SpeakerSpeakerScott Whaley - EITScott Whaley - EIT

Protecting & Ice Melting Protecting & Ice Melting Westman’s Distribution LinesWestman’s Distribution Lines

Western Distribution Region The western distribution’s head office

is located in Brandon

There is currently five engineers helping maintain and develop the western distribution area

Distribution system consists of: 4 kV (kilo volts) , 8kV, 12kV and 25kV

power lines

Sub-transmission system consists of: 33kV and 66kV power lines

Distribution Infrastructure Hydro has approximately 150 stations in Western Manitoba

Standard metal and wood sub stations New DSC stations

There are over 500 feeders in Western Manitoba to protect Length of feeders vary to being very short in urban areas and can be

quite long (20 miles) in rural locations

Distribution Infrastructure Distribution protection starts at the high side fuse/breaker at the station

transformer and includes all distribution power lines up to the customer service transformer

Station TransformerDistribution Power Lines

Customer Service

Protective Equipment Reclosers (ACR)

Automatic circuit recloser Use electronic & hydraulic

Sectionalizers Detect current pulses to trip

Fuses Expulsion fuses and current

limiting fuses

Circuit Breakers Mechanical circuit breakers

Protective Equipment FAULTED CIRCUIT INDICATERS (FCI) are installed on distribution lines

where standard protective device such as an ACR, fuse or sectionalizer can not be installed

FCIs are installed to eliminate the need to repeatedly test and energize U/G cables when there is a fault. This prevents permanent damage to the cable

Aid In troubleshooting

Equipment Coordination

Protective equipment must be properly set to allow for feeder coordination

Protective equipment provides safety and reliability to both the customer and employees and helps locate line faults

We install protective devices to prevent equipment damage

Protecting Distribution Lines

Down line Recloser

FusesRegulatorStation Recloser

Protecting Distribution Lines EXAMPLE

Protecting Distribution Lines EXAMPLE

Protecting Distribution Lines EXAMPLE

Fault current of 400 amps 50 amps ACR – 2A+2B Time for fast trip = 0.05 secs. Time for slow trip = 0.32 secs.

Fault current of 400 amps Station ACR – MT= 240 amps,

2N+2E Time for fast trip = 0.22 secs. Time for slow trip = 4.30 secs.

Protecting Distribution Lines If we issue protection coordination setting correctly we can prevent

damage to equipment

MB Hydro has implemented standards for installing, protecting and rating equipment. These standards prevent damage to our infrastructure and reduce customer outages

Standards Drawing of a 1Ø Transformer

Ice Melting Ice melting is done by purposely placing a fault on a feeder. The line

fault creates tremendous heat which melts the bonded ice.

Each ice melt done on a distribution line must be calculated differently because line impedance predetermines the fault current values

Length, conductor size, temperature and time must all be taken into account when melting

Ice Rolling Manually using ice rollers to remove built up ice on the power lines. The

process is slow and time consuming and takes at least ½ hour to do 1 mile.

Ice Prone Areas

Ice melting is incorporated into Hydro’s standards

Ice Detection System The system is built using an infrared camera to capture images of the

conductor. It calculates and notifies staff if there is ice build up on the line

The ice vision system uses an embedded computer with custom designed software to perform the ice monitoring calculations

A web based application displays information which includes: Ice build up (thickness) on the conductor Temperature Wind Speed

Ice Detection System

Manitoba HydroBack Up Control Center

(BUCC)

Manitoba Hydro Station(1 of N)

Pole Equipment (1 of N)

SBC

Camera

Weather Station

UPSrouter

DC converterHeater

Wireless / EthernetBridge

Server

One to OneWireless Link

Wireless / EthernetBridge

Manitoba HydroLAN Connection

(1 0f N)

EMS Network

Digital connection

Ice Detection Camera Every second represents 30 minutes

Thank YouQuestions Questions

and and CommentsComments

For career opportunities visit:For career opportunities visit:http://www.hydro.mb.ca/careershttp://www.hydro.mb.ca/careers