ELECTRICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

01. What is the classification of hazardous area?

Hazardous area classified as Zone - 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Zone 0 an explosive gas-air mixture is present continuously or for long period.
Zone 1 an explosive gas-air mixture is present under normal operation.
Zone 2 an explosive gas-air mixture is not present under normal operation and
if it occurs it exist only for short time.
02. What type of protection is used in hazardous area?
Zone 0

Ex s (Specifically certified for used in Zone 0)

Zone 1

Any type of protection suitable for Zone 0 and Ex d, Ex I,

Ex p, Ex e.
Any type of protection suitable for Zone 0 and Zone 1 and
Ex N, Ex O, Ex q.

Zone 2

Ex d

Flame proof or Explosion proof

Ex e

Increased safety

Ex N or n

Non sparking

Ex I

Intrinsic Safety

Ex p

Pressurization

Ex O

Oil immersion

Ex q

Sand or Powder filled

Ex s

Special protection.

03. What is the definition of EExd IIB T5?

Ex d
Explosion
Proof

II B

Gas Group
II B

T5
Temperature
1000C

04. What are the different type of work permits? What precaution you take
while doing maintenance in equipments in Hazardous area?

Cold Work, Hot Work, Vehicle Entry & Vessel Entry permit. Interinsic Safe meters
only should be used such megger, vibration meter, temperature meter and other
ordinary meters shall not used unless the Hot Work Permit is obtained.
05. Explain IP 54, IP55 and IP65?

IP means degree of protection of the enclosures for electrical equipment in

accordance with the Electrical Standards. The first numeral: - protection against
solid bodies and the second numeral: - protection against liquids.
IP54: - 5 (indicate) Protected against dust (no harmful deposit) and
4 (indicate) Protected against projections of water from all directions
IP55: - The second 5 (indicate) Protected against jets of water from all directions
and IP65: -The first 6 (indicate) completely protected against dust.

06. Explain different Insulation classes and the corresponding temperature rise
allowed?

0900C,

1050C,

1200C,

1300C,

1550C,

1800C,

1800C

07. What are IR, WR, KWH, OLR, MCC, MCB, MCCB, VCB, BOCB and
SF6?

IR

Insulation Resistance

WR

Winding Resistance

KWH

Kilo Watt Hour

OLR

Over Load Relay

MCC

Motor Control Center

MCB

Miniature Circuit Breaker

MCCB

Moulded Case Circuit Breaker

VCB

Vacuum Circuit Breaker

BOCB

Bulk OIL Circuit Breaker

SF6

Sulfer-Hexa Floride

08. What is the gas group classification?

Methane

-I,

Propane

-IIA,

Ethylene

-IIB,

Hydrogen, Carbon disulphide and Acetylene -IIC

09. What is AVO meter?

A meter is used to measuring the electrical circuit and the value of current,
voltage and resistance is called AVO meter.

10. What is Bridge Megger? Where it is used?

Bridge Megger is used to measure the lowest value of resistances accurately and
it is used to measure the motor winding resistance and transformer winding
resistance during preventive maintenance. The winding resistance of the three
windings should be equal.

11. What is the unit of Voltage, Current, Speed, and Frequency?

Voltage

Volt

Current

Ampere

Speed

Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)

Frequency

Hertz

12. What are the different size of the cables?

0.75, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400,
600(Dimensions are in Square mm)

13. What are the Cables used in Oil Field?

PVC

Ploy Vinyl Chloride

XLPE

Cross Linked Poly Ethylene

LC

Lead covered

SWA

Steel wire armoured

PILC

Paper Insulated Lead Covered Cable

MICC

Mineral Insulated Copper Conductor

14. What is MICC? Where it is used? What mineral used for this cable?

Mineral Insulated Copper Conductor and it is used for fire alarm systems
and
Lightings systems at Hazardous area without using conduits and
Magnesium oxide is used as mineral.

