Please see our editorial and advertisement on pages 8 and 9
VOL. 16 NO. 89 - November/December 2012
Print Post No. PP565001/00327 All enquiries phone: +61 7 5478 9432 Email Enquiries: apen@worldpacific.com.au Circulated to key personnel within all Power Utilities and Power Generators throughout Australia and New Zealand each issue
King Island showcases renewable energy solutions to the world Pages 16-17
Above: Inspecting the newly installed Diesel Rotary UPS systems are (L-R) Federal Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings and Hydro Tasmania Chairman Dr David Crean (Photo courtesy of Hitzinger)
Building value for Tasmania H
YDRO TASMANIA has once again demonstrated its value to the state, delivering an operating profit of more than $100 million for the second successive year.
Combined with a strong EBITDA* of $272.4 million, this record result will return more than $140 million to the State in 2012/13, including a dividend of $50 million. In 2011/12 the business returned $118.7 million to government, including a dividend of $49 million. The business is estimating an operating profit in 2012/13 of around $240 million and expects to generate returns to government of more than one billion dollars over the next five years. Chairman Dr David Crean said Hydro Tasmania was proud to deliver another strong performance in what was a challenging year. The result was achieved with slightly below average generation and during a period in which the business carefully conserved storages in anticipation of the introduction of a price on carbon. Hydro storages are currently at 60 per cent, the highest they have been for more than a decade.
Above: Chairman Dr David Crean
Dr Crean said Hydro Tasmania’s mainland energy retailer Momentum Energy and its professional services business Entura both recorded a profit for the year. “This overall performance has enabled Hydro Tasmania to reach its strategic financial target of BBB-rating three years ahead of schedule,” he said. “This will position the business well for the growth years ahead by providing improved financial robustness and flexibility. “It also will see increased returns to taxpayers that will keep growing as Tasmania continues to reap the benefits of being a national leader in renewable energy while capturing the premium that is now available to the state with a price on carbon.” Key results: • Operating profit before fair value movement and tax – a record $103.4 million • Total revenue for the year - $1.051 billion an increase of $238 million from last year. • Reduced net debt to $857 million. CEO Roy Adair said the result came as a direct result of strong commercial management of the business. Mr Adair said the year was also notable for the focus on the State’s electricity sector, primarily through the work of the Expert Panel and the Tasmanian Government’s measured response to its findings. He said Hydro Tasmania welcomed the Government’s support for its growth strategy through Momentum Energy as the means to
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Above: CEO Roy Adair leverage the State’s clean energy reputation. “Having a mainland retailer de-risks the business and enhances the overall value of Hydro Tasmania,” Mr Adair said. “It enables us to generate consistent and strong returns to the Government while consolidating our financial position. “Without Momentum, our business risk exposure would be much higher while our value to our shareholders would be reduced.” Mr Adair said another highlight of the year was Hydro Tasmania’s successful implementation of a new wind development model that saw the business enter into a strategic partnership with China’s Guohua Energy involving the sell down of a 75 per cent equity share of the Woolnorth wind farms in north-west Tasmania. This was further strengthened last month with the signing of an agreement between the two parties relating to the ultimate sell-down of 75 per cent of the Musselroe Wind Farm which is currently under construction. The start of work on the $395 million Musselroe project in January 2012 was a welcome boost to the local economy. It is on track to be completed and operational by July 2013. Other highlights for the year included: • Core operating costs coming in well below budget at $109.9 million. • A $52.5m capital works program which delivered against all the targets in the 10year Asset Management Plan. • Successfully renegotiated contracts with Pacific Aluminium and Temco on commercial terms. • Awarded the Tasmanian Employer of Choice award 2011. • Won the Energy Supply Association of Australia’s Sustainability Reporting award for 2011. • 91 per cent of respondents to our annual stakeholder survey rated Hydro Tasmania’s performance as good or excellent. Hydro Tasmania is well positioned for another strong year. In the coming year it will: • Work closely with the Tasmanian Government on implementing its energy reform blueprint. • Return the considerable benefits of a carbon price to the State. • Pursue further wind development opportunities. • Progress the King Island Renewable Energy Integration project to a business opportunity. • Extend the sustainable expertise of Hydro Tasmania to several new markets Mr Adair concluded by thanking Hydro Tasmania staff for their commitment to the business. “Our strong financial performance and many achievements are due to the professionalism, passion and pride of our people,” he said. * Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation and Amortisation - an approximate measure of operating cash flow
Page 2 - Australian Power & Energy News
Australian Power & Energy News - Page 3
Essential Energy revitalising regional NSW O NE of the State’s leading regional employers, Essential Energy, has been recognised for its commitment to improving Indigenous employment opportunities with a 2012 Premier’s Public Sector Award.
NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, announced Essential Energy as the recipient of the Revitalising Regional NSW category of the Awards for its Indigenous Employment and Development Strategy. Essential Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, Gary Humphreys, said the award celebrated the company’s commitment to a diversified workforce and local job creation for Indigenous employment in regional and rural communities across the State. “Our Indigenous Employment and Development Strategy launched in 2011 has played an important role in strengthening Indigenous representation across Essential Energy’s workforce and guiding us toward our target of a 5.7 per cent employment participation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” Gary said. “Essential Energy is committed to achieving a workforce that is truly representative of the 1,500 communities we serve and we’re leading by example with 155 Indigenous employees – 3.6 per cent of our total workforce – based in centres across rural and regional New South Wales.” Gary said Essential Energy’s Indigenous workforce retention rates had remained steady at more than 96 per cent for the last three consecutive years due to ongoing support provided by the company’s specialised Indigenous Programs Unit. The Premier’s Public Sector Awards recognise
excellence in the delivery of public services across NSW through the public sector, private business and non-government organisations.
Transfield Services awarded A$200 million CSG contract with QGC
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RANSFIELD SERVICES has been awarded a A$200 million contract to provide maintenance and operations services to QGC Pty Limited’s upstream coal seam gas (CSG) assets in Queensland.
The contract is for five-years, with a two-year extension option. Revenue has the potential to increase through the life of the contract as project investment increases. The upstream assets form part of QGC’s Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas (QCLNG) Project and include processing plants, compression stations, approximately 2,000 operational gas wells and connecting infrastructure. The contract’s scope incorporates all of these assets.
