemans
on a single graph for a full insulation Asset Manager for MV and
diagnosis.” HV Cables, Elia

www.elia.be

MONCABLO’s software simultaneously

shows the PD status of all monitored
cable accessories.

MONCABLO
MONCABLO
› Synchronous PD data acquisi-
› tion at all cable
Synchronous PDaccessories
data acquisi-
› tion for all defect
Advanced cable accessories
localization
› along the cable’s
Advanced entire length
defect localization
› along the cable’s
Integration entire length
with third-party
› sensors andwith
Integration SCADA systems
third-party
sensors and SCADA systems
www.omicronenergy.com/moncablo

26
THE CYBER DILEMMA
How to include security in networked
protection engineering
Protection engineering and IT – do they really
belong together at all? Although their interaction
is based on the same technology, there are vast
differences between them when you actually
look at the details. This poses great challenges to
companies, especially when it comes to the topic
of cyber security.
This situation has been exacerbated around the
world by the introduction of new guidelines and
statutory regulations, as IT is now responsible
for all information systems used in the business
environment. This also includes the information
systems supporting the protection system as well
as the rest of the entire energy supply.
Until now, the IT of the protection system had
been an area where the IT department had delib-
erately handed over administrative responsibili-
ties to the protection engineering department.
Not least because it involves data and protocols
that do not fall within the normal scope of activi-
ties of IT and are therefore difficult to control
and monitor with the means available. Therefore,
managing all technical equipment and software
continued to be the responsibility of the protec-
tion engineering department alone. This does
not merely include the relevant assets and their
firmware and software, but also the test sets and
their operating system and application software.
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 27
«An attack is less likely to be success-
ful if employees within the company
are aware of the individual steps of a
potential attack.»
The expertise of the protection techni-
cians is now mostly focused on the
secure operation of the substation and
less on the administration of IT systems
and their complex infrastructure and
functionality – not to mention the
associated security aspects that are
anything but trivial.
And let’s not forget the public and
political attention, which is moving
the issue of IT security for critical
infrastructures into the limelight, not
least through incidents from recent
history. Stuxnet, for instance: not
something anyone will forget in a
hurry. But there have also been two
other successful attacks: in 2015 and
2016 on Ukraine’s power supply,
where around 230,000 people were
suddenly left without power.
This motivated politicians to act
as quickly as possible and draw up
guidelines or statutory regulations for
operators of critical infrastructures –
including energy provision.
Regulations and guidelines
What form do the abovementioned
changes or tightening take? Up until
now, every region has done its own
thing. In Germany, the legis lator has
28
amended the special provisions in
the German Energy Act [Energie-
wirtschaftsgesetz]. Therefore, opera-
tors of energy supply networks have
until January 31, 2018 to implement
and certify an Information Security
Management System (ISMS) pursuant
to ISO/IEC 27001. An integrated ap-
proach is required here, which should
be continuously reviewed with regards
to its performance and effective-
ness, and which should be modified
as necessary. As a minimum require-
ment, the ISMS must include EDP and
telecommunication systems used for
controlling the network and those
that are required for secure network
operation – as per the IT Cybersecurity
Act (ITSiG).
Since August 2016, a guideline (NIS
Directive) has been in force through-
out the rest of the EU for network
and information security. EU member
states have 21 months in which to
incorporate this directive into appro-
priate national legislation, which
presumably won’t be too different
from the ITSiG. It’s the same story
in Switzerland, which has dedicated
itself to this issue with the “National
Strategy to Protect Switzerland
Against Cyber Risks” (NCS).
North America too has its agenda to
safeguard energy provision against
unauthorized attacks and the result-
ing problems from it. There is a whole
range of guidelines for this purpose,
covered by NERC CIP (North American
Electric Reliability Corporation – Critical
Infrastructure Protection).
Ultimately the implementation of the
guidelines remains the responsibility of
the operators and their partners. The
problem here is that the networking of
infrastructures of various power supply
companies as part of the smart grid is
based largely on existing components
and protocols from the IT sector.
Turning your back on communication
media such as Ethernet is however not
very advisable, as has been demon-
strated by analyses of attacks and
faults. Underlying data connections
that are not even considered to be
vulnerable are also often affected.
Awareness
The first step to be taken towards
security is the permanent and on-
going training of personnel with
regard to the awareness of threats.
An attack is less likely to be success-
ful if employees within the company
are aware of the individual steps of a
potential attack. Employees are usu-
ally always involved, but are largely
unaware. Malware gets into the
network through the careless opening
of e-mail attachments, links in e-mails,
external media such as USB thumb
drives, insecure WiFi connections, un-
protected installation of routers (con-
necting USB sticks or laptops, etc.).
When prompted to open an attach-
ment or to click on a link, it is always
better to first confer with the person
sending the request. Removable
storage devices belonging to protec-
tion engineers must never leave the
assigned area of activity. This ensures
that malware from less protected com-
puters cannot accidentally be installed.
Removable storage devices that have
been given as a gift or have been
found must be tested by the IT security
department prior to use, preferably
in a sandbox. In case of the latter, it
would even be best to destroy them
straight away. Since the malware is
under supervision here, it can go wild
without posing a risk to the company.