15. Why Lead Covered Cables are used in Oil Fields?

Lead Covered Cables are used in Oil Fields due to avoid damages of
PVC insulation by hydro-carbon gases and chemical corrosion.

16. What is the use of cable gland?

Cable glands are used to protect from mechanical damage, to give earth
continuity and for entering in junction box, MCC etc.

17. How to check the cable fault?

Isolate the cable

Megger the cable

Trace the cable fault through cable fault locator and cable route through cable
route locator

If the cable resistance is high use the burnout test kit

Before cutting the cable use spiking gun for safety

18. What type of Cable gland used in Oil Field?

In explosion proof areas double compression glands are used to avoid the
gasses entering in the electrical apparatus.

19. What type of Cable joint kits used?

Cold Compound joint kits, Hot Compound joint kits and Heat
Shrinkable joint kits
20. Explain about Batteries, Voltage and Specific gravity of Cell?

Nickel Cadmium Batteries: - It is used in Refineries for its reliability, long life and
less maintenance. No need to deal with H2So4 dangerous.
Lead Acid Batteries: - It is also used but life is limited, maintenance costs are high
and handling H2So4 is too dangerous for its chemical concentration.
Nickel Cadmium Cell - 1.2 Volts, Sp. Gravity is 1200 in all conditions and Lead
Acid Cell - 2.1 Volts, Sp. Gravity is in Full charge 1280, Half charge 1240 and
Discharge - 1180

21. What will effect if you are connecting the batteries in Series and Parallel?

If the Batteries are connected in Series the voltage will be increase and the
Batteries are connected in Parallel the Current will be increase.

22. What is the maintenance procedure of Batteries?

Obtain the work permit

Clean the battery terminals and apply petroleum jelly

Check the voltage per cell

Check the specific gravity of electrolyte with hydrometer

Check the electrolyte level

Check the electrolyte temperature

Check the total cell voltage

Close the work permit.

23. What is constant current charging?

Charging method in which current does not appreciably change against battery
demand. Suitable for applications where a battery needs to be fully recharged in
the short time

24. How do you decide the boost charge current rate for given 100Ampere
-hour rating of battery?

C/5 for 7 Hours

C is Ampere Hour of battery
i.e. 100AH / 5 = 20 Amps.
So, Keep the battery for 7 hours charging at the charging current 20
Ampere

25. What is UPS? Draw its block diagram.

Uninterrupted Power Supply is very essential for petrochemical / processing

industries as all the controls are governed by the computer which determines the
operation under all condition.

UPS have Converter, Inverter, A V R, Battery Bank, Static switch and Bypass
Switch

The converter is feeding supply to the inverter

The battery bank connected in between converter and inverter

The static switch have supply on both end i.e. Converter supply and
A V R supply (Static switch is nothing - the two SCR is connected in opposite
direction)

The inverter is always taking the load, the converter fails to feed supply to the
inverter, it will work with the help of battery bank

If the inverter is fails to take the load, the A V R supply will take the load without
power interruption through the static switch

During the maintenance of UPS, changeover the load to standby supply by

using Bypass switch

26. What is constant potential charging?

Charging method where constant voltage is applied and charge current is

allowed to vary against battery demand. Usually the initial current is limited this
being classified as modified constant potential charging

27. Why the battery room is normally considered for Hazardous area
classification?

Because of Hydrogen evolution and it will come under gas group II C

28. How do you check the battery condition?

By conducting Discharge Test

29. What are the parts of motor?

Parts of motor are Stator, Rotor, Winding, Shaft, End shields, Fan, Fan Cover,
Terminal Box, Bearings, Bearing housings, Lifting hook and Pulley key

30. What is the maintenance procedure of motor?

To carry out preventive maintenance of motor, the following procedures should

be adopted:

Work Permit should be obtained

Tag Number of motor to be checked before power isolation

Starter feeder should be isolated and locked

Control circuit fuse and neutral link should be removed

Caution notice to be fixed on the feeder as well on the control station

31. How can you find a motor is good with using of Multimeter & Megger?

For good motor, the following value should be satisfied:

