A substation Technician performs predictive, preventative and corrective maintenance, and operation of equipment in distribution, transmission and generation station facilities.

The focus is on implementing the Association’s reliability centered maintenance program and on data collection analysis and trending involved in predictive maintenance.

A substation technician is a member of a skilled technical team, including other substation and generation technical personnel, individuals in this position will install, commission, maintain, and evaluate for maintenance all types of Substation equipment. In addition, these individuals will assist other technical personnel in the performance of their duties.

Report To:

A substation Technician will report directly to the Senior Substation Technician

Common duties include but not limited to

Qualifications:

•           An S4

•           B-Tech in Electrical Engineering

•           National Diploma in Electrical Engineering

•           1 – 2 years substation experience

Other Requirements:

Valid Driver’s license

Must be able to work overtime and outside of normal working hours

May be required to work out of town for extended periods of time

Special Skills and Abilities:

•           Ability to use a wide range of testing equipment and to fully understand the associated safety requirements.

•           Ability to set and test protective relays and repair switchgear controls.

•           Ability to accurately and clearly document information in forms and to prepare reports.

•           Good interpersonal and communication skills

Duties and responsibilities:

• Operates and maintains substations; tests oil from circuit breakers, voltage regulators and

Transformers.

• Checks, operates and maintains mechanical and electrical parts in the circuit

breakers, voltage regulators, control panels, and transformers

• Operates and maintains substation controls, alarm points; performs new wiring of substations
• Keeps accurate logs on all substations and relaying.
• Operates and maintains the Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS)
• Utilizes CEMS data for operation of gas turbine generation equipment in compliance with

applicable local, state, and federal regulations; maintains CEMS database, and prepares

for submittal by the Department to the applicable regulatory agencies all reports and

submittals required by air quality permits.

• Tests protective relaying systems; trouble shoots, diagnoses, and repairs problems found.
• Installs, operates, and maintains protective relaying for power systems; installs, operates,

maintains, and wires switch gear equipment for transfer of power.

• Installs, maintains, repairs, troubleshoots and programs the PLC’s (Programmable Logic

Controllers) used in the electrical and water systems.

• Participates in substation switching procedures during planned and emergency repairs and

outages.

• Routinely inspects substations and battery installations and records observations and

makes necessary repairs and corrections. Uses laptop for inspection to track trends within

transformers and regulators.

• Has working knowledge of filter press in adding or filtering oil in transformers, OCB’s

and regulators.

• Installs, maintains and trouble shoots SCADA system.
• Responds to requests from other City Departments on a “when available basis” to

maintain or install basic electrical systems and equipment when request is coordinated

through Generation/Substation Lead worker.

• Installs, inspects, operates, and maintains Murray City Power Department generation

units including gas turbine/generators, and hydro-electric turbine/generators, and all

associated equipment and facilities.

• Provides regular operation and maintenance of power equipment; repairs electrical wiring

on power equipment; checks and repairs ignition systems.

• Trouble shoots and diagnoses problems during emergency shutdowns; may perform

overhaul work on generation equipment as appropriate to level of training.

Site Engineer

Job description

Site engineers perform a technical, organizational and supervisory role on construction projects, including setting out roads, drains, sewers and structures involved in construction operations.

Site engineers apply designs and plans to mark out the site and can be involved in projects ranging from small scale to multi-million Rand projects. This may include civil, road, rail, electrical and other infrastructure projects.

A site engineer works as part of the site management team liaising with and working alongside architects, engineers, construction managers, supervisors, planners, surveyors and subcontractors. They share responsibility for site security, health and safety, and the organization and supervision of material and human resources.

Typical work activities

Typical work activities include:

• Driving entire site team
• Managing Entire Construction Site
• Controlling quality on site
• Checking Health and Safety on Site
• acting as the main technical adviser on a construction site for subcontractors
• setting out, leveling and surveying the site;
• checking plans, drawings and quantities for accuracy of calculations;
• ensuring all materials used and work performed are as per specifications;
• overseeing the selection and requisition of materials and plant;
• agreeing on a price for materials, and making cost-effective solutions and proposals for the intended project;
• managing, monitoring and interpreting the contract design documents supplied by the client/architect;
• liaising with any consultants, sub-contractors, supervisors, planners, quantity surveyors and the general workforce involved in the project;
• liaising with the local authority to ensure compliance with local construction regulations and by-laws;
• liaising with clients and their representatives (architects, engineers and surveyors), including attending regular meetings to keep them informed of progress;
• day-to-day management of the site, including supervising and monitoring the site labour force and the work of any subcontractors;
• planning the work and efficiently organizing the plant and site facilities in order to meet agreed deadlines;
• overseeing quality control, health and safety matters on site;
• preparing reports as required
• resolving any unexpected technical difficulties, and other problems that may arise.

