‘Miss Electropar’
2007 Title Set To Go Down To The Wire!
W
ith a huge roar and wash of spray
the largest ever NZ Offshore
Powerboat Championship field made an
impressive sight, as over 70 race craft tore
through the calm waters of Lake Taupo.
Dipping their feet in the water for the first
time this year in a brand new race boat
was the crew of ‘Miss Electropar’
Electropar’s Industry Newsletter
With the new boat hitting the water late
2006 and finishing 2nd overall in the 06
Formula Honda Championship, all eyes
were on the team as they battled their
way along side the largest Superboat
and Superboat Light fleet seen in NZ
since the late 1970’s.
The 2007 Championship has seen
bumper fields in all classes including an
unprecedented 20 Formula Honda boats
making and appearance this year. With
8 rounds in total this series and crews
only being able to drop their worst result
Formula Honda will again show itself to be
a hard fought and extremely close series.
As the chequered flag waved at the end
of leg one at Taupo the ‘Miss Electropar’
crew found themselves finishing in a close
4th position.
10th of February saw the teams greeted
with another extremely calm flat sea at
Maraetai, Auckland. Again large fields
were welcomed by record turnouts of
spectators lining the shore. The Formula
Honda series again proved its worth with
some extremely tight and exciting racing.
‘Miss Electropar’ piloted by Mark Helms
and Micheal Knight fought their way from
7th place around the first mark finish 3rd
overall only a few boat lengths behind
2nd place.
Round 3 this year was held at a brand
new venue at Gulf Harbor. Huge sea
swells made for some boat and back
breaking moments. Only one of the big
Superboats finished under full power, the
others all suffered major damage and
those that didn’t retire completely had to
face the fact that they had been lapped
by some of the smaller field.
New Zealand:
Australia:
Issue 7.1
APRIL 2007
April 2007 - Issue 7.1
WOW Factor : 60kA / 1 Second @ 22kV
Rowville Station Service Switching Box And Neutral Bus
V
FREE 2007 Race Posters are out now!
A2 Full Colour Ask Your Electropar Representative or email: murrayh@electropar.co.nz
‘Miss Electropar’ spent most of the race
airborne as the team again proved that
they were on the pace. After 60 Miles of
racing ‘Mark Helm’s picked his moment
and was able to snatch 2nd place away
from H1 Light Industry’s with the finish line
in sight to huge cheers from the onshore
supporters.
stopped to assist and in a display of true
grit and determination rejoined the race
to finish in 13th position.
Wellington, unlike last year, dawned a
calm, windless day, yes WINDLESS! The
sea was lumpy due to the wake kicked
up from the Superboat class but after the
Gulf Harbor round the crews were happy
that no repeat of last years massive swell
was there to greet them.
The final rounds be something not to be
missed. Electropar will be setting up the tent,
firing up the BBQ and putting on refreshments’
for all customers who come enjoy a family
day out taking in all the excitement.
With the 6th round now only days away
we see a very close championship. ‘Miss
Electropar’ sits in 3rd overall with the top 3
boats separated by the smallest of margins.
Once again the ‘Miss Electropar’ fought
hard at the head of the field to bring
home a close 3rd place.
Electropar Team clothing is now also
available for purchase and is selling
extremely fast at the race days so if you
want to grab a race team shirt or hat
drop us a line.
Round 5 in Tauranga will be remembered
for the spectacular start. As ‘Miss
Electropar’ rounded the first mark the
team were launched off a rouge wave,
throwing the boat almost upside down
and seeing the crew thrown out of the
boat completely! The team were fished
out of the water when the crew of Altitude
The Team look forward to turning it on
for you again at Napier and Whitianga
during April, with the final round this year
being Auckland on May 12th. Come see
the boys bring the championship home.
