ABB traction technologies selected to power South Africa’s first high-speed rail link.
The 80-kilometre Gautrain Rapid Rail Link will bring high-speed commuter transport to SA’s Gauteng province. By providing the province’s large population with a high-speed transit system, the government expects to stimulate economic growth and job creation through improved commuter mobility. It will also reduce traffic and carbon emissions on congested highways. ABB is playing a vital role in the project by providing advanced traction solutions that will power the entire 80 km line and the 24 electric trains that will operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h.
The power to the line solution comprises one main feeder substation, which steps down power from the grid to the correct voltage, and five autotransformer paralleling substations located at intervals along the track. The entire ABB solution is designed with exceptionally high levels of reliability, redundancy and safety to ensure 99,99% availability. The equipment also has to withstand exposure to pollutants, high levels of seismic and lightning activity, and operate over a wide temperature range at high altitude.
Each of the 24 four-car electric trainsets is powered by an ABB traction transformer and a traction motor manufactured by ABB for train provider Bombardier Transportation. The Gautrain is a variant of Bombardier’s award-winning Electrostar train, which is widely used in the United Kingdom, also powered by ABB traction transformers and traction motors
ABB has modified the transformer design to meet specific requirements of the Gautrain for high acceleration, low noise emissions and adaptability to the African climate. Chief among these modifications is an increase in power of around 40% to boost the train’s acceleration.
Power supply with scalability optimised Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.
Read more...Prioritising arc flash safety Comtest
Electrical Power & Protection
Comtest has developed a range of thermal imaging and wireless testing tools from Fluke, designed to ensure safety is the top priority for engineers working in potentially dangerous arc flash zones.
Read more...Monitoring the voltage drop in cables Turck Banner Southern Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
With its new M12Plus connectors, Turck Banner is directly shifting the condition monitoring of cables subject to severe stress to the connection technology. The connectors, which come with voltage and current monitoring and a Bluetooth chip, enable measured voltage and current values to be sent wirelessly to a controller.
Read more...Mesh networks: a multidirectional electrical superhighway Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Today, many power industry stakeholders are faced with mounting requirements for improved grid reliability, resilience and distribution efficiency. It’s a challenge which requires power service providers to rethink their infrastructure. Enter mesh networks, which can overcome the limitations of traditional star networks.
Read more...Versatile flexible copper busbar
Electrical Power & Protection
Referro Systems specialises in the supply and support of industrial electrical, automation and global software and hardware brands, and is now able to offer the Cubic range of Cu-Flex flexible copper busbars.
Read more...Seamless automation system upgrade ABB South Africa
Industrial Computer Hardware
ABB has launched the ABB Ability Symphony Plus SDe Series, a portfolio of hardware products that help modernise existing process control system installations with minimal risk and disruption to plant operations
Read more...Trafo Power Solutions upgrades DRC mine transformers
Electrical Power & Protection
With its experience in Africa and its agility in executing projects rapidly, Trafo Power Solutions is supplying three mini-substations and two transformers to a copper-zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Read more...Acquiring locally-manufactured transformers ACTOM Electrical Machines
Electrical Power & Protection
Speed and efficiency are of the essence in the fast-evolving power generation and distribution space; but a significant challenge is the prolonged lead times associated with acquiring transformers – key components in any electrical infrastructure.
Read more...Seaward testers power PV specialists Comtest
Electrical Power & Protection
One of Asia’s leading clean energy specialists, Solarvest, uses the latest electrical safety test equipment to ensure the solar photovoltaic (PV) installations it services and maintains operate at peak performance levels.
Read more...Multi-purpose contact block
Electrical Power & Protection
The TME catalogue has been expanded to include products from Schlegel. This German, family-owned company has been specialising in the production of high-quality electromechanical components for almost 80 years.
printer friendly version