Preventive maintenance of spring applying vibration diagnostic tool- a Malaysian experience
Broad ranges of spring switchgears have been extensively used in most of Malaysian substations. Condition monitoring of hydraulic and spring switchgears have been a critical problem since the conventional methods applied failed to alert prior occurrence of faults. Recent routine reports of TNB Malaysia highlight an occurrence of 20% failures over a period of 5 year. This has lead to greater loss and high expenditure in replacing these switchgears. One of the major contributing factors in failure of hydraulic switchgears is occurrence of mechanical faults, which the conventional method of monitoring failed to detect and locate. However the recent vibration testing prevents and minimizes the breakdowns due to mechanical faults. This current vibration analysis is a noninvasive diagnostic tool applied in comprehensive monitoring of HV switchgears. This method of investigation is well ventured in many countries in Europe and USA but not yet in Malaysia. TNB Malaysia is taking the stepping stone is venturing this technology in line with our objective of seeking predictive maintenance, cost effective and reliable diagnostic tool. This paper will explore in depth the possible mechanical faults that contribute to spring switchgears failures applying vibration analysis. This paper will further interpret the results of vibration testing on 118 spring switchgears 132 kV. This, preliminary study involves interpreting the vibration signal during the event of close and open only to better understand the movement of the mechanical component during operation time enabling us to distinguish which component contributes to the fault of the switchgear.
Vibration Analysis for Diagnostic Testing of Circuit Breakers
In order to assess the feasibility of vibration analysis for the diagnostic testing of high-voltage circuit breakers, a comprehensive field test program has been carried out. Vibration patterns from 31 breakers (93 identical single-phase units) have been acquired, compared and analyzed. The breakers were assumed to be in good condition with no known irregularities at the time of testing. However, several serious faults, including an incipient rupture of the contact plug shaft, an incorrectly assembled crank, and major lubrication problems were disclosed. Thus, this "blind test" performed under realistic conditions on circuit breakers in normal service demonstrates that vibration analysis can be a reliable and suitable tool for noninvasive diagnostic testing.
Soil organic matter and microbiological development of technosols in the South Wales Coalfield
Abstract Degraded land (formerly ‘reclaimed’) after surface-coal-mining is a serious problem in South Wales. This project uses forestation to foster soil development on opencast coal-mine spoil technosols. It compares records of humification and the soil microbiological system (microcoenosis) using paired data from the same plantings in 1998 and 2018. Statistical analysis finds no significant difference between samples collected under trees planted by the pit-planting versus trench planting method or trees planted using organic or mineral fertilizer. However, there are strong significant differences in both soil organic matter and microflora components and significant correlations with time since tree planting. Most components of the soil organic carbon (TOC) and the microflora increase, often significantly. However, compared to 2018, 1998 samples contain significantly greater maximum levels of Insoluble Carbon while the microflora had significantly more Ammonifying bacteria. Decreases in Insoluble Carbon explain the relatively small increase in TOC between 1998 and 2018. The % extracted with 0.1 N H2SO4 is significantly larger in 2018, suggesting active weathering. Similarly, both the maxima and minima of total Humic and Fulvic acids content, extracted with 0.1 M Na4P2O7 + 0.1 M NaOH, are significantly greater in 2018. Total microflora shows significant positive correlations with time-since-tree-planting as do the proportions of bacilli and actinomycetes but the correlation with ammonifying bacteria is negative. In 1998, the microflora was dominated by non-spore-forming bacteria while, in 2018, bacilli and actinomycetes prevail; both are involved in the transformation of complex organic compounds and humification. This indicates active transformation of more complex organic compounds and advancing humification. In sum, forestation of these degraded, formerly reclaimed, opencast coal-mine spoils has resulted in a massive increase in both the size and functioning of the soil organic system.