For race invites, clothing, or inquires
please email Murray Howell on
murrayh@electropar.co.nz
Freephone: 0800 733 735
Freephone: 1800 141 502
www.electropar.co.nz
Freefax: 0800 733 736
Freefax: 1800 141 503
email: mail@electropar.co.nz
ictorian grid operator SP Ausnet
Pty Ltd is on track to complete
the Rowville 500kV 1000 MVA
500/220kV A2 transfomer installation
and commissioning in March 2007. The
project has seen the two existing 500kV
switchyard bays augmented to breaker
and a half configuration, together with
a new double switched added for
connection of the new A2 transformer.
Electropar has been fortunate to
be involved with this major project,
supplying the 500kV busbar and
interconnection system to SP Ausnet’s
installation contractor and Victorian
energy company, Powercor. In addition
as separate contracts, Electropar has
been contracted to Silcar Pty and
directly to SP Ausnet. Silcar are installing
the transformer for manufacturer
and supplier Toshiba. SP Ausnet has
contracted Electropar to custom engineer,
manufacture and supply the Rowville A2
Transformer Station Service Switching
Boxes (3 only). Both of these projects
have involved creating customised and
relatively complex engineering solutions.
As one of the Electropar tradesmen in
the manufacturing team so aptly put it
“This isn’t Pimp my Ride, its Pimp my
Transformer!
Station Switching Service Box
60kA/1 Second Withstand
The Rowville 500kV site protection and
control systems are served by two 415V
station service supplies. In addition to
The Rowville story continues on page 2...
What’s in store this edition ...
Rowville Station Service Switching
1
Rowville ‘the story continues’
2
South Australia, A Hotbed of Activity
3
WEL Uses Sorce Transfer Switching
4
Ferno Cool Vests
4
ARC Flash Protective Gear
5
Neutral Earthing Resistors
6
Electropar Short Circuit Laboratory
6
2006 Line Mechanic Review
7
Electropar Profiles
7
‘Miss Electropar’ Down To The Wire
8
WOW Factor : 60kA / 1 Second @ 22kV
2006 ESITO Line Mechanic Competition
The WOW Factor Continues ...
a separate station service coming from
an unrelated bus outside the switchyard,
there is a station service which is taken
from the 22kV tertiary winding of the A2
1000MVA transformer. As is customary
with EHV transformers of this size, each
of the phases is in its own separate tank
with blast walls between for security.
Effectively the configuration is three
single phase transformer tanks creating
the three phase 500kV transformer.
The station service transformers are also
three single phase units (22kV/400V,
330kVA) built specially for the project
by Victoria’s Wilson Transformers to SP
Ausnet specifications. They are single
phase to maintain physical phase
separation so a potentially disastrous
phase to phase fault on the tertiary of
the main transformer can never occur.
Each of the three 22kV/415V local
service transformers is fed from the
Tertiary of the main transformer. The
challenge that Electropar was presented
with by SP Ausnet and their Design
Service provider Beca: Come up with an
engineering solution that will allow the
station service transformers to be quickly
isolated to allow the main transformer to
be re-energised.
This isolation will be operated unloaded
with the main transformer de-energised
but with no permit issued. Technically,
the switching box had to be single
phase, comprehensively interlocked, and
be able to withstand 60kA/1 second.
Why? Because the next isolation in the
Issue 7.1
APRIL 2007
Wel Networks Make The Most Of Home Ground Advantage...
event of a fault on the tertiary was the
A2 transformer’s primary side 500kV
circuit breaker.
In the last quarter of 2006, SP Ausnet
accepted Electropar’s proposal for design,
manufacture and supply of a custom
engineered station service switching box
and it “game on” to build and deliver it
within the time frame allowed. The main
A2 transformer couldn’t be energized
without the station
service switching
box
installed
and complete.
Nothing like a bit
of pressure to get
things
moving
quick smart!
Electropar
sourced
and
supplied
a
suitably rated 3
phase 60kA/1
second
22kV
isolator complete
with integrated
earth
switch,
then modified it to suit single phase
operation. Sourcing the isolator was a
real challenge but eventually the solution
came from the railway industry where
low voltages and high currents/fault
currents are relatively more common.
