BEIJING: On June 19, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Co in Ningxia Hui autonomous region kicked off the washing of substations, aiming to enhance the safety operation of the substation equipment through professional cleaning and prevent accidents caused by pollution flashovers.

This work mainly targeted seven 220-kilovolt (kV) substations and six 110-kV substations within Shizuishan, totaling 81 220-kV intervals, 144 110-kV intervals, 16 220-kV main transformers, and 16 110-kV main transformers.

These equipment intervals have been in operation for a long time, with some equipment surfaces accumulating a significant amount of dust and dirt, which has had a certain impact on the stable operation of the power grid.

The commissioning periods of these seven 220-kV substations range from 2000 to 2016, with an average service time exceeding seven years.

Among them are important substations such as Buqiao 220-kV and Changsheng 220-kV. These substations bear the important task of regional power supply, and their safe and stable operation directly affects the electricity safety and economic development of the surrounding areas.

Additionally, this work also covered six 110-kV substations commissioned between 1991 and 2009, with all of them having been in operation for more than 14 years, resulting in more severe accumulation of dirt on the equipment surfaces.

In substation equipment, insulators are crucial components directly related to the insulation performance and operational safety of the equipment.

However, due to long-term exposure to the natural environment, insulator surfaces easily accumulate a large amount of dust and metal particles.

In rainy or humid conditions, these contaminants may cause pollution flashovers on the insulators, leading to equipment failure and posing a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of the power grid.

Therefore, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company decided to conduct comprehensive live washing of these substations to remove contaminants from the insulator surfaces, improve the insulation performance of the equipment, and enhance safety in operation.

This live washing work is targeted at areas with pollution levels reaching grade E. These areas, due to harsh environmental conditions and severe pollution, have more severe contamination on the surfaces of substation equipment.

To ensure the effectiveness and safety of the work, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company has developed detailed work plans and safety measures.

Before officially starting the work, the company organised professional personnel to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the substation equipment to ensure that the equipment is in normal operating condition.

Additionally, professional high-pressure water guns, cleaning solutions, and other equipment and materials have been provided to ensure the quality and efficiency of the cleaning work.

At the live washing work site, State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company strictly adhered to safety operating procedures and work standards.

Workers wore professional protective equipment to ensure their safety. During the cleaning process, they used high-pressure water guns to thoroughly clean the insulator surfaces and adjust the concentration of the cleaning solution and the intensity of the washing according to the actual conditions.

 - China Daily