Secure test PC
Contrary to some of the rumors within
the sector, let’s be clear about one
thing: every computer that can be ac-
cessed on a public network is usually
vulnerable, no matter how “hardened”
it is. The likelihood of an external at-
tack can nevertheless be significantly
minimized by deactivating any un-
necessary Windows functions that are
not needed for work in the protection
engineering sector. Much could surely
be gained by the constructive coopera-
tion between the IT and protection en-
gineering department to draw on the
in-depth knowledge of the IT experts.

Security can be increased even further

if computers that are used to para-
meterize the testing and maintenance
of the protection engineering are
strictly limited to this use and have
no contact whatsoever with office IT
or the Internet. This could be a test

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 29

PC that is installed in the respective
system, or a laptop that is exclusively
used for protection engineering.
Alternatively, it could be possible to
have virtual machines on the comput-
ers that basically function in the same
way as separate computers and strictly
separate the individual areas.
Control system
SUBSTATION
SECURED STATION
Station firewall
Interface for
test PC
Test PC
A station firewall monitors communication between the PC and the protection
devices or the test sets, thereby preventing unauthorized access in extreme cases.
30
A station firewall can be set up as an
additional security level that moni-
tors communication between the PC
and the protection devices or the test
sets, thereby preventing unauthorized
access in extreme cases. This is very
possible with the OMICRON test sets in
particular. Meanwhile, there are fire-
NETWORK
Network switch
Test set
wall systems that can handle the pro-
tocols used in engineering substations.
A tool like this also allows the logs to
be used to determine if unauthorized
access was attempted.
Cyber security with OMICRON
For some years, OMICRON has been
actively addressing the issue of cyber
security and its impact on the day-
to-day work of performing tests in
energy installations. These initiatives
were expanded in 2016. The activities
include technical aspects in product
development projects and also a
company-wide initiative on the issue of
cyber security by OMICRON’s executive
management.
OMICRON test sets already provide a
high level of security. Connecting to
the test computer via USB disconnects
it completely from the data communi-
cation network of the substation, thus
making the transmission of malware
virtually impossible. The same security
is also offered by both Ethernet inter-
faces in the CMC, which are not inter-
connected. Therefore, the substation
network connected to it is on a differ-
ent network from the test computer
and the CMC does not transmit any
packages from the “insecure” computer
to the substation network.

An even bigger step towards security

is to set up a so-called demilitarized
zone. This means fully separating
the protection engineering IT from
the usual office IT. The standalone
data management system ADMO
allows such an infrastructure zone
to be set up in the station network.
ADMO is specifically tailored to meet
these requirements in the protection
engineering sector, thereby avoid-
ing unnecessary functions that would
make the system unclear and slow. This
not only simplifies the daily processes,
but also administration. All necessary
data is collected and compiled here
and then securely transferred to the
relevant test or engineering comput-
ers. Now none of the documents are
in an un-trusted zone like the office IT
zone. Data received externally for the
protection devices must nevertheless
continue to be checked to ensure it is
safe. No matter if it's new firmware,
security updates, data transmission or
the like – all of this can bring about
undesirable effects.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 31

