Improving safety and reliability via cost effective upgrades of existing systems

Recent focus has been placed on improving the reliability and safety of new equipment. This paper describes a few cost effective upgrades and retrofits for existing electrical systems which can improve maintenance effectiveness, reduce process down-time, limit physical exposure to hazards, and improve personnel safety. A typical power system comprised of a high voltage substation, medium voltage switchgear, and low voltage switchgear, has many attributes that are prone to failure and misoperation. These common features in existing systems can be unsafe since failures and misoperations typically result in increased exposure to hazards. A few select cost effective upgrades or modifications that increase reliability and safety are presented in the general categories of protection, control, operation, and diagnostics.