Thereafter working closely with Beca,
Electropar engineered the assembly so
that it could be used with confidence by
SP Ausnet’s operational team.
Connection for an indoor VT from the
22kV bus inside the box was provided,
as was future provision for a station class
surge diverter. Windows in the doors of
the custom made McArthur Switchgear
Aluminium enclosure allow visual
verification of isolator open, closed or
earthed, and operator applied temporary
earths can be applied inside the box if
required. Lighting for operation at night
and temperature control for moisture by
way of a heater and thermostat was also
provided as part of the overall project
scope.
Much thought was put into the critical
interlocking system for the station
service switching box. Both manual and
electrical interlocks were provided by
Electropar, and the isolator inside the
box can safely be operated from outside
with the doors closed.
Electropar are delighted with product
delivered to SP Ausnet as it brought
together many core values within the
company. Pure electrical and mechanical
design
and
engineering,
clever
customised precision manufacturing and
great teamwork between a group of like
minded engineers with a clear goal!
Neutral Busbar
Through, Not Over, Concrete Blast Walls
T
he neutral bus on the transformer
also presented a tricky challenge at
Rowville : getting it through rather than
over the 150mm thick concrete blast
walls, while at the same time supporting
the 2500amp busbar tube. The solution :
a very clever double ended wall bushing
custom made by Electropar’s North
American supplier, ECI (Canada).
The solid epoxy bushing with high
cantilever strength was bolted through
the blast wall and supports the neutral
bus in an elegantly engineered solution.
Mystery Creek, Hamilton
16-18 October 2006
M
ystery Creek, Hamilton became
the new venue for the ESITO Line
Mechanic’s Competition, held between
the 16 and 18 October 2006. The event
saw ten of New Zealand’s top lineman’s
teams competing head to head in a
variety of testing challenges, including
Electrical Theory, Cable Jointing, Pole
Installation and Pole Top Rescue to
name just a few.
Electropar once again were granted
the privilege of sponsoring the first
prize for the 2006 the competition.
This year the major prize was a mouth
watering package, made up of four
identical prize packs, (one for each
member of the winning team) with each
team member receiving a 29” Philips
flat screen TV, Philips DVD Player, Sony
Playstation Bundle and a Stainless Steel
BBQ.
After three days of intense competition
the overall winning team came from
WEL Networks, Hamilton, followed by
Tenix Alliance NZ in second place and
Electra Contracting, Paraparaumu a
close third.
WEL Networks were so impressed with
the result and the overall effect the
event has, had on company morale
that the management arranged for a
staff function and Electropar presented
the first prizes to the individual team
members. Needless to say the 2007
WEL Networks team will be even
stronger going on the amount of people
wanting to sign up for a chance to take
home such a great prize!
2007 will again see the ESITO Line
Mechanic’s event return to its new home
at Mystery Creek. With home ground
advantage and supporters cheering on
the WEL Networks team to the win in
2006, it will be up to the rest of the
networks to again raise the bar and
take home the trophy, as well as of
course the bragging rights for 2007!
Electropar Profiles
Behind The Power To Perform!
Electropar has cultivated the relatively
unique ability to be able to custom
engineer solutions for transmission and
distribution line and substation projects.
If you would like to know more about
either of the projects above, or have a
tricky job of your own you need some
help with, contact Cam Wallace at
camw@electropar.co.nz
Chris Burbridge
PDT Sales Manager, NZ (Auckland)
C
hris joined Electropar in late 2006 and has National NZ Responsibility for
the Power Distribution and Transmission division of the company. A qualified
Engineer with a background in the construction industry as well as in electricity,
Chris brings a lifetime of technical and commercial experience to the Electropar
team.
Chris has a mad DIY streak, but when not stripping wallpaper or painting walls
you can probably find him watching Miss Electropar at the Formula Honda
Offshore powerboat series as he has also been known to enjoy a boat or two!
chrisb@electropar.co.nz
For more information on this years
competition drop into the ESITO wesite.
http://www.esito.org.nz
Neutral Earthing Resistors
ARC Flash Protective Clothing Systems
Customised For Success
Why ‘Flame Resistant’ Protective Clothing Also Needs An ‘ATPV’
2
006 and 2007 has seen Electropar
compliment its hardware, switchgear
and PPE offering to the Australian
and New Zealand transmission and
distribution markets with packaged
Neutral Earthing Resistors (NER’s).
