Pooling Substaion For Solar O&M - Deputy Manager

Roles and Responsibilities

• Having hands-on experience in the operation and maintenance of 220/33 or 110/33 kV pooling substations requires expertise in managing high-voltage (HV) systems that ensure efficient power transmission and grid connectivity for a solar plant, especially with a minimum capacity of 100 MW, entails expertise in the following areas:

Technical Expertise in Pooling Substations

Primary Systems (HV Equipment):

1. Power Transformers:
• Maintenance of HV transformers, including oil testing, DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis), and thermal imaging.
• Monitoring tap changers (OLTC/DETC) for proper voltage regulation.
2. Circuit Breakers:
• Expertise in maintaining and testing SF6, vacuum, and air-insulated circuit breakers.
• Regular trip-timing tests and inspection for contact wear and gas pressure.
3. Instrument Transformers:
• Maintenance of CTs (Current Transformers) and PTs (Potential Transformers) for metering and protection.
• Conducting ratio and insulation resistance testing.
4. Busbars and Switchgear:
• Ensuring proper insulation, alignment, and functionality of busbars and switchgear components.
• Managing connections for 33 kV, 110 kV, and 220 kV voltage levels.

Secondary Systems (Protection and Automation):

1. Protection Systems:
• Configuration, testing, and maintenance of numerical and electromechanical relays for overcurrent, earth fault, distance, and differential protection.
• Fault analysis and relay coordination studies.
2. SCADA Integration:
• Ensuring seamless integration with plant SCADA for real-time monitoring and control.
• Troubleshooting communication issues in RTUs and PLCs.
3. Control and Instrumentation:
• Managing DC systems, including battery banks and chargers, for reliable control power.
• Maintenance of substation automation systems (SAS).

Operational Experience

1. Grid Management and Coordination:
• Handling grid synchronization and load balancing.
• Coordinating with load dispatch centers (SLDC/RLDC) for real-time operations and compliance.
2. Switching Operations:
• Experience in safe switching operations for maintenance or grid emergencies.
• Creating and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for routine and emergency scenarios.
3. Energy Metering and Loss Management:
• Calibration and maintenance of ABT meters (Availability-Based Tariff) and energy meters.
• Monitoring transmission losses and optimizing efficiency.
4. Fault Diagnosis and Restoration:
• Identifying root causes of faults such as earth faults, line-to-line faults, or equipment failure.
• Rapid restoration of systems to minimize downtime.

Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

1. Testing and Diagnostics:
• Conducting primary and secondary injection tests for relays.
• Performing thermographic and ultrasonic inspections for HV equipment.
2. Condition Monitoring:
• Utilizing online monitoring systems for transformers, breakers, and other critical equipment.
• Analyzing trends for proactive maintenance scheduling.
3. Insulation Testing:
• Tan delta testing, partial discharge analysis, and insulation resistance testing for cables and equipment.
4. HV Equipment Health Assessment:
• Lifecycle analysis for replacement or refurbishment decisions.
• Engaging in retrofitting older equipment with advanced systems.

Safety and Compliance

1. HSE Practices:
• Implementing lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Conducting regular safety audits and electrical hazard risk assessments.
2. Regulatory Compliance:
• Ensuring adherence to CEA guidelines, grid codes, and safety standards.
• Handling inspections by DISCOMs, SLDC, and other regulatory bodies.
3. Training and Skill Development:
• Training teams on safe HV operations and emergency protocols.
• Conducting mock drills for grid outage and fault scenarios.

Added Value in Integration with Solar Plants

1. Reactive Power Management:
• Managing reactive power and voltage stability using capacitor banks or STATCOMs.
• Ensuring compliance with grid power factor requirements.
2. Curtailment Management:
• Efficiently managing grid curtailment or restrictions to avoid penalties.
3. Remote Monitoring and Predictive Analytics:
• Implementing AI/ML-based predictive maintenance systems for proactive fault detection.

1. Key Skills: Operation and Maintenance of 220kV Pooling substation and its equipment, good communication, report preparation and presentation.

1. Joining: immediate

2. Working Location: Project sites located at TN, KA, AP and willing to travel down to project sites.