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Press Releases

NOJA Power Switchgear Pty Ltd specialises in the research and development, manufacture, marketing, sales and service of medium voltage pole mounted switchgear products. We also design and assemble low voltage switchboards and motor control centres.


NOVEMBER 2008

PRESS RELEASE


Coal Terminal Upgrade with Intelligent MCC's

NOJA Power has been awarded a contract from Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) to design, manufacture, test and deliver Low Voltage Motor Control Centres for the Abbot Point Bulk Coal Terminal upgrade. The X25 upgrade program is designed to increase the capacity of the coal handling facilities to 25Mt per annum. NOJA Power is manufacturing Intelligent MCC's incorporating DOL motor drives and Variable Speed Drives, interfaced to a plant wide control and monitoring system. The upgrade is a major project for PCQ, a Government owned corporation, with engineering to the project provided by Connell Hatch.

Intelligent MCC provides high level safety and control capabilities

Intelligent MCC provides high level safety and control capabilities

The MCC's are designed to AS/NZS 3439.1 and pass a comprehensive Factory Acceptance Testing and pre-commissioning process carried out as a joint effort by NOJA Power and Connell Hatch. Monitoring and control of the motor drives is by way of Devicenet and Controlnet protocols over an RS-485 communications bus facilitated by Allen Bradley DYN42R starter auxiliary units. Variable speed motor control is achieved using Allen Bradley Powerflex drives installed together with Line Reactors in fan cooled enclosures mounted separately from the main MCC. This design solution satisfies the 'brown fields' nature of the work which involves installation in existing buildings and presents equipment installers with significant space constraints. The NOJA Power MCC is an ideal choice as it provides the designer with flexible options including full depth cable ways utilised to accommodate the control and monitoring hardware without requiring additional tier space.

The Safety interface to the control system utilises Silbus equipment, PILZ relays and Dupline carrier for conveyor safety and control. Each motor drive cell door is fitted with a Voltage Vision device to provide unambiguous indication of an energised motor drive. Earth Leakage protection is provided by the new Terasaki ZS range of Tembreak 2 Moulded Case Circuit Breakers. The ZS range MCCB provides standard thermal-magnetic overload functionality but has the advantage of not requiring a separate EL toroid. Terasaki's Tempower2 ACB's are fitted with AGR-31 over current relays to provide the specified under voltage protection on an individual phase basis. The AGR-31 OCR also provide full power management functions accessible locally from the large LCD or remotely via the MODBUS communications interface, making a separate PM relay and CT's redundant which assists in minimising the space requirements. To cope with the harsh environment of a coal handling facility the MCC's are manufactured with a high Ingress Protection index, all busbars are fabricated using tinned copper and each tier is fitted with oxidation and corrosion inhibitors.

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PRESS RELEASE


ENERGEX Awards NOJA Power a Recloser Supply Contract as Part of Network Upgrade Program

NOJA Power has won a multimillion dollar contract to supply one of Australia's leading power distributors equipment to improve network reliability. The highly competitive international tender was awarded to NOJA Power to supply pole-mounted reclosers to assist ENERGEX enhance network reliability as part of their five year, $4 billion plus network upgrade program. A top 100 Australian company, ENERGEX is aiming to improve its rural reliability with the installation of the NOJA Power automatic circuit reclosers on the 11KV network to limit the number of customers interrupted during faults.

ENERGEX is one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing corporations with more than 3900 staff working in a range of roles to supply electricity to a population of around 2.8 million people in South East Queensland. In the 2008-09 financial year ENERGEX is investing around $830 million on upgrades to its electricity network while a further $340 million-plus has been set aside to maintain and operate the network. That's an overall average of more than $3 million a day. 

Under the Queensland Electricity Industry Code, ENERGEX is required to use its best endeavours to ensure that it does not exceed minimum service standards for urban and short rural SAIDI and SAIFI.  In order to minimise the possibility of exceeding these targets, ENERGEX is focusing on improving the performance of its rural network over the next five years.