A
Winning the supply of NERs to windfarm
projects, Transmission Grid Operators
and Distribution Company’s, Electropar
represents the Powerohm organization
with head office in Texas, USA (www.
powerohm.com).
In North America, Hazard Risk
Categories are defined by the National
Fire
Protection
Agency
(NFPA)
Standard 70 E, for the tasks that
electrical workers perform. These have
become part of US, OSH regulatory
compliance requirements. However,
whilst there is currently no statutory
equivalent Standard for Australia
and New Zealand, our authorities do
recognize that the NFPA Standard does
set a reliable guide and benchmark
for selection of the right protective
equipment.
Neutral Earthing resistors (NER) are used
to earth transformers and generators and
allow a protective device (eg relay) to
detect the earth current at an acceptable
fault level. In protection of generators,
the NER combined earthing transformer
and resistor is employed to detect and
limit earth faults.
Working with Powerohm, Electropar has
the ability to be able to customise the NER
so that is best suits local requirements.
For a recent windfarm project, Electropar
integrated a CT for earth current, so this
can in turn trigger protection relays. For
another transmission client, Electropar
and Powerohm created a packaged
NER that would retrofit into an existing
switchboard panel which was being
upgraded in an existing site.
In addition, Electropar and Powerohm
rc Flash protection requirements
for electrical workers, who may
be exposed to flash-over or explosion
hazards, is becoming more closely
defined.
can also provide a resonant earthing
scheme using the Petersen coil principle
which reduces the earth current to very
low levels. The advantage : voltage
imbalance created but an outage
avoided. Research in this field has
been completed in the UK, Italy and
France, and one power company in
New Zealand is looking at running a
trial using this technology now. These
schemes are used extensively in northern
and central Europe.
Electropar Ltd. is able to supply NER
equipment in accordance to IEEE
Standard 32-1972, for voltages up to
Electropar Short Circuit Laboratory
90% Complete
E
lectropar’s on site short circuit
laboratory took another step closer
to becoming a reality in February 2007
when contractor Northpower installed
the 11kV switchgear and cables to
connect it to Vector’s East Tamaki
distribution network.
Electropar now have the two 11kV/400V
400kVA transformers being primed
and made ready for energising so that
the company can continue to test and
develop its distribution and transmission
products to the latest New Zealand,
Australian and International Standards.
The lab will be IANZ accredited (similar
to NATA in Australia) and will be able
to generate a 25kA/5 second fault.
Issue 7.1
APRIL 2007
The facility will be available for
customised client testing.
Contact Cam Wallace at
camw@electropar.co.nz
for more information.
and including 66kV with or without an
enclosure (Powdered Coated, Hot Dip
Galvanised, Aluminium and Stainless
Steel). For more information contact
dough@electropar.co.nz
NFPA Standard 70E lists Energized
Equipment Tasks at various voltage’s
and then prescribes a Hazard Risk
Category (HRC)
The HRC in turn prescribes that
protective clothing and head/face
protection shall comply with an Arc
Thermal
Performance
Value
(ATPV). The items of clothing selected
must have had an appropriate ATPV
proven by ASTM F1959, a rigorous
standardised test. Vastly different from
protective clothing seen in NZ with a
‘Flame
Resistant’ label.
As a Manager
of
electrical
workers exposed
to such hazards,
the aftermath
of an A r c
This kit will meet the requirements of Hazard Risk
Category (HRC) 3
Flash incident can be quite harrowing,
not the least of which is the subsequent
OSH investigation. As such a Manager,
you will have been expected
to have provided adequate
protective gear, compliant
with a recognised safety
standard.
