Industry's call for provision of internal MCB for protection against fault and overload ignored
Updated: Sep 29, 2015 04:25:27pm
New Delhi, Sept 29 (KNN) At a time when the Modi government is focused on strengthening distribution network to achieve the goal of 24X7 power supply by 2018-19, standard-setting agencies are refusing to heed the call for changes to improve quality, robustness and security of distribution transformers which form the backbone of distribution system, apparently under pressure from unscrupulous vendors.
The committee set up to review technical specifications for transformers is resisting industry’s call for mandating provision for internal MCB to protect the equipment in the event of fault and overloading. This despite the fact that such a norm has served utilities well in foreign countries.
What has shocked the industry is that the panel, Committee-A, which is tasked with review of existing specifications for transformers, has not taken cognizance of industry’s views expressed in a recent seeking incorporation of the proposed change, provoking strong protests from the industry body ITMA.
Sources said ITMA (Indian Transformers Manufacturers’ Association) had proposed in the meeting that provision of internal MCB for protection of MCB against fault and overload be incorporated but that has apparently been ignored while finalising Minutes of the Meeting (MoM) for unknown reasons.
“The MoM does not reflect what transpired during the deliberations. It appears that efforts are being made to impose REC/CEA/PGCIL points of view which are totally retrogressive,” ITMA has written to the panel chief.
The specifications are being revisited in view of the planned procurement of transformers to meet the equipment requirement for electrification of over 18,000 villages under the Centre’s flagship Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna which is designed to achieve the objective of 24X7 power supply to rural consumers through separation of feeders.
Pointing out that procurement of transformers is to be done for installation in rural areas where there is a high risk of theft of external MCB by utility staff, which could in turn compromise safety and durability of transformers, ITMA has said the proposed change is necessary.
What is feeding confusion over this issue is silence of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which is mandated to frame guidelines for transformers. Those opposing provision for internal MCB are citing BIS norms to buttress their case, unfazed by the fact that the guidelines set out by the Central Electricity Authority do specify the need for in-built LT protection mechanism.
Significantly, blinded by the lure of hefty profits, majority of transformer manufacturers are using second hand CRGO steel which is available at just half the price in the international market but could drastically curtail life of the equipment. Apart from connivance of procurement officials, such vendors are also being helped by the utilities’ practice of taking supplies from the lowest bidder.
Commenting on the opposition to proposal from some vendors, ITMA has said, “In case some of the discoms/utilities are not subscribing to such a provision of Internal MCB, that is purely due to vested interests and also susceptible to abstraction of illegal supply by unscrupulous consumers in connivance with utilities staff for obvious gains . The application of external MCB can be easily by passed and also removed to be sold in the grey market by the utilities staff. Thus DTs are left to vagaries of overload and high temperature thereby hastening to its premature death/failure.” (KNN/NM)
The committee set up to review technical specifications for transformers is resisting industry’s call for mandating provision for internal MCB to protect the equipment in the event of fault and overloading. This despite the fact that such a norm has served utilities well in foreign countries.
What has shocked the industry is that the panel, Committee-A, which is tasked with review of existing specifications for transformers, has not taken cognizance of industry’s views expressed in a recent seeking incorporation of the proposed change, provoking strong protests from the industry body ITMA.
Sources said ITMA (Indian Transformers Manufacturers’ Association) had proposed in the meeting that provision of internal MCB for protection of MCB against fault and overload be incorporated but that has apparently been ignored while finalising Minutes of the Meeting (MoM) for unknown reasons.
“The MoM does not reflect what transpired during the deliberations. It appears that efforts are being made to impose REC/CEA/PGCIL points of view which are totally retrogressive,” ITMA has written to the panel chief.
The specifications are being revisited in view of the planned procurement of transformers to meet the equipment requirement for electrification of over 18,000 villages under the Centre’s flagship Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna which is designed to achieve the objective of 24X7 power supply to rural consumers through separation of feeders.
Pointing out that procurement of transformers is to be done for installation in rural areas where there is a high risk of theft of external MCB by utility staff, which could in turn compromise safety and durability of transformers, ITMA has said the proposed change is necessary.
What is feeding confusion over this issue is silence of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which is mandated to frame guidelines for transformers. Those opposing provision for internal MCB are citing BIS norms to buttress their case, unfazed by the fact that the guidelines set out by the Central Electricity Authority do specify the need for in-built LT protection mechanism.
Significantly, blinded by the lure of hefty profits, majority of transformer manufacturers are using second hand CRGO steel which is available at just half the price in the international market but could drastically curtail life of the equipment. Apart from connivance of procurement officials, such vendors are also being helped by the utilities’ practice of taking supplies from the lowest bidder.
Commenting on the opposition to proposal from some vendors, ITMA has said, “In case some of the discoms/utilities are not subscribing to such a provision of Internal MCB, that is purely due to vested interests and also susceptible to abstraction of illegal supply by unscrupulous consumers in connivance with utilities staff for obvious gains . The application of external MCB can be easily by passed and also removed to be sold in the grey market by the utilities staff. Thus DTs are left to vagaries of overload and high temperature thereby hastening to its premature death/failure.” (KNN/NM)
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