ON SITE: OMICRON IN THE
CZECH REPUBLIC
Pavel Andrle from GFTC s. r. o. on what it means to be
a reliable partner
GFTC s. r. o. was founded in 2007
by Karel Andrle in Litomyšl, Czech
Republic. Their main focus is providing
consultancy services for glass fiber pro-
duction. At the beginning of 2017 the
company also became an OMICRON
sales partner for the Czech market and
it is represented by Pavel Andrle.
How is the energy grid structured?
Pavel Andrle: Czech energy grid is
structured into 5 voltage levels. The
transmission level has 400 kV and
220 kV lines operated only by Czech
TSO (company ČEPS). The distribution
level consists of 3 voltage levels 110 kV,
22 kV and 400 V operated by 3 DSOs.
ČEZ is the largest one which operates
a distribution grid in northern and
central areas excluding Prague. E.ON
operates a distribution grid in southern
Bohemia and Moravia while PRE oper-
ates one in Prague.
What resources are being used to
generate power?
The electricity generation in the Czech
Republic is still dominated by fossil
fuels which accounted for 58.8% of
the electricity generated at the end
of 2016. The Czech Republic has two
nuclear power plants which together
generate 19.9% of the electric-
ity. Renewables account for 10.8%
and hydro generation accounts for
another 10.5%.
32
What are the hot topics for the energy electromobility adoption on one side
supply market at the moment? and decreasing electricity generation
The main topic at the moment is the due to the closure of aging coal power
lack of electricity generation beyond plants on the other. There are no new
2022 when the closure of some old traditional plants under construction
coal power plants are expected, but at the moment. We are also yet to see
new generation wouldn’t be able to who is going to pay for the ecological
cover that even if construction started disposal of photovoltaic panels when
today. One of the options is construct- their efficiency drops off.
ing one additional block at each one of
our nuclear power plants (Temelín and Thank you for the interview.
Dukovany) which is being discussed at
the moment.
What kind of challenges are your
customers facing?
A low electricity price doesn’t justify
the construction of additional nuclear
reactors at the moment. Our TSO ČEPS
faces difficulties in managing the flow
of electricity generated in the north
of Germany to south Germany and
Austria at the time when generation
in wind parks is peaking. A decision to
install phase shifting transformers was
made. Additionally requirements for
cyber security are more stringent for
TSO and DSOs.
When looking towards the future,
where do you see the biggest
challenges in the power sector and Pavel Andrle
in general? Technical Sales Representative,
One of the big challenges will defini- GFTC s.r.o.
tely be finding a balance between an
increased demand for electricity due to www.gftc.cz
 Europe

Africa

FACTS
› Capital: Prague
› Inhabitants: ~10 million
› Currency: Czech Crown
› Language: Czech
› National dish: Pork, dumplings
and cabbage
› National drink: Beer
› National sport: Ice hockey

DOS AND DON’TS

IN THE CZECH
REPUBLIC
› Drink Czech beer and
Becherovka.
› Try traditional Czech goulash.
› Visit Prague and Český
Krumlov.
› Don’t say Czechslovakia!
› Don’t go to restaurants near
tourist areas.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 33

ELEVEN IN
ONE STROKE!
Daily challenges faced by a service
provider during diagnostic testing

