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Substation Operations & Maintenance
Courses or Certificate

Get the training you need to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of your substation operations. Whether you are a novice or a journeyman who is new to the substation environment, these Substation Operations Courses will give you the skills to make a positive impact in your organization and in your career.

EITI has been delivering some of the world’s best industry training since 1991. Having helped power companies achieve some of the best safety ratings in the industry, EITI is sought-after to deliver training throughout North America and around the world. If you want to be assured of following industry best practices, then look no further than EITI.

FORMAT:

Classroom Training program:

  • Certificate Program: 2 week, full-time program (Mon-Fri; 8-4:30)
  • Selected Courses Only: choose from four 2-3 days courses.
  • Also see other Substation Courses on our page on Journeyman Courses and contact info@eiti.us for more information.

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

With a focus on creating real results, EITI programs include both classroom and practical training. Meeting and exceeding all applicable regulations and standards, EITI programs emphasize safety and productivity.

Course content includes:

Schematic Reading & Troubleshooting

This 2-day course is also part of the complete Substation Operations Certificate.

    • Read and interpret basic drawings

      • Read and interpret motor control schematics and wiring diagrams.
      • Read and interpret circuit breaker control schematics and wiring diagrams.
      • Read and interpret motor-operated disconnect switch control schematic and wiring diagrams.
      • Topics include PLCs and batteries.

    • Read and interpret advanced drawings

      • Identify major components of the power station control and protection system.
      • Read and interpret schematic diagrams for a mimic push button control board.
      • Read and interpret schematic diagrams for control system interposing.
      • Read and interpret schematic diagrams for control system interfacing.
      • Read and interpret schematic diagrams for complex circuit breaker controls.
Protection Skills

This 3-day course is also part of the complete Substation Operations Certificate.

    • Worker Protection Grounding and Bonding

      • Define worker protection grounding and bonding.
      • Explain principles that apply to worker protection grounding and bonding.
      • Explain the reasons for applying grounding and bonding techniques.
      • Explain how the application of grounding and bonding techniques protects workers .
      • Understand the various types and sizes of safety grounds.
      • Explain the factors related to shock.
      • Explain the effects of electric current on the human body.
      • Explain why Parallel Resistance occurs.
      • Explain the principles of Induction.
      • Identify the causes of accidental energization.
      • Identify factors involved in Step and Touch Potential.
      • Understand the hazards associated with improper grounding technique and how to minimize risks.
      • Describe principles on limits of approach, safety protection, work area, auxiliary isolation, and potential testing.
      • Use Appropriate Safety Protection Guarantees.
      • Establish/Identify the Work Area.
      • Ensure Auxiliary Isolation.
      • Test for Potential.
      • Establish Worker Protection Grounding and Bonding.
      • Establish Worker Control.
      • Understand applicable installation methods.
      • Apply Grounding and Bonding procedures.
      • Identify and work within Ground Grid areas.
      • Choose and maintain Ground Leads.
      • Identify and use Ground Clamps.
      • Apply other grounding methods.
      • Understand substation grounding.

    • Protection Relaying for Substations

      • Describe the electrical power system.
      • Describe frequency and power control.
      • Describe voltage and var control.
      • Describe basic relay elements.
      • Describe elements of protection.
      • Define key protection terms.
      • Describe target schemes and limitations.
      • Describe CO-relay based protection.
      • Describe CO-relay based feeder-bus protection.
      • Describe SEL feeder and feeder-bus protection.
      • Describe transmission line fault locating.
      • Describe methods of locating line faults.
      • Interpret targets and alarms for transformers.
      • Interpret targets and alarms for shunt reactors.
      • Interpret targets and alarms for bus protection.
      • Understand generation, high voltage bus, transformer, transmission and distribution line protection.
      • Analyze target and alarms for generators, transmission and distribution line faults, and for bus protection.
High Voltage Safety and Operations

This 2-day course is also part of the complete Substation Operations Certificate.

    • Limits of Approach

      • Describe the limits of approach methodology to energized equipment.
      • Identify conducting or energized parts of equipment.
      • Use laser measuring tool to measure LOA distances.
      • Describe how to use the Hilti PD4 Laser measuring tool to measure distances from high voltage conductors.
      • Describe the limits of approach methodology to energized equipment.
      • Explain how to determine voltages.
      • Identify conducting or energized parts of equipment.
      • Use measuring methods for high voltage conductors.
      • Identify work area barrier installation requirements and identify proper set-up.
      • Describe how to use various tools to measure distances from high voltage conductors.
      • Apply acquired skills in practical scenarios.

    • Grounding


    • Live Line Tools

      • Define “hot sticks".
      • Explain the meanings of “potential", “safe working distances", and “minimum clearance" as they apply to hot sticks and hot stick safety.
      • Recognize some of the basic types of hot sticks and hot stick accessories used for transmission line maintenance.
      • Explain the purpose of the coating on hot sticks.
      • Demonstrate and explain the basic requirements for inspecting and storing hot sticks.
      • About Live Line tools and voltage markers.
      • The importance of field care of LL tools.
      • How to perform field care on LL tools.
      • What cleaners & waxes to use.
      • Placement of voltage markers.
      • Test intervals for LL tools & equipment.

    • Ops and Switching


    • Lockout

      • Describe the implications of due diligence.
      • Understand duties and responsibilities of a supervisor.
      • Understand when to lockout .
      • Identify energy sources.
      • Understand the differences between lockout and tagout.
      • Demonstrate knowledge of supplies for personal lockout.
      • Define authorized and affected employees.
      • Understand requirements for training and annual review.
      • Explain Arc Flash Safety.
      • Describe industry’s best practices for preventing injury while maintaining or testing electrical or mechanical equipment.
      • Understand procedures for controlling hazardous energy and protecting themselves and others from sustaining injury.

