International Conference on Condition Monitoring, Diagnosis and Maintenance CMDM 2011

171
Criticality Indices for Lines and Substations

Lus Campos Pinto*

REN Rede Elctrica
Nacional
Portugal

Jorge Casaca
REN Rede Elctrica
Nacional
Portugal

SUMMARY
Regulatory factors and limited financial resources in companies are posing new
challenges to the asset management of electricity transmission grids.
In order to be able to distinguish priorities in implementing policies and strategies for line and
substation maintenance, based on the importance and condition of assets, REN Rede
Elctrica Nacional, S.A., concessionaire in Portugal of the electricity transmission grid (400,
220 and 150 kV), developed a method, based on the evaluation of a diverse set of criteria.
The document describes in detail, in separate chapters (one for lines and another for
substations), the method used in determining the criticality indices for those two types of
infrastructures.
With the application of this method we can assign a criticality index for each line circuit or a
substation, whose calculation is based on the evaluation of a set of criteria covering the
importance of the asset within the system, operational safety, environmental conditions and
age.
After a detailed description of each criterion, as well as their individual influence on the final
result, the document presents examples applied to line circuits and substations.

KEYWORDS
Criticality, importance, condition, asset management, strategies for maintenance,
prioritizing interventions, transmission, line circuit, substation.
INTRODUCTION
The present scenario of the electricity sector, with ongoing deregulation and increased
competition, along with an increasingly demanding legislation on the quality of the "product"
electricity, imposes on utilities, in particular to maintenance managers, the reduction of
operating costs and, simultaneously, the requirement of high levels of availability of the
various elements that constitute an electricity transmission grid.
*campospinto@ren.pt

The Direction of Operation and Maintenance of REN Rede Elctrica Nacional, SA, is
responsible for local operation and maintenance of the infrastructure (substations and lines) of
the National Transmission Grid (RNT) and has as its primary mission to establish policies and
maintenance strategies that suit at all times the business performance desired by REN.

The calculation of criticality indices of lines and substations, whose methodology this paper
deals with, is part of a series of studies that the Direction of Operation and Maintenance is
developing to ensure, in the short term, to be able to establish a maintenance policy based on
the analysis strategies supported on the importance and condition of facilities and equipment.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NATIONAL TRANSMISSION GRID (RNT)

In electricity, REN is the concessionaire of the National Transmission Grid (RNT) in
mainland Portugal, whose business includes the planning, construction, operation and
maintenance of the transmission grid, as well as the technical management of the national
electricity system. REN has the responsibility of programming and real-time control of the
balance between supply and demand. In its mission is also the programming of international
trade in energy, management and resolution mechanisms for congestion on the
interconnections.

A. Lindoso
V.Nova A.Rabago

V.Furnas

Vila Fria

Miranda

T.A. Fafe

V. P. Aguiar
Mogadouro

Bemposta

Lagoaa
Torro

Valeira

Rgua

(Aldeadvila)

Valdigem
8

1 - Maia

Picote

Guimares
Riba d'Ave
3

M. Cavaleiros

Caniada

Ruives
1
2

PORTO

Chaves

Frades
Salamonde

Oleiros
Pedralva

Pocinho

Carrapatelo

C.T.Outeiro

(Saucelle)

Tabuao

2 - Vermoim
3 - Urr
Bodiosa

Estarreja

4 - Custias
5 - Ermesinde

Chafariz

Mourisca

6 - Recarei
7 - Prelada (60kV) Paraimo
8 - Canelas

Mogofores

Aguieira

Vila Ch

Tbua

Ferro

Penamacor

Pereiros
P.Serra

C .Lares

Gardunha

Lavos

Pombal

C abril

Penela

C.Branco

Bou
Corgas

Batalha
(Cedillo)

C .Bode

Zzere

Fratel

Falagueira
Pego
Rio Maior

Santarm

Carvoeira

LEGENDA

C.Ribatejo

Carregado

Fanhes

C .Carregado

RNT - Dezembro de 2009

A.Mira

F.Ferro
2 - Carriche

400 kV

Palmela

67

220 kV
150 kV

vora

Linhas

C .Setbal

Setbal

Simples
M.Pedra

3 - Sete Rios

(Brovales)

4 - Zambujal (60kV)
Alqueva

5 - Trafaria
6 - Fogueteiro
7 - Seixal
8 - Lusosider

Tenses

Porto Alto

LISBOA

Estremoz

2
Trajouce

1 - Sacavm

Despite being a small country, Portugal has a large

continental climatic diversity between north, south,
coast and interior. The north has high levels of rainfall.
As we move south the rainfall decreases. The same
goes from west to east. In summer, the countryside,
especially the south, has a warm, dry weather.