With the regulatory
framework set up in North
America, NZ Safety Managers
and OSH practitioners have
a ready made benchmark for
establishing best practice in
providing the right gear for their
people. It is becoming noticeable
in the NZ Electrical Industry that
many Managers are
wanting to lift
their game in
this regard.
For most outdoor tasks an HRC
of 2, with clothing meeting an
ATPV of 8 cal/cm2 is deemed
adequate. The standard 70E
does however specify a HRC
of 3 (ATPV of 25 cal/cm2)
for hot-stick switching at 1
kV and above, including
the use of a flash suit
hood. Tasks in enclosed
spaces many with metal
clad switchgear incur an
HRC of 4 (ATPV of 40 cal/
cm2).
At this level of protection, fully
enclosed hoods are used and
Salisbury provide these with
matching suits, complete
with belt mounted, battery
respirators. The latter
are essential to deal
with heat build up
and CO2 dispersal.
The Salisbury Arc
Flash
Protective
Clothing
with
an
This kit will meet the requirements of Hazard Risk ATPV of 40 cal/cm2
WH
Category (HRC) 2
is amazingly light and
Salisbury have
comfortable compared
responded to the
to that previously available in New
needs of the North American Industry,
Zealand.
with a range of Arc Flash Protective
Gear that fully conforms to the NFPA
Electropar Limited is your Partner in
Standard 70 E requirements. As the
this business, if you are managing
NZ accredited Agents for Salisbury,
electrical workers in these hazardous
Electropar are pleased to be able to
environments or if you are requiring
provide a service to the NZ Electrical
such gear for you’re your own personal
Industry, by offering the Salisbury Arc
work protection, give Chris Burbridge a
Flash Protection Clothing System.
call at our Head Office or E Mail on
chrisb@electropar.co.nz
“Flame Resistant” labeling just does not
cut the mustard in this safety environment
and all Salisbury Arc Flash Protective
clothing has an ATPV rating in terms of
Calories per Sq Cm clearly and boldly
marked on the jackets, pants,
overalls or face shields.
The
NZ
Electrical
Industry is becoming
aware that it needs to
offer measurable
protection
for
workers in outdoor
environments working
on Energized Equipment.
A Hazard Salisbury Face Shield meeting
requirements of High Risk Category (HRC) 2
WEL Networks Uses Source Transfer Switching
South Australia
S & C Vista Switches
A Hotbed Of Substation Activity.
W
hen Tesla Consultants acting for
WEL Networks Ltd wanted a
33kV Source Transfer switch one of the
first considerations was reliability. The
Source Transfer switch needed to be able
to automatically switch between supply
sources to provide power on critical
supply feeders. It was important that
the fast transfer between the preferred
supply did not affect the operation of
the load. Any delays could translate into
poor SAIDI figures.
The S & C Vista selected was a 5-way
partially automated switch with 2x
incomers and 2x feeders connected
by a bus-tie. The incoming ways were
motorised with 48V DC operated
motors. The pad mounted switchgear
is enclosed in an olive green steel
enclosure measuring approximately
1.4m long, 1.0m wide and 1.0m high.
The switching is controlled by a PLC
called a Micro-AT. This is housed in a
low voltage enclosure at the end of the
pad mounted switchgear. Also inside the
low voltage enclosure are the batteries
to run the motors and Micro-AT. Internal
T
wo major substation projects are
currently under construction within
one hours drive of Adelaide, in the
eastern Hills region.
VTs
and
CTs
within the switch
ways
provide
the
information
required for the
Micro-AT to act.
Status of the switch
ways can be
provided by either
auxiliary contacts
provided
with
the
switchgear
or motor position
status.
The load interrupt
switches used are
rated at 630A and
36kV with a fault withstand of 12.5kA.
