South African utility goes live with a world first
June 2000
News
Drivecor
GE Power Management has announced that the world's first fully-functioning, complete substation automation project using the MMS/UCA2 protocol in the city of Nelspruit, South Africa has reached another milestone by recording the first successful UCA trip over a LAN (local area network). GE Power Management's authorised distributor in South Africa, Drivecor, was responsible for supplying, designing, installing and commissioning the protection and control systems. This is the first phase of a long-term distribution network refurbishment initiative that is utilising GE Power Management's successful Universal Relay (UR) family of products.
Norris Woodruff, President of GE Power Management, says the Nelspruit project represents a significant step forward for the utility industry. "It is the first substation automation project to use the most critical feature of the MMS/UCA2 architecture. In a cable fault that developed shortly after commissioning, the UR IEDs sent both trip-initiate and trip-block signals over the station LAN – the system operated exactly as designed. Subsequent analysis of the UR event recorders and oscillography records showed the timing relationships were as intended. Progressive customers like Nelspruit are leading the future direction of substation design."
The substation communications network in Nelspruit uses a fully redundant fibre-optic LAN for substation control and monitoring as well as protection signals such as blocking and tripping. The substations are linked to a central scada system at the network control centre, using MMS/UCA2 to communicate over a fibre-optic based WAN (wide area network). The first phase of the project integrates 24 of GE Power Management's type F60 feeder management relays.
Further reading:
4Sight OT Automation achieves prestigious AVEVA Endorsed Partner status
News
4Sight OT Automation, a leading industrial software solutions provider, has achieved Endorsed Partner status within the AVEVA Partner Network.
Read more...
Schneider Electric announces 2023 Global Alliance Partner Programme award winners
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has announced the winners of the 2023 Global Alliance Excellence Awards. Throughout 2023, Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partners supported customers in the digitalisation of industrial automation, delivering value with innovative initiatives, solutions and services.
Read more...
Custom containerised lubrication dispensing system
News
Bosch Rexroth Africa recently supplied and installed a customised environmentally friendly and dust-proof lubrication dispensing system for a leading earth-moving equipment supplier.
Read more...
Siemens to acquire industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst
Siemens South Africa
News
Siemens has signed an agreement to acquire the industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst. The business includes intelligent, integrated mechatronic systems in the protective extra-low voltage range and innovative motion control systems.
Read more...
Bearings International fosters a segment strategy
Bearings International
News
Bearings International has a segment approach to the market, which places an intentional focus on key industries in South and sub-Saharan Africa in a bid to optimise operations, enhance uptime, and drive business sustainability and increased profitability outcomes for customers.
Read more...
Local robotics team’s journey to the world stage
News
In the heart of Cape Town, a group of young visionaries aged 12 to 17 is making waves in the world of robotics. Known as Texpand, this team from Pinelands has not only dominated the First Tech Challenge (FTC) in South Africa, but has also earned international acclaim for its innovative approach to engineering and problem solving.
Read more...
RS Group expands by 10 000 products
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa has announced its Better World Claims Based Framework, enabling customers to select verified sustainable product alternatives. This provides suppliers with a standardised framework to accelerate the development and manufacture of more sustainable and responsible products.
Read more...
IRP 2023 could reset SA’s social and economic problems
News
ACTOM recently held a webinar on the ‘Draft IRP2023 Impact on the Manufacturing Sector’. South Africa’s Draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 is a key document that outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing the country’s energy security challenges, while also setting out its transition to a diversified energy mix, including renewables.
Read more...
Young scientists to showcase innovative research
News
Innovative South African research which includes a cost-effective triage test for real-time detection of TB and a nature-based technology that brings about environmental remediation, will be showcased at this year’s International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology in Tunisia.
Read more...
Moog takes a leadership position in lunar exploration
News
NASA is planning for a sustained human presence on the Moon, and resources such as water could eventually be harnessed from the lunar surface instead of being transported from Earth, and it has turned to industry to find ways to excavate and transport that icy regolith.
Read more...
printer friendly version