On June 1st, Frank Garcia, Frank Reyes, and Craig Fulfer from the Operations and Maintenance Department coordinated a training demonstration with the Engineering Department. The training occurred at Plant 224, 236, and 238 and covered important electrical panel components and safety practices for inspecting and working on panels. The training was a great opportunity to exchange knowledge to improve electrical equipment design and ensure our employees’ safety.
Frank Garcia discussed how electrical panels controlled the power required to run our wells and booster pump stations and covered the following important components:
- An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) automatically switches the power source from the electric utility (Southern California Edison – SCE) to the backup power generator to keep the plant running during utility system power outages.
- A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) adjusts the frequency (Hertz – Hz) of the power supplied to the motor to change the pump’s rotational speed to control the flowrate (gallons per minute) and lift (feet) produced by the pump to meet customer demand and manage system pressure.
- The Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system allows the Production team to monitor instruments (flow meters, pressure transmitters, tank level indicators, etc.) that show them in real-time what is happening at plant sites and allow them to remotely control plant equipment to ensure enough water is provided, at good quality, and an efficient cost.
Frank Reyes showed the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that operators must wear to open and work in panels safely. The PPE included a fire-rated uniform (fire-resistant coating and no metal buttons or snaps), insulated gloves, and a face shield. Frank explained the different PPE ratings based on the level of electrical hazard. Suburban operators use Category 2 PPE for 480-volt alternating current electricity but do not work on higher voltage panels.
During the demonstration, the Operations and Maintenance Technicians (OMTs) de-energized the panels to ensure they were safe to open to show the internal components so the team could discuss their functions. The training demonstrated the equipment and steps required to perform the Lock-Out, Tag-Out (LOTO) process to ensure that panels are not mistakenly energized when someone is working on them.
Frank Reyes walked the team through the process of checking the panels are de-energized and how to ensure that it is safe to work on them. He demonstrated how to check testing instruments to ensure they function correctly before testing the electrical components in the panel.
This training was a great demonstration of inter-departmental collaboration between the OMTs and Engineers. These departments work together closely to ensure that we do the planning and get the financial resources required to upgrade our facilities and ensure that projects meet the needs of the operators.
Frank Reyes wears proper PPE when checking the electrical components with a voltmeter.
Frank Garcia is showing an ATS panel.
Frank Garcia is showing a VFD panel.