Above: NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, (centre) presents the Premier’s Public Sector Award for Revitalising Regional NSW to Essential Energy’s Manager Equity and Diversity, Amanda Morgan, and Networks NSW Group Chief Financial Officer, Justin De Lorenzo
Momentum Energy lights up Flemington with clean energy
“This award is a direct result of our strategic focus on Queensland’s growing CSG industry,” said Transfield Services Managing Director and CEO, Graeme Hunt. “It also reflects our track record in the oil and gas sector, including the proven capability and safety record of our well servicing subsidiary Easternwell.” “Importantly, the win follows shortly after the award of a construction contract with the same client, demonstrating our ability to deliver services across the full asset lifecyle – a key differentiator for our business,” said Mr Hunt. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with QGC.” In October, Transfield Services, together with joint venture partner Clough Limited, was awarded an $A80 million construction contract with QGC Pty Limited as part of the QCLNG project. Above: Victoria Racing Club CEO Dale Monteith (left) pictured with Momentum Energy Managing Director Nigel Clark (right)
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Above: Transfield Services General Manager Queensland, John Bidwell (left) with QGC Operations Director, Walter Simpson Page 4 - Australian Power & Energy News
OMENTUM ENERGY joined forces with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) to deliver a major new sustainability initiative and enhance the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s green credentials. In a novel business sponsorship arrangement, Momentum supplied the energy needs of Flemington Racecourse through its SmilePower clean energy product while at the same time being a sponsor of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The partnership will see Flemington Racecourse powered by clean energy 365 days a year for the first time. Since 2008 the VRC has developed its “Flemington Green Fields” sustainability program, which aims to deliver tangible reductions to the environmental impact of the VRC’s operations, in particular the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The VRC was last year recognised as a leader in environmental management and awarded the prestigious Melbourne Award for Contribution to Sustainability. Momentum Energy Managing Director Nigel Clark said: “This is a terrific partnership. As a responsible member of the business community
we take our sustainability practices seriously. We’re excited to be partnering with such an iconic venue as Flemington, and proud to be enhancing the VRC’s own commitment to sustainability.” VRC CEO Dale Monteith said: “The partnership with Momentum Energy, and the adoption of the SmilePower product, confirms the VRC’s commitment to ensuring the most sustainable outcomes possible for Flemington and the Melbourne Cup Carnival. “The introduction of SmilePower year round at Flemington enhances the Flemington Green Fields initiative, which already includes a world first in-situ desalination program, use of solar panels for onsite electricity generation and surplus food redistribution to charities. “The fit with Momentum Energy backed by Hydro Tasmania, the country’s largest producer of renewable energy, is perfect,” Mr Monteith said. Last year, the Melbourne Cup Carnival attracted 355 086 race-goers to Flemington, including 125 833 out of state visitors, generating a national gross economic benefit of more than $746 million.
Care and Maintenance of Hydraulic Tools and Equipment T
O REMAIN safe, hydraulic systems need to be properly maintained. All hydraulic hose assemblies need to be periodically replaced. Be proactive. Learn how to determine when to replace hose assemblies, establish a maintenance schedule and follow it consistently.
As a safety precaution, always use the disconnect sequence which helps to eliminate pressure lock: Not maintaining and servicing your hydraulic tools increases safety risks. Scheduled servicing extends the life of tools, minimises unplanned downtime and reduces tool lifetime costs. Servicing tools and equipment extends the usable life of the tool by replacing worn components before a failure or fault occurs. Replacing a low cost seal on a hydraulic tool could be the difference between getting a job done and costly delays. TEN Group service and repair a wide range of tools in equipment including hydraulic equipment. Contact us on 07 3212 8999 or www.tengroup.com.au.
Your schedule should include checking all hoses for cuts, abrasions, cracks, wear, and other signs of damage. Check for loose and missing parts on couplers, especially female couplers that feature a safety ball lock or pin lock. As a safety locking device, the outer ring is rotated away from the notch of the locking pin or ball so the pressure cannot inadvertently disconnect the coupler.
Always inspect couplers for cleanliness as dirt build up can jam couplers and grind the outer ring over time rendering it unusable. Male couplers may leak with wear as the outer ring can flare over time. A simple visual inspection will alert this damage. Check safety guards, trigger locks and trigger guards are not loose or missing on tools. Ensure storage solutions are available to correctly store and protect equipment. The Open/Close centre adjustment dial is not for flow control. This will only cause the tool to overheat or run ineffectively. When the tool is not in use, turn off the tool port. If left on, it will cause the tool to overheat or run ineffectively.
Above: Augers in use Never touch a pressurised hydraulic hose assembly with any part of your body. If you suspect a leak depressurise the tool, clean it, then visually inspect for leaks. Leakage is a sign of deterioration in component parts. Also check fittings; if damaged, they can also result in a failure and injury. If you find a leak, tag the tool immediately and remove it from service. The tool must be sent to a professionally trained ‘hydraulics specialist’ for closer inspection, service and repair, or ultimately condemning. Worn or leaking parts must be repaired or replaced, or tool damage or severe injury could result.
REL425: Low Pressure Hydraulic Impact Wrench
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Australian Power & Energy News - Page 5
Tidal energy a step closer in the Territory T HE Northern Territory’s Power and Water Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tenax Energy to develop a 2MW tidal energy plant and tidal energy testing centre.
The move brings a tropical tidal energy supply for the Top End a step closer. Power and Water’s Manager Sustainable Energy Trevor Horman said Power and Water was very interested in sourcing cost-competitive renewable energy for its customers. “Tidal power from the Clarence Strait has the potential to provide a significant percentage of Darwin’s electricity supply,” he said. “We’re delighted to be taking this first step towards that.” Tenax will establish a 2MW tidal energy plant and tropical testing centre. It is envisaged a 10MW testing array will follow. “This staged process allows us to establish appropriate environmental and performance standards in a tropical environment,” Mr Horman said. “Maintaining a tidal energy array in a tropical environment will potentially require new technical solutions but we hope this will prove a safe, reliable and inexhaustible energy source.” The region is one of the largest tidal resources close to a major centre, with a potential generation capacity of 450MW. Darwin’s current peak demand is about 300MW. The project is expected to generate power by 2015, reaching a commercial scale by the end of the decade. This staged process should deliver a number of opportunities in addition to affordable renewable power. Not only will it allow the establishment of appropriate environmental and performance standards for tidal energy technologies in tropical waters, but, equally importantly it will give confidence to the community that tidal energy is a safe, convenient, reliable and inexhaustible energy source for Darwin. Together with these exciting initiatives, it will form the basis for the development of a new industry. This model is already well established in the USA, UK and Ireland. Across the globe, marine energy is increasingly seen as a reliable, inexhaustible and largely underdeveloped source of energy. According to the UK’s Carbon Trust, the marine energy industry could be worth up to AU$707 billion globally by 2050. Australia, blessed with some of the world’s best ocean resources and committed to meeting 20% of its energy needs with renewable energy by 2020, is well placed to become a world leader in this growing industry. “Tidal energy generation in tropical waters will demand new technical solutions that will be developed first in Darwin” said Alan Major, Managing Director of Tenax Energy.