34
Protección Control y Medición (PCM) is
a leading service provider in Guatemala,
providing their customers with electri-
cal engineering services for primary
and secondary equipment. The 12-man
team specializes in the commissioning
and maintenance of electrical power
substations and generation plants, and
has vast experience in the execution
and interpretation of electrical tests on
various assets.
Manuel Martínez, test engineer at PCM
Guatemala reports about his business,
the daily challenges he faces and one
recent, completely new experience
that meets these challenges.
Transferred responsibility
”We have to verify that each asset was
tested and that the results are satisfac-
tory,” explains Manuel Martínez. The
responsibilities have been transferred
from the operator to the service provid-
er, which puts them under considerable
pressure: “We have to ensure that none
of the tested assets will fail and our
customers will not have any unforeseen
failures in their substations and power
plants. We are only successful when
our customers feel satisfied with their
equipment and with our service.”
“My typical tasks are to coordinate and
execute electrical tests in the field, and
afterwards to create reports for each of
the performed tests. For us as a service
provider, one of the biggest challenges
here is to draw conclusions quickly and
in the best way,” says Manuel Martínez.
“Best” in this case means: The results
obtained must be correct, complete
and detailed enough to allow a com-
prehensive condition assessment for
each test object.
Speed is the key
The most time-consuming task is One impressive day of testing
the testing of power transformers. In April 2017, PCM Guatemala had
“Within a 12-month period, we test scheduled a transformer testing job
on average about 120 transformers for one of their customers. Manuel
and auto-transformers between 1 MVA Martínez was pleasantly surprised
and 50 MVA, and rated from 4.16 kV while working with TESTRANO 600:
to 230 kV,” states Manuel Martínez. “I have been working for PCM for
He explains that considerable time is almost eight years now and through
needed to setup the tests, re-connect my work have come into contact with
between the different test jobs and for various devices. But I have never been
the measurement itself. “It takes for able to test eleven power transformers
example about four hours to com- within one day.”
pletely test a power transformer with
69 kV and 10 MVA.” “We started testing at 7 o’clock in the
morning and had to test power trans-
Since speed is the key in this business, formers with 10 MVA and 22 kV includ-
PCM Guatemala requested a live dem- ing the de-energized tap changer
onstration when they discovered the (DETC),” he continues. “Numerous
new time-saving three-phase power parameters were measured such as
transformer test system TESTRANO 600 power/dissipation factor, capacitance,
on our website, which they then short-circuit impedance, excitation
purchased. “We were impressed by the currents, turns ratio, and DC winding
test system and its performance from resistance. And in between we also
the very first day. The device is very had to demagnetize the transformers.
good, the software very user friendly But at 4:30 p.m., only seven hours later,
and the training courses we received we were finished and all eleven trans-
after buying our own device were formers were ready to be reconnected
excellent.” to the grid.”
«We are very satisfied
with TESTRANO 600 – it
is easy to use and saves
a lot of time in making
connections and carrying
out measurements.»
Manuel Martínez
Electrical Test Engineer,
PCM Guatemala
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 35
“I especially liked the demagneti-
zation functionality as it reduces
the residual magnetism to almost
zero,” Manuel Martínez explains. “In
consequence, the results of other
subsequent diagnostic tests become
more reliable and high inrush cur-
rents are avoided when a trans-
former is switched back into service.”
The effort for demagnetization was
minimal: No rewiring was needed as
the setup of the previous test could
be used again. It took only five min-
utes to completely demagnetize the
transformer, and the test team could
proceed with the next test job.
Reasons for being so quick
“In my opinion, the main reasons
why we were able to test so many
36
transformers respectively so quickly
are easily explained. The device
itself provides a new level of speed
with which the measurements can
be carried out. In addition, we were
able to save a lot of time due to the
three-phase testing capability and
the easy connection concept. We
could carry out almost all required
tests using the same test setup.”
Manuel Martínez adds: “And all of
this with the greatest satisfaction.”
New opportunities and
perspectives
Compared to the four hours it took
to test one transformer in the past,
the latest testing experience with
eleven transformers within one
day set a new benchmark. From
an economical perspective, this
opens up entirely new opportuni-
ties for PCM: “Due to the usage of
TESTRANO 600, we were able to
achieve considerable cost savings,
which allows us to offer better pric-
es to our clients, which will prob-
ably result in new orders,” explains
Manuel Martínez.
“I estimate the investment in
TESTRANO 600 will be amortized
in a span of one year.” Thus, PCM is
planning to invest in a number of
additional test sets in the future.
“I think our customers will also
appreciate this investment as it
also reduces the time their assets
are offline.”
 SAFETY FIRST!
Following the release of the SAA1
beeper in 2017, we have further
expanded our range of safety
accessories.
The new SAA2 is the successor to
the warning strobe lamp. The small,
lightweight and scalable safety
accessory helps you to mark your
testing area and warn people that
the prohibition zone around the
test setup must not be entered.
Depending on the status of the test
device – in operation, ready to mea-
sure, etc. – the SAA2 shows either
a green or red light. In addition to
the red flashlight, the SAA2 can also
give an audible signal if a measure-
ment is ongoing. It also offers an
emergency button to stop the mea-
surement immediately, if needed.
The warning lamp is equipped
with magnetic holders and a hook.
Thus, you can either attach it to any
construction in the substation or
place it on a tripod as a standalone
version. The system is cascadable,
so that you can decide whether
you need one, two, four, or up to
eight signal lamps to mark your
testing area.
SAA2 can be used with CPC 100/80,
TESTRANO 600, COMPANO 100,
CIBANO 500 and VOTANO 100.
Via the control unit, the SAA2
can be combined with other
OMICRON safety accessories, such
as the SAA1 beeper, TRC1 remote
control, SAB1 safety box and the
remote safety switch.
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 37
 Our new customer portal has been online for
about a year now, offering more space and pos-
sibilities for addressing our customer’s needs.
Daniel Corn, Online Marketing Manager at
OMICRON, took the time to talk to us about the
customer portal.

