Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

REPORT
ON
CEB EXPERIENCE

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
LAXAPANA POWER STATION
CEYLON ELECTRICITY BOARD
3RD SEPTEMBER 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1

PERSONAL DATA
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Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

INTRODUCTION

TIME AS THE SITE ENGINNER FOR MANNAR DISTRICT

TRAINIG AT POWER STATION

RESPONSIBLE EXPERIENCE
5.1. SITE ENGINEER AT UTHURU WASANTHAYA

5.1.1. SCOPE OF WORKS

5.1.2. ACHIEVEMENTS

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4.1.3.1. SPILLING OF MAUSSAKELLE RESERVOIR

5.1.3. OTHER EXPERIENCES

5.1.3.1. TESTING OF CONCRETE POLES

5.1.3.2. WAYLEAVES CLEARING

5.2. OPERATION ENGINNER AT LAXAPANA POWER STATION

5.2.1. SCOPE OF WORKS

5.1.1. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.3. MAJOR PROBLEMS AND CRITICAL DECISIONS ENCOUNTERED

5.3.1. EMERGENCY LINE SHIFT IN DEYATA KIRULA -2012

5.3.2.EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY FOR THE PERIYAMADU CAMP

5.3.3. CLEANING OF POLPITIYA INTAKE

5.3.4. WATER MANAGEMENT OF LAXAPANA COMPLEX

5.3.5 NEW LAXAPANA FAILED TO START ON 26

TH

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APRIL 2013

10

5.3.6.OLD LAXAPANA STAGE II MACHINES TRIP

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V.P.R. ARIYADASA

..
1.

Personal data

Name

V.P.R. Ariyadasa

E.P.F No

37982

Date of birth

20th October 1983

Nationality

Sir Lankan

Education

Bsc(Hons) in Electrical Engineering in 2008

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Membership of
Professional societies

Member of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka

Work Experience
July 2009

:
to date

Ceylon electricity board,

Electrical engineer

December 2008 July 2009

May 2008 December 2008

2.

Bank of Ceylon,
Electrical Engineer
Temporary Instructor,
University of Moratuwa

Introduction
I am pleased to submit this CEB experience report for the consideration of K3 interview

to be held in 4th September 2013 at the generation headquarters.

I was employed in Ceylon electricity board since 15th July 2009 and currently working as
the Operation Engineer at Laxapana Power Station. Before coming to the Generation Division I
worked as the Site Engineer for Mannar District in Uthuru Wasanthaya Electrification project
under Distribution Division Region 01.

Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

3. Time as the Site Engineer for Mannar District

I was posted to the Uthuru wasanthaya Northern Electrification Project as i joined with
CEB. I worked there for three and four months period conducting and supervising power line
construction works in Mannar District.
The Uthuru Wasanthaya Electrification Project is to achieve 100% electrification in
Northern Province by the end of 2013. The total cost is six billion rupees. Four site engineers
were appointed to five districts in order to carry out the power line construction works
effectively.
The electrification level was only 35% when the time of August 2009. A main 33KV backbone
line ( from Vavuniya ) was available to electrify Mannar town and few other towns on the way.
The land was contaminated by land mines and land clearing and resettlements were carried out.
Our main task was to coordinate with other government officials and to provide electricity facility
for the villages in which the resettlements were carried out.
Other than the normal construction works, duties like conducting scheme openings, material
test ( specially concrete pole testing ) were carried out during that period.

4. Training at Power Stations

I had to undergo three month of training period to get familiarized about the power
stations and duties in Laxapana complex.
Laxapana complex consist of five power stations named canyon, Wimalasurendra,
Samanala, New Laxapana and Old Laxapana power stations. The oldest power station in CEB
which was commissioned in 1950 was the Old Laxapana Power station. Consist of 3 number of
8.33MW generators (Now those were rehabilitated and improved to 9.5MW) in Stage I and 2
number of 12.5MW generators in stage II (1958). New Laxapana Power Station was
commissioned in 1974 with 107MW total capacity. Last year (2012) the New Laxapana Unit no.
01 was rehabilitated to 57MW generator. Altogether 160.5MW of power can be supplied to the
national grid at once. Pelton turbines are used in all of Old and New Laxapana.
Wimalasurendra Power Station commissioned in 1965 and having two number of 25MW
generators. Samanala Power Station which also called as Polpitiya power station was
commissioned in 1969 and having two numbers of 37.5MW generators. Canyon Power Station
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V.P.R. ARIYADASA

commissioned in 1983 and 1989 having two vertical fransis turbines with total of 60MW. The
total capacity of the Laxapana complex is 345 MW now.
Laxapana complex has two reservoirs called Catlereigh and Maussakelle and three ponds
called Norton, Canyon and Laxapana.

