GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions Services team used digital X-ray technology to complement the preventive maintenance in Petrobras’ gas-insulated substation, in the Abreu-e-Lima Refinery (RNEST) located in Pernambuco, Brazil.
This X-ray technology was guided by the same principle utilized in the healthcare industry, GE Grid Solutions said.
Scope of inspection
Performed by GE in Latin America for the first time, the inspection strategy designed and implemented at RNEST included several complementary inspection methodologies that eliminate the necessity of opening the equipment to assess the condition of the high voltage circuit breakers. GE’s solution has enabled reduction of equipment downtime for preventive maintenance by up to 75 per cent, minimizing impact on the operations while optimizing risk management through assertive and efficient asset assessment.
The overall scope of the inspection was made through dynamic contact resistance measurement, vibration analysis, partial discharge measurement and digital X-ray inspection. GE’s Grid Solutions team analyzed data collected to recommend only essential corrective maintenance.
In operation for almost a decade, the RNEST 145kV GIS substation has 15 bays. All equipment underwent preventive maintenance with non-intrusive inspection methodologies, leveraging GE’s digital X-ray inspection technology that was applied to evaluate the busbar coupling bay breaker.
Innovative inspection
This innovative inspection method measures possible state variations in the asset, such as detrition of the active part, internal damage, and incipient failures. Based on the reports, GE engineers assessed the condition of the GIS equipment and tracked the substation components in need of maintenance, enabling a condition-based maintenance approach and greater precision repair.
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Milestone in substation maintenance
“We are very proud to offer Petrobras this non-intrusive inspection strategy, integrating the innovative digital X-ray solution. This ensures that energy is available for its operations, while, concurrently, the care and attention to the assets is applied, mitigating risks of failure”, says Lívia Silva, Commercial Services Leader of GE’s Grid Solutions in Latin America. “For GE this is a milestone in substation maintenance. Additionally, working in partnership with Petrobras to understand the constraints and objectives of its industrial business helps us identify and streamline the maintenance strategy based on adequate conditions, risk balancing, and productivity.”
