Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

1) Scope: 

1.1) Descriptor 

This Competency Standard Unit covers the procedure in evaluating power system incidents by following a process of downloading event and disturbance record information from protection relays. This includes interpreting such items as, alarms, relay targets, relay settings, event records, disturbance records and sequence of events records. It also encompasses the evaluation and or investigation of relay operation, relay schemes functionality and relay settings.

Application of the Unit 

2) 

This competency standards unit is intended to apply to any recognised development program that leads to the acquisition of a formal award at AQF level 6 or higher.

License to practice 

3)  

The skills and knowledge described in this unit may require a licence/registration to practice in the work place subject to regulations for undertaking of electrical work. Practice in workplace and during training is also subject to regulations directly related to Occupational Health and Safety, electricity/telecommunications/gas/water industry safety and compliance, industrial relations, environmental protection, anti discrimination and training. Commonwealth, State/Territory or Local Government legislation and regulations may exist that limits the age of operating certain equipment.

Prerequisite Unit(s) 

4)  

Competencies 

4.1) 

Granting of competency in this unit shall be made only after competency in the following unit(s) has/have been confirmed.

Where pre-requisite pathways have been identified. All competencies in the Common Unit Group must be have been completed plus all the competencies in one (1) of the identified Pathway Unit Group(s):

Common Unit Group

Unit Code

Unit Title

UEENEED104A

Use engineering applications software on personal computers

UEENEEE101A

Apply Occupational Health and Safety regulations, codes and practices in the workplace

UEENEEE102A

Fabricate, assemble and dismantle utilities industry components

UEENEEE104A

Solve problems in d.c. Circuits

UEENEEE107A

Use drawings, diagrams, schedules, standards, codes and specifications

UEENEEE124A

Compile and produce an energy sector detailed report

UEENEEE125A

Provide engineering solutions for problems in complex multiple path circuits problems

UEENEEE126A

Provide solutions to basic engineering computational problems

UEENEEG101A

Solve problems in electromagnetic devices and related circuits

UEENEEG102A

Solve problems in electromagnetic devices and related circuits

UEENEEG149A

Provide engineering solutions to problems in complex polyphase power circuits

UETTDREL11A

Apply sustainable energy and environmental procedures

UETTDREL16A

Working safely near live electrical apparatus

UETTDRIS62A

Implement and monitor the power system organisational OHS policies, procedures and programs

UETTDRIS63A

Implement and monitor the power system environmental and sustainable energy management policies and procedures

Literacy and numeracy skills 

4.2)  

Participants are best equipped to achieve this unit if they have reading, writing and numeracy skills indicated by the following scales. Description of each scale is given in Volume 2, Part 3 “Literacy and Numeracy”

Reading

5

Writing

5

Numeracy

5

Employability Skills 

5)  

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.

6)  Elements describe the essential outcomes of a competency standard unit

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Plan for the evaluation of power system events

1.1

OHS practices/procedures and Environmental and sustainable energy procedures, which may influence the evaluation of power system failures, are reviewed and determined.

1.2

Purpose of the evaluation of power system events, are established after data is analysed and expected outcomes of the work are confirmed with the appropriate personnel.

1.3

Organisational established procedures on policies and specifications for the evaluation of power system failures are obtained or established with the appropriate personnel.

1.4

Testing procedures are discussed with/directed to the appropriate personnel in order to ascertain the project brief.

1.5

Testing parameters are established from organisational established procedures on policies and specifications.

1.6

Equipment/tools and personal protective equipment are selected based on specified Performance Criteria and established procedures.

1.7

Work roles and tasks are allocated according to requirements and individuals’ competencies.

1.8

Work is prioritised and sequenced for the most efficient/effective outcome, completed within an acceptable timeframe to a quality standard and in accordance with established procedures.

1.9

Liaison and communication issues with other/authorised personnel, authorities, clients and land owners are resolved and activities coordinated to carry out work.

1.10

Risk control measures are identified, prioritised and evaluated against the work schedule.

1.11

Relevant work permits are secured to coordinate the performance of work according to requirements and/or established procedures.

2

Carry out the evaluation of power system events

2.1

Circuit/systems modelling is used to evaluate alternative proposals as per established procedures.

2.2

OHS and sustainable energy principles, functionality and practices to reduce the incidents of accidents and minimise waste are incorporated into the project in accordance with requirements and/or established procedures.

2.3

Following evaluation of power system events, decisions are made on the basis of safety and effective outcomes according to requirements and/or established procedures.

2.4

Mathematical and /or engineering models of the evaluation of power system events are used to analyse the effectiveness of the finished project as per requirements and established procedures.

2.5

Technical advice is given regarding potential hazards, safety risks and control measures so that monitoring and preventative action can be undertaken and/or appropriate authorities consulted, where necessary, in accordance with requirements and established procedures.

2.6

Essential knowledge and associated skills are applied to analyse specific data and compare it with compliance specifications to ensure completion of the project within an agreed timeframe according to requirements.

2.7

Testing of power system is undertaken according to requirements and established procedures.