(Cartelle)

Mendoiro

Espanha

As of January 1st , 2010, the National Transmission

Grid was comprised of the following assets: 59
substations and 12 switching stations; 221 line circuits
with a total length of 7527 km, of which 1609 km of
400 kV, 3248 km of 220kV (42 km of underground
cable) and 2670 km of 150kV. Were also part of the
RNT, 139 transformers and 29 autotransformers,
completing 17.534MVA of transformation capacity and
10.476 MVA of autotransformation capacity. The total
number of circuit bays accounted for 1.184, of which
125 of 400kV, 304 of 220kV, 240 of 150kV and 515 of
60kV [1].

C.Petrogal

Dupla
Dupla com 1
terno equipado

F.Alentejo

Centrais

E.Sado

Sines

Hdrica

C.Sines

9 - Q. Anjo

Trmica
Ourique
Elica

Sabia

Subestao
Instalao de cliente

Portimo

Tunes

Estoi

FARO

Figure1 National Transmission Grid

From this climate variety, results a set of environmental and atmospheric factors that affects
the performance of the electricity grid. In center and north, due to the predominance of
vegetation, there is a higher incidence of forest fires and their influence on the overhead lines.
In the south, due to the low rainfall, especially in the summer, there are problems of pollution,
with serious consequences, in the presence of fog or mist. In what regards to lightning, they
occur all over the country with the highest incidence within the interior. On the other hand, in
the vicinity of rivers Tejo, Mondego, Vouga and Sado, there are large colonies of birds (white
stork) that tend to nest in the towers of high voltage lines. Overhead lines for its geographical
dispersion and the characteristics of such miscellaneous lands where they are located, are
more prone to the action of all these environmental and atmospheric agents. Therefore, it is
2

not surprising that in 2009, 91% of incidents with repercussion on RNT were originated in
lines.
Figure 2 illustrates the weight of environmental and atmospheric factors in the performance of
the national grid, through the average number of permanent interruptions (interruption time
equal to or greater than 60 seconds) per 100 km circuit line at each voltage level in the last 10
years [1].

Figure 2 Average number of permanent interruptions per 100km of circuit in the period 2000 to 2009

REN has been taking precautionary measures, with positive results in mitigating the impacts
of the external agents, including birds (storks), pollution associated with mist and fog and
vegetation in the range of overhead lines or adjacent areas. Consequently, birds, fires and
pollution no longer have as much impact on the network as in the past, however they are still
areas of concern.

METHODOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The criticality of each line circuit or substation is assessed by an index, expressed as a
percentage, which is called Criticality Index.
In calculating this index were considered four major sets of criteria with which to characterize
the line circuits and substations, both from the standpoint of functional importance to the
transmission grid, or from the standpoint of environmental and climate aggressiveness they
may face, alongside with the state of operation, expressed in the present study only by age.
Finally, it was also considered the level of seriousness that any damage incurred to the
equipment of these facilities may result in people and properties.
The criticality index is the sum of unitary values of each criterion multiplied by the respective
weighting factors.
CRITICALITY INDICES FOR CIRCUIT LINES
In calculating the indices of criticality of line circuits were considered the criteria
listed in Table I.

TABLE I

Environmental/climatic
factors

Importance

Circuit
Lines

Annual average load

Severity of fortuitous outages
Clients / Producers /
Interconnections

Vegetation
Pollution
Lightning
Birds (storks)

Condition
(Age)
Age

Safety of
individuals
and
property
Safety of
individuals
and property

Where:

Annual average load: this magnitude reflects the lines importance in the

transmission grid;
Severity of fortuitous outages: this criterion reflects the impact that a fortuitous
outage of the line has in the remaining network elements;
Clients/producers/interconnections: quantifies the prioritization to provide to
the lines of which depends the connection to clients / significant producers, as
well as the prioritization of interconnection lines, given its importance for the
control frequency - power and overall system security;
Environmental and climatic factors: this criterion represents the greater or
lesser exposure of each line to environmental agents and adverse weather
conditions along its route. In overhead lines the factors to consider are the
crossing of highly wooded areas, pollution (with fog or mist), lightning and
storks;
Age: quantifies the priority of older lines maintenance and, therefore, potential
exposure to more failures;
Safety of individuals and property: level of severity that possible failures
occurred on the lines, could cause in goods and persons (mainly external to the
company).

In calculating the Criticality Index of line circuits is assigned to each parameter considered, a
weighting factor (W.F.), as shown in Table II.
TABLE II

W.P.