Above: East Vernon Island, NT
Above: Power and Water’s Sustainability Manager Trevor Horman when the announcement was made “This project is going to place Darwin at the forefront of a global industry, providing local employment and skills development and opening major export opportunities to Asia.” The Clarence Strait tidal energy resource has the potential to power a large proportion of Darwin’s future needs renewably. Power and Water Corporation and Tenax Energy are delighted to have taken this first step towards cleaner energy for the Northern Territory and the creation of a new support industry. Power and Water Corporation is committed to the use of sustainable and renewable energy with construction also complete a $14 million project to produce a total of almost one megawatt (MW) of solar power from three solar systems at Ti Tree, Kalkarindgi and Alpurrurulam (Lake Nash). Funding for the project has been provided by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments and Power and Water has committed to purchase the energy produced by the systems over a 20 year period under a Power Purchase Agreement with Epuron Pty Ltd and its subsidiary TKLN Solar Pty Ltd. The photovoltaic (PV) solar systems are expected to provide up to 80% of daily power requirements for the communities and in the long-term will save millions of litres of diesel fuel and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Above: Tenax Tidal Under Water
Global team to build additional generation capacity for Karratha
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ARSONS BRINCKERHOFF will construct a 20MW GE TM2500 turbine for Horizon Power at Karratha in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in Australia leverages the firm’s international power team. Parsons Brinckerhoff Director for AsiaPacific Power Mr Paul Turney explained the team draws on resources and experience from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia- Pacific region. “The installation of this additional generation in Karratha is a critical project and will benefit from this combined global expertise,” said Mr Turney. Page 6 - Australian Power & Energy News
The Karratha Generation Project is required to meet the growing energy demand in the Pilbara. Parsons Brinckerhoff will engineer, design, procure and build all services and processes to produce power for the summer 2012/13 period. Mr Turney said the project was on track with site works underway within one week of the contract signing. ‘We are dedicated to a successful project outcome. “This is a platform for future delivery of larger EPC power projects in the region,” said Mr Turney.
Broadmeadow power upgrade
Above: Ausgrid Broadmeadow Zone Substation
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REWS are in the final stages of building a major electrical substation in Broadmeadow, Newcastle, to replace existing equipment in use since 1941.
The new zone substation in Denny Street will supply about 12,500 homes and businesses in parts of Broadmeadow, Hamilton, Lambton, and Mayfield. Ausgrid General Manager Transmission Brett Hooper said substation technicians had begun work installing new indoor switchgear and transformers. “The existing 33/11 kV Broadmeadow substation has served the community’s power needs well for over half a century
and is now approaching the time for replacement,” Mr Hooper said. “Civil construction of the building is complete and substation technicians from Wallsend are now on site connecting equipment. “These specialist crews will spend the next six months preparing the new substation for commissioning in the new year. “This new 132/11 kV substation will help meet the future electricity needs of this growing community.” The final stage of work includes connecting underground cables to the substation site. The new Broadmeadow zone substation is expected to start supplying the local community in early 2013.
Focus on fundamentals in times of change
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URORA ENERGY performed strongly for its customers across financial, reliability, safety and environmental measures in 2011-12, despite the uncertainties of structural reform in the Tasmanian electricity industry, CEO Dr Peter Davis said. Speaking on the release of Aurora’s annual report, Dr Davis said the company’s aggressive drive to reduce costs and improve processes had delivered results in the previous financial year, with the company completing a transformation that began two years ago. “I commend our workforce for their achievements and their ongoing professionalism in these times of change,’’ Dr Davis said. “Our financial results, released last month, record an underlying profit of $31.6 million and $27.8 million in returns to the Tasmanian Government “Aurora’s performance in 2011-12 demonstrates that we have focused on our core business through the uncertainty of the reform process. “Our focus on cost minimisation was demonstrated by the fact our workforce reduced by 259 employees or more than 20 per cent in the period, which followed a decline of 12 per cent in the prior year. “Aurora’s drive to minimise costs for customers was demonstrated by our ground-breaking submission to the Australian Energy Regulator, which commits to a reduction in capital and operating expenditure of $90m over the five years to mid 2017. “We have been a strong and consistent advocate for reform of the Tasmanian electricity supply industry, despite the upheaval and uncertainty for our employees.’’ Dr Davis said the company’s cost-minimisation efforts had established a solid foundation for the future, and pointed to improvements in system reliability and reportable environmental incidents as highlights for the period. “It was pleasing that our customers experienced
Above: Aurora Energy CEO Dr Peter Davis
a reduction in average time without supply, which is attributable to the investments we have made on the network in recent years and the hard work of our Distribution Business employees,’’ he said. “I am also encouraged by the reduction in reportable environmental incidents as we work with regulators to minimise the impacts of our operations on our environment.’’ Dr Davis said that while Aurora’s Lost Time Injury Frequency rate was above target for the period, he was confident that an internal review of Aurora’s safety culture and the resultant Zero Harm initiative will enable the company to improve its performance. In other highlights for the year, Dr Davis noted the strong contribution made by Aurora’s Tamar Valley Power Station, which met about 15 per cent of Tasmania’s total energy needs for the period, and the construction of a new data centre in Derwent Park, to provide high quality, secure data warehousing for Aurora as well as public and private sector clients. Australian Power & Energy News - Page 7
Australian Engineering Solutions Provider In October of this year, Legend Corporation began the process of merging the CABAC Power Division with the recently acquired MSS Power Systems company. CABAC Power is an industry specialist supplying over 20,000 electrical items to utilities, ports, rail, approved contractors and original equipment manufacturers. MSS Power Systems manufactures a range of premium quality lightweight hydraulic and cordless electric linemans’ tools, complementary to the CABAC Power offering. “We received very positive feedback from our power customers about the merger of the
two divisions�, said CEO Bradley Dowe. “Our major power customers see that the combined power of both brand offerings will provide a more focused range of products and service levels. � Why did Legend Corporation choose MSS Power Systems and not the more familiar CABAC Power name& “Senior management debated this particular topic for some time as we could see it would raise some eyebrows,� said Bradley. “Our ongoing strategy is to develop clear, market leading and differentiated business units within each of our core markets, so this change was a natural progression for our power division, allowing its sister division, CABAC, to increase focus on
electrical wholesale. Changing the name is only one small part, albeit the most visible of differentiating the two divisions�. Mr Edward Fyvie was recently appointed to head the new division. Edward has a long and successful history in automation, maintenance and manufacturing for heavy construction, oil and gas, mining, metals, power transmission and power distribution industries. “ I could clearly see where Bradley wanted to take MSS Power in Australia and New Zealand, and I share his enthusiasm for Australian Engineered Solutions� said Edward. “With additional design engineering resources plus NATA laboratory capacity we can quickly
to customers to increase the safety, reliability
lead times are unmatched in our markets.� If customers of either CABAC Power or MSS Power Systems have any questions they can contact Customer Care on 1800 769 370 who can help with questions or outstanding paperwork. You can also visit www.cabacpower.com.au or www.msspowersystems.com.au and click on the banner which will take you to a FAQ page.
Simple As 1 2 3 MSS Power Systems & CABAC Power recently released website has some exciting new features. In particular the lug guide, (shown here) is designed to provide Electricians and Contractors with
: # ' and glands to ensure they are using the right combination. + * ; <;# => and the software will present the available options. You can then click on any of the product part ' ? @ G the right information. = ' ! " # $ % ' % â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are intending to add our video training to our lugs as we have a lot of customers wanting to check how to crimp a lug properlyâ&#x20AC;? continues David. * H ' ' will allow electricians and Contractors to access information on the spot to complete a job.