    • Arc Flash Hazard

      • Describe what is arc flash.
      • Understand arc flash safety.
      • Explain an electrical shock.
      • Understand physiological effects of arc flash exposure.
      • Explain required personal protective equipment and clothing.
      • Describe the potential ways of reducing arc flash hazards and control workplace hazards.

Substation Equipment

This 3-day course is also part of the complete Substation Operations Certificate.

    • Power Transformers

      • List the main components of a transformer, and discuss the function of each part.
      • Explain how a transformer fulfills the three requirements for electromagnetic induction.
      • Describe how a transformer’s turns ratio determines the difference between its primary and secondary voltage.
      • Identify power transformers, current transformers, and potential transformers.
      • Describe the purpose of power transformer cooling systems.
      • Recognize and identify a self-cooled power transformer, and describe how its cooling system works.
      • Recognize and identify a self-cooled/forced-air-cooled power transformer, and describe how its cooling system works.
      • Recognize and identify a forced-oil/forced-air-cooled power transformer, and describe how the cooling system works.
      • Identify and describe the functions of temperature gauges and level gauges on a power transformer.
      • State the purpose of power transformer sealing systems.
      • Recognize and identify gas-sealed and conservator-type sealed power transformers.
      • Describe how sealing systems work.
      • Recognize and identify a conservator-type sealed power transformer that has an airbag in the conservator, and describe how its sealing system works.
      • Recognize and identify a gas/oil-sealed power transformer, and describe how its sealing system works.

    • Circuit Breakers

      • Discuss the two main functions of circuit breakers.
      • Explain why it is important to extinguish arcs quickly.
      • Discuss the roles of speed, distance, cooling, dielectric strength, and current zero in extinguishing arcs.
      • Identify the dielectric mediums that are commonly used in circuit breakers to extinguish arcs.
      • Describe the main arc extinguishing features of an air-magnetic circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in an air-magnetic circuit breaker.
      • Describe the main arc extinguishing features of an air-blast circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in an air-blast circuit breaker.
      • Describe the arc extinguishing features of an oil circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in an oil circuit breaker.
      • Describe the arc extinguishing features of a vacuum circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in a vacuum circuit breaker.
      • Describe the arc extinguishing features of a gas-blast circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in a gas-blast circuit breaker.
      • Describe the arc extinguishing features in a gas-puffer circuit breaker.
      • Explain how an arc is extinguished in a gas-puffer circuit breaker.
      • Describe the main features of a solenoid operating mechanism.
      • Explain how a solenoid operating mechanism opens and closes circuit breaker contacts.
      • Describe the main features of a motor/spring operating mechanism.
      • Explain how a motor/spring operating mechanism opens and closes circuit breaker contacts.
      • Describe the main features of a pneumatic operating mechanism.
      • Explain how a pneumatic operating mechanism opens and closes circuit breaker contacts.
      • Describe the main features of a hydraulic operating mechanism.
      • Explain how a hydraulic operating mechanism opens and closes circuit breaker contacts.
      • Identify typical metal clad switchgear components
      • Explain typical breaker control features
      • Describe circuit breaker semaphores
      • Explain safe operation of metal clad switchgear
      • Explain breaker “Racking" technique
      • Describe Metal clad switchgear grounding
      • Explain typical maintenance of metal clad
      • Explain safety around metal clad switchgear
      • Describe metal clad accessories

    • Voltage Regulators

      • Overview of the Step Voltage Regulator.
      • Basic Transformer Principles.
      • Basic Step Voltage Regulator Components.
      • Additional Components.
      • Step Voltage Regulator Construction.
      • Describe why voltage regulation is needed in a transmission and distribution system.
      • Principles of Voltage Regulation.
      • Step Voltage Regulator Control Equipment.
      • Line Drop Compensation.
      • Describe voltage regulator controls, and explain how each of these controls operates.
      • Switching Arrangements.
      • Switching Sequence Overview.
      • Switching Procedure.
      • Result of a Break in the “SL" Conductor.

    • Capacitors and Reactors

      • Describe maintenance tasks performed on substation capacitor banks.
      • Identify common problems when inspecting substation capacitor banks.
      • Describe how to safely remove individual capacitors and capacitor fuses.
      • Describe special precautions when handling capacitors containing PCB’s.
      • Describe how to test the integrity of the internal resistor of a substation capacitor.
      • Describe how to test the integrity of the insulators of a substation capacitor.
      • Describe several methods for checking the capacitance of substation capacitors.
      • Describe how to check the balance of a substation capacitor bank.
      • Identify and describe two basic types of substation shunt reactors.
      • Identify common problems to look for when visually inspecting a substation oil insulated shunt reactor and an air-core shunt reactor.
      • Describe how to safely de-energize, isolate, test, and ground a shunt reactor.
      • Describe how to test the insulation resistance of a substation shunt reactor.
      • State the function of a substation series reactor and describe how a series reactor operates.

    • Series Reactors

      • State the function of a substation series reactor and describe how a series reactor operates


PROGRAM LOCATION

This program is only available through a hosting facility, partnering educational institution or sponsoring employer.


PRE-REQUISITE:

  • Students should have an aptitude for mechanical, technical and computer skills.
  • Students wishing to take the Protection Skills course only should have the ability to read prints and schematics.


CERTIFICATION

Students must successfully complete the program with a grade of 70% or higher to receive Gold Seal Certification.



 

 

For more detailed information, contact EITI.