Microprocessor 0
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
Microprocessor Solid State
Electromechanical
2010-12 2000-09
1990-99 1980-89
1970-79 1960-69
Transformer Differential Relays
Transgrid’s transformer differential relay population comprises around 645 individual schemes ranging in age from 0 to 52 years.
The age profile shown below indicates that 22% of Transgrid’s transformer differential relay population was commissioned before 1980, with some of the oldest schemes being manufactured in 1960.
Age Profile of Transformer Differential Relays
0 50 100 150 200 250
Microprocessor Solid State
Electromechanical
2010-12 2000-09
1990-99 1980-89
1970-79 1960-69
Number of Transformer Differential Relays
Year Installed Solid State Electromechanical
Microprocessor
45
Busbar Protection Relays
Transgrid’s busbar protection relay population comprises over 760 individual schemes ranging in age from 0 to 52 years. The age profile shown below indicates that 39% of Transgrid’s busbar protection relay population was commissioned before 1980, with some of the oldest schemes being manufactured in 1960.
Age Profile of Busbar Protection Relays
0 50 100 150 200 250
Microprocessor Solid State
Electromechanical
2010-12 2000-09
1990-99 1980-89
1970-79 1960-69
Number of Busbar Protection Relays
Year Installed Solid State Electromechanical
Microprocessor
Overcurrent Protection Relays
Transgrid’s overcurrent protection relay population comprises approximately 3529 individual relays ranging in age from 0 to 52 years.
The age profile shown below indicates that 34% of Transgrid’s overcurrent protection relay population was commissioned before 1980, with some of the oldest schemes being manufactured in 1960.
Age Profile of Overcurrent Relays
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Microprocessor Solid State
Electromechanical
2010-12 2000-09
1990-99 1980-89
1970-79 1960-69
Number of Overcurrent Relays
Solid State Electromechanical Microprocessor
Year Installed
Chapter 1 – Part 4: Asset Strategies
TransGrid Network Management Plan 2013-2018
5. Metering
Metering equipment at Transgrid sites can be grouped into a number of broad categories. These include:
>
>energy meters;
>
>remote interrogation Meters (riMs);
>
>auxiliary devices (voltage selection relays, transformers); and
>
>Transducers.
The following graph apportions these categories:
neM metering installation equipment represents the largest category and consists of energy meters, remote interrogation Meters (riMs) and auxiliary devices (modems and voltage selection relays), forming the essential components of any revenue or backup metering scheme. Transducers form the second largest category and provide an important function in relation to sCada or real time operational data used to manage the operation of the high voltage network.
replacement programs will generally include the upgrading of auxiliary devices as a consequence of any revenue or backup metering scheme replacements.
it is recognised that 36% of energy meters, 100% of riMs and 47% of transducers currently installed on Transgrid’s system will need to be replaced in current strategies. The population and age of the primary metering equipment installed on Transgrid’s network is set out in the following pages.
Energy Meters
Transgrid’s energy meter population comprises some 1060 individual units ranging in age to 42 years old. The age profile shown below indicates that 21% of Transgrid’s energy meter population are older induction disc and early electronic pulsing meters that were commissioned before 2000 and require replacement with modern interval meters.
Age Profile of Energy Meters
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Microprocessor Solid State
Electromechanical
2010-12 2000-09
1990-99 1980-89
1970-79
Number of Energy Meters
Year Installed Solid State Electromechanical
Microprocessor
Transducers 46%
Auxillary Devices 6%
Energy Meters 46%
RIM Devices 2%
Metering Installation Profile
47
Remote Interrogation Meters (RIMs)
Transgrid’s datalogger (riM) population comprises 47 individual units, the majority of which are 12 to 22 years of age. These devices are only used in conjunction with pulsing meters and are progressively being phased out and no longer used, as modern meters incorporate internal data logging functionality.
Age Profile of RIM Devices
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
RIM
2000-12 1990-99
1980-89 1970-79
Number of RIM Devices
Year Installed RIM Devices
Transducers
Transgrid’s transducer population comprises almost 1057 individual units up to 42 years old. The age profile shown below indicates that 37% of Transgrid’s transducer population was commissioned before 1980.
Age Profile of Transducers
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Microprocessor Solid State
2000-12 1990-99
1980-89 1970-79
Number of Tranducers
Year Installed Solid State
Microprocessor
Note: some substations such as at gadara, Molong and Balranald do not include discrete transducers but utilise equivalent functions built into the protection relays.
Chapter 1 – Part 4: Asset Strategies
TransGrid Network Management Plan 2013-2018
6. Communications
Transgrid owns 127 communication rooms located within substations, regional centres and Transgrid’s head office.
each communication room provides voice, data and protection services to the equipment and staff on site. Being part of the site the communication room utilises the ancillary equipment installed within the building (batteries, chargers, 240V aC and 415V aC).
Transgrid owns 86 microwave and VHF radio repeater sites located across nsw. all repeater sites are stand-alone and have individual ancillary equipment. These include power and lighting, battery and chargers, air conditioning, access roads, security fencing and radio towers, poles or structures.
data on all equipment is listed below.
Bay Alarm Systems
each communication room and major repeater sites marshal individual alarms from equipment and provides an audible and visual display. These alarms are grouped and sent to the sCada network.
This is achieved by the Bay alarm system. Version 1 is no longer supported and is being replaced as and when required by version 2. Version 2 uses an off the shelf rack mount PC and Bechoff distributed i/o.
Backup Alarm Systems Transgrid owns 170 backup alarm systems that provide a combined alarm service as a secondary service to sCada sMarT alarm (1997). it is a microprocessor-based system capable of transmitting and receiving 10 simultaneous alarms. sMarT alarms currently account for the entire population of backup alarm systems in the network. This system has an expected life of 20 years.
Bay Alarm Systems
0 10 20 30 40 50
2011-2012
2005-2010
2000-2004
Backup Alarms
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
2011-2012
2005-2010
2000-2004
1995-1999
1990-1994