Three simple steps
1. Select your desired options 2. Press show G $ -
Trend Towards Mobile Website MSS Power Systems & CABAC Power recently released a mobile phone version of their website (www.cabacpower.com.au) for all Internet enabled smart phone users. The new initiative has but Initial website tracking results are showing a positive trend towards customers accessing the ! " # $ % ' % * and large detailed images allow users to select and view product resources and technical data quickly. Over the next few months the MSS Power Systems marketing team will monitor the site usage, tweaking the program to increase the sites performance levels while adding additional content to the site. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key moving forward is speed and content,â&#x20AC;? says David â&#x20AC;&#x153;we have a new and exciting, ' ! The new smart phone website contains all of the information in the latest catalogue and also includes additional resources such as brochures, technical datasheets and video training. + - / 4 ' / / # â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Technical datasheets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Video Training â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Safety Sheets (MSDS) 5 $
National Sales T 1800 769 370 E: sales@msspower.com.au W: cabacpower.com.au W: msspower.com.au Page 8 - Australian Power & Energy News
Smart phone website screen shots
The combined power of two great Australian companies You may have a few Questions about the recent merger of CABAC Power and MSS Power Systems Why did you merge the two companies?
Do I need to update anything in my system?
MSS Power Systems and CABAC Power are both proven specialists in the power
Existing CABAC Power customers need to update our trading name to
market. Bringing these two organisations together provides our customers with the
MSS Power Systems.
opportunity to access our expertise on a wider range of approved products through
Existing MSS Power Systems customers update the old MSS Power ABN to our
a single, focused, local sales representative.
parent company Legend Corporate Services Pty Ltd ABN 81 006 722 292 trading as MSS Power Systems.
Both MSS Power Systems and CABAC Power have been trading for many decades. We are still an Australian company, here for the long term and we will
If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t received a copy of our trading terms please contact your local sales
continue to develop Australian Engineered Solutions for Australian Utilities, Rail and
representative to organise a copy to be sent to you.
Primary Resource Engineering Construction.
Who do I talk to in your company? Does it change how I purchase your products?
Its business as usual â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In most cases it is the same sales representative you spoke to
No, it is business as usual â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our products will continue to be sold through a variety of
before the merger. The combined businesses have strengthened our national
coverage with an increased number of local representatives on the road visiting
continue to place your orders in the same way.
customers.
?
Visit our websites www.cabacpower.com.au or www.msspower.com.au. Or
Not only do you have access to a dedicated team and a wider range of
specialist power products designed for the Australian power market through one
representative.
company. We can also support your wider requirements with technical information, specialist engineering design, NATA accredited laboratories and superior on-time delivery. We also support leading brands with a comprehensive range of Terminations !" # " $ % " & " ' ( " Underground Equipment, Premium Safety Equipment, Test & Measurement, Tools & Accessories, Lighting, DC to DC Rail Power Supplies, Network Cabling and cabinets, Structure Cabling, Fibre optic solutions and Engineering services.
Below are some of the major brands we support:
Quality ISO 9001
National Sales T 1800 769 370 E: sales@msspower.com.au W: cabacpower.com.au W: msspower.com.au Australian Power & Energy News - Page 9
FNQ’s toughest cleaning job completed at Kareeya Hydro
Kareeya Penstock
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ONTRACTORS at Kareeya Hydro Power Station, near Tully, recently completed FNQ’s toughest cleaning job when they removed 10 years of slippery build-up from inside a steeply-sloping pitch-black kilometre-long pipe.
The experts, who had to remove the deposits to inspect the interior walls for damage, had to be lowered on safety ropes into the 1.8 metre diameter pipe, which plunges 927 metres from the top of Tully Gorge to the bottom. They used high-pressure water hoses to remove algal deposits on the walls of the 55year-old steel pipe and then checked for wear and tear. The pipe was empty while the work was done. It usually carries Tully River water downhill to Kareeya Hydro Power Station, which returns it to the river after using it to generate electricity. “Contractors Kelly’s Australia, of Innisfail, did a fantastic job working in very difficult conditions for the last month,” Kareeya’s Site Manager Kevin Ramm said. “These experts did the work in a highly professional way to the highest safety standards,” Mr Ramm said. “Using only small lights on top of their safety helmets, they had to remove slimy buildup and check the pipe’s internal coating for any damage. “The work will allow Kareeya Hydro Power Station to safely and efficiently generate greenhouse-gas-free electricity for many years to come.” Kareeya Hydro generates the greenest possible power for about 70,000 Queensland homes and it employs 16 people in the local community. The pipe – or the penstock, to give it its technical name - directs water to turn the turbines at Kareeya and generate electricity. The Managing Director of Kelly’s Australia, Bill Kelly, who worked inside the pipe, said Kelly’s had devised a special tunnel cleaner to do the job. It is a small trolley with two rotating arms with water nozzles spraying high-pressure water onto the penstock walls. “The experts said we couldn’t clean the pipe with our equipment but we proved them wrong,” Bill said. “Inside the pipe it was very dark and very Page 10 - Australian Power & Energy News
slippery but we had the very best safety systems in place,” he said. Kelly’s reported that the interior of the 55year-old penstock was in very good condition and could be used for decades to come. The power station also does regular maintenance work on its generating equipment. FNQ has three hydro power stations, all owned by Stanwell. Besides Kareeya, Koombooloomba Hydro, at Koombooloomba Dam, generates electricity from the water released from the dam and the Barron Gorge Hydro Power Station, near Cairns, generates electricity from the Barron River.
Above: Kelly’s Australia staff at Kareeya Hydro’s toughest cleaning job
Kelly’s know-how ensures Penstock Pipe Security W
HEN talking to Bill Kelly, who along with his wife Raelene, established Kelly’s Australia in 1996, you immediately sense that you are in safe hands and that Bill clearly knows his trade. It’s just as well because in the highly specialised world in which they operate, there is an element of risk.
Stanwell Corporation’s Kareeya Hydro Power Station, in Far North Queensland has been supplying clean, green energy since 1957 and to ensure continued efficiency, maintenance is paramount. Generating hydro-electricity relies on the uninterrupted flow of water but over time, pipes that transport the water can become ‘congested’ and they have to be cleaned and more importantly, inspected for any structural weaknesses. A leak in the pipe can turn into a disaster of epic proportions but fortunately, preventing this kind of a scenario is exactly what Kelly’s Australia does best. In this instance the penstock pipe in question is 50 years old and around 1.6 kilometres in length. It also travels the distance underground, not unlike a roller coaster would on its downhill exit. The pipe commences its journey at the top of Tully Gorge. The first 650 metres of the pipe is horizontal before negotiating a series of inclines. The first downhill section falls away at an incline of 39 degrees, then it rolls away further at a 22 degree angle and incorporates a further dip of 26 degrees before it distributes the water to the turbines at the bottom of the gorge. The area is isolated and twin rope access is used on the inclined sections and getting out can be difficult so ‘cleaners’ will spend up to 4 hours within the pipe on each shift. The job will take four weeks. Fortunately, when confronted by such a major task, Bill Kelly and his team are ‘at home’. This is their rarified domain and Bill Kelly always
Above: The Portal which is at the top of Tully Gorge enjoys a challenge. There’s a certain ‘buzz’ when dealing with a complex and physically challenging project. When attacking a project Bill Kelly operates with a ‘horses for courses’ philosophy. Each member of the Kelly gang is hand-picked and qualified to execute a specific task. All risks are minimised with safety and environmental issues and even rescue operations managed by specialists. When working underground within a pipe, communication is severely restricted and only two-way radios with a limited reach can maintain communication between each member of the team. But state of the art technologies are employed to detect any structural weakness as well as GPS navigation and other aids. For this particular project Kelly’s designed and built a special water jetting tunnel cleaner which travelled down the pipe. Technicians followed closely behind to monitor its progress.
