Shame those danger signs spoil the appearance.
Some pics from the Network
- Thread starter efiste2
- Start date
Sponsored Links
It's OK - it doesn't look like it's created a trip hazard.
With transformers as part of preventative maintenance program, a sample of the oil should be taken and sent away for analysis at set intervals. There are also indicators on the top as a guide to it's state.
Not sure if the same is carried out for oil-filled switchgear ?
Bitumen Compound is still present on a huge part of the network as apart from the last 15 years it was used to insulate/fill all cable joints and boxes....including CT chambers. Busbar chambers have not been insulated in compund for 30 odd years now....Its a messy job to break down and around 20 years ago we were recycling the switchgear so you have to be careful no to toast the bushings, the pic below is on switchgear thats going for scrap so its just a case of heat and patience....
The reason for the repalcement is that the have switching bans on the RING MAIN UNITS, and although its not rust in this case, there is a rust problem on a certain make that is on the network, as you say RUST forms on the underside of the breaker, then drops into the oil, if found like this the rust is treated and the oil replaced....
As for remote contolling the OLD switchgear, all we have is indication on most sites, opening and closing of breakers is still an old fashoined call out system for an engineer.....
The reason for the repalcement is that the have switching bans on the RING MAIN UNITS, and although its not rust in this case, there is a rust problem on a certain make that is on the network, as you say RUST forms on the underside of the breaker, then drops into the oil, if found like this the rust is treated and the oil replaced....
As for remote contolling the OLD switchgear, all we have is indication on most sites, opening and closing of breakers is still an old fashoined call out system for an engineer.....
Sponsored Links
Nope, Nomex overalls stood in front of the gear, HSE is fine with that owing to almost nil incident level!
Seen that done Spark123....or we have a portable trip battery with LONG leads for "suspect" breakers. But wherever possible the switches with an operating restriction on them are made "not live" before operation.........Thats not to say the modern stuff doesnt have its faults....both types of Ring Main Units that we are installing have had operational restrictions on them at some time in the last couple of years. One was a faulty drive rod, that although the indication said the switch was OFF (open), mechanically the witch was closed, which would have cause problems when the other end of the circuit was put into Earth 
Seen that done Spark123....or we have a portable trip battery with LONG leads for "suspect" breakers. But wherever possible the switches with an operating restriction on them are made "not live" before operation.........Thats not to say the modern stuff doesnt have its faults....both types of Ring Main Units that we are installing have had operational restrictions on them at some time in the last couple of years. One was a faulty drive rod, that although the indication said the switch was OFF (open), mechanically the switch was closed, which would have cause problems when the other end of the circuit was put into Earth
A 33KV Circuit breaker in an open S/S compound.......
And its modern equivalent (actually this one is 20 years old now) but its an SF6 vac 33Kv breaker. We have a cutaway version in our training school which shows the inner workings and the GAP between the two contacts it switches is 5mm compared to an oil filled gap of around 8" or so
Below is a part of the protection for the 11/33Kv transformer, it senses gases,Low oil level and oil flow, its a Bucholz Valve, and has a two stage system, an alarm stage which flags up as a problem such as a small flow of oil into the transformer from the conservator tank as in a leak, or a full trip for a fault such as an explosion!!!!
Hope these pics are of a little intrest to you chaps
And its modern equivalent (actually this one is 20 years old now) but its an SF6 vac 33Kv breaker. We have a cutaway version in our training school which shows the inner workings and the GAP between the two contacts it switches is 5mm compared to an oil filled gap of around 8" or so
Below is a part of the protection for the 11/33Kv transformer, it senses gases,Low oil level and oil flow, its a Bucholz Valve, and has a two stage system, an alarm stage which flags up as a problem such as a small flow of oil into the transformer from the conservator tank as in a leak, or a full trip for a fault such as an explosion!!!!
Hope these pics are of a little intrest to you chaps
They're fantastic. Very interesting stuff. I used to love working in the old mills around here on all the lovely old switchgear. They don't make it like they used to.
Into the Workshop.....heres a 500Kva 11000/6600/415V transformer without its cbale connection boxes fitted
, obviousley the smaller connections are the HV ones and the voltage links are at the bottom, which alter the windings on the HV to either 11 or 6.6KV
Heres another Vacum circuit breaker thats gone bang....
A row of new "SCHNEIDER" 11kv ring main units undergoing STAGE 1 commisioning....
and out on the network a 33KV Ring Main Unit thats well over 50 years old...
, obviousley the smaller connections are the HV ones and the voltage links are at the bottom, which alter the windings on the HV to either 11 or 6.6KV
Heres another Vacum circuit breaker thats gone bang....
A row of new "SCHNEIDER" 11kv ring main units undergoing STAGE 1 commisioning....
and out on the network a 33KV Ring Main Unit thats well over 50 years old...
the 50 year old stuff looks pretty sound to me, even the cabin doors and roofs look good. I expect they've been well maintained, but if necessary, they could probably go on for another 50 years. I love the wind-down wheels.
My uncle, who worked for the Board in Bristol, told me that during the war they had an oil bath transformer feeding the aircraft works that boiled out its oil. Working live so as not to stop production, they took the caps off some barrels of oil and balanced them to glug out, then scarpered and watched from behind a building to see if they'd explode.
My uncle, who worked for the Board in Bristol, told me that during the war they had an oil bath transformer feeding the aircraft works that boiled out its oil. Working live so as not to stop production, they took the caps off some barrels of oil and balanced them to glug out, then scarpered and watched from behind a building to see if they'd explode.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
