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Mechanical Technology — February 2016
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On the cover
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downtime
Above:
Sasol chose to use ABB UniGear ZS1
Digital switchgear with sensor technology
(14 panels) as the main switchboard
platform.
Left:
ABB’s E-House for Sasol Secunda is a
mobile universal substation, suitable to be
operated from any of the commonly used
supply voltages, 3.3, 6.6 and 11 kV. The
module is fitted to a roadworthy trailer with
air suspension and a hydraulic self-levelling
system so that it can be moved on public
roads and quickly set up on site.
Right:
The E-House is equipped with the
latest future-proof technology and a Remote
Control Panel (RCP) in a separate room for
remote operation of the breakers.
Below right:
ABB’s breaker technology is
designed to create a revolving arc, which
ensures that arcing never occurs at the same
positions on the contacts. “That is why our
contactors last so long,” says Jooste.
are disconnect from the old switchgear
and connected to the E-House. The
plant equipment runs from the mobile
E-House, enabling the permanent substa-
tion to be safely upgraded without having
to wait for a downtime opportunity,”
Jooste informs
MechTech
.
Once the upgrade/maintenance is
completed, the E-House is disconnected
and the plant reconnected to the on-site
substation.
ABB and Sasol chose to use UniGear
ZS1 Digital switchgear as the main
switchboard platform. The E-House is
equipped with the latest future-proof
technology. The broad scope includes:
• Unigear ZS1 digital switchgear with
sensor technology (14 panels).
• A remote control panel in a separate
room for remote operation of the
breakers.
• A remote engineering station for con-
figuration and event recording.
• An ac distribution board with 220 V or
380 V ac input supply options.
• A 110 V dc distribution board.
• An interposing relay panel for trans-
former differential protection schemes.
• A battery-tripping unit with a 25 Ah
duel battery charger. (Batteries in-
stalled in a separate battery room.)
• An alarm annunciator panel alert-
ing to any unhealthy or dangerous
conditions.
• Built in air conditioning.
• A fire detection system.
• A substation pressurisation system.
• An ARC venting ducting system di-
rectly above the Unigear ZS1, which
vents to atmosphere outside of the
E-House.
• A safari roof construction to enable
airflow and additional cooling of the
roof structure.
• A roadworthy trailer with a hydraulic
levelling system.
Communication and information shar-
ing between various components and
systems are digitalised by using the
IEC 61850 protocol. The installed
Unigear ZS1 Digital switchgear, rated at
17.5 kV, 2 500 A and at 40 kA, gives
the unit the flexibility to safely operate
at any point in the Sasol plant where
switchgear replacement, refurbishment
or maintenance may be required.
All components of the trailer and
E-House are locally manufactured. “We
strive to use local manufacturers and sup-
pliers for as much of the work as possible.
All of the support systems, intellectual
property and engineering design is local.
“The outcome is a brilliant solution,
which serves the needs of our customers”
Jooste concludes.
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