Typical Qualifications:

BSc/BEng/BTech/NDip Civil Engineering/Project Management
2-5 years relevant experience

Must think creatively and quickly

Hands on

A Power Station Commissioning Electrical Engineer does the following when being involved in the construction of a new Power Station:
They oversee all commissioning activities and the start up of equipment and plant. The commissioning engineer will also be responsible for analysing commissioning procedures and instructions. They will need to identify who should be involved in a range of Engineering tasks, verifying the availability of test equipment and technical pre-requisites and ensuring that commissioning can commence at the appropriate time. They will also perform tests on equipment to ensure the full commissioning of the system, detect risks, and suggest adapted solutions. The commissioning engineer will ensure that safety and environmental conditions are met.

HV Commissioning staff are responsible for verifying that a plant is functionally operational & fit to be connected to the electricity network by applying best safety, operation & engineering practice and standards.
HV Commissioning teams are geared up to meet the primary substation work programme

The Role of a Commissioning Engineer/Technician

Assessment of site safety prior to engaging in commissioning activities & to coordinate own work schedule with the Person In Charge of Works as appropriate.
Commissioning primary, secondary & peripheral plant forming part of Transmission / Distribution substations which to be connected to the electricity network.
Commissioning testing of instrument transformers, power transformers & HV switchgear.
Commissioning testing of protection relays
Functional verification of protection scheme designs & compliance to approved design standards.
Coordinate, plan, & deliver allocated commissioning projects
A commissioning engineer will reflect company values & policies when interacting with fellow staff members or when dealing with the Client on site
To share ones experience in the ongoing development of safe & best practice commissioning protocols where identified.
A good commissioning engineer will share knowledge & competencies within a team structure.

Common Requirements For Commissioning Engineers:
Formal qualification (Degree/Diploma or Trade) in Electrical Engineering
Minimum of 3-7 years Post Grad experience relevant in the Power Transmission & Distribution or Power Generation industry.
Knowledge & experience of  Electrical Safety Rules & procedures.
Knowledge & experience of operations procedures & operation of primary substations
Thorough knowledge of schematics, cubicle wiring & functional testing
Experience of pre-commissioning cubicles and substation plant
Working knowledge of digital relays and software
Appreciation of test equipment.
Conceptual understanding of the design & operating mechanism of Power Plant i.e. power transformers, CT’s , VT’s, circuit breakers.
Familiarity with typical protection philosophies as applied to Transmission and Distribution Networks
Commissioning Engineers usually require computer literacy including Microsoft Office.
Proven ability to assess site safety prior to engaging in commissioning activities and to coordinate own work schedule with the Person In Charge of Works and System Manager as appropriate.
Self-motivated and capable of working on their own initiative without direct supervision
Work well with other team members and actively participate in achieving the team’s targets
Good written and verbal communications skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Able to organise, plan & monitor all aspects of the work
Have a logical, yet imaginative approach to problem solving
Demonstrating the ability to make quality decisions & judgments
Prepared to take the responsibility for developing other members of staff
The ability to accept responsibility and be able to show a high level of commitment & flexibility.

HV Commissioning Engineers/Technician

A Power Station Commissioning Electrical Engineer does the following when being involved in the construction of a new Power Station:
They oversee all commissioning activities and the start up of equipment and plant. The commissioning engineer will also be responsible for analysing commissioning procedures and instructions. They will need to identify who should be involved in a range of Engineering tasks, verifying the availability of test equipment and technical pre-requisites and ensuring that commissioning can commence at the appropriate time. They will also perform tests on equipment to ensure the full commissioning of the system, detect risks, and suggest adapted solutions. The commissioning engineer will ensure that safety and environmental conditions are met.

