Case Study

Medium Voltage Turnkey Solution for Edmonton Substation

Scope: Design, manufacture, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of a 22kV substation. End Customer: Ergon Energy Location: Cairns, Queensland

Ergon Energy required a green-field substation in the southern suburbs of Cairns in response to sharp increase in power demand caused by large-scale domestic and commercial development in the greater Cairns area. Initially, the Ergon Energy specified a 22kV switching station with provision for a subsequent upgrade to a 132/22kV zone substation. Siemens won the contract to provide a complete turnkey solution. The exception was the two storey masonry control building built to a standard local design for the tropical, maritime and cyclonic environment. Siemens was responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning the indoor 22kV switchgear, protection and control, power, control and communications cabling, auxiliary systems and 22kV 8.6MVAr Capacitor Bank housed in an outdoor marine-grade aluminium panel. The inherently safe and reliable design of the Siemens 8BK20 switchboard (complete with vacuum circuit breakers) was chosen to meet the clients expectations. The circuit breakers are free from major maintenance, extending the asset life and lowering life cycle costs. The 8BK20 allows all operations to be conducted behind closed high voltage doors, ensuring maximum operator safety. The switchgear is based on a fully-type-tested design and is rated to withstand internal arcing. The board with ratings of 22/50/125kV, 2000A, 16kA/ 3 seconds was manufactured in the Siemens Jakarta factory. The 16 panels were divided into three bus sections to allow the client additional flexibility with future operational isolations. The secondary fit-out of the LV compartment of the 22kV switchboard was implemented in a subcontractors workshop in Melbourne. The project management team implemented our highest standards of project delivery, according to ISO9001 and our own PM@PTD processes and training. Our project management team produced quality plans, occupational health and safety and environmental plans tailored for the project, site conditions and client requirements. The engineering and design was prepared by Siemens in Melbourne, compliant with client standards but customised for Siemens switchgear and protection and control equipment.

Energy

Power Solutions

Siemens Ltd 2008. All rights reserved.

The electrical package of drawings for the complete substation achieved Approved for Construction by using a co-operative approach with the clients asset, power systems and communications people. The latest generation of Siemens Siprotec 7SJ6 protection relays and bay controllers ensured Ergon Energy innovative protection, control and communications solutions. For the first time, Ergon Energy was prepared to relinquish the mandatory requirement for physical lights, pushbutton and selector switches for 22kV CB control and alarming. The clients operators were given on-site training in the remote and local control of the substation via passwords for authorisation, keypads for scrolling annunciation pages on a screen, calling up a measured value page, selecting dynamic icons on a graphical display to initiate switching, etc. Even though the new way of operating the substation was initially met some with resistance from the Ergon field operators, they soon became accustomed via the hands-on training and the intuitive assistance given by the equipment. To ensure a quality solution, very prescriptive, extensive Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) protocols were prepared in advance. The Siemens methodology required that an integrated FAT be conducted. Our interpretation of an integrated FAT is that, if physically possible, all product packages including the 22kV switchgear, protection and control equipment and auxiliary systems are connected by inter-panel wiring in a workshop environment and under the watchful eye of the client. In this manner protection trips, alarms, signalling, measured values, control commands were accurately processed and communicated to the various constituents as per the design requirements and duly recorded and witnessed in the FAT protocol documentation. As the consequence the site testing and commissioning (after connection of cables) was relatively straight forward. Signals to the master station in Cairns were extensively tested to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Subsequently, energisation of the switchboard and the substation feeder cut-overs process was undertaken by the client. The client commended Siemens for delivering a quality, innovative substation with all key parameters being delivered including delivery within the project time frame and providing easy to read drawings and documentation.

Energy

Power Solutions

Siemens Ltd 2008. All rights reserved.