Annual

Severity of

Clients /

Environmental

average

fortuitous

Producers /

/climatic

load

outages

Interconnections

factors

37,5%

18,75%

18,75%

10%

Safety of
Age

individuals
and

TOTAL

property
5%

10%

100%

The Criticality Index is the sum of unitary values for each parameter multiplied by respective
weighting factors.

RESULTS
Table III presents some of the results obtained for line circuits (top and bottom of the
table and intermediate positions).
TABLE III
Pos.

Cod.

Acronym

Circuit

1
2
3

105
106

203
204
205

L4039
L4040
L4014

L2081
L2070

L1118
L2155
L2156

LFA.SN
LAV.FA
LRA.RR1

LPN.AAV
LVM.ED2

LCD.PDV2
LNC.FE
LCB.ZR1

F. Alentejo - Sines
Alqueva F. Alentejo
Riba DAve Recarei 1

Pocinho Aldea DAvila

Vermoim Ermesinde 2

Caniada Pedralva 2
Penamacor - Ferro
Castelo Bode Zzere 1

Voltage
level
(kV)
400
400
400

220
150

150
220
220

Area

Criticality
Index

South
South
North

North
North

Norte
Centre
Centre

54,38%
53,73%
53,64%

30,84%
30,83%

10,48%
9,98%
9,30%

On top of the ranking for the most critical circuits we found three circuits which constitute
important overhead lines of interconnection with the Spanish grid, the axis Sines - Alqueva Brovales (400kV) in the south and the axis Recarei - Alto Lindoso - Cartelle (400kV) in the
north. These circuits have high annual average load levels and play an important role in the
function of electric power transmission on RNT.
The line Alqueva - F. Alentejo has the highest lightning impacts rate for the whole grid. On
the other hand, the line F. Alentejo - Sines is one of the most affected by the white stork
nesting, containing 28 nests in 19 towers. In what concerns to the line Riba D'Ave - Recarei 1,
it is also "penalized" on the Safety of Individuals and Property - 47% of its spans are
classified as urban or mixed because of its ROW that cross densely populated areas.

3 Riba DAve Recarei 1 (53,64%)

2 Alqueva F. Alentejo (53,73%)

1 F. Alentejo - Sines (54,38%)

Figure 3 Location of the three line circuits with the highest criticality indices.
5

CRITILICATY INDICES FOR SUBSTATIONS AND SWITCHING STATIONS

In calculating the indices of criticality of installations were considered the following
criteria listed in Table IV.
TABLE IV

Importance
Annual average

Substations
and switching
stations

Environmental/
climatic factors
Pollution

transformed power (*)

Annual average transited
power
Reserve of transformation
capacity and assistance
by the distribution grid
from an adjacent injection
point from REN (*)
Importance of clients and
interconnections with
producers and / or
installations of REE

Condition
(Age)
Age

Safety of
individuals
and
property
Safety of
individuals
and property

(*) Not applicable to switching stations

Where:

Annual average transformed power - annual average power of transformation

(VHV / HV) and / or auto-transformation (VHV / VHV). Measures the importance of
installations as the use of auto-transformation and transformation installed, with
priority over those whose failure leads to a higher amount of energy not supplied
(transformation component VHV/HV);
Annual average transited power - Annual average power that transits in all busbars
of very high voltage (VHV) without going through the transformers (see Figure 4).
Measures the importance of an installation on a network basis in which it operates;
Transited power

Transformed power

Figure 4

Reserve of transformation capacity and assistance by the distribution grid from

an adjacent injection point from REN: evaluates the capacity to maintain energy
supplies in the event losing the most powerful unit, using the remaining units in
service and support through the distribution grid.
Importance of clients and interconnections with producers and / or installations
of REE: quantifies the prioritization of installations from which depends the power to
6

customers and / or interconnections with producers and installations of the Spanish

grid (REE);
Age: quantifies the priority to be given to older installations and therefore more
exposed to any failure;
Safety of individuals and property: level of severity that possible failures occurred
on the substation could cause in goods and persons (mainly external to the company);
Pollution: quantifies the prioritization of installations more exposed to chemical or
saline pollution.

In calculating the Criticality Index of installations, is assigned to each parameter considered, a

weighting factor (W.F.), as shown in Table V.
TABLE V
Reservation of
transformation
Safety of
Clients /
Transformed Transited and assistance
individuals
Producers /
Age
Pollution TOTAL
Power
Power
by the
and
Interconnections
distribution
property
grid
Substations
W.F.
20%
Switching
stations and
sectioning
n.a.
W.F.
n.a. not applicable

20%

15%

20%

5%

10%

10%

100%

40%

n.a.