HV Commissioning staff are responsible for verifying that a plant is functionally operational & fit to be connected to the electricity network by applying best safety, operation & engineering practice and standards.
HV Commissioning teams are geared up to meet the primary substation work programme

The Role of a Commissioning Engineer/Technician

Assessment of site safety prior to engaging in commissioning activities & to coordinate own work schedule with the Person In Charge of Works as appropriate.
Commissioning primary, secondary & peripheral plant forming part of Transmission / Distribution substations which to be connected to the electricity network.
Commissioning testing of instrument transformers, power transformers & HV switchgear.
Commissioning testing of protection relays
Functional verification of protection scheme designs & compliance to approved design standards.
Coordinate, plan, & deliver allocated commissioning projects
A commissioning engineer will reflect company values & policies when interacting with fellow staff members or when dealing with the Client on site
To share ones experience in the ongoing development of safe & best practice commissioning protocols where identified.
A good commissioning engineer will share knowledge & competencies within a team structure.

Common Requirements For Commissioning Engineers:
Formal qualification (Degree/Diploma or Trade) in Electrical Engineering
Minimum of 3-7 years Post Grad experience relevant in the Power Transmission & Distribution or Power Generation industry.
Knowledge & experience of  Electrical Safety Rules & procedures.
Knowledge & experience of operations procedures & operation of primary substations
Thorough knowledge of schematics, cubicle wiring & functional testing
Experience of pre-commissioning cubicles and substation plant
Working knowledge of digital relays and software
Appreciation of test equipment.
Conceptual understanding of the design & operating mechanism of Power Plant i.e. power transformers, CT’s , VT’s, circuit breakers.
Familiarity with typical protection philosophies as applied to Transmission and Distribution Networks
Commissioning Engineers usually require computer literacy including Microsoft Office.
Proven ability to assess site safety prior to engaging in commissioning activities and to coordinate own work schedule with the Person In Charge of Works and System Manager as appropriate.
Self-motivated and capable of working on their own initiative without direct supervision
Work well with other team members and actively participate in achieving the team’s targets
Good written and verbal communications skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Able to organise, plan & monitor all aspects of the work
Have a logical, yet imaginative approach to problem solving
Demonstrating the ability to make quality decisions & judgments
Prepared to take the responsibility for developing other members of staff
The ability to accept responsibility and be able to show a high level of commitment & flexibility.

Commissioning engineers are usually given a live-out allowance as they are based on the site where they work and may be away from home for certain periods of time. Commissioning engineers may do a lot of travelling from site to site, depending on where they work.

Important skills: General management skills, human relations, communication skills, deligation and time management.

A facility designed to produce electric energy from another form of energy, such as fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, and wind.

A power generation plant is a facility designed to produce electric energy from another form of energy, such as:

• Heat (thermal) energy generated from:
  • fossil fuels;
    • coal
    • petroleum
    • natural gas
  • solar thermal energy
  • geothermal energy
  • nuclear energy
• Potential energy from falling water in a hydroelectric facility
• Wind energy
• Solar electric from solar (photovoltaic) cells
• Chemical energy from:
  • fuel cells
  • batteries

There are many different types of electric power generating plants. The major types generating electric power today are shown below.

Power generation to transmission

Wind generation

Here are the different ways to use biomass energy:
Biofuels
Fuel your vehicle with ethanol or biodiesel.
Biopower
Buy clean electricity generated from biomass.
Bioproducts
Use products, like plastics, made from biomass.

Biofuels
Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels—biofuels—for use in our vehicles. The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Ethanol
Ethanol—an alcohol—is currently made primarily from the starch in corn grain. It’s most commonly used as an additive for petroleum-based fuels to reduce toxic air emissions and increase octane. Today, roughly half of the gasoline sold in the United States includes 5%–10% ethanol.
Ethanol is also available as an alternative fuel. E-85 is an alternative fuel blend containing 83% ethanol in the summer and 70% ethanol in the winter. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have corrosion-resistant fuel systems and other modest modifications to accommodate either E-85 or regular gasoline.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil and sunflower seed. Its use is currently relatively small, but its benefits to air quality are quite dramatic.
You can also visit sites like Biodiesel Centre and Biodiesel SA for more information about biodiesel in South Africa.

