Mechanical Technology June 2015

Mechanical Technology — June 2015

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Sustainable energy and energy management

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“

ncreasing energy requirements

have placed power utilities under

enormous pressure throughout

the African continent, which is

why companies are investing in alterna-

tive sources of electricity production,”

says Vert Energy’s managing director,

Grant Robertson. “Vert Energy has es-

tablished turnkey solutions partnerships

in diverse sectors, including mining,

shipping, agriculture, general engineer-

ing, shipping, the railways, gas and

petrochemicals.

“Through an extensive range of qual-

ity branded EPG products and a highly

skilled team of technical experts, the

company plays a major role in providing

dependable power to companies, even in

Africa’s most remote regions.

Vert Energy has extended its range of electric power generation

(EPG) components and service to meet growing demand from

generator set builders and electro-mechanical power

transmission industries. Services the electro-mechanical

power generation sector in Africa encompass the supply

of dependable components to generator manufacturers,

with the support from repair and maintenance facilities

throughout the continent.

Vert Energy’s managing

director, Grant Robertson.

Vert Energy’s

Leroy-Somer Partner

alternators are known for

ease of integration, enhanced energy

savings, high performance and reliability

in demanding applications and harsh

environments. The modular design means

that the basic universal unit can be adapted

to be driven by any prime mover.

Johnny Canada, technical service manager, Vert Energy, is rewinding an exciter stator below deck on a

vessel, while the vessel is fully operational.

Servicing Africa’s genset manufacturing sector

“As part of our commitment to the

genset manufacturing sector, for the

swift supply of reliable components, Vert

Energy has made a substantial invest-

ment in sourcing the finest components

that produce electric energy from me-

chanical energy and which withstand

harsh operating conditions.

“The company has been appointed

exclusive distributors in sub-Saharan

Africa for leading power generation

brands, complemented by genuine spare

parts and accessories. EPG components

include Leroy-Somer (LS) alternators,

DEIF generator controls and Covrad heat

exchangers.

“A critical part of our service is the

availability throughout Africa of factory

and OEM trained technicians who cope

efficiently with electro-mechanical break-

down situations or routine preventative

maintenance procedures.”

Leroy-Somer is the largest global

producer of alternators for gensets and

is committed to providing clean energy

solutions. LS alternators, with ratings in

excess of 20 000 kW, are suitable for all

generation applications – whether for sup-

plying electrical power on board a ship,

electricity to deprived regions, or for pre-

venting interruptions in the mains supply.

These alternators, which are known

for ease of integration and enhanced en-

ergy savings, are also recognised for high

performance and reliability in demanding

applications and harsh environments.

The modular design of these alternators

means that the basic universal unit can

be adapted to suit any make of prime

mover.

The LS industrial range of low and me-

dium voltage alternators, which include

50 or 60 Hz, four or six pole versions with

power ratings from 10 kW to 3 900 kW,

are designed for gensets driven by diesel

or gas engines.

The AREP (auxiliary winding regula-

tion excitation principle), a Leroy-Somer

patent for standby generators, is a

brushless, self-excited excitation system

known for its efficient performance in

harsh environments and for enhancing

safety. It enables a short circuit current of

about three times the rated current to be

maintained for 10 seconds. This means

that a circuit breaker can be tripped if

there is a fault, without disturbing other