Once the pipe is clean visual inspections can commence. I asked Bill Kelly what it was like to execute such a project. “We’ve enjoyed a 15 year working relationship with Stanwell so coordination is a straightforward process. We understand each other’s work methods and although it was a challenging project, working on a green energy resource is always a pleasure. “Bear in mind that Kareeya is located in a world heritage area and it’s a beautiful part of the country so although working inside a pipe under artificial light can be a bit gloomy, going
to work each day in a tropical rain forest is something very special.” Kelly’s Australia provides premium quality, high pressure water jetting, hydro-jet drain cleaning and CCTV inspection services throughout Australia and South East Asia. The company’s operational reach extends across most industry sectors including mining, construction, telecommunications, energy, government, roads, marine and transport. To find out more about Kelly’s Australia visit; www.kellysaustralia.com.au or contact the company on 07 4061 6683 or by email; info@kellysaustralia.com.au
Above: Bill Kelly Australian Power & Energy News - Page 11
CitiPower and Powercor Recognised with Prestigious National Customer Service Award
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itiPower and Powercor Australia have been recognised with the prestigious Australian Service Excellence Awards’ “Best of the Best 2012” award by the Customer Service Institute of Australia (CSIA).
The CSIA Australian Service Excellence Awards recognise achievement and high standards of management, training, and commitment to excellence in customer service. The winners of this year’s awards were chosen from a field of Australia’s top and most successful customer service organisations.
“This is a great result for CitiPower and Powercor – and our 1 million electricity distribution customers in Melbourne and across Western and Central Victoria. It recognises our very strong culture of customer service – and winning the “Best of the Best 2012” award shows that our efforts are delivering results,” said Brendan Bloore, General Manager, Customer Service, CitiPower and Powercor “The Australian electricity industry is changing rapidly, and is under more scrutiny than ever before. Many of the changes are beyond our control, but what we can do is strive to deliver service that meets or exceeds our customer’s expectations. We don’t claim to get it right every single time, but we are continuing to work on ways to increase customer satisfaction.” This year, CSIA national awards were given to other major companies and organisations, such as ANZ, Australia Post, HP, MLC, the Salvation Army and Virgin Australia.
“The organisations selected, such as CitiPower and Powercor, have demonstrated that they are leaders in customer service and Above: CSIA Awards Left: CP PAL CSIA Team Leaders
are very worthy winners of our top award,” said CSIA Executive Director, Brett Whitford. “All our winners and finalists are working hard towards service excellence and their achievements in customer service have shown a true commitment to putting the customer first in today’s competitive business climate.” Brendan added “It is especially noteworthy that this award comes several years into the smart meter rollout, which is providing our company with a unique opportunity to engage with every single customer in our service territories. Overall customer satisfaction of the CitiPower and Powercor smart meter rollout has been very high, despite some parts of the community and media being critical of the technology.”
SkillsTech Australia apprentices to wear the green and gold in Germany
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WO talented young SkillsTech Australia apprentices from Murrumba Downs and Taringa are heading to Germany next year to represent their country in the WorldSkills international competition. Sheetmetal apprentice Jay Logan, 18yearsold of Murrumba Downs and turning apprentice Philip Matthews-Frederick 24yearsold of Taringa who have both been named in the 2013 Team Australia Skillaroos, competing in their respective trades. WorldSkills Project Manager Tony Wright said Jay did a great job winning a gold medal
Above: Jay Logan Page 12 - Australian Power & Energy News
and Philip winning silver at the WorldSkills Australia national competition in September in Sydney and have now both secured berths in the national team. “It is my pleasure to announce that two SkillsTech Australia students have been named in the team to compete on the world stage at the WorldSkills International Competition in Leipzig, Germany in July 2013 and we wish them well,” Mr Wright said. Jay’s mum Kim said she could not be prouder of her son being chosen to represent Australia at the international skills competition, which will be his first overseas trip. “At 18years old he is on his way to becoming a qualified sheetmetal worker, has won a gold medal and now is named in the national team for his efforts – we are very proud and I know his employer Howarth’s Sheetmetal Fabrication is too,” Ms Logan said. Howarth’s Sheetmetal Fabrications Managing Director Glyn Powell said Jay was so good he could almost complete his apprenticeship now. “He is a great kid, a hard worker and could honestly beat anyone on the team we have here; this is a well-deserved win for Jay – we are all absolutely stoked for him,” Mr Powell said. For further information about the 2013 Team Australia Skillaroos announcement, please visit: http://www.worldskills.org.au/introducing-the2013-team-australia-skillaroos/ For further information about training opportunities available at SkillsTech Australia, please phone 1800 654 447 or visit www. skillstech.tafe.qld.gov.au
Above: Philip Matthews-Frederick
Tasmanian company to undertake major upgrade of Rowallan Dam
T
ASMANIAN company Hazell Bros has been awarded a contract for the first stage of a project to undertake a major upgrade of Rowallan Dam in Tasmania’s north.
The project will upgrade the 44-year old dam to modern-day standards over the next three years. Rowallan Dam is a 43-metre high earth and rock-fill dam on the Mersey River in Tasmania’s north, and was commissioned in 1968. Its condition and performance were reviewed in 2011 as part of a planned program of risk assessment across our entire asset base. This review found the dam’s performance was consistent with expectations for a dam of its design, construction and age. However, improved understanding of the dam’s risks meant Hydro Tasmania is now able to reduce risks that were unforeseen in 1968. The $3.9 million Hazell Bros contract is for works to upgrade the existing concrete spillway. Hazell Bros will construct new concrete walls inside the existing spillway walls, while retaining the existing walls in position. The new walls will be anchored into the bedrock beneath the dam using a series of post-tensioned steel anchors on both sides of the spillway. Work on the first stage of the upgrade started this month and will be completed by May 2013. The second stage of the project will improve the flood capacity of the dam and is scheduled to take place during the 2014/2015 summer. Hydro Tasmania’s Chief Technical and Operations Officer, Evangelista Albertini, said that the planned work would ensure the dam continued to perform well into the future. “Hydro Tasmania manages a large asset base including 204 dams and hundreds of kilometres of man-made waterways to direct water to storages and power stations. These assets have
Musselroe Wind Farm - last turbine foundation completed
been built over nearly a century of hydropower development. “As the assets age we continue to monitor them for efficiency and safety and we invest to ensure they remain fit for purpose and provide ongoing service for the foreseeable future.” Mr Albertini said the work on Rowallan Dam will cost $13.4 million over three years, and the project is part of Hydro Tasmania’s rolling 10year asset management plan. “Planned maintenance and upgrades help to retain our world-class standards. Our major project schedule ensures the electricity supply is reliable and maximises power generation, ensuring Hydro Tasmania remains Australia’s leading producer of renewable energy.”