THINK
Daniel, the customer portal is still quite new.
What has changed compared to what we
had before?

DIGITAL
Our online customer portal –
personalized information
Daniel Corn: The customer area used to be a
part of our website, meaning that we only had a
limited scope to make changes. The new stand-
alone customer portal offers more opportunities
for personalized content. Furthermore, the por-
tal is now optimized for mobile devices too. For
example, now it’s possible to download and read
user manuals on site while taking measurements.

at a glance You have already spoken about personaliza-

tion. Can you explain a bit more about that?
Our customers can keep personal information,
such as addresses and telephone numbers,
constantly up to date. They are also able to
decide which information is displayed on the
so-called “dashboard”. By using this function,
you can instantly see what is new and relevant,
what events and training courses are taking
place nearby, news about products used by the
customer, application reports for interesting
application areas, and much more.

Throughout the development of the customer

portal, a lot of emphasis has been placed on
the topic of “sharing knowledge”.
Exactly. Our knowledge library contains more
than 2,800 documents in 17 languages. Our
customers can filter the content of this library
according to their interests and display the
results on the dashboard. Furthermore, we have
recently published a terminology database, in
which 1,500 terms relating to the field of “energy
technology” are explained and described.

Which areas of the portal are used the most?

At the moment, the software downloads are
the feature being used most frequently, but

38
 our library of test templates is becoming more
popular too. This library contains more than
380 templates that are available to our custom-
ers for free.

Can you give us a quick summary of your

future plans?
Naturally it is our aim to make the customer
portal even more adaptable to better suit the 14,000+ 380+
needs of our customers. Therefore, we want to members test templates

provide even more personalized information in

the future, such as calibration certificates for
customer’s products. We are also planning to
revise the user forum, in order to make it even
easier for our customers to interact with us and 2,800+ documents in 17 languages
available in our knowledge
with each other. In general, we are very happy library
with the feedback and requests we’ve received
for new functions. Customers can submit these
at any time using the feedback form in the por-
tal or on the website. Top 3 member countries:

Thank you for the interview. USA

Germany
1 Australia
2
3
«The portal is now opti-
mized for mobile devices
too. It’s now possible to
conveniently download
user manuals to your
smartphone.»
65+ GB of available software
downloads

6,000+ 3,500+
software downloads document downloads
Daniel Corn
per month per month
Online Marketing Manager,
OMICRON