The power stations are in a cascaded system and

generation of one power station depends on the annual rainfall, machine outages and running
period of the other power stations. Therefore the operations of all the power stations are
interrelated and are carried out according to the system demand by communicating with system
control centre.
After the general training in the Hydro Power Station I trained in the Laxapana Power
Station as the Operation Engineer for about two months. The important areas that I covered in
this training period are:

General arrangement of Laxapana power station turbines, generators,

connecting transformers, switchyard, distribution feeders etc.

Machine & transformer capacities of old Laxapana and new Laxapana power
stations

Water discharge rates, reservoir/pond capacities and spill & operation levels

Spill gates and needle valve operation

Operation processes automatic or manual starting and shutdown procedures and

machine loading

Auxiliary services cooling water system, service water system, auxiliary power
supply, bearing oil circulation & cooling system, substation lighting.

Switchyard equipment identification and operation procedures

Protection schemes for machines, transformers and lines alarm and tripping
settings

Organization structure of Laxapana complex, line of authority

Responsibilities of technical assistants, technical officers, control room operators

etc.

Documentations log sheets, water level and rainfall book, daily machine and line
outage, monthly statically data, weekly spill data, duty assignment to junior staff.

5.

Responsible experience

Experience Report

5.1

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

Site Engineer at Uthuru Wasanthaya Northern Electrification Project (from July

2009 to December 2012)

5.1.1. Scope of work
To perform the power line construction works soon, ensuring the construction
standards, the safetiness of the workers as well as the public and to utilize the fund
allocation more effectively.
5.1.2. Achievements
Before starting the project, the electrification level in Mannar district was 35%. Within
that period we could increase that level to 76%. In some villages, the villagers experienced the
benefits of electricity for their first time. To achieve that level we had to utilize about 726 Million
rupees. All the constructions were carried out by private contractors under the supervision of
CEB staff.
The following table shows the summery of the schemes which were completed during the
time as site engineer (Mannar) for Uthruru Wasanthaya project.

Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

5.1.3 Other Experiences

Other than normal construction works, we could achieve plenty of experiences on other
relates subjects as well.
5.1.3.1 Testing of Concrete Poles
The main cost component of the project was the cost for concrete poles.
All the poles were purchased locally and prior to that a CEB official should test the materials
whether those are according to the standards and approve. The testings were mainly done for
8.5m/100kg, 11m/300kg, and 11m/500kg poles.
Other than that, some testings on Galvanised cross arms, Stay assemblies,
etc. were done on request.
5.1.3.2 Way leaves clearing
Before energising a scheme, way leaves must be cleared according to the
standards. Due to the community participation is a must we get together with the villagers and
arrange a campaign to cut way leaves with a guidance of the CEB official.
When the community participation was not available, quotations were
called and arrange contractors to cut the way leaves ensuring the standards.

5.2

Operation Engineer at Laxapana power station (from May 2013 to August)

5.2.1. Scope of work
To ensure safe and smooth operation of power station while maintaining efficiency of the

plants and equipment in the power station up to the switch yard line isolator and to ensure
personally that the power station contributes its share of the system load as required and
planned up to the maximum at all times.

5.2.2. Duties and responsibilities:

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V.P.R. ARIYADASA

Personally responsible for all operations in the power station and the switchyard when on
shift duty.

To startup, synchronize and load generating units as and when required.

To shut down generating units as and when required.

To report immediately to the chief engineer or engineer in charge of the power station any
serious defect or breakdown of plant or equipment and to furnish a complete report of the
breakdown.

To inform system control of any plant non availability/breakdown in proper time.

To conduct switching operations of feeders in case of breakdown/interruptions.

To restore supply in the shortest possible time in the event of partial or total failure due to
plant of feeder failures.

To isolate and make safe any plant, equipment, switchgear or feeder back into commission
after the maintenance or repair work is over.

To operate an agreed scheme whereby all operating personnel not up to the required
standard could be trained effectively and efficiently to acquire the required competence in
the shortest possible time.

To ensure that the CEB and the factory safety rules and regulations are strictly adhered to.

To maintain records of attendance of operating staff and all statical data (loading of sets,
feeders, water levels etc).

To approve leave of the operating staff and cover-up arrangements.

5.3. Major problems and critical decisions encountered

5.3.1. Emergency line shift in Dayata Kirula 2012
On 20th January 2012, an emergency decision was taken to shift a distribution power line
from Pandulagama towards Mirisawatiya area. It was only a 10 day period was given to complete
the task though no fund and material allocation done early. The line was consist of 5.2km HT line
and a UHT line which need a considerable amount of materials and considerable amount of time
to complete.
So what I did initially was the selection of the right contractor for that job. In order to
select the contractor, they should have proper capacity to handle that kind of emergency tasks.
After selecting the contractor, I immediately instruct them to start it with whatever they can.
Instruct him to use materials which were allocated to some other jobs and provided some
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V.P.R. ARIYADASA

essential materials using waybills. Also wayleave clearing also initiated in parallel. The work was
carried out such a way that the line can be reenergized in every night peaks.
After the hard works, the line was completed within 10 days of period. Since we took the
right decision on the right time we were able to accomplish our goal.
5.3.2 Emergency power supply to the Periyamadu Camp

This was happened on in October, 2011. Four day emergency function was arranged in the
Periyamadu camp (in Mannar) requesting immediate power supply from CEB. That time no LT
power line was available only the transformer was installed 2.5km away from the function
location. We had only two days of time period to provide supply.
So we didnt have enough time to construct LT power line for that purpose. So we
discuss with the army and started to draw the LT power line on bare land. Since we used Arial
Bundle Cables (ABC) we had enough insulation without getting earthed. Also arrange some army
people for the protection of the power line, safeguarding power line from the people.
The function was very successful and we were able to provide power supply throughout
the event.