The BIL of the installation is 145kV at
50Hz. Bushings are 630A and are fitted
with the Elastimold dead break elbows
with an ANSI profile. Viewing windows
at the top of the switchgear provides
visual verification of Open Close and
Earth positions. Potential indication
and test feature is provided for ease of
phasing and verification of energised or
South Australia’s Transmission Network
Service Provider, ElectraNet, has
commissioned construction service
provider, Tenix Alliance to build a
greenfield 275kV switching station at
Tungkillo, and also completely rebuild
ElectraNet’s
existing
275/132kV
substation site at Cherry Gardens.
de-energised status by operators. A low
gas pressure alarm is also provided.
Supervisory control allows SCADA
control of the switchgear.
For more information contact Steve
Deverick.
steved@electropar.co.nz
Ferno Cool Vests
Not Even the Fonz has a Vest this Cool!
F
eeling the heat? Meet the new
Electropar cool vest designed as a
one size fits all garment designed to
be worn in combination with standard
utility company PPE that keeps the
wearer cool even in the hottest site
environments.
Effective for High Heat Environments.
The cool vest has a very practical design
and a total weight of less than 2.27 kg.
The cooling duration is similar to that of
the heavy ice and gel-cooled vests but
it weighs 66% less. The secret - Phase
change material technology!
Long Lasting Cooling Effect.
The Cool Vests have proven effective for
up to 2.5 hours in 38 degree heat.
Unlike conventional ice and gel packs
which take hours to freeze in a freezer,
one of the most exciting features of the 15
°C Cool Packs are their ability to recharge
in only 20 minutes in ice water.
Issue 7.1
APRIL 2007
Cool Packs can also be recharged in a
refrigerator, no need for freezing. Keep
a set of charged, individual Cool Packs
onsite in a portable cooler for quick
and easy changeovers
Environmentally Safe
The chemical in the Cool Packs is
completely non-toxic, non-flammable,
safe and environmentally friendly.
Should the Cool Packs rupture, it is
easily washed off with mild soap and
water.
The cool vest is made from 100% cotton
fabric and can is designed to be worn
underneath overalls.
If the heat is getting to you. Call
Electropar for a demonstration of this
amazing new technology!
New Zealand: 09 274 2000
chrisb@electropar.co.nz
Australia: 03 9334 5044
phillipk@electropar.co.nz
The scopes at each site are massive
and represent large scale investment
in electrical infrastructure within the
state. The scope of works at Tungkillo
is for two 275kV full breaker and a half
diameters, with transfer busbar for an
ultimate configuration of six full breaker
and a half diameters. Electropar has
supplied Tenix Alliance the 6000amp
rated 6101 T6 Tubular Aluminium Alloy
200mm OD x 12mm wall thick busbar
and all primary interconnections for the
switchyard equipment connecting Quad
Uranus AAC conductor.
lifting each of the twelve 75 metre long
sections of tube into place using multiple
cranes. Fabricating this size of busbar
is a first for Tenix Alliance and is a first
in South Australia for ElectraNet.
The two transfer busbars are 150 metres
long, and configured around a central
expansion joint. Tenix Alliance has
installed the busbars by first welding
them together at ground level, and then
The Tungkillo project is running
concurrently with the redevelopment
of the “brownfield” Cherry Gardens
132/275kV substation. Cherry Gardens
is a larger substation and probably
more complex in nature owing to the
fact it is being rebuilt around existing
live lines and equipment supporting
the southern metropolitan area of
Adelaide. Electropar has been engaged
by ElectraNet service provider Tenix
Alliance for the manufacture and supply
of the 275/132kV substation primary
interconnection system for this site.
Much of the primary work between the
two sites could be blueprinted owing
to their functional similarities. However,
the site topography at Cherry Gardens
together with the configuration of the
incoming/outgoing lines makes the
installation a real challenge. Cherry
Gardens comprises three breaker and
a half bays (275kV) and a 132kV
diameter, with provision for four more
275kV diameters and one more 132kV
diameter.
Both Cherry Gardens and Tungkillo are
well underway with practical completion
expected late 2007 / early 2008.
For more information contact
Mike Bacon at Tenix Alliance on
michael.bacon@tenix.com or
Cam Wallace at Electropar on
camw@electropar.co.nz