Biomass Energy or Biopower
Biomass electrical generation or biopower is second only to hydropower as a renewable energy source.
Most electricity generated using biomass today is by direct combustion using conventional boilers. These boilers burn primarily waste wood products generated by the agriculture and wood-processing industries. When burned, the wood waste produces steam, which is used to spin a turbine. The spinning turbine activates a generator that produces electricity. Many coal-fired power plants also add biomass to their coal-burning process (i.e., co-firing) to reduce the emissions produced by burning the coal.
Biomass can also be gasified prior to combustion. Gases generally burn cleaner and more efficiently than solids, which allows removal of toxic materials. Gasification also makes it possible to use biomass in combined-cycle gas turbines, such as used in the latest natural gas power plants. Using gasification, these natural gas power plants can achieve much higher efficiencies. Small modular biomass gasification systems are well suited for providing isolated communities with electricity.
In addition, the decay of biomass in landfills produces gas (primarily methane) naturally, which can be harvested and burned in a boiler to produce steam for generating electricity.

Bioproducts
Whatever products we can make from fossil fuels, we can make using biomass. These bioproducts, or biobased products, are not only made from renewable sources, they also often require less energy to produce than petroleum-based products.

Researchers have discovered that the process for making biofuels also can be used to make antifreeze, plastics, glues, artificial sweeteners, and gel for toothpaste.

Other important building blocks for biobased products include carbon monoxide and hydrogen. When biomass is heated with a small amount of oxygen present, these two gases are produced in abundance. Scientists call this mixture biosynthesis gas. Biosynthesis gas can be used to make plastics and acids, which can be used in making photographic films, textiles, and synthetic fabrics.
When biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen, it forms pyrolysis oil. A chemical called phenol can be extracted from pyrolysis oil. Phenol is used to make wood adhesives, molded plastic, and foam insulation.

In the future, you may see biorefineries—much like petroleum refineries—producing not only biofuels but also a variety of bioproducts. These biorefineries could also generate electricity, for their own use and for possible sale, as well as their own process heat.

Biomass energy. (click on link)
Using biofuels for your vehicle, buying clean electricity and products created from biomass, and heating with wood and pellets.

Geothermal energy.
To heat and cool your home, in some countries you can buy clean electricity from geothermal power plants, green power.

The Earth’s heat, which constantly flows outward from its core, provides an enormous source of energy called geothermal energy.  This could be a rich source for future renewable energy

Hydrogen.
Hydrogen and fuel cells can provide energy, another sources for green power.

Hydrogen—a colorless and odorless gas—is the most abundant element in the universe. However, because it combines easily with other elements, it’s rarely found by itself in nature. Hydrogen usually combines with other elements, forming organic compounds called hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons include plant material and fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Water is produced during the burning of any hydrocarbon.

Hydrogen can be separated from hydrocarbons through the application of heat—a process known as reforming. Currently, most hydrogen is made this way from natural gas. An electrical current can also be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is known as electrolysis.

Currently, hydrogen has great potential as a power source for fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells can provide heat for homes and buildings, generate electricity, and power vehicles.

Hydrogen can also join electricity as an important energy carrier. An energy carrier moves and delivers energy in a usable form to consumers.

Hydropower.
Energy from flowing water can be converted to electricity, this source of green power has been around for a long time. Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydropower or hydroelectric power.

Ocean energy.
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. As the world’s largest solar collectors, oceans generate thermal energy from the sun. They also produce mechanical energy from the tides and waves. Even though the sun affects all ocean activity, the gravitational pull of the moon primarily drives the tides, and the wind powers the ocean waves.

Solar energy.
Solar energy can be used for heat, electricity, and light.  Step outside on a hot, sunny day, and you’ll experience the power of the sun’s heat and the light. That’s solar energy.

You can use solar energy to do the following:

• Heat your home through passive solar design or an active solar heating system
• Generate your own electricity
• Heat water in your home or swimming pool
• Light your home both indoors and outdoors
• Dry your clothes. Use a clothesline to reduce the energy consumed by your clothes dryer.

Wind energy.
Wind can be used to generate electricity and pump water.  We have harnessed the wind’s energy for hundreds of years—from windmills that pump water or grind grain to today’s wind turbines that generate electricity.

