Free Substation Survey
TDS offers its customers free substation surveys. Our representatives
are trained to survey transformers and oil circuit breakers for
oil leaks. Each leak is documented, photographed, and the
results of the survey are sent to TDS. The results are provided
to the customer on a spreadsheet listing the substation location,
equipment surveyed, a description of the leak, repair method, an
itemized repair cost, and any necessary additional information
such as outage requirements.
Please see our Representative section to locate a representative
in your area.
TDS Leak Control Program
Background
As those in the electrical industry know, the
EPA frowns upon oil leaks and SF 6 gas leaks on substation equipment.
Unfortunately, repairing those leaks is a very expensive matter. Using
conventional methods, transformers must be de-energized, grounded,
and the oil drained from the radiators and, often times, the main
tank, to fix even minimal leaks. This also applies to oil
circuit breakers and SF 6 gas breakers. The equipment must
be taken out of service and disassembled to affect the repair.
Although utility crews can make these repairs, frequently the equipment
is too valuable to take out of service or the crews are too busy
with other substation maintenance requirements. Consequently,
the leak goes unchecked leaving the utility vulnerable during EPA
inspections and subject to significant fines.
TDS Surveys and Utility Leak Control
It has been the experience of many utilities that an EPA
inspection quickly evolves into an examination of company records
and documentation. Specifically, two questions are asked;
1) Do you document your oil leaks and SF6 gas leaks? and 2)
Is there an action plan in affect to repair those leaks? Cooperative
efforts between TDS and our customers have resulted in excellent
examination results.
- Free Surveys performed by TDS Representatives: Provided
directly to utility management free of charge.
- Utility Management: TDS surveys can be reviewed
by substation personnel for accuracy and then given to management. Management
now has the information to develop an action plan. Each
leak can be addressed and an appropriate repair method selected. In
some cases, the leak will be contained because the equipment
is being replaced. In other situations, the transformer
may be due for an overhaul and containment will be used until
the overhaul is completed. TDS utilizes extensive methods
for repairing transformers and circuit breakers on-line and
we currently perform these types of repairs for a number
of major utilities.
- EPA Inspection: This documentation and action
plan has proved very effective in demonstrating that the utility
managers have their “arms around the problem.”
TDS would appreciate your consideration as a cost effective alternative
for leak repair that must be completed promptly on equipment required
to stay in service.
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