SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONAL OPSAF-16-427

PRACTICE Issue No. 1

SOP 427

1. SCOPE

This document details the application of SOP 427 (Applicable to Yorkshire Switchgear Type YSF6 11kV
circuit-breakers) issued by the Energy Networks Association.

2. ISSUE RECORD

This is a Reference document. The current version is held on the EN Document Library.

It is your responsibility to ensure you work to the current version.

Issue Date Issue No. Author Amendment Details

14/04/22 1 Kevin Butter Initial issue

3. ISSUE AUTHORITY

Author Owner Issue Authority

Kevin Butter Fraser Ainslie Fraser Ainslie
Lead Engineer Head of Engineering Design Head of Engineering Design
Engineering Design & and Standards and Standards
Standards

Date: 15/04/2022

4. REVIEW

This is a Reference document which has a 5 year retention period after which a reminder will be issued
to review and extend retention or archive.

5. DISTRIBUTION

This document is not part of a Manual maintained by Document Control and does not have a maintained
distribution list. It is published on the SP Energy Networks website.

© SP Power Systems Limited Page 1 of 5

Internal Use
 SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONAL OPSAF-16-427
PRACTICE Issue No. 1
SOP 427

6. CONTENTS

1. SCOPE ....................................................................................................................................... 1
2. ISSUE RECORD ........................................................................................................................ 1
3. ISSUE AUTHORITY .................................................................................................................. 1
4. REVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 1
5. DISTRIBUTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
6. CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... 2
7. SOP DETAILS ........................................................................................................................... 3
8. SOP HEADER ........................................................................................................................... 5

© SP Power Systems Limited Page 2 of 5

Internal Use
 SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONAL OPSAF-16-427
PRACTICE Issue No. 1
SOP 427

7. SOP DETAILS

EQUIPMENT TYPE Yorkshire Switchgear YSF6 11 kV gas circuit-breaker

ORIGINATING COMPANY UKPN

DATE 12/04/22

NUMBER INSTALLED IN 161

ENERGY NETWORKS NORTH

NUMBER INSTALLED IN 0
ENERGY NETWORKS SOUTH

REASON A Yorkshire Switchgear 11 kV YSF6 Grid Transformer incomer

gas circuit breaker (GCB) failed catastrophically resulting in fire
and smoke in the switch room. Following initiation of a “spring
not charged” alarm, field operatives attempted to manually
charge the springs. Upon a slight turn of the handle, the spring
charging motor appeared to kick in. At this point, the field
operatives exited the switch room as this outcome was
unexpected. The GCB failure occurred shortly after.
Investigation in progress and manufacturer has been informed.

STATUS IN INITIATING No operatives shall be present in a switch room containing

COMPANY Yorkshire Switchgear Type YSF6 GCBs being operated,
including routine and fault switching.

If the Spring Charge Motor fails to charge/recharge after an

operation, no attempt to manually recharge shall be made with
the switchboard energised. The board and relevant incoming
feeder shall be made dead.

SPEN APPLICATION All Open and Close operations on YSF6 GCBs shall be carried
out remotely using either remote control facilities or remotely on
site via control panels (located in a separate switchroom) or
using an Approved umbilical device.

Local Open and Close operations on YSF6 GCBs shall only be

carried out after busbars and circuit have been made not Live.
Local operations of YSF6 GCBs to apply or remove a Circuit
Earth is permissible with busbars Live.

If the spring charging motor fails to charge after an operation, no

attempt shall be made to manually charge the springs with the
associated busbars or circuit Live.

For manual operated spring charging mechanisms, spring

charging shall only be permitted with the GCB in the Open
position. No attempt shall be made to manually charge springs
with the GCB in Closed position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The SOP is applied to all variants of Yorkshire Switchgear Type
YSF6 11 kV GCBs in SPEN regardless of current rating.

© SP Power Systems Limited Page 3 of 5

Internal Use
 SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONAL OPSAF-16-427
PRACTICE Issue No. 1
SOP 427

This is to be reviewed pending outcome of UKPN investigation

UPDATE

REMEDIAL ACTION

© SP Power Systems Limited Page 4 of 5

Internal Use
 SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONAL OPSAF-16-427
PRACTICE Issue No. 1
SOP 427

8. SOP HEADER

Field Name Field Value Field Size

Name (SOPXXX) * SOP427 6

The reason for the * Dis. failure due to mech issue
Operational Restriction 30

Nature of the * No live manual op. Manual Spring charge restricted

Operational Restriction 50

Comments * No live manual CB op. Op from outside the sw/room with

egress route swgear permitted

If Motor fails to charge spring after op, manual charge

prohibited when BB/CCT live. Manual charge in open pos
only 200

Restricted Access to *
Substation Flag Y N 1

SOP Impact Code * 0 Temporary/Impact under assessment

(highlight or underline the 1 Very minor operational/network impact
appropriate code) 2 Moderate operational/network impact
3 Significant impact on system perf./measurable business costs
N/A
4 Inoperable without intervention
5 Inoperable – no cost effective solution/must be replaced
SOP component type * 01 Bushing only
(highlight or underline the 02 Circuit Breaker
appropriate code) 03 Fixed Portion only
04 Moving Portion only
05 Switch
06 RMU
N/A
07 Transformer only
08 Tap Changer only
09 Transformer & Bushing
10 Transformer & Tap Changer
Search Criteria * *YSF6* All Ratings N/A

© SP Power Systems Limited Page 5 of 5

Internal Use