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Using Infrared to Proactively Maintain the Distribution System Ben J Carranza Slide 2 Objectives Proactively address potential equipment failures Positively impact corporate SAIFI goal Develop processes to track: Survey costs Repair costs Avoided SAIFI Missed opportunities Slide 3 History 20002001200220032004 One camera Part time effort Full circuit surveys TwoFour Full time effort Equipment surveys Operator training INFR notifications Glower process Request initiatedAnnual schedule Slide 4 Survey Impacts Slide 5 Survey Costs Average survey cost per circuit (salary & burden) $475.00 Average repair cost per critical item $1,100.00 Cost/performance projections (per 0.1 avoided SAIFI) Repair = $105,000 Survey = $57,000 Total = $162,000 Slide 6 Circuit Selection Customer countCircuit loading Outage History (preventable with IR) XX Weighted System (rank ascending) = Slide 7 Selection Considerations Includes all S/Cs Assigned by % of circuits in system Vegetation management Currently on 5 year survey cycle Slide 8 Field Survey Process Start at substation Includes all getaways in substation Mid span splices & jumpers in first line section All primary circuit equipment Slide 9 One Line Diagram Slide 10 Field Survey Notes Slide 11 Report Criteria Equipment Criteria: Watch List75 - 99F CTDRecorded & on file Critical>100F CTDInspect\Repair ASAP For 04 the following criteria was added for equipment problems that are encased or blocked from direct view Indirect>20F CTDInspect\Repair ASAP CTD = 200F Hot Spot = 300FReference = 100F SWITCH EXAMPLE Slide 12 Glower Process Urgent process to communicate, to multiple departments, problems that are at severe risk of failure Targets >500F must be visually inspected with binoculars If target is physically damaged or glowing: Immediately contact Distribution Control (Dispatch) Issue SAP & urgent email notifications Slide 13 Glower Example #1 Bolted Connection on PTS (melting aluminum, hot spot >1200F) Slide 14 Glower Example #2 Clamp Type Connection on TP (Jumper melted from bracket & hung on hook stick disconnect ring) Slide 15 Reports Issued for Critical primary equipment Includes: Infrared & jpeg images Detail equipment information Visual problems like broken cross-arms and insulators Does not Include: Watch List items kept on file; revisited 1 year later Slide 16 Report Example Slide 17 SAP Notifications Mainframe application Permanent record Provides link to work order data Consistent & accessible across company Slide 18 Monthly Progress Report Slide 19 Pole Fires Slide 20 Pole Fires (Cont.) Slide 21 Switch Example #1 Bolted Connection Slide 22 Switch Example #2 Switch Body Slide 23 Switch Example #3 Hinge Pin Assembly Slide 24 Misc. Example #1 Primary Crimp Splice Slide 25 Misc. Example #2 Cap Oil Switch & Bushing Connector Slide 26 Misc. Example #3 Neutral Current Slide 27 Misc. Example #4 Secondary Pedestal, URD Slide 28 Any Questions??? Slide 29 Distribution System Reliability Ben J. Carranza (713) 945-6807 ben.carranza@centerpointenergy.com Brandt Gonzales (Lvl. 1 Certified IR Thermographer) (713) 945-6457 brandt.gonzales@centerpointenergy.com R. Brent Williams (713) 945-6063 richard.b.williams@centerpointenergy.com Contact Information