Insulation Resistance value should be acceptable by using the Megger between

winding to earth

Winding Resistance value should be equal on three windings by using the

Multimeter

33. What is the acceptable insulation value of motors?

Motor Voltage

Testing Voltage

Accepted IR Value

250 V

500 V

440 V

500V

1.5 Mega ohm

3.3 KV

1000V

4.5 Mega ohm

11 KV

1000 V

12 Mega ohm

34. What are the standard problems faced with motors?

Over load, Short circuit on motor winding, Single phasing, Loose connection of
power cables, Bearing problem and Vibration on a running motor

35. What are the protections provided for motors?

440 Volts Motors:

Over Load Relay, Single phasing preventer, Stalling Relay, Thermal Over Load
Relay and Earth Fault (Short-circuit) Relay
3300Volts and 11000Volts Motors:
Over Current Relay (Instantaneous), Thermal Over Current Relay, Stalling Relay,
Earth Fault Relay, Negative Sequence Relay and Temperature Relay

36. What are the parts of Transformer?

Primary and secondary terminal boxes

Transformer main tank

Primary winding

Secondary winding

Cooling radiator tubes

Conservator tank

Explosion vent and temperature sensor

Buccholz relay

37. What are the protections of Transformer?

Buccholz relay

Over current relay

Earth fault relay

Differential relay

Restricted earth fault relay

Temperature sensor

38. What is the maintenance procedure of Transformer?

Obtain the work permit

Transfer the load to other transformer (if provided) or isolate the load

Switch OFF the incoming supply of the transformer

Switch ON the Earth Switch on primary and secondary side

Physically clean the transformer

Check the insulation resistance of primary and secondary winding and check
the winding resistance
Check the Terminal tightness

Check the Earth connections of Transformer and measure the earth value

Collect the sample of Transformer Oil and carry out B.D.V. test

Controls to be cleaned with contact cleaner

Check the silica gel condition if it is pink color, it must be replaced

Check the HT and LT bushings for cracks

Switch OFF the Earth Switch on primary and secondary side

Switch ON the incoming supply of the transformer and give load

Close the work permit

39. What are the light fittings used in Gathering Centers & Booster Stations?

Incandescent lamp, Mercury high discharge lamp, Fluorescent lamp and Halogen
lamp fittings are used in Gathering Centers & Booster Stations and it certified by
BASEEFA

40. What is stroboscopic effect? How can you eliminate it?

In twin tube light set while glowing the lamp, ring will move one by one inside the
florescent tube this is called stroboscopic effect due to two chokes are
connected nearby. To eliminate this effect connect one capacitor in series with
one light circuit

41. What is the use of AVR in Generator?

The automatic voltage regulators are usually provided to maintain the generator
voltage reasonably constant in spite of the fluctuating load i.e. to increase the
voltage when the load is high and reduce the voltage when the load comes down

42. What are reasons to produce low voltage in Generators?

The following possible reasons to produce low voltage in Generators:

Loss of residual magnetism

Open circuit or loose connection in the exciter circuit also short circuited turns
in field windings

Reversed field windings

Open or short circuit in armature windings

Excessive contact resistance on commutator due to incorrect grade of brushes

or insufficient pressure of dirty commutator
Incorrect position of brush

43. What is use of Clip-on-meter?

The Tong Tester is called in other words as clip on meter. In this we can measure
the current flowing in the circuit in each phase for any unbalance if is noticed.
Can be used without breaking the circuit.

