Stations seminar shares experience across ESB
The 2009 Stations Seminar held in March, now in its 4th year, provides an important opportunity to update progress on technical initiatives, present innovative solutions and share experience across many areas of ESB. Opened by Mike Fitzgerald from Asset Management Services (AMS), ESBI Engineering and Facility Management (ESBIefm), the preliminary session set the scene for the seminar and introduced keynote speaker, Mick Mackey, Head of Engineering, ESBIe-fm. The keynote address illustrated the challenges and opportunities of future Smart Networks.
Session One, chaired by Helen Herskind, ESB Networks, proceeded with a presentation by Tim Noonan, ESBIe-fm, on the engineering work of the Specialist Team in AMS. Tim's talk highlighted the critical role of engineering in facilitating optimal decision making on asset strategy. Michael Conry, ESBIe-fm and Derek Darby, ESBIe-fm, described examples of current investigation and analysis on transmission transformer bushings and transformer oil. Optimal outcomes achieved on these projects were discussed in detail.
Session Two, chaired by Jim Byrne, ESB Networks, began with Orla Burke, ESBIe-fm, showing the advances achieved in earth grid design assessment and implementation. Kieran Cogan, ESB Networks, briefed the forum on new procedures in transmission operational safety practice for working in stations. Innovative new bundling methods in 38kV were introduced by Michael Byrne, ESB Networks, who described the successful outcome to this project. The session ended with an update from Tom Bambury and Sheana McGowan on developments in the ESB Telecoms business.
Tony Higgins, ESBIe-fm, chaired Session three where Paddy O'Donovan, ESB Networks, described the successful pilot and benefits achieved by the new 38kV station battery & charger systems. Hugh Borland, ESB Networks, discussed the relationship between MV neutral treatment and fault statistics and went on to describe the successful outcome on trails of new high impedance earthing systems at a number of locations. One of the recommended outcomes of the joint Networks/ ESBI Stations Savings Initiative, Highly Integrated Switchgear, has now been implemented in a number of 110kV stations. The experience on Siemens 110kV Highly Integrated Switchgear (HIS) was outlined by Sandra Howard, ESIe-fm.
Session four, with Carmel O'Connor, ESB Networks, in the chair, began with a discussion on complexity versus efficiency by Eamonn Duggan, ESBIefm. Robert Jordan, ESBIe-fm, updated the forum on the implementation of modular 38kV substations in comparison to conventional stations. Walter Bourgoin, ESBIe-fm, provided a graphic description of the SCS technology currently being installed. The final presenter, Adrienne Behan, ESB Networks, stressed the critical role of data management. Mike Fitzgerald, ESBIe-fm, then wrapped up the well attended, interactive and successful technical event