As the majority of unreliability arises from faults on the 11 kV network, one of ENERGEX's strategies to improve its rural network performance is the installation of automatic circuit reclosers and sectionalisers on the 11 kV network to limit the number of customers interrupted during faults.  ENERGEX currently has approximately 540 automatic circuit reclosers and sectionalisers installed on its network (in a normally closed state). The majority of these devices are installed on rural feeders.

ENERGEX has 335 rural feeders supplying more than 340,000 customers with a total installed circuit exposure of almost 14,000 km.  Of these feeders, around 224 have at least one ACR or sectionaliser installed.

For the 2007/08 financial year, there were 744 faults on the rural 11 kV network which involved a protection operation.  Approximately 50% of these faults occurred beyond a recloser or sectionaliser.

ENERGEX's reported rural SAIDI due to unplanned outages in 2007/08 was 205 minutes.  ENERGEX estimates that in 2007/08 its installed reclosers and sectionalisers saved 91 minutes of rural SAIDI, or 31%.

As a result of these ongoing performance benefits, ENERGEX is continuing to install automatic circuit reclosers and sectionalisers on its 11 kV network as part of an overall reliability improvement program, with significant numbers of ACRs and sectionalisers proposed to be installed in coming years.  The majority of these new devices will be installed on rural 11 kV feeders.

ENERGEX is also proposing to undertake programs to improve the reliability of its urban 11 kV network.  One of the strategies to achieve this is the accelerated deployment of Distribution System SCADA (DSS) being undertaken as part of current and future reliability programs of work.  DSS includes application of remotely controlled load break switches (non-fault break) to increase the speed of restoration to customers following a fault.  Over the next 5-7 years, the total number of remotely controlled switching devices is expected to exceed 3000 sites.

NOJA Power adds 900M² production space for finished goods manufacture and testing

NOJA Power OSM Recloser Installed as part of the
ENERGEX five-year Network Upgrade Program

In 2003, ENERGEX commenced using the NOJA Power OSM Recloser product. ENERGEX have traditionally utilised reclosers in their rural area, however a trial in 2004 saw 120 NOJA Power OSM Reclosers installed predominantly on its urban network with a view to increase reliability and remote control.

While the program represented a relatively small number of feeders, the results have been a significant increase in reliability on the feeders where these devices were installed since completion of the program in January 2004.  In fact, for the period up to end of 2006, the total estimated urban SAIDI was 11.4 minutes. This represents a huge success for both the reliability of the network where the devices were installed, and for the NOJA Power OSM Recloser.

As part of the ENERGEX five-year network upgrade program, NOJA Power has been contracted to supply the pole mounted recloser requirements which will predominantly be installed throughout the rural ENERGEX network to increase integrity and reliability of the distribution network. The new reclosers will all be remotely controlled via DNP3 communications protocol together with a spread spectrum frequency hopping radio system to integrate into the DSS.

The contract was awarded after a competitive international tender was called followed by a detailed technical and commercial evaluation and audit process.

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September 2008

PRESS RELEASE


Factory Expansion Increases Production Capabilities


NOJA Power adds 900M² production space for finished goods manufacture and testing

NOJA Power adds 900M² production space for finished goods manufacture and testing

In response to demand and to support increased production output, NOJA Power has recently expanded its Murarrie facilities to add an additional 900M² of production space for finished goods manufacture and testing. This expansion of NOJA Power’s facilities is in response to recent contract awards from both domestic and international customers for the provision of their medium voltage recloser products as well as low voltage switchgear products. Integral Energy and Country Energy, two of Australia’s largest users of pole mounted recloser products, have both recently awarded multi year period contracts to NOJA Power. Ports Corp Queensland has also recently awarded NOJA Power with approximately 50 tiers of low voltage motor control centre manufacture for the expansion of their Abbot Point ship loader facilities. The first 8 tier motor control centre was recently factory acceptance tested for this project.

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August 2008

PRESS RELEASE


Practical Perspective on Recloser Training

Engineering trainees in Hermosillo, Mexico, were treated to an impromptu practical demonstration when a nearby OSM Recloser operated to lockout on a 3kA earth fault.

