ABB has delivered a complete modular packaged substation to Sasol’s Secunda plant in Mpumalanga, almost eliminating unplanned power outages during annual shutdown periods. The mobile substation is made up of 14 panels of UniGear ZS1 medium voltage (MV) switchgear, future-proof protection and control technology. This innovation, aptly named E-House, is specifically tailored to Sasol’s needs such as slope plant flooring and constant movement around the plant.
The E-House was designed by ABB and Sasol Engineers with a scope which required a universal switchboard in a mobile substation, suitable to be operated at 3,3, 6,6 and 11 kV without significant changes to the switchgear configurations. This optimised solution was created to energise and protect motor feeders, transformer feeders and line feeders without changing of protection equipment.
During the design phase, the team recognised that Sasol Secunda switchgear replacement can only take place during shutdown periods when process equipment is not in full operation. As the switchgear in the plant is reaching its end-of-life span, it was critical to find an alternative replacement strategy to increase the number of switchboards that can be replaced without relying on the shutdown period. Due to limited time and resources during the annual shutdown of 8-10 days, the number of switchboard replacements were limited with increased risks to plant and personnel. The challenge was to conduct switchgear replacements outside the shutdown period, without creating plant disruptions or unplanned outages.
The substation is connected and currently utilised to do the first replacement project at Sasol Secunda site. Product group manager secondary switchgear and modular systems, Hermanus Jooste, says that this project was exciting because of the many considerations such as the air suspended trailer to enable effortless plant mobility for the substation. “The outcome is a brilliant solution for Sasol which further demonstrated our ability to go the extra mile for our customers,” he adds.
ABB and Sasol together developed the scope requirement by using ABB ZS1 Digital switchgear as the main switchboard platform, and the mobile substation had to be fitted permanently on a purpose-built trailer that could be moved around the plant as required.
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