The Three Arc-Flash Mitigation Levers

Mose Ramieh, CBS Field ServicesColumns, In the Field, Spring 2022 Columns

“It’s faster for us to put on the 40-calorie suit to rack breakers out than it is to use the remote racking system,” the customer said — and I wanted to add, “Yes, the remote racking system bought for your safety at a significant investment from your company.” But I did my best to hide my dismay and took the …

Generator Stator Ground Fault Protection

Steve Turner, Arizona Public Service CompanyColumns, Relay Column, Spring 2022 Columns

Generator faults are usually serious and can lead to significant repair costs and long outage times. PART I: ANALYSIS Part 1 demonstrates how to analyze a stator ground fault for a large combustion turbine generator. The faulted phase and fault location are determined using fault voltage recorded by the numerical generator protection relay installed for this generator. This information is …

Fault on Feeder M1A: Guidance from NFPA 70E — Part 3

Ron Widup, Shermco IndustriesColumns, NFPA 70E and NETA, Spring 2022 Columns

This is the last in a three-part series of articles as we navigate a 15 kV feeder fault and the subsequent repairs. We have discussed how NFPA 70E is an important tool for the electrical worker to use in the field as they troubleshoot, repair, and restore electrical equipment after a significant fault event, all with an eye on getting the …

Arc-Flash Hazard and Mitigation

Eric Beckman, National Field Services, NETA PresidentColumns, President's Desk, Spring 2022 Columns

First, welcome to Denver and PowerTest 2022. It certainly is nice to be back to an in-person event! This year also happens to be NETA’s 50th anniversary. Be sure to watch out for special events celebrating this anniversary. You won’t want to miss them. There has been so much development in the area of arc-flash hazard awareness and mitigation in …

Hand Protection

Paul Chamberlain, Asplundh Engineering Services, LLCColumns, Safety Corner, Winter 2021 Columns

Workers’ hands are the most commonly injured body part. Whether the hazard comes from rotating machinery, pinches between two materials, heat, chemicals, or electricity, your hands are under constant attack. Without them, every task would be difficult to perform. This article identifies the common hazards and risks to a worker’s hands as well as ways to mitigate injuries and promote …

MCC Catastrophic Failure at a Client Facility

Adam Murray, Advanced Electrical Services Ltd.Columns, In the Field, Winter 2021 Columns

AES personnel were dispatched to a gas plant in northern Alberta, Canada, for emergency repair of a failed 600 v MCC bus. Before the technicians arrived, the 600 v bus components had already been disassembled by facility personnel to prepare for installation of a new MCC section. For our client, getting the facility back up and running was more critical than …

Analysis of Generator Protection Operations

Steve Turner, Arizona Public Service CompanyColumns, Relay Column, Winter 2021 Columns

This article analyzes several protection operations for large combustion turbine generators. Generator protection trips tend to be rare, so any major event is always of interest. EVENT 1: CLOSE-IN THREE-PHASE FAULT A large gas combustion turbine generator experienced a close-in three-phase fault during a rainstorm. The generator terminal voltage is rated 13.8 kV line-to-line, and the machine is high-impedance grounded. The …

Fault On Feeder M1A: Planning Recovery Using NFPA 70E

Ron Widup, Shermco IndustriesNFPA 70E and NETA, Columns, Winter 2021 Columns

Previously, we discussed a 15 kV feeder fault at a manufacturing plant and how NFPA 70E is an important tool for the electrical worker to use in the field as they troubleshoot, repair, and restore the equipment to get the facility up and running. To recap, here’s what happened: The main circuit breaker in one of the plant’s three medium-voltage substations …

NERC and NETA

Eric Beckman, National Field Services, NETA PresidentPresident's Desk, Columns, Winter 2021 Columns

NETA has been setting standards that pave the way for the minimum requirements to ensure an electrical system operates reliably and safely since 1972. As a result of several widespread blackouts compromising the electric grid, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)was appointed in 2006 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to develop various standards to aid in the …

Grounding and Bonding Meter Sockets

Jeffrey R. Jowett, MeggerColumns, Tech Tips, Winter 2021 Columns

In an actual reported case, a severe storm blew down a large tree that struck a residence. A meter that should have been reporting 240 V reported a phase-phase voltage of 124 V. The falling tree had pulled down the service, which had then been re-attached by a service crew. A routine voltmeter check revealed 118 V between the left hot leg and neutral, …