2015 t&d discussion topic urd inspection and maintenance practices may 21, 2015 webinar #1 –...
TRANSCRIPT
2015 T&D Discussion TopicURD Inspection and Maintenance
Practices
May 21, 2015
Webinar #1 – URD Standards and Current Maintenance Issues
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Background
◼ “URD” refers to a type of electrical distribution that has the following characteristics:
Primary cable and secondary wire are installed below grade, either directly in the ground (“direct-buried”) or in plastic conduit.
Equipment components such as switchgear, distribution transformers and secondary terminals may either be installed above grade, on foundation pads, or below grade, in an enclosure or vault.
May be used in residential, commercial or industrial applications Switchgear and transformers may either be “live-front” or “dead-front” design Primary circuit topology to distribution transformers may either be “radial feed”, “loop
feed” or “dual feed” Secondary circuit topology to secondary pedestals may either be “radial feed” or “loop
feed”
◼ Appendix A in the Discussion Topic Plan that was distributed in late April provides an overview of the different types of URD construction that can be found in North America and the maintenance issues that are commonly associated with URD systems.
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Discussion Topic Work Plan
In order to address company interests on this topic that were expressed by our Leaders group, First Quartile has:
1. Reviewed the core questionnaire and added several new questions in 2015
2. Developed plans and discussion guides for a series of three webinars that will be conducted with company managers and technical experts on May 21, May 28, and June 4.
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Purpose of Webinars
The webinars will enable us to develop a more complete understanding of the practices of our T&D community than could be achieved through the questionnaire alone. In particular, we want to understand:
1. How URD design and construction standards (current and historical) have impacted system performance and the development of company I&M programs
2. How state/provincial regulations have impacted company I&M programs3. More information about technologies, methods and labor resources
used on the current I&M programs4. What KPI measures are being used to assess I&M program
effectiveness
The webinars will provide an opportunity for company managers and technical experts to exchange information and ideas, ask questions and compare notes on their experiences in this area
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Discussion Topic Webinars – URD Inspection and Maintenance Practices
Webinar #1URD Standards and Maintenance IssuesMay 21, 2015
Webinar #2URD Cable Management PracticesMay 28, 2015
Webinar #3URD Equipment I&M PracticesJune 4, 2015
• URD design and construction standards –current and historical
• Reliability trends • Problematic
equipment
• URD primary riser I&M• URD switchgear I&M• URD transformer I&M • URD secondary
equipment I&M
• Trends in cable failure rates
• Cable rehabilitation policies
• Cable treatment programs
• Cable replacement programs
Asset Manager URD Standards
Engineer Distribution Reliability
Data Expert
Asset Manager URD Cable Mgmt
Program Manager Field Supervisor/
Manager
Asset Manager URD I&M Program
Manager(s) Field Supervisor/
Manager
Issues to be discussed:
Expected company participants*:
* Company coordinators are asked to arrange and confirm participation by these key personnel ahead of time
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and Maintenance Issues
1. Please describe the following aspects of your current URD system design and construction standards:a. Primary distribution
• Operating voltage(s)• Cable type(s) -- type of insulation*, jacketed or unjacketed?• Cable installed in conduit or direct buried? Is an empty spare conduit installed?• Splice type(s) – taped, heat shrink and/or cold shrink?• Radial, loop or dual feed – what are your standard designs for different types of customers
(e.g., single family residential, multi-family residential, small and large commercial)• Do your current standards allow installation in back yard (non-road accessible) locations? If you are installing in backyards, how do you address the ongoing maintenance requirements?
b. URD Switchgear• Manufacturer(s) and type(s)• Live front or dead front design?• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
c. Transformers• Live front or dead front design?• Above grade or in underground vaults?
d. Secondary distribution:• Wire installed in conduit or direct buried?• Radial or loop feeds from transformers to secondary pedestals/enclosures?• Pedestals/enclosures installed above or below grade?
* Common URD Cable Insulation Types for Current Installations:
XLPE – Cross-Link Polyethylene
TRXLPE – Tree-retardant XLPE
EPR – Ethylene Propylene Rubber
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and Maintenance Issues (Continued)
2. In what ways does your historical/legacy URD infrastructure (that which is still in operation) differ from current standards?a. Primary distribution
• Operating voltage(s)• Cable type(s) -- type of insulation*, jacketed or unjacketed?• Cable Installed in conduit or direct buried? Were empty spare conduits installed?• Splice type(s) – taped, heat-shrink and/or cold shrink?• Radial, loop or dual feed – what were your standard designs for different types of customers
(e.g., single family residential, multi-family residential, small and large commercial)?• Were significant amounts installed in back yard (non-road accessible) locations?
b. URD Switchgear• Manufacturer(s) and type(s)• Live front or dead front design?• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
c. Transformers• Live front or dead front design?• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
d. Secondary distribution:• Wire installed in conduit or direct buried?• Radial or loop feeds from transformers to secondary pedestals/enclosures?• Pedestals/enclosures installed above or below grade?
e. Other differences? e.g., Transite pipe instead of plastic conduit?
* Common URD Cable Insulation Types:
Older Systems:
PILC – Paper Insulated Lead Cable
HMWPE – High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
Newer Systems:
XLPE – Cross-Link Polyethylene
TRXLPE – Tree-retardant XLPE
EPR – Ethylene Propylene Rubber
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and Maintenance Issues (Continued)
3. What is the overall reliability performance (SAIFI, SAIDI, CAIDI) of your URD infrastructure?
Do your URD systems in residential and commercial developments perform better,
worse or about the same as your OVH distribution systems in similar areas?
What is the trend in your URD system reliability? (improving, deteriorating or staying
the same?)
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and Maintenance Issues (Continued)
4. What specific categories and vintages of URD equipment are now causing the greatest problems regarding:
Service reliability
Maintenance costs
Public safety or health risks
Employee safety or health risks
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and Maintenance Issues (Continued)
5. Are you currently engaged in replacing any problematic URD components other than possibly the primary distribution cable? (We’ll discuss cable in Webinar #2)
What specific equipment components (types and vintages) are being replaced?
What sources and types of labor are being used for this work?
What are your timetables for completing these current replacement programs?
What measures are you tracking to assess the effectiveness of these replacement programs?
Discussion Topic Deliverables
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◼ Recordings and summaries of all webinar discussions
◼ Insights Conference – First Quartile presentation of webinar results and key insights learned through the discussions
◼ Insights Conference -- Company presentations with specific practice examples
Our second webinar in this series, which will focus on URD Cable Management Practices, will be conducted on Thursday, May 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time/ 12 noon Mountain Time/ 1:00 p.m. Central Time/ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
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