Grid in Jinchang Secures Uninterrupted Power Supply
Jinchang Power Grid, a leading power supplier, has made a groundbreaking achievement in the realm of power distribution network transformation. The company successfully completed the first "zero-power-outage" replacement of protection devices on a 10 kV line, marking a significant leap from conventional power-outage-based transformations to live-line operations [1].
This breakthrough was enabled by two core innovations: "full-process imperceptibility" and "full-protection parallel operation". These innovations ensured no fluctuations in telemetry data and no abnormal alarms during the device replacement, effectively eliminating the traditional need for a power outage that could last days and disrupt enterprise and residential activities [1].
To enable this leap, Jinchang’s Secondary Maintenance Team adopted a comprehensive preparatory approach. They traveled to regions with experience in non-power-outage protection upgrades (Qitai in Xinjiang and Ordos in Inner Mongolia) to learn best practices. Combining those insights with local conditions, they developed a detailed "sand table rehearsal + platform transfer" plan [1].
Key features of this preparatory and operational strategy included:
- Conducting multiple rounds (three) of sand table drills that simulated device configuration, channel switching, and risk scenarios such as protection refusal and misoperation to enhance operational security.
- Utilizing carefully rehearsed short power outage windows to switch channels and configure devices, which minimized any impact on the live system.
- Implementing full-protection parallel operation, allowing the new and old protection devices to run simultaneously in parallel before the old devices were fully replaced, ensuring continuous protection without interruption.
- Achieving full-process imperceptibility, meaning the entire replacement process was invisible in real-time telemetry and system alarms, which guaranteed stable and uninterrupted power delivery throughout.
The "zero error" of 16 secondary circuits provided a "double insurance" for the operation. Zhang Wenfei, deputy monitor of the Substation Operation Team, rechecked the wiring of the temporary protection platform one by one [1].
The Longkou Substation control room displayed "No fluctuation in telemetry data, zero abnormal alarm signals" during a live-line operation [1]. Jinchang Power Supply Company has mastered cutting-edge skills such as "hot swapping" of protection devices and imperceptible channel switching.
This pioneering approach represents a significant technological advancement in intelligent distribution network transformation and sets a new industry benchmark by moving from traditional outage-reliant upgrades to smooth, live-line operations [1]. The Longkou Substation transformation technology is a key step towards a "high-reliability distribution network".
Traditionally, protection device replacement requires a two-day power outage, affecting production and daily life. However, with this breakthrough, Jinchang Power Grid has demonstrated its commitment to minimizing disruptions and ensuring uninterrupted power supply [1].
[1] Source: Jinchang Power Grid Official Announcement, Date: [Insert Date]
- Jinchang Power Grid's groundbreaking achievement in power distribution network transformation, characterized by the use of "full-process imperceptibility" and "full-protection parallel operation," signifies a transition from traditional power-outage-based transformations to live-line operations, leveraging cutting-edge skills such as "hot swapping" and imperceptible channel switching.
- In the realm of science and technology, Jinchang Power Grid's pioneering approach to strategic planning for protection device replacement, including sand table rehearsals, platform transfers, and the implementation of full-protection parallel operation, is a significant technological advancement in intelligent distribution network transformation, and sets a new industry benchmark, reducing power outages from days to a minimum, ensuring minimal disruptions and maximizing uninterrupted power supply.
