How do you monitor and diagnose transient and surge problems in electric grids?

1 Causes of transients and surges

Transients and surges can have various sources, such as lightning strikes, switching operations, faults, load changes, harmonics, or electromagnetic interference. Some of these are external to the grid, while others are internal or related to the grid components and configuration. Depending on the magnitude, duration, and frequency of the transients and surges, they can have different impacts on the grid performance and stability.

2 Effects of transients and surges

Transients and surges can cause a range of problems for the grid, such as insulation breakdown, equipment failure, overheating, arcing, sparking, fire, noise, communication errors, data loss, or power quality degradation. These problems can affect the reliability, safety, efficiency, and economy of the grid, as well as the customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance. Transients and surges can also trigger protective devices, such as circuit breakers, fuses, or relays, to isolate the affected sections of the grid, which can lead to cascading failures or blackouts.

4 Monitoring of transients and surges

To monitor the transients and surges in the grid, you need to use appropriate measurement and analysis tools that can capture and record the fast and complex phenomena. Some of the tools that can help you monitor the transients and surges are oscilloscopes, power analyzers, power quality meters, transient recorders, or fault locators. These tools can provide you with valuable information about the characteristics, location, and frequency of the transients and surges, as well as their sources and effects.

5 Diagnosis of transients and surges

To diagnose transients and surges in the grid, a systematic and logical approach is necessary to identify and isolate the root causes and consequences of the problems. This process should involve reviewing the grid configuration, operation, and history; collecting and analyzing the data from monitoring tools; comparing the data with standards and specifications; identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies; correlating the data with events and incidents; performing tests and simulations; and verifying and validating the findings and recommendations.

6 Tips and best practices

To monitor and diagnose the transients and surges in the grid effectively and efficiently, you should use suitable and calibrated tools for the measurement and analysis, while adhering to safety and security protocols. It is also important to coordinate with the grid operators and stakeholders, document and report the results and actions, as well as update and improve the grid design, protection, and mitigation systems. Additionally, educating and training the grid personnel and customers is an essential part of this process.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?