A nacelle being taken off a recently arrived ship from Italy, which was carrying nacelles and hubs. Photo taken at the Bell Bay port in northern Tasmania
Above: Investigation work on Rowallan Dam spillway
A major milestone for the Musselroe Wind Farm was completed recently, with pouring of the final foundation for the turbines. The final pour brings to a close an important and lengthy part of work on construction of the $400 million project. The final foundation pour means the presence of the main civil contractor Hazell Bros on site will be wound down. It also paves the way for tower components to be erected, and the first of these will occur before the end of the year. As well as turbine foundations other civil works on the project are complete, including roads and hardstands, the control building, switchyard and transmission line foundations. Stringing of the transmission line is also well progressed. Construction of the wind farm is on schedule, with the first of the wind turbines expected to be generating in February and the wind farm fully operational by July 2013.
Musselroe Wind Farm fast facts • The site is located on the northeastern tip of Tasmania on the Cape Portland property. • Wind farm capacity is 168 Megawatts comprised of 56 three megawatt wind generator turbines. • Connection to the Transend transmission network is via a 48km transmission line at the Derby substation. • Energy production will be approximately 500 gigawatts per year – enough to power around 50 000 homes. •Capital cost of the project is in the order of $400 million.
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This paper examine networks. Therma s the current state of corona discharg l imaging has plant for many e imaging technolo been extensiv years, and ely used for the benefits are now well surveying thermalgies for high voltage electrica of its applicat established. losses from l power ion to electrica The activity using buildings UV light generat newer cousin, corona l imaging, createsnetwork problem detectio and industrial proving itself as a very useful ed by the impact of excessiv n and an components. diagnostic tool e electric field electronic image of corona diagnosis This paper focuses to network operato stress on air. discharge work and some Corona imaging rs concerned practical applicat on UV imaging in electrica is rapidly l power network with preserving the life ions of these of the system cameras. s, outlining the corona mechan isms at DETEC
TING ELECT RICAL CORO DISCHARGE NA
to ionise a complete electrica 2.1 in a flash-ove What is “Coron l path which r. The field would result a Discharge”? Normal dry gradients high corona can air at standard occur over very enough to cause pressure has atmospheric the conduct short localised a dielectric breakdo temperature or. regions close and 3kV/mm (3 wn value of to Corona typically x 10 6 -1 happens near shape and size Vm ). The exact value approximately As the a sharp air varies with the partially near the conductor become point or protrusion. pressure increaseof the electrodes and increase conductive) it s ionised s s as the air Electrical corona[1,2]. size of the conduct has the effect of increasin (and hence discharge (commo g the apparen or. Since this just “corona less sharp, the t new conduct ”) is a partial nly referred ionisation may ive region is to as region, discharge in an electrica not the air surroun l conductor 1 extend far past thus tending . It occurs gradient around this local These high electricto limit the corona’s extent when the electric ding [4]. field gradient field by poor (“corona onset”)the conductor exceeds s a are minimum critical design (such usually caused [3], strong enough value, usually in excess as choosing either the electric parameters field gradient of to ionise the that permit immediately to become gases present 2kV/mm regions) or because surrounding too high in in the something in the conduct localised or but not suffi air the designer’s control the environm ent not under cient a dirty has altered since or damaged installat ion component, increased pollution(such as , etc.). 2.2 Why is Corona Most of the noticeab Activity a Problem le effects of corona ? are undesira ble. These discharge activity include radio interfere nce and chemica power loss, audible noise, consequential l decomposition insulator and of air with metal compon Interestingly, corona does entry damage act to suppres they pass along [5]. s voltage surges its only merit. transmission lines but this as is believed to be 2.2.1 Power Loss Corona power loss depend (temperature, s on factors Figure 1: Corona such as weather pressure, made visible difference between humidity, by an analog wind-speed), UV camera line operatin the onset voltage, g voltage and 1. Corona discharge electric the is one of four field gradient corona smoothness, distinct types s, conductor conductor size, of electrical breakdow surface and system n of air. The others frequency. are: glow discharge Fair s, sparks, and arcs. 1
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www.lordpowerequipment.com.au | 1800 128 000 Australian Power & Energy News - Page 13
Ausgrid Earthing Equipment Tender Awarded to ERICO E
RICO has been awarded the contract to supply copper-bonded earth rods and couplers across the Ausgrid electricity network for the next five years. The Ausgrid electricity network provides power to more than 1.6 million customers through Sydney, the Hunter region and the Central Coast. The network is made up of more than 200 large electricity substations, 500,000 power poles, 30,000 small distribution substations and almost 50,000 km of below- and above-ground electricity cables. Ausgrid is currently undertaking an $8 billion renewal and upgrade of its electricity network. It is also building Australia’s first commercial-scale smart grid after being chosen to deliver the Australian Government’s Smart Grid, Smart City project. Ausgrid embarked on a comprehensive test of earthing equipment. In addition to compliance testing (UL 467), additional field testing was conducted in real-life applications to replicate Australia’s tough environmental conditions. Testing included driving earth rods via power-assisted tools and heads across various soil conditions, adherence of the rods’ copper coating to the steel core, and bending. This enabled a precise observation of how the earth rods and couplers performed. As a result of Ausgrid’s technical and commercial evaluation, in March 2011 ERICO was awarded the contract to supply copper-bonded earth rods and couplers across the Ausgrid network for the next five years.
Copper-bonded rods with coupler.
Two earth rods are subjected to the same pressure load test. The ERITECH® copperbonded earth rod on the left will bend without tears, cracks or folds to the outer sheath. The inferior copperclad rod on the right has developed cracks and creases, which reduces it serviceability.
ERICO is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of copper-bonded earth rods and has developed a unique manufacturing process for providing consistent copper thickness, a nickel substrate, superior adhesion and greater corrosion life compared to traditional copper-platting technologies. ERICO’s copper-bonded earth rods are trusted for providing a service life of more than 35 to 40 years in most soils. They are also UL Listed and meet all U.S., UK and European standards, including EN 50164-1 and 2, which is one of the most stringent standards in the world today.
Threadless coupling.
ERICO’s couplers enable the rods to be driven deep into the earth quickly and easily without the risk of rod separation. They are made of a high-strength silicon bronze and are tapered so that when the rod is driven into the coupling, the two parts compress to form a conductive connection. Brenton Williams, ERICO Commercial and Industrial Regional Sales Manger, said “We are very pleased to be able to
provide earth rods and couplers of the highest quality and life expectancy to Ausgrid. ERICO is committed to working with the Australia power utility to increase the service life and integrity of installed earthing systems.” For more information on ERICO’s full line of grounding products, visit www.erico.com. Additional information on the Ausgrid electricity network is available at www.ausgrid.com.au.
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For more information on these or other products from ERICO, visit www.erico.com NEC is a registered trademark of, and National Electrical Code (NEC) standard is a copyright of the National Fire Protection Association.