If you live on at least one acre of land with an ample wind resource, you can generate your own electricity using a small wind electric system. You can also use a small wind turbine for pumping water.

You may have the opportunity now or in the future to buy clean electricity from a wind power plant

The types of transmission lines are:

• Overhead Transmission Lines
• Subtransmission Lines
• Underground Transmission Lines

Overhead AC Transmission Lines

Overhead AC transmission lines share one characteristic; they carry 3-phase current. The voltages vary according to the particular grid system they belong to. Transmission voltages vary from 69 kv up to 765 kv. The following are examples of different overhead transmission line structures in use today. The DC voltage transmission tower has lines in pairs rather than in threes (for 3-phase current) as in AC voltage lines. One line is the positive current line and the other is the negative current line.

Some typica transmission line structures

Transmission Lines

Woodtower Transmission Lines

Transmission Lines

Subtransmission Lines

Subtransmission lines carry voltages reduced from the major transmission line system. Typically, 34.5 kv to 69 kv, this power is sent to regional distribution substations. Sometimes the subtransmission voltage is tapped along the way for use in industrial or large commercial operations. Some utilities categorize these as transmission lines.

Subtransmission Pole

Description

Wooden Transmission Lines

Underground Transmission Lines

Underground transmission lines are more common in populated areas. They may be buried with no protection, or placed in conduit, trenches, or tunnels.

Transmission lines are installed in a tunnel,which enables many circuits in a limited area.

From Power Generation to Consumer

Power Generation Plants

Substations

• Step-up Transmission Substation
• Step-down Transmission Substation
• Distribution Substation
• Underground Distribution Substation
• Substation Functions
• Substation Equipment

Transmission Lines

• Overhead Transmission Lines
• Subtransmission Lines
• Underground Transmission Lines

Distribution Systems

• Industrial Customer
• Commercial Customer
• Residential Customer
• Transportation Customer

Underground Distribution Substation

An underground system may consist of these parts:

• Conduits
• Duct Runs
• Manholes
• High-Voltage Underground Cables
• Transformer Vault
• Riser
• Transformers

Conduits:

Duct

Duct 2

Conduits are hollow tubes running from manhole to manhole in an underground transmission or distribution system. They can contain one or more ducts (See Duct Runs). They can be made of plastic (PVC), fibreglass, fibre, tile, concrete, or steel. PVC and fibreglass are most commonly used.

Duct runs:

Duct runs are hollow tubes running from manhole to manhole inside a conduit in an underground system. They are of various sizes usually from 2 to 6 inches in diameter. Electrical cables are run through ducts and the ducts are sized accordingly. The diameter of a duct should be at least 1/2 to 3/4 inch greater than the diameter of the cable(s) installed in the duct. They can be made of plastic (PVC), fibreglass, fibre, tile, concrete, or steel. PVC and fibreglass are most commonly used.

Manhole:

A manhole is the opening in the underground duct system which houses cables splices and which cable men enter to pull in cable and to make splices and tests. Also called a splicing chamber or cable vault.

High-Voltage Underground Cables:

High-Voltage underground cables are constructed in many different ways, but are usually shielded cables. They are made with a conductor, conductor-strand shielding, insulation, semi-conducting insulation shielding, metallic insulation shielding, and a sheath. The sheath can be metallic and may then serve as the metallic insulation shielding and be covered with a nonmetallic jacket to protect the sheath. This sheath helps to reduce or eliminate  inductive reactance. Such cables are commonly used in circuits operating at 2400 volts or higher.

High Voltage Cables

High Voltage Cables 2

Transformer Vault:

Underground Transformer Vault

A  transformer vault is a structure or room in which power transformers, network protectors, voltage regulators, circuit breakers, meters, etc. are housed.

Riser:

A riser is a set of devices that connects an overhead line to an underground line. A riser has a conduit from the ground up the pole where potheads are used to connect to the overhead lines.

Riser 1

Riser 2

Underground Transformer:

An underground transformer is essentially the same as an aboveground transformer, but is constructed for the particular needs of underground installation. Vault type, pad-mounted, submersible, and direct-buried transformers are used in underground systems. Pad-mounted transformers are installed on a concrete pad on the surface near the end-user.

From here the power is distributed to industrial, commercial, and residential customers.