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 39

EFFICIENT TESTING FOR
GROUNDING SYSTEMS
A software-supported, automated solution with
Primary Test Manager™ software and HGT1
When grounding systems are
tested, the fall-of-potential is
measured in order to determine
the ground impedance and ground
potential rise. Step and touch volt-
ages must also be recorded to pro-
vide direct evidence about safety
for individuals at the measuring
locations in question. Thereby,
standards must be observed, which
clearly specify how to perform the
measurement and analyze the data
that has been collected.
Mobile testing solution
With the HGT1, we are now
offering a software-supported
measurement for ground imped-
ance and step and touch volt-
ages. By combining it with the
Primary Test Manager™ (PTM)
40
software, all the necessary tests
can be performed and the asset
“grounding system” can also be
managed in PTM. In order for all
this to happen, PTM simply needs
to be installed on a tablet com-
puter: “We have created a testing
system that is extremely mobile.
The voltage measurement for
determining the ground imped-
ance can be performed directly on
the probe outside of the substation
very easily,” explains Moritz Pikisch,
Product Manager at OMICRON.
GPS-supported logging
The process of logging and record-
ing measurements has also been
simplified thanks to this new de-
vice combination. In PTM, the user
can either upload an image file or
select an area of an online map. If
a GPS signal is available, the cor-
responding geo coordinates are
stored for each measuring point.
The measuring points can also be
entered manually by tapping on
the map. Determining the distance
to the reference point used to be a
time-consuming and cumbersome
process but now it can be estab-
lished automatically in both cases.
“We are convinced of the added
value that this option creates. The
measurements can of course still
be performed without using maps
or selecting images,” says Moritz.
Standard-based assessment
The PTM can also perform an
automated assessment of step
and touch voltage measurements
based on EN 50522 and IEEE 80
standards. Each standard specifies
a different input impedance – 1kΩ
in accordance with EN 50522 or
a high-ohmic input impedance in
accordance with IEEE 80. Depend-
ing on the standard selected in
PTM, the relevant specifications
are transferred to the HGT1
and automatically recorded
for each measurement point.
“This clearly shows that a
test has been performed in
accordance with the rel-
evant standards,” under-
lines Moritz. The values for
the input impedance can
be changed manually at any
time if needed.
Measurement without
interference
The test current is injected at fre-
quencies that differ from the nomi-
nal frequency in order to suppress
interference; typically at 30 Hz,
70 Hz, and 90 Hz for two seconds
at a time. The frequency-selective
measurement of the voltage is then
determined directly in the HGT1
HGT1 with tablet: In Primary Test Manager™, the measurement results are recorded
and assigned to specific measuring points using GPS coordinates.
using Fast Fourier Transformation
(FFT). These results are transferred
to PTM for automatically acquiring
the measured values, and then the
values at nominal frequency are
determined through interpolation.
The HGT1 also has a special detec-
tion algorithm, which identifies the
recurring current injection of the
source and therefore it only records
the relevant data. Incorrect mea-
surements such as those resulting
from the test probe that have come
into contact with the test object,
can thus be excluded.
When it comes to large grounding
systems, such as those in substa-
tions, the CPC 100 combined with
the CP CU1 coupling unit is a suit-
able system for injecting the test
current. Maximum safety is ensured,
as the CP CU1 provides galvanic iso-
lation between the user and the line.
The lightweight, battery-powered
COMPANO 100 test set can be used
as an injection source for ground-
ing systems with small dimensions,
such as high-voltage pylons.
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 41
 DISTURB
PLEASE D O N OT
Partial discharge (PD) measurement
in the test lab is important for quality
assurance in the development, pro-
duction and service of high-voltage
(HV) assets. It is a widely accepted
method for assessing the integrity of
electrical insulation to ensure reli-
able equipment operation. However,
interference in the test field can pose
measurement challenges.
Noise compromises measurement
results
“The signals emitted during PD activity
can have a very low intensity, therefore
using highly sensitive PD measurement
equipment, like our MPD 600, is crucial
to reliably detect it,” says Ole Kessler,
MPD product manager. “However,
high measurement system sensitiv-
42
How our MBB1 measurement balanced
bridge helps you enhance noise reduction
for single-phase partial discharge testing
ity also means a greater susceptibility
to disturbances, which can affect the
measurement results.”
“Since PD measurements often can-
not be carried out in shielded areas,
noise suppression and source separa-
tion techniques are very important to
ensure reliable results in both test labs
and in the field,” Ole explains.
Reduce interference
“With the MPD 600, you already have
several methods of electrical noise
suppression. For example, freely-
selectable filtering options allow you
to adjust the center frequency and
bandwidth to achieve a high signal-
to-noise ratio and low background
noise level for reliable PD analysis,”
says Ole. “In addition, our unique
method of multi-spectral PD measure-
ment with three adjustable digital
filters helps you to effectively separate
different PD sources from noise.”
In addition to these advanced tech-
niques, differential PD measurement
using a measurement balanced bridge
is commonly used for further reducing
interference during single-phase PD
testing as specified by IEC 60270.
“In a differential PD balanced bridge
measurement, the PD signals are mea-
sured at two positions in the circuit
with a shared reference potential,” Ole
explains. “These include the Device
Under Test (DUT) branch and the sec-
ond PD-free Device Under Test (DUT 2)
 HV

iDISTURBANCE

iPD

DUT 1 DUT 2 or Ck

PD1
PD2

V
CPL 542 MBB1 CPL 542
t Coupling Coupling t
device (CD2) device (CD1)
MPD 600
Fiber optic
cable
HV area

