Hotline of power engineering specialists:
Tverenergo held joint exercises to test the interaction of the Tver branch of IDGC of Centre with the General Directorate of EMERCOM of Russia in the Tver region, a subsidiary of JSC "FGC UES" Valdai PMES, a branch of JSC "SO UES" Tver Transmission Control Centre, with the Bezhetsky branch of LLC "Tveroblelektro", and with government authorities in emergency situations involving electricity interruptions at low temperatures.
According to the exercise scenario there was an emergency situation in which December 28, 2014 due to a sharp deterioration in the weather conditions during the passage of an atmospheric front north-east wind speed increased with gusts up to 20 m/s, temperature fluctuations in the daytime and nighttime were +2 to - 15 degrees, heavy precipitation in the form of freezing rain, which caused disturbances in the power system. In the conditions of repair of one of 110 kV power lines, because of the strong wind load and "freezing rain" a 220 kV power line was off, which led to an abnormal operation mode of the Bezhetsky node in the Tver energy system. Then a number of 110 kV lines and distribution circuits of lower voltage class were disconnected. This caused interruption of power supply of settlements and social facilities. More than 25 thousand people in seven districts of the region were without electricity.
At a meeting of the Joint Operational Headquarters the situation was assessed, analysis of the information received was made and the necessary arrangements were discussed, joint solutions were developed to eliminate the impact of complex technological disruptions in the electric grid and determined their estimated time of restoration.
In the seven districts temporary information centres were deployed for rapid notifying the public about the nature of the emergency and the electricity restoration progress.
Emergency repair work was organized at the damaged power grid equipment in minimal time. In the emergency area mobile crews were working equipped with all the necessary special vehicles. As part of the training and operation in time of emergency preparedness a 110 kV power line was back in service, which was for off for scheduled maintenance, and it allowed to power up the disconnected consumers with a temporary circuit. The repair and restoration work in six districts was promptly completed for a day.
According to the scenario the most difficult situation was in the territory of Bezhetsky district, where electricity to consumers was partially restored, but there were still technological disturbances at 16 transformer substations, resulting in interrupted power supply of 19 localities, where more than 300 people reside, and there are several social facilities.
This situation required a visit of a first responding group of Tverenergo to the territory of Bezhetsky district and participation in the Joint Operational Headquarters with information exchange on the current situation with the dispatching service of EMERCOM of Russia in the Tver region and the Single Duty Dispatch Service of Bezhetsky district.
The Joint Operational Headquarters decided to strengthen the group of forces to perform emergency and restoration operations. Emergency rescue teams of the district were set ready to clear roads of fallen trees, snow drifts and possible assistance to the power engineers with off-road vehicles. Forces and means of the city administration and rural settlements, the fire station, residents of the district were involved to eliminate the emergency. A package of preventive measures was developed aimed at reducing potential losses and damage caused by the deterioration of the weather conditions.
After completion of the repairs at the damaged power grid equipment and putting it back into operation the normal operation circuit of the power system of the Tver region was restored.
Also as part of the exercises on the territory of the Bezhetsky production base of IDGC of Centre - Tverenergo division there was a review of special vehicles, ready to be used in disaster relief. Crew vehicles of power engineers were presented, intended for preventive maintenance and liquidation of emergency situations, off-road vehicles for work on rough terrain, aerial trucks, and special vehicles of rescue services, EMERCOM, fire departments, the district administration, and the police. The availability of mechanisms, machinery, tools, and materials for autonomous and successful completion of restoration work at a site of technological failures was checked at the vehicles and crews.
According to the scenario conditions of the exercises some practical work with external backup power supply sources was performed - a diesel generator of EMERCOM of Russia in the Tver region to power the equipment of a city industrial steam boiler-house.
As part of the training exercise the representatives of the grid companies conducted practical work at power equipment. A crew of LLC "Tveroblelektro" replaced a 10 kV cable sealing end, a crew of the Bezhetsky site of the power lines service of Tverenergo demonstrated restoration of a 35 kV overhead power line. A crew of Bezhetsky Distribution Zone performed practical work to replace a 10 kV overhead line pole.
Head of the Bezhetsky District Administration Vladimir Baksht gave positive assessment to the given exercises: "The today's training has helped practice positive interaction between the various structures in the aftermath of a disaster. Completion of the restoration work as soon as possible was possible thanks to the team work and the rapid exchange of information of all the participants of the Joint Operational Headquarters."
Deputy Director for Technical Issues - Chief Engineer of the branch Alexey Galkin summed up the training: "On the eve of the winter we have to be ready for any emergency situation caused by unpredictable weather conditions. Attention to details of restoration activities in the affected area, identification of problems, and then making proposals and collaborative solutions, combining forces and assets in liquidation of emergency situations will allow us to act in real conditions."