35%

5%

10%

10%

100%

The Criticality Index is the sum of unitary values for each parameter multiplied by respective
weighting factors

RESULTS
Table VI presents some results for the RNTs substations (top and bottom of the table
and intermediate positions):
TABLE VI
Pos.

Acronym

Substation

1
2
3

29
30

57
58
59

SAM
SCG
SPM

SMC
STN

SETM
STBA
SVPA

Alto Mira
Carregado
Palmela

Mourisca
Tunes

Estremoz
Tbua
V. Pouca de Aguiar

Voltage
level (kV)
400/220/60
220/60
400/150

220/60
150/60

400/60
220/60
220/60

Area
South
South
South

North
North

South
Centre
North

Criticality
Index
66,97%
64,05%
60,48%

38,27%
38,15%

23,98%
22,79%
20,21%

At the top of the table of critical installations we found three substations in the Greater Lisbon
and Setbal peninsula areas: i) Alto Mira plays an important role in the delivery to the
distribution area of Lisbon, one of the areas with highest electricity consumption at a national
level; ii) Carregado is connected to an important VHV client, powered by a single circuit,
7

with an annual average power of 60 MW; iii) Palmela, although not playing the function of
delivery to distribution, is the installation with the highest installed capacity (400/150kV autotransformation) and is a major node of the RNT in the south. To justify the classification
obtained for these three installations, we have also their proximity to urban areas, and the
consequent impact on the safety of individuals and property in case of accidents, as well as
the pollution factor, considered strong in the case of Alto Mira and Palmela and very strong at
Carregado.
(Cartelle)

Mendoiro

A. Lindoso
V.Nova A.Rabago

V.Furnas

Vila Fria

Miranda

T.A. Fafe

V. P. Aguiar
Mogadouro

Riba d'Ave
Valeira

Rgua

(Aldeadvila)

Valdigem
8

1 - Maia

Bemposta

Lagoaa
Torro

Pocinho

Carrapatelo

C.T.Outeiro

2 Carregado Substation (64,05%)

Picote

Guimares

3
4

M. Cavaleiros

Caniada

Ruives
1
2

PORTO

Chaves

Frades
Salamonde

Oleiros
Pedralva

(Saucelle)

Tabuao

2 - Vermoim
3 - Urr
Bodiosa

Estarreja

4 - Custias
5 - Ermesinde

Chafariz

Mourisca

6 - Recarei
Paraimo
Mogofores

Aguieira

Vila Ch

Tbua

Ferro

Penamacor

Pereiros
P.Serra

C.Lares

Gardunha

Lavos

Pombal

Cabril

Penela

C.Branco

Bou
Corgas

Espanha

7 - Prelada (60kV)
8 - Canelas

1 Alto Mira Substation (66,97%)

Batalha
(Cedillo)

C.Bode

Zzere

Fratel

Falagueira
Pego
Rio Maior

Santarm

Carvoeira

LEGENDA

C.Ribatejo

Carregado

Fanhes

C.Carregado

RNT - Dezembro de 2009

A.Mira
2
Trajouce

F.Ferro
1 - Sacavm
2 - Carriche

67

400 kV

Palmela
8

220 kV
150 kV

vora

Linhas

C.Setbal

Setbal

Simples
M.Pedra

3 - Sete Rios

(Brovales)

4 - Zambujal (60kV)
Alqueva

5 - Trafaria
6 - Fogueteiro
7 - Seixal
8 - Lusosider

Tenses

Porto Alto

LISBOA

Estremoz

C.Petrogal

Dupla
Dupla com 1
terno equipado

F.Alentejo

Centrais

E.Sado

Sines

Hdrica

C.Sines

9 - Q. Anjo

Trmica
Ourique
Elica

Sabia

Subestao
Instalao de cliente

Portimo

Tunes

Estoi

FARO

3 Palmela Substation (60,48%)

Figure 5 Location of substations with the three highest levels criticality

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The criticality indices provide us with a basis for evaluating the criticality of the
infrastructures - lines and substations - belonging to an electricity transmission grid, being one
factor to take into account in future proposals for refurbishment / reconstruction of
installations, and wherever you want to differentiate maintenance priorities.
As further improvement, which is already under development, it is considered that the status
of the assets should be evaluated by one index of condition, and not only using age, in order
to evaluate in a comprehensive, and therefore more precise, manner the condition of the assets
- lines and substations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1]

REN, Relatrio da Qualidade de Servio 2009