Safe area

Single-phase PD test setup with CPL 542

PC with MBB1 measurement impedances, MBB1 and the
MCU 502 and MPD software MPD 600 PD measurement system.

or coupling capacitor (CK) branch. The
impact of conducted disturbances,
which couple into the PD test setup
as a common mode signal, is reduced
by using the difference of the mea-
surement signal of both branches in a
balanced setup.”
Bridging the gap
“This is where our computer-controlled
MBB1 measurement balanced bridge
plays a key role in test environments
with heavy interference,” says Ole.
“Used together with a single-channel
MPD 600 PD measurement system and
two CPL 542 measurement impedances,
the MBB1 forms a balanced bridge mea-
surement system to perform differential
PD measurements.”
“The signals are decoupled with
the measuring impedances and are
balanced and subtracted within the
measurement bridge. The MBB1 con-
tains a circuit that adjusts and combines
the signals of the two measurement im-
pedances,” he adds. “Noise suppression
can be achieved due to the superposi-
tion of the external interference in both
branches. The combined signals are then
transferred to the MPD 600 where they
are further processed for evaluation.”

«The combination of differential

PD measurement and a digital
PD measuring system leads
to a significant reduction in
disturbances.»
The MBB1 can be used for AC and DC test setups both in the
laboratory and on site for various HV assets.
Ole Kessler The MBB1 can be used for AC and DC test setups both in the
Product Manager, OMICRON www.omicronenergy.com/mbb1
laboratory and on site for various HV assets.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 43

NO DATA
S T R AT E GY
NO Intelligent
When it comes to ensuring a reliable
power supply, the proper functioning
of protection systems is indispensable.
This requires regular testing and main-
tenance of assets. However, today’s
utilities face a number of complex
challenges – such as the integration of
distributed energy resources, increasing
end-customer expectations, operational
efficiency objectives set by authorities
and related changes in energy policy.
Taking all these demands into account,
how can utilities ensure future-proof
risk management for their protection
44
as set ma n a g e m e n t with
systems? How can they foster their
reputation and trust with their partners,
and guarantee growth and develop-
ment for their company, while provid-
ing a safe and reliable power supply?
A holistic approach towards manag-
ing the assets of a protection system
The standard ISO 55000 defines asset
management as a coordination task
for organizations that enables them to
maintain the value of their assets. As-
set management includes maintenance
planning, the evaluation of individual
assets, the setting data of the respec-
ADMO
tive protection systems and distur-
bance analysis. This rather holistic per-
spective allows for a strategic risk and
reliability management for protection
systems. Furthermore, the long-term
evaluation of the effects of investment
decisions must not only be evaluated in
terms of a single variable, but rather in
relation to the total life-cycle costs.
Data management that supports
clever decision-making
The foundation for these decision-mak-
ing processes all comes down to solid,
well-established data management.
All data needs to be up-to-date and
available in a way that supports all of
the functions in the asset management
process. But in practice, it is often diffi-
cult to stay on top of all the data since
test plans, test protocols, manuals etc.
are often saved in different locations.
This increases the organizational
effort and complicates the access to
documents, when it comes to essential
questions, such as:
› When did each operating
resource last undergo testing or
maintenance?
› When are the next maintenance
tests scheduled for?
› Where are the test reports for the
individual assets?
› What is the current test and mainte-
nance status of the whole facility?
› Are all relevant test templates
and test plans always on site and
available?
Smaller utilities often use common
spreadsheet programs to manage all
of the data. But they can become slow
and unstable if they exceed a certain
size and the options for reliable backup
are limited. Larger utilities frequently
use modules from an ERP system, but
these are usually not adapted to the
needs of utilities.
As a worldwide leading provider of
testing solutions for protection systems
we have acknowledged the needs of
utilities and developed ADMO, an in-
novative data management solution.
ADMO allows users to plan and man-
age all testing and maintenance activi-
ties in centralized protection systems. It
facilitates the seamless documentation
Magazine | Issue 1 2018 45
of all maintenance tasks and offers
easy access to all relevant documents.
Thanks to pre-defined asset catego-
ries all relevant type-specific data
and nominal values can be tracked.
ADMO’s client-server architecture
enables multiple users to work in
parallel on the asset data base. In the
field, test engineers work offline and
access the test data they need. The
clear structure offers helpful guid-
ance when performing tests. In the
office, engineers and managers can
enter asset data, plan maintenance
activities and analyse test results.
This way, all the participants involved
in the asset management process
are always up to date and can
collaborate efficiently.
46
Easy “InSight” into your
asset data
With InSight, the new ADMO dashboard for analyzing substa-
tion and asset data, users can optimize investment and human
resources planning.
InSight supports you by providing different widgets that help
you while making decisions related to asset life cycle manage-
ment. The InSight widgets draw, process and visualize their data
from ADMO.
Thanks to flexible filters you can focus your widget data on
specific areas of interest. For example, filter by locations, voltage
levels, asset types, feeders, or a specific time frame. Aside from
our standard widgets, we also offer customized widgets.
2ND ANNUAL CANADA
PROTECTION SYMPOSIUM

