Reclosing

Status
Not open for further replies.
O

onetowin

Member
I am an Electrical Engineering Associate at the City of Burbank, CA. For the first time in our 92 year history, we shall begin reclosing on a couple of our 12 kV distribution circuits with the substation relays. "Safety issues" have always been a concern about reclosing here. Does anyone know of any statistics for anyone who have been injured or killed by the actual reclosing of a high voltage line? Do you know of any resource I could check? Thanks.
Tim Blunt

{Moderator's Note: Edited to remove personal contact information. If you wish to contact this person, please send a Private Message.}

[ September 07, 2005, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: charlie b ]
 
Re: Reclosing

When I get home, I will post a few good links on this subject. The process you are describing is very hazardous and many precautons must be taken. I know off the top of my head that 2 Florida Power and Light workers were killed closing a switch about 3 years ago. The death and injury rate is not as high as contact with high voltage lines.
 
Re: Reclosing

Go to the OSHA website

OSHA Accident investigations

Search the accident investigations for circuit breaker (or whatever) and you will find all the info you need.

Additionally, OSHA 1910.334(b)(2) states ?Re-closing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is de-energized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual re-closing of circuit breakers or re-energizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.?

A megger test at a minimum is required to ensure the circuit is safe to reenergize.
 
Re: Reclosing

zog,
I don't think that the OSHA rules apply to utility distribution systems. The use of automatic reclosing breakers is very common in this area on high voltage utility distribution systems.
Don
 
Re: Reclosing

Onetowin's neighboring utilities use automatic reclosing breakers as well. When doing any work or switching on a circuit it is required to call the substation and put the circuit under test. This way if you relay the circuit, it won't get you twice.
 
Re: Reclosing

I know all about reclosers, I make a living working on HV systems, but I was under the impression this was a 12kV distribution system in a facillity, not a transmission line. Sorry, my bad.

However, OSHA 1910.269 does applly to utility distribution systems but I was quoting 1910.334 which does not. Again, I misunderstood the question.
 
Re: Reclosing

reclosing is used on overhead systems to clear temporary arcing faults. It is not recommended on underground or cabled systems. It is not recommended in industrial plants where asynchromous closing onto motors will ruin them in short order.
 
Re: Reclosing

Everyone: Thanks for the response. Several responses have to do with closing a switch or a definition of what reclosing is. What I am most interesting in is whether there are any stats on injuries or deaths due to the actual automatic reclosing of a station breaker or recloser. Thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top