Page 14 - Australian Power & Energy News E663AD12ASEN-02.indd 1
6/21/12 11:31 AM
ElectraNet’s ACR project wins AIPM 2012 national award ElectraNet’s Adelaide Central Reinforcement (ACR) project, which represents the most significant improvement in electricity infrastructure in South Australia into the Adelaide CBD since the 1980s, has won the 2012 national award from the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) for a Construction/ Engineering Project in excess of $100m.
The AIPM is the highly-respected peak body for project management in Australia, which encourages national excellence through professionalism in project management. The Project Management Achievement Awards have been established to recognise, honour and promote outstanding achievements in program and project management across our nation.
“I’m very pleased that the ACR project has won the 2012 national award for its category. This is a magnificent achievement, as it was judged along with all winners in the category from each Australian state and territory. It gives appropriate recognition to ElectraNet and the ACR project as the “best of the best,” Mr. Ian Stirling, ElectraNet CEO, said. “The dedication from all parties involved was a key contributor in providing the project team with the confidence and support needed to consistently follow the proven project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) methodology and standards to deliver a project of this scale. “In a multi-billion construction industry, this project evidenced ElectraNet’s costeffective electricity transmission projects with non-negotiable completion dates set by the Australian Energy Regulatory, can also deliver best-practice project management excellence including balancing value-for-money outcomes with positive stakeholder benefits.
Above: Nic Moffa with the award and certificate presented at the Award dinner
“I would also like to extend thanks and congratulations on behalf of ElectraNet, to our contractors and partners – Alstom Grid Australia, Diona Pty Limited, GBP Projects, LS Cable & System Australia, Parsons Brinckerhoff, SADB Directional Drilling, SA Power Networks, S.E.M. Civils, Taihan
Above: Nic Moffa, ElectraNet, Adelaide Central Reinforcement Project Cable Project Manager and Hoang Nguyen, ElectraNet, Adelaide Central Reinforcement Project Statutory Approvals and Communications Manager accepting the award from Mark Newton, AIPM WA Chapter President
Electric Australia Pty Limited, Wallbridge and Gilbert, Woodhead, and York Civils Pty Limited for their able and extensive support on this project,” he said. The ACR project was delivered in December 2011 two weeks ahead of schedule, within budget and to industry best-practice – ensuring the future security and reliability of electricity
supply to the Adelaide CBD and surrounds. Recently the ACR project won three awards locally, two from the Australian Institute of Project Management and one for outstanding achievement in engineering from the Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards, whose national awards were announced on 20 November 2012.
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Australian Power & Energy News - Page 15
King Island showcases renewable energy solutions to the world T
HE first stage of a world-leading project on King Island with the potential to provide solutions to the challenge of supplying renewable energy to remote communities across the globe was officially opened recently.
The $46 million King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP) brings together a portfolio of new and existing technologies to increase renewable energy use on King Island and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It is also helping to constrain power prices on the island. The first-stage system was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson. He was joined by the Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings and Deputy Premier Bryan Green. KIREIP is an initiative of Hydro Tasmania and is being developed with the assistance of the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Program and the Tasmanian Government. Hydro Tasmania Chairman Dr David Crean said solutions developed under KIREIP had significant potential to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce reliance on diesel fuel for power generation on islands and in offgrid systems across the globe.
“The aim of KIREIP is to reduce diesel consumption for power generation by more than 65 per cent and provide for the ability to generate all of King Island’s power needs using renewable energy when conditions allow,” Dr Crean said. “The unique part of this system is the integration of technologies. Although the renewable generation sources such as wind, solar and bio-diesel are mature, the enabling and storage technologies are new and emerging. “The way these technologies are being used and integrated is world-leading and another example of the clever solutions to real-world problems that have been developed in Tasmania and can be exported globally.”
Hydro Tasmania’s CEO Roy Adair said while it was normally costly to provide energy to remote areas such as the Bass Strait islands, the investment in renewable energy had reduced the operational costs of the Bass Strait island system. Mr Adair said the KIREIP solution could be established in other remote and off-grid locations around the world, providing costeffective renewable energy solutions.
(Continued on next page) Above: The King Island Advanced Hybrid Power Station site of KIREIP
Above: Federal Minister Ferguson speaking at the Diesel UPS Opening Page 16 - Australian Power & Energy News
Above: KIREIP Project Director Simon Gamble showing a tour through the station on the public open day
King Island showcases renewable energy solutions to the world
Above: Containerised Biodiesel Tank
Above: Inspecting the newly installed Diesel Rotary UPS systems are (L-R) Federal Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings and Hydro Tasmania chairman Dr David Crean (Photo courtesy of Hitzinger)
Above: One of the installed D-UPS units
“Although there are remote area power systems in some parts of the world that are capable of supplying the energy needs of single homes or small villages, this is the first remote system on this scale capable of supplying the energy needs of an entire community primarily through wind and solar energy.” “Hydro Tasmania is proud to be able to showcase this innovation through the demonstration centre we have established at the King Island Advance Hybrid Power Station. “The demonstration centre allows us to provide energy companies with a first-hand look at our innovation solutions, and we expect this to translate into the uptake of the technology globally.” Hydro Tasmania is seeking to export the energy solution to utility and mining customers in Australia, the Pacific and the South East Asia region. KIREIP will be completed by the end of 2013. Mr Adair said additional works to be completed include the implementation of Australia’s largest battery, the deployment of a dynamic demand-response system and expansion of the wind farm.
“Ultimately, Hydro Tasmania’s vision for King Island includes locally-grown and manufactured biodiesel for sustainable energy production.”
Interface Australian Power & Energy News - Page 17
True 3-Phase Ratiometer Now 250V ! DV-Power of Sweden has added a 250V version to the TRT series of 3-phase ratiometers. The 250V test voltage has been added to the existing four test voltages of 1, 10, 40, 100V in response to requests for higher accuracy. The DV-Power range of Ratiometers already offer the highest accuracy of 0.05% and the ability to test all types of transformers including those with irregular vector groups like phase shifting transformers, rectifier, arc-furnace and traction transformers. The new 250V model improves accuracy to 0.03%.
True 3-phase Supply The unique ability of the TRT to test transformers with irregular vector groups is due to DV-Power’s use of a true 3-phase power supply. The TRT series generates true 120° 3-phase voltage unlike most competitors switched single phase power supply. Three phase ratiometers utilising a switched single phase supply require an auxiliary 3-phase supply to test irregular vector type transformers.
The DV-Power TRT series is based on state of the art technology, using the most advanced technique available today. The ratiometers can be used to test single-phase and three-phase transformers, both with and without taps and current transformers.
