GE Grid Solutions uses X-Ray maintenance in Brazil

• 1 year, 11 months ago (2022-12-02)
• David Flin

Distribution 122 Latin America 80 Transmission 191

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GE Renewable Energy ’s Grid Solutions Services used digital X-ray technology to complement the preventative maintenance in Petrobras ’ gas insulated substation (GIS) in the Abreu e Lima Refinery (RNEST) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

The inspection included several complementary inspection methodologies that eliminate the necessity of opening the equipment to assess the condition of the high voltage circuit breakers. The solution enabled reduction of equipment downtime for preventative maintenance by up to 75 per cent, minimising impact on operations while optimising risk management.

The RNEST 145 kV GIS substation has been in operation for nearly a decade. It has 15 bays. All equipment underwent preventative maintenance with non-intrusive inspection methodologies, including use of GE’s digital X-ray inspection technology that was used to evaluate the busbar coupling bay breaker. This inspection method measured possible state variations in the asset, such as detrition of the active part, internal damage, and incipient failures.

The overall scope of the inspection was made through dynamic contact resistance measurement, vibration analysis, partial discharge measurement, and digital X-ray inspection.