Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA) is India’s largest producer of ferro alloys, with an integrated operation spanning mining, power generation, and ferro alloy manufacturing. With a strong focus on operational excellence, safety, and energy efficiency, IMFA has built world-class facilities across Odisha, supported by captive mines and power plants. The company’s electrical units, spread across its business divisions—FABU, Power, PBU, FA, Mines, and Therubali—play a pivotal role in ensuring uninterrupted power supply, system reliability, and safety of high-voltage operations.
The objective of this workshop was to strengthen the participants’ capability in Fault Analysis, Relay Coordination, and Power System Protection. By enhancing their technical depth in EHV/HV/LV switchgear, substations, and protection schemes, the program aimed to improve reliability, reduce downtime, and ensure effective handling of electrical system contingencies. The program also sought to provide hands-on exposure to testing, commissioning, and maintenance best practices while instilling confidence in participants to manage real-world challenges across IMFA’s diverse electrical units.
The sessions blended technical theory with practical applications, covering fault calculation methods, real-case scenarios, and relay coordination exercises to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of power system protection. Participants engaged in learning fault current and MVA calculations, relay settings and coordination principles, and substation and switchgear protection for EHV/HV/LV systems. The program also featured case-based discussions on electrical faults, protective relay applications, and explored critical aspects of safety, automation (SCADA), and fire protection relevant to IMFA’s operations.
Key highlights of the workshop included a systematic approach to fault analysis with a deep dive into symmetrical and asymmetrical faults, accompanied by practical calculation exercises. Relay coordination was addressed through a step-by-step framework for relay grading, time-current characteristics, and zone protection. Protection schemes for feeders, transformers, and generators were discussed in detail, along with best practices for testing, commissioning, and relay verification. The sessions also provided insights into SCADA and automation, from concept to commissioning, ensuring alignment with modern plant operations. Interactive case studies simulated realistic fault scenarios to encourage collaborative problem-solving, while cross-unit participation enabled knowledge-sharing, as participants brought in challenges and experiences from their respective units, fostering peer-to-peer learning.
