Typical Testing that is performed in Gas Insulated Switchgear

Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) is a complex high voltage substation equipment and asset. Period! Notwithstanding the numerous attributes, advantages and benefits that the GIS High Voltage Substation asset has to offer many utilities and industry players when implemented based on the right application. Industry manufacturers play the slogan that Gas Insulated Switchgear is maintenance free equipment but in reality, you are able to achieve that maintenance free during the 1st, 10-12 years of operation if you follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Also, OEM also indicates that after 10-12 years in service operation the GIS needs to be Overhauled based on Time Based Maintenance and also based on cyclometer readings of certain components of the GIS to include Circuit Breaker, disconnect switches, Earth disconnects switches and the number faults that has impinged on the circuit breaker. The GIS comes in modules and compartments that has been assembled together and pressurized with SF6 gas above ambient pressure, as such the conventional access to terminals to perform testing is not there compared to an Air insulated switchgear as such there is the need to identify access points to perform this most important OH testing and testing, if need be, during the life Cycle of the GIS
As a discipline engineer, if you deem if it fit, after analysis of the maintenance records with OEM requirements for major maintenance to perform major OH this presentation helps you to understand the various components of the GIS and how to perform a quasi-accurate testing on the GIS.