Powering Reliability: Enhancing Consumer Energy Systems Through Double-Signal Transformer Protection Innovation

In 2020, ULTG X failed to achieve its Transformer Outage Frequency (TROF) target, recording six transformer disturbances compared to the target of four. Root cause analysis identified microswitch malfunctions in the Pressure Relief Device (PRD) mechanical relay and failures in the Buchholz-Jansen Relay as major contributors to these outages. This study aims to improve the reliability and stability of the power network by reducing transformer disturbances. A Root Cause Problem Solving (RCPS) approach was employed to determine the primary causes of failures and develop corrective actions through the implementation of a double-signal system on PRD relays. Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) was also conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed solution. The results demonstrate significant performance improvement, with transformer disturbances decreasing from six incidents in 2020 to only one incident in 2023, surpassing the target of two incidents. The double-signal innovation effectively minimized false relay operations, enhanced transformer protection reliability, and improved overall power system stability. The findings indicate that the proposed solution can be replicated across other operational units to mitigate future disturbances, improve utility performance, and strengthen grid reliability. Furthermore, enhanced system stability contributes to better service continuity and increased customer satisfaction.