2.8

Work teams/groups are arranged/coordinated/evaluated to ensure planned goals are met according to established procedures.

2.9

Solutions to non-routine problems are identified and actioned, using acquired essential knowledge and associated skills, according to requirements.

2.10

Quality of work is monitored against personal performance agreement and/or established organisational and professional standards.

2.11

Strategic plans are developed incorporating organisation initiatives as per established procedures.

3

Complete the evaluation of power system events

3.1

Final evaluation of all relevant data pertaining to the power system event is undertaken to ensure the recommendations comply with all requirements and include all specifications and documentations needed to complete the project.

3.2

Appropriate personnel are notified of completion and reports and/or completion documents are finalised/commissioned.

3.3

Reports and/or completion documents are submitted to relevant personnel/organisations for approval and, where applicable, statutory or regulatory approval.

3.4

Approved copies of the evaluation of power system event documents are issues and records are updated in accordance with established procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

8)  Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills (EKAS): This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of conducting evaluation of power system faults within a substation.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

KS01-TTS23A Power system substation faults evaluation

Evidence shall show an understanding of power system substation faults evaluation to an extent indicated by the following aspects:

T1 OHS enterprise responsibilities encompassing:

• Provisions of relevant health and safety legislation
• Principles and practice of effective occupational health and safety management
• Management arrangements relating to regulatory compliance
• Enterprise hazards and risks, control measures and relevant expertise required
• Characteristics and composition of workforce and their impact on occupational health and safety management
• Relevance of enterprise management systems to occupational health and safety management
• Analysis of working environment and design of appropriate occupational health and safety management systems
• Analysis of relevant data and evaluation of occupational health and safety system effectiveness
• Assess resources to establish and maintain occupational health and safety management systems.

T2 Power distribution network documentation encompassing:

• Requirements for the use of manuals, system diagrams/plans and drawings and for plans such as work method statements for the control of OHS risks
• Types and application of power distribution network documentation drawings and documents - wiring and schematic diagrams, drawings and switching symbols, mechanical drawings dealing with the power distribution network, project charts, schedules, graphs, technical manuals and catalogues, instruction/worksheets sheets.
• Interpretation of different diagrams and documentation on LV and HV systems - overhead distribution extensions, underground distribution extensions, distribution substation, street lighting system

T3 Measurements and the interpretation and analysis of those measurements related to the plant and/or equipment type encompassing:

• Type of measurements - timing, current, voltage, capacitance, inductance, impedance, phase angle, phase shift, resistance, dielectric dissipation factor, frequency, polarisation index, ratio, vector group, temperature
• Interpretation and analysis the use of techniques - digital comparison of data, extrapolation, use of graphs and charts, statistics and tables, mathematical calculation of expected values and comparison with manufacturers data and measurements
• Techniques in the processes involved in follow-up actions and recommendations resulting from analysis and interpretation of results and measurements.

T4 System components and layouts encompassing:

• Distribution system layouts - overhead/underground, urban/rural, HV customers, high rise building systems, three phase lines, single phase lines, SWER systems, spur, parallel and ring systems, typical substation types.
• Transmission system layouts - lines, buses, transformers and cables, line/bus layouts including single, double, ring and breaker and half systems, HV crossing methods.

T5 Calculation of fault levels encompassing:

• Calculation of fault levels in symmetrical and asymmetrical fault conditions - types of faults, interconnected and radial systems, symmetrical components, representation of voltages and currents, sequence impedances of system plant, calculation/determination of sequence impedance networks, determination of operative sequence impedances, fault or arc impedances, first approximation techniques
• Interrupting device capabilities - determination of fault current breaking capability and let through energy capability of fuses and circuit breakers, DC offset and transient condition effects

T6 Protection system types encompassing:

• Requirements of a protection scheme - relationship to primary system design, purpose of protection, safety of persons, protection of plant, system instability, system break up, loss of customers, loss of revenue, protection zones, restricted schemes, unrestricted schemes, duplicate protection, local backup protection, remote backup protection, selectivity, discrimination, stability, sensitivity, reliability
• Components of a protection scheme - current transformers, potential transformers, summation current transformers, interposing transformers, multitapped transformers, all-or-nothing relays, induction relays, balanced beam relays, directional relays, biased relays, solid state relays, microprocessor based relays, gas relays, thermal sensors, hardwired communication, powerline carriers systems, microwave systems, fibre optic systems, need for isolation, need for interfacing
• Protection applied to buses - overload, differential, earth leakage, structure leakage, combined schemes, protection overlap
• Protection applied to transformers - biased differential, gas, winding temperature, oil temperature
• Protection applied to single/radial lines - overcurrent, earth leakage, slow earth leakage, distance, auto reclose, sectionalising, over voltage
• Protection applied to interconnected lines - overcurrent, pilot wire, directional, directional overcurrent, current differential, phase comparison, current comparison, distance, impedance, admittance, offset

T7 Detailed operation and setting of discrete protection systems encompassing:

