H2scan TM Catalog 2025 - Flipbook - Page 53
Understanding
Electric Asset
Impact on
Industrial Safety
By Traci Hopkins SMIEEE, CRL
Electric assets, such as transformers, circuit breakers and
motors, are vital for industrial operations, ensuring that machinery and processes run smoothly and ef昀椀ciently. However,
the condition and performance of these assets also directly
impact workplace safety. A failure in electric equipment can
lead to hazardous situations, including electrical 昀椀res, explosions, equipment damage and other risks to human life. This
blog explores how electric assets in昀氀uence industrial safety, the
potential hazards involved and strategies for mitigating these
risks to create a safer environment for personnel and plants.
The Role of Electric Assets in Industrial Safety
Electric assets in industrial facilities perform the vital role of
power distribution, ensuring that equipment receives the correct
voltage and current to operate ef昀椀ciently. These assets often
operate under high load conditions, and their failure can be very
disruptive and cause a sharp rise in safety risks. Typical causes
of failure include aging, improper maintenance, overloading and
environmental conditions.
Key Electric Asset Failures and Their Safety Implications
Electric asset failures pose signi昀椀cant risks to industrial operations, potentially leading to equipment damage, production
downtime, and safety hazards. Transformers, circuit breakers
and motors are critical components that must function reliably
to ensure smooth operations.
Transformer failures: A malfunctioning transformer can cause
voltage imbalances, overheating, and rupturing (or occasionally explosions) that, in turn, endanger personnel and damage
surrounding infrastructure. Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) is a
preventive tool that detects early signs of transformer faults,
helping owners address issues before catastrophic failures
occur.
Circuit breaker malfunctions: Circuit breakers are critical for
isolating faulty circuits and preventing overloads. A malfunctioning circuit breaker may fail to trip, allowing unsafe electrical
conditions to persist, leading to 昀椀res or equipment damage.
Regular testing and calibration ensure that breakers function as
designed in emergencies.
90000258
Motor failures: Motors used in industrial equipment are prone
to overheating, bearing failures and insulation breakdowns.
A motor failure can halt production, but more critically, it can
create 昀椀re hazards or cause mechanical failures in connected
machinery, risking the safety of nearby personnel.
Harmonics are often created by power electronics devices in
power inverters, chargers and variable frequency drives (VFD)
for electric motors. Harmonics can stress electric equipment
further, including heating in transformers (a typical cause of
premature failure). Monitoring harmonics to ensure they remain
below the levels described in IEEE.519-2014 will help avoid
unforeseen failures and outages.
Strategies to Enhance Safety Through Asset Management
Electric assets must be carefully monitored, maintained and
managed to ensure industrial safety. Some key strategies
include:
Monitoring technologies: Real-time monitoring systems such
as online DGA (for transformers), infrared thermography and
vibration analysis can provide critical insights into equipment
health. These technologies help operators identify problems in
electric assets early, reducing the risk of failure and improving
overall safety.
Regular inspections and testing: Regular testing of equipment
like circuit breakers, transformers and protective relays is crucial to ensure they function correctly in an emergency. Routine
visual inspections can also identify potential safety hazards like
exposed wiring, corrosion and leaks.
Electrical safety training: Training personnel on electrical safety, properly handling electric assets and recognizing warning
signs of failure is vital. Well-trained teams are better equipped
to handle emergencies and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Arc-昀氀ash mitigation systems: Installing arc-昀氀ash detection and
suppression systems in high-risk areas can limit the severity of
arc-昀氀ash events. This reduces both the risk of injury to workers
and damage to equipment.
pg.53
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