Easy Operation For three-phase measurement, the test set is connected to all three phases of the transformer to be tested. If specific vector diagrams for different types of transformers are selected, the TRT will run a specific test for each transformer type (i.e., single phase, Delta to y, Y to delta, Delta to delta, or Y to y) without the need to switch test connections. Turns ratio, phase shift and excitation current are displayed on the display with true threephase and single-phase tests. TRT allows entry of a transformer’s nameplate voltages for the turns-ratio calculation. This feature eliminates any error otherwise caused by an operator’s manual calculation. The TRT also compares the test result with the calculated ratio and prints out the % of error for each test. It is easy to
read display and easy to follow menu. View the result on the display. There is sufficient memory to store 100 test records and each record consists of 100 test readings. All measurements are time and date stamped. Transformer excitation current as well as phase shift angles helps to detect transformers shorted turns or unequal number of turns connected in parallel. Operating conditions messages or error messages identify incorrect test conditions, abnormal operating condition or winding problems.
Immunity from Interferance Highly efficient filtration allows the TRT to cancel electrostatic and electromagnetic interference in HV electric fields.
High Current Resistance Measurements Many applications of low resistance measurement require a test current greater than the traditional 10Amps. Measurement of busbar joints and circuit breaker contacts is recommended to be done with a current approximating the normal load current of the equipment. Typically test currents from 200 to 600 Amps are preferred. Measurement of the winding resistance of large transformers and motors can be achieved faster with a test current between 20 and 60 Amps. The higher current will saturate the core and reach stability faster than a low current. On very large equipment, a 10 Amp instrument may never reach stability and fluctuating readings will occur. In the past high current Ohmmeters were unbelievably heavy, with some tipping the scales at over 30kg! Carrying these into difficult locations could introduce some OH&S issues. DV-Power of Sweden offer a large range of high current microohmmeters and winding ohmmeters weighing from just 8kg!
The RMO600 is now available with optional Demagnetising. This option is useful when measuring the contact resistance of large circuit breakers with current transformers integrated into the bushings or measuring the joint resistance of busbars when there is a current transformer between the connection points. The high test current can magnetise the CT cores and failure to demagnetise after test can cause problems when the CT’s are energised.
RMO600G Using the optional current clamp to measure resistance with both sides earthed
Transformer Ohmmeters – Now with Demagnetiser! The DV-Power RMO-T series Transformer Ohmmeter are available in 6 models with test currents adjustable from 5mA to 10, 20, 25, 40, 60 and now 100 Amps. All RMO-T series are dual channel to enable the primary and secondary windings to be measured and displayed simultaneously. After test the windings are automatically discharged to remove the hazardous voltage from the windings. The new RMO60TD now includes demagnetising by applying an AC current of decreasing magnitude to the transformer at the conclusion of the test. The RMO60T includes an on-load tap-changer control to enable dynamic resistance values to be measured. This function is optional on the RMO40T.
On Load Tap Changers Changes in Test Current Ripple are indicated during transitions
Right: The DVPower RMO-T series
Left: Burnt contacts detected by dynamic resistance measurement
Page 18 - Australian Power & Energy News
3-Phase Demagnitiser Existing owners of high current Micro-ohmmeters and Transformer Ohmmeters which are not optioned with Demagnetising do not have to replace their instrument or buy another. DV-Power also manufactures a stand-alone 3-phase Demagnetiser. This instrument can be used any type of single or 3-phase transformer. De-magnetising current can be set between 5mA and 60 Amps. De-magnetising either as an option for a Transformer Ohmmeter, a Micro-ohmmeter or as a stand-alone Demagnetiser is achieved by applying an AC current starting at the selected value decreasing in magnitude to zero. The process is fully automatic and only requires initiation by the operator. Demagnetising instruments from DV-Power comprise: • RMO40TD Transformer Ohmmeter • RMO60TD Transformer Ohmmeter • RMO600D Micro-ohmmeter • DEM60 3-phase Transformer Demagnetiser
MicroOhmmeters
The RMO40T and 60T can be used to measure the winding resistance of individual taps on a power transformer’s tap changer. It can also check whether the on-load tap changer (OLTC) switches without interruption. The moment a tap changers position is changed, the RMO detects a sudden very short drop in current. The magnitude of the ripple is used to determine a correctly functioning tap changer from a malfunctioning one. The tap-change control on the RMO allows the operator to control the ONTC from the instrument.
Ratiometers: DV-Power TRT Series
Collapse of test current during tap changer operation indicates a fault with the tap changer
CAT Circuit Breaker Analyser The new range of Circuit Breaker Analysers & Timers from DV-Power of Sweden compliment the wide range of High Current Ohmmeters, Winding Ohmmeters and Ratiometers. The CAT series are state-of-the-art instruments designed for advanced testing and analysis of a wide range of circuit breakers. The CAT will measure timing and record graphs of coil currents and the displacement of the moving parts. The CAT is a stand alone or PC-controlled instrument for condition assessment of circuit breakers. The timing channels record closings and openings of main contacts, resistor contacts and auxiliary contacts. Graphs of both open and close coil current and displacements of HV and MV circuit breaker moving parts are recorded. Main contact channels can also measure the resistance of preinsertion resistors. The CAT provides easy selection of the different operating modes: Open, Close, Open-Close, CloseOpen, Open-Close-Open. The breaker can be operated remotely by using the External Trigger. DV-Win software provides full control of all CAT functions from a PC including acquisition and analysis of test results. The DV-Power CAT Breaker Analyser is fully optionable to allow users to purchase the exact capabilities to suit their needs. The CAT can be user specified as follows: • 3 or 6 channels for main contacts • 3 channels for auxiliary contacts • Coil operation • Coil current measurement • 2 analogue inputs • Analogue or digital transducer input • USB memory stick
Transformer & Switchgear Analysis Winding Ohmmeters DV-Power RMO-T Series • Choice of maximum test currents of 10, 20, 40 & 60 Amps • Tests primary & secondary windings simultaneously • Resistance measurements from 1uΩ to 2,000Ω • On-Load Tap Changer Analysis • Automatic Discharge after test • Memory for 500 measurements with RMO Win-T software • Optional Demagnetisation
Ratiometers DV-Power TRT Series • True 3-phase test supply to 250V • Ratios from 0.8 to 15000 • User selectable test voltage • Tests all types of single and 3-phase transformers • Measures turns ratio, phase shift and excitation current
MicroOhmeter DV-Power RMO Series • Choice of maximum test currents of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 & 600 Amps • Light weight from 8kg • Resistance measurement from 0.1uΩ to 1Ω • Accuracy 0.2% • Memory for 500 measurements with RMO Win software • Optional Remote Control & Demagnetisation
Circuit Breaker Analyser & Timer DV-Power CAT Series • Timing and motion measurement • 6 or 3 channels for main contacts • 1 transducer input (digital or analogue) • 3 channels for auxiliary inputs • 4 analog inputs • Results printed on 80mm thermal printer • Detailed analysis of test results using versatile DV-Win software
Pacific Test Equipment Pty Ltd HEAD OFFICE 27/7 Anella Avenue Castle Hill 2154 P.O. Box 6930 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 T +61 2 9659 2300 • F +61 2 9659 2311 MELBOURNE 16 Dickson Court (P.O. Box 352) Williamstown VIC 3016 T +61 3 9397 0453 • F +61 3 9397 0473
www.pacifictest.com.au
sales@pacifictest.com.au Australian Power & Energy News - Page 19
82-2-707-6683
Page 20 - Australian Power & Energy News
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