• Earth fault protection - master earth leakage schemes, sensitive earth fault relays and schemes, residual earth fault scheme, core balance earth fault scheme, frame/structure earth leakage scheme, time graded discrimination, backup protection
• Overcurrent protection - feeder overcurrent protection, instantaneous overcurrent schemes, inverse timed overcurrent schemes, types and location of components of an overcurrent scheme, CT summation, time graded discrimination, backup protection
• Alarms and controls - auxiliary relays, voltage regulating relays, line drop compensation, gas relay types, gas relay scheme operation and setting, over temperature schemes

T8 Detailed operation of interdependent protection systems encompassing:

• Overcurrent and earth leakage schemes including intertripping, interlocking and blocking - logic mapping, master control, electromechanical, electronic, shading coils
• Pilot wire, phase comparison - opposed voltage schemes, circulating current schemes, location of components of a scheme, pilot supervisory techniques,
• Load shedding, voltage control, parallel operation, load rejection
• Busbar Protection and CB failure protection
• Reclose systems - applications, single shot, multishot, blocking schemes, synchronisation checking.

T9 Detailed operation of complex protection systems encompassing:

• Distance - characteristics, electromechanical, electronic, impedance, mho, offset mho, switched schemes, non-switched schemes, blocking schemes, bus zone
• Differential, transformer differential, bus overcurrent - principles, feeder protection, transformer protection, bias systems, harmonic restraint, CT connections, bus protection, low impedance schemes, high impedance schemes, bus overcurrent schemes, generator protection, CT connections, special considerations, digital systems
• Types of revenue metering
• Applications of SCADA
• Complex protection systems for communications
• Harmonic control
• Point on wave switching

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

9)  This provides essential advice for assessment of the unit of competency and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria and the Range Statement of the unit of competency and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this Competency Standard Unit and shall be used in conjunction with all component parts of this unit and, performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment 

9.1) 

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry’s preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with Industry and, Regulatory policy in this regard.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Hence, sources of evidence need to be ‘rich’ in nature so as to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal every day work have a bearing on the decision as to how much and how detailed the data gathered will contribute to its ‘richness’. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practiced. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

9.2) 

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each element and associated Performance Criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the “Assessment Guidelines – UET12”. Evidence shall also comprise:

• A representative body of Performance Criteria demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

• Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and
• Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and
• Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit to such an extent that the learner’s performance outcome is reported in accordance with the preferred approach; namely a percentile graded result, where required by the regulated environment; and
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of employability skills; and

• Conduct work observing the relevant Anti discrimination legislation, regulations, policies and workplace procedures; and

• Demonstrated performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

Range of tools/equipment/materials/procedures/workplaces/other variables 

Group No 

The minimum number of items on which skill is to be demonstrated 

Item List 

A

Demonstration of at least two (2) downloads from protection relays or recording equipment from each of the following:

Relay panel

Remote location

B

Development of five (5) evaluation reports on power system events including the following:

Interpretation of targets in a substation

Interpretation of fault reports

Interpretation of downloaded event data

Development of valid conclusions and recommendations.

C

At least one occasion

Dealing with an unplanned event by drawing on essential knowledge and associated skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in the holistic assessment with the above listed items.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

9.3) 

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

• OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.
• Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual evaluation of power system events.
• Operational access to relevant plant, protection equipment, event data, scheme drawings and specialised testing equipment

In addition to the resources listed above, in Context of and specific resources for assessment, evidence should show demonstrated competency working at realistic heights above ground i.e. above 3 metres, in limited spaces, with different structural/construction types and method and in a variety of environments.

Method of assessment 

9.4) 

This Competency Standard Unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 “Assessment Guidelines”.

Note:

Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Transmission, Distribution and Rail Traction Industry. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and associated skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units 

9.5) 

There are no concurrent assessment recommendations for this unit.

RANGE STATEMENT 

10)  This relates to the unit of competency as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the Performance Criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

This Competency Standard Unit shall be demonstrated in relation to evaluating power system events that effect substation equipment and may include the following: secondary equipment, feeder outage, disturbance recorders, alarms, transformers, circuit breakers, DC supplies, SCADA and busbars.

The following constants and variables included in the element/Performance Criteria in this unit are fully described in the Definitions Section 1 of this volume and form an integral part of the Range Statement of this unit:

• Appropriate and relevant persons (see Personnel)
• Appropriate authorities
• Appropriate work platform
• Assessing risk
• Assessment
• Authorisation
• Confined space
• Diagnostic, testing and restoration
• Documenting detail work events, record keeping and or storage of information
• Drawings and specifications
• Emergency
• Environmental and sustainable energy procedures
• Environmental legislation
• Environmental management documentation
• Established procedures
• Fall prevention
• Hazards
• Identifying hazards
• Inspect
• Legislation
• MSDS
• Notification
• OHS practices
• OHS issues
• Permits and/or permits to work
• Personnel
• Quality assurance systems
• Requirements
• Testing procedures
• Work clearance systems

Competency Field 

11)  

Testing Units