5.3.3 Cleaning of Polpitiya intake

When Polpitiya intake screen of Laxapana pond was blocking, the water level in the intake
was decreasing very rapidly even though the pond level was close to spill level. This was due to
the trash collected at the intake screen. This situation becomes worse if the level went down close
to 20fts, which was the MOL of the Laxapana pond. Therefore I informed this to CE and
arranged to clean the intake as soon as possible. As a result it was decided to clean the intake by
obtaining the service from master divers (pvt) ltd. For this purpose all the generators at old
Laxapana, new Laxapana and Polpitiya have to be kept in minimum load (some time shutdown
some machines). This should be planned from the previous day and all three ponds should be at
minimum level when the machines are stopped. Arrangement of auxiliary supply during this
period for both N/L & O/L power stations is also a major consideration for operations engineer.
After completing the cleaning work it was required first to start the Laxapana machines
and fill the Laxapana pond. This is done slowly in order to avoid air trapping in the tunnel. When
the pond filled over the minimum operating level the pond could be filled faster and also Polpitiya
machines can be started.

Experience Report

V.P.R. ARIYADASA

5.3.4 Water management of Laxapana Complex

As Laxapana, Norton and canyon ponds are regulating ponds, balancing the water level of
the ponds during the day time to meet the night peak of the system is a major requirement. The
regulation of the pond levels are carried out by the operation staff under the instruction of system
control centre. The operations engineer is considered to be at full awareness about the pond levels
and load of the generators of the complex. Necessary day to day information about the weather
pattern, side flows to the pond etc are given to the system control centre, and in some occasions
necessary changes to the day to day operating pattern is done with the co-ordination of the
system control centre.
In some occasions there is unexpected rain. As a result, within 2-3 hours, all regulatory
ponds may get spilled. In this kind of situation we have to take immediate action for the safety of
dams, proper operation of Polpitiya machines and the people in the downstream. There are some
polices stations and disaster management centre which operation engineer is responsible to inform
prior to gate openings.
When canyon gates opened, the water level will rise at Laxapana pond within 45 minutes
time. If Laxapana pond is at the top level at that time sudden rise of water may damage the dam.
So we should prepare that situation by opening the gates at Laxapana.
5.3.5 New Laxapana No.1 Machine failed to start on 26th April 2013
The N/L Unit No.01 was taken for the R/M and tried to restart the machine at 16.45p.m.
A quick shutdown appeared indicating TSLG minor fault of high level in pressure tank. The oil
level must be brought down within the range of 568mm 441mm in order to satisfy the
condition.
What I did was, drain some oil from the bottom of accumulator pressure tank. That
draining oil goes to governor oil sump tank though the existing oil path. When the oil draining
occurs, the accumulator oil pressure reduces accordingly. The air pressure should be within 26-28
bars in order to satisfy the condition. Since it was dropping (about 25 bars) I had to manually
open the air ( from the air compressor tank ) in order to bring the air pressure to satisfactory
level.
We observed that ( using historical data on ALSTOM SCADA system) the accumulator
oil level always goes high in some extend. That was because of the compressor air releasing valve
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V.P.R. ARIYADASA

opening time was not enough in that time. ( normal setting was 60s for 600s) We asked the
ALSTOM officer to increase the opening time for some more time. ( now the setting is 100s for
600s period) The problem solved.
5.3.6 Old Laxapana Stage II machines trip

The O/L Stage II machines no. 04 and no. 05 suddenly tripped at 5.00 a.m. indicating
inverter supply fault. It was very important to restart the machines due to the spilling of Norton
pond because of the heavy rainy situation.
The machine AC pumps were fed by three main supply paths. Default is the feeding AC
supply from the DC battery supply inverted using AC inverters and feed the pumps. Second is
getting AC supply from auxiliary transformer supply and perform AC-AC conversion and feed.
The third and last option is the bypass mode which directly supplies the AC from auxiliary
transformer supply.
In this situation, the initial two options were not supported since the fault remains and
preventing restarting of generators. Only bypass mode was supporting and hence restarted the
machines using that mode and load immediately to reduce the water wastage.
Due to the change of auxiliary transformer lead to trip the machine again instruct
operation staff to be on alert.

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