HV SF6 Breaker Exterior Heater 1

[AfricanAmber9]

Curious on the design of a circuit breaker; with a exterior unit heater (Jug/pole heater) malfunctions and will no longer work, is it Manufacturers design to replace while HV stays energized? We have Small switchyard, no alternate feed to a small community, that has personal in charge want to deenergize the line for 6 hours to replace one jug heater. Seems excessive and the argument is we will exceed the minimum approach distance in this work. 115kv System voltage Dead tank SF6 breaker. Heater wraps around circumference, mid span of pole unit, maybe 9" wide. 5' pole unit. Thanks

 

[bacon4life]

I would not expect that the manufacturer had designed the heater with the intention of the heater being replaced while energized. Depending on the exact design of the breaker and heater, I can certainly understand if the breaker has to be de-energized.

In my region, the grid is usually designed to allow periodic de-energization of breakers for testing and maintenance. At rural substations, sometimes a temporary mobile breaker/transformer has to be brought in.

 

[waross]

In more and more countries, more and more senior management are being held accountable for safety violations often to the point of prosecution.
5' at 115 kV? What is wrong with this picture.
Part of the unforeseen cost of designing a station with no redundancy is the occasional 6 hour outage.
Give the community ample warning and then do it right and shut it down.
It is hard to imagine any accident on a breaker pole at 115 kV that does not result in fatalities.

--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[itsmoked]

I fixed that for you Bill.

115 kV that does not result in fatalities vaporization

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[waross]

Thanks Keith.

--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[AfricanAmber9]

Thanks for the response. Min approach distance is 30" for this voltage and as per the drawing and I am at 28". Thank you for your time.

 

[Palletjack]

Would YOU work on it just 30” away from 115kV?

As someone that has worked on 115kV equipment I can tell you minimum approach distance and safe working distance are two very different things.

Borrow a mobile, or shut it down.
How much value do you put on your employees lives?