The 2nd Annual Canada Protection

Symposium was held on December 5–6,
2017 in downtown Toronto. There were
attendees from 51 different companies and
21 expert speakers making presentations.
Topics covered a wide variety of subjects
including protection, automation, and con-
trol testing, IEC 61850, end-to-end testing,
microgrids, distribution automation, the
integration of DERs onto the grid, and much
more! Attendees were also given a factory
tour of G&W Electric in Brampton Ontario.

Plans are already underway for the

3rd Annual Canada Protection Symposium Bing Young, Vice President, Engineering at Hydro One
was keynote speaker.
to be held from December 3–5, 2018.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 47

OMICRON IN BRAZIL

OMICRON has finished its disembarkment plan With more than 80 attendees interested in our
in Brazil by participating in the SNPTEE event, the solutions, we have enhanced our direct presence in
largest and most important event in the Brazilian the Brazilian market by giving fast and informative
electric sector. answers that meet the needs of our clients.

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 47

EVENT SPOTLIGHT UK:
OMICRON DIAGNOSTIC MEASUREMENTS
ON PRIMARY ASSETS CONFERENCE &
WORKSHOP (DMPA) 2017

Knowledge sharing is a core principle at OMICRON diagnostic measurements on transformers, diagnostic

and our annual UK event is a perfect example of how
we strive to connect with our customers. Last year’s
event proved to be very popular, focusing on diagnostic
measurements of primary assets and welcoming a total
of 48 participants from as far afield as Denmark, Saudi
Arabia, Korea, and across the UK and Ireland.
measurements on rotating machines, diagnostic mea-
surements on circuit breakers and partial discharge test-
ing and analysis.
Participants’ comments were very positive and we plan to
repeat this primary focused event in 2019.

The event took place from October 17–19, 2017 at Crewe

Hall in the midlands, where state-of-the-art conference
«Excellent in every aspect!»
facilities provided the back drop for a full conference day
of in-depth papers delivered by both OMICRON special-
«I found the case studies in the
ists and industry peers from UK Grid Solutions, ABB, ESB
presentations very interesting.»
International, SSE, BCDIAGNOSYS and the University of
Manchester. The conference covered many aspects of
«Second time I have been to this event
diagnostics on primary assets, including the condition as-
sessment of power transformers, DFR tests on transform-
and I will recommend it again to
ers and bushings, partial discharge on rotating machines any transformer engineer.»
and medium and high voltage circuit breaker diagnostics.

A day of workshops followed in which delegates could Save the Date: OMICRON Protection Testing
choose to focus on their specific areas of interest. These Conference & Workshop (PTCW)
workshops enabled users to receive hands-on experi- Crewe Hall | UK
ence with our products and explore the following topics: October 16–18, 2018

Magazine | Issue 1 2018 47

Are you
already part
of the
OMICRON
Customer
Portal
community?

Simply sign up and join to be a

member of this international
community!
Free access to all benefits
New product software updates
Templates for more than
350 types of relays
2,000+ technical documents
Shared knowledge from over
10,000 industry peers

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Magazine | Issue 1 2018 47