Testing and Maintenance of Electrical Protective Devices in Cement Plants

In a modem integrated industrial complex, electricity is the prime source of power. Therefore, unscheduled interruptions of the flow of electricity will result in serious economic loss. One way to lessen the impact of an abnormal condition on the electrical system is to maintain the electrical protective devices so that the protection designed into the system will always be available. A modem cement plant learned that many of its electrical protective devices were malfunctioning after several years of operation with a maintenance program that excluded electrical operation of protective devices. Basic principles of operation, reasons for maintenance, and maintenance techniques for electrical protective devices are presented.