Magazine | Issue 1 2024 need for manual intervention improves the resulting data basis and makes the data analyses performed based on this data more meaningful. Going forward, the ability to compare data collected in a standardized way will also enable more informed statements to be made about the history and condition of the assets. The collaboration with external service providers has brought other benefits for BASF: › For both commissioning and maintenance tests, project data can be transmitted securely, in full, and in a traceable manner. › The specifications and the scope of the required tests can be clearly defined using the templates and reports. › Any changes are documented thoroughly and reliably. The development of a new testing strategy, like at BASF, always involves a certain amount of effort to start with. However, it very quickly generates significant benefits, particularly in terms of more efficient processes for the preparation, execution, and documentation of tests. Ready for phase 3 The implementation of the project has been divided into three phases. BASF has already successfully implemented phases 1 and 2 with us. The focus of these phases was on ascertaining the current situation, including the level of knowledge among staff, sharing knowledge, and developing the initial test templates. With our training on the basics of protection technology, the definition of a test specification, and our recommendations on testing strategies, we brought all protection testers up to the same level of knowledge. Following on from this, the next step was to develop test templates within several working groups. For the distribution grid, test templates were created for inverse-time overcurrent protection/definite-time overcurrent protection, line differential protection, and motor protection. For the transmission grid, templates are now available for distance protection, transformer differential protection, and busbar protection. In the current phase of the project – phase 3 – BASF is now pressing ahead independently with the implementation of the new testing strategy and including additional protection types and devices. Our experts are on hand and available to provide support as required in this phase too. Making protection testing fun again The excellent results demonstrated how motivated the working groups were to get locked in and make some changes. We were particularly pleased to see that by sharing our experience and knowledge, we were able to reduce insecurity in day-to-day work. According to Christian Schumacher, it is also clear that employees are enjoying protection testing again. Last but not least, thanks to the project and the use of ADMO, protection, testing, and parameterization data is now used with much greater awareness at BASF. Although the achievement of net zero may still be some way off, BASF is now well equipped to tackle the challenges ahead with its new data and testing strategy. 13
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