44. What are the conditions of synchronous between two Generators?

The following conditions should be satisfied before synchronous

generators

The frequency of both should be identical

The voltage of both must be same

The phase rotation in both machine should be same

Identical phase wire R, Y, B should be connected together al the exact instant

when there is zero phase difference between them

For satisfactory parallel operation the characteristics of the two machines

should be similar

45. How can you parallel two Power Transformers?

The following conditions to be checked for parallel operation of 2 transformers

Primary and Secondary Voltage must be same as check tap changer position

Frequency must be same

Phase sequence must be same

Impedance of both transformers must be same

Vector group of both transformers should be same

DOL STARTER POWER AND CONTROL DIAGRAM

DOL STARTER POWER AND CONTROL DIAGRAM

SYSTEM OF INSTRUMENT EARTHING

Instrument earthing system shall consist of the

following earth type:
Electrical earthing (also called dirty earthing or
Protective Earthing (PE))
Instrument earthing (also called Reference Earth
(RE))
Intrinsically safe earthing
Electrical earthing is used to protect the power system,
electrical equipment, and personnel from electric shock.

How to do an Electrical Earthing?

Armor of field instrument cable shall be terminated at
cable gland.
Armor of single and multi core cable going to junction
box shall be terminated at cable gland. If the junction box
made from metal, then it only needs to connect the earth
stud bolt to the nearest steel structure. If the junction box
made from non metal, the earth stud bolt will be located
at the metal gland plates which have direct contact with
the cable gland.
Armor of single and multi core cable going inside or
outside marshalling and system cabinet shall be
terminated and connected to a bus bar inside the cabinet.
Each bus bar inside the cabinet will be connected to a
grounding dispatcher by 35 mmsq cable (usually green
yellow stripped). This grounding dispatcher will collect all

connection from individual bus bar and then connect it to

a general electrical earth loop (to structure steel) by a 70
mmsq cable. In general used, the earth bus bar is made
from copper and has 1 width and height.

2.

Instrument earth

The general principle of instrument earth is all

individual shields (screen) and overall shield (screen) of
single or multi pair cable shall be isolated from electrical
earthing and terminated at different bus bar. This
instrument earth usually also called reference earth since
it serve the reference point of the instrument loop
(ground of internal electric circuit inside the instrument).
Individual shield (drain wire) of single pair cable shall
be terminated at earth or ground terminal block inside the
instrument enclosure.
Individual shield from analog single pair cable going
inside the junction box shall be terminated to terminal
block. Individual shield from digital single pair cable going
inside the junction box shall be terminated to terminal
block and jump out each other then connect it to bus bar.
Individual shield from multi pair cable going inside the
junction box shall be also terminated to terminal block
match with the individual shield from single pair cable.
Overall shield from multi pair analog cable going
inside the junction box shall be terminated to terminal
block or bus bar (overall shield at analog cable doesnt
have a pair with the shield from single pair cable). Overall
shield from multi pair digital cable going inside the
junction box shall be terminated to bus bar.

All individual and overall shields (screen) from multi

pair cable shall be terminated into respective instrument
earth bus bar at marshalling cabinet.
Instrument bus bar will be connected to grounding
dispatcher by 25 mmsq green-yellow stripped cable. From
grounding dispatcher, it will be connected to main
instrument earth loop by 70 mmsq green-yellow stripped
cable.

3.

Intrinsically safe earthing

Isolation and termination of IS field cable shields

(screen) at field devices, junction boxes and marshalling
cabinets shall be done in the same manner as for
instrument earth explained above. However the overall
shield (screen) of multi pair cable for IS signals goes to
marshalling cabinet shall be terminated individually and
connected to its IS bus bar. The individual shield (screen)
of this cable will be terminated directly to a galvanic
isolator and then connected to the respective IS bus bar.
The following maximum resistance limits shall be
achieved after the instrument earthing system installed.
This resistance is minimized as much as possible so the
ub-normal current can be safely grounded at steel
structure.
Between instrument earth bus bars and grounding
dispatcher not greater than 0.5 ohm.

Between electrical equipment frame and nearest

local stud earth on structural steel not greater than 1
ohm.
Between intrinsically safe installation and grounding
dispatcher not greater than 0.5 ohm.