NOJA Power OSM Recloser at installation site of Hermisillo, Mexico

NOJA Power OSM Recloser at installation site of Hermisillo, Mexico

Event log data viewed using TELUS

Event log data viewed using TELUS

The OSM Recloser was minutes away from where Service Director Oleg Samarski was conducting a training session on the OSM Recloser to the installation and service crew. The training covered basic recloser configuration theory and applications and advanced data analysis using TELUS - the OSM Recloser's built-in data analysis software.

Oleg used this opportunity to demonstrate the OSM's advanced data-logging and reporting functionalities in a real-world setting. Connection was made to the device using TELUS software and the data was downloaded and analysed. This allowed Oleg to demonstrate how the software translates the data into relevant, useful information and was able to diagnose the cause of the fault.

This was a great opportunity for the trainees to view the practical applications of their training on the recloser device successfully operating in +42°C conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

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PRESS RELEASE


NOJA Powers Brisbane Clem Jones Tunnel

NOJA Power is manufacturing low voltage switchgear for the Clem Jones Tunnel Project, one of Brisbane's most significant upgrades to its Transport Infrastructure, scheduled to be open in 2010.

Previously known as the North South Bypass Tunnel (NSBT), the Clem Jones Tunnel is the first section of the M7 motorway in Brisbane and provides a twin, 2-lane 6.8 kilometre link between Ipswich Road and the Pacific Motorway. Motorists travelling through the tunnel are expected to avoid 18 sets of traffic lights, reducing their travel time by 15 minutes and taking one-third off the peak traffic from the city's landmark Story Bridge.

The Tunnel will boast a variety of cutting edge, redundant electronic systems such as automatic traffic incident detection, ventilation control, air quality monitoring, CCTV monitoring, thermal detection and fire safety systems, directional signs, and an electronic tolling system providing national compatibility. All systems require high quality and reliable switchgear to provide for continual and uninterrupted operation.

NOJA Power Switchgear Pty Ltd has been commissioned to supply the Cross Passage Panels by United Group Infrastructure, a sub-contractor of the builders of the Clem Jones Tunnel - Leighton Contractors and Baulderstone Hornibrook/Bilfinger Berger Joint Venture (LBB JV).

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June 2008

PRESS RELEASE


NOJA Power Commended on Manufacturing Endeavours

The Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards celebrates the manufacturing industry’s contribution to Australia’s economy and society. Started by Manufacturers Monthly in 2003, these awards are the only ones in the country that are exclusive to the manufacturing industry.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the 2008 Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards was held on the 28th of May and saw over 250 guests in attendance at a gala dinner at Doltone House in Sydney. Among the distinguished guests was Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

Senator Carr introduced the awards with an acknowledgement of the manufacturing industry’s significant contribution to Australia’s economic prosperity and the key role it plays in the drive for innovation, with almost 40 percent of business expenditure on research and development.

Recognising the importance and vast potential for growth of the manufacturing sector, Senator Carr voiced his thoughts on the current state and future challenges it is set to face.

"The sector provides jobs for over 1.1 million Australians and contributes more than 10 per cent to GDP. Last year manufacturing exports were over $87.1 billion.

"Over the past five years, manufacturing exports have increased 5 per cent per annum, up 7.2 per cent in 2007.

"Despite such positive performance, manufacturing still faces impediments to growth.

“A shortage of skilled workers, infrastructure bottlenecks, and a tangle of regulation as part of the legacy of the Howard Government are some of the challenges that need to be overcome.

"From the government's point of view, we take manufacturing very seriously and intend to bring a lot more energy and focus to industry policy,” Senator Carr said.

Head of Business Development for the Australian Government Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, and Managing Director of NOJA Power Switchgear, Neil O’Sullivan

Head of Business Development for the Australian Government Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, and Managing Director of NOJA Power Switchgear, Neil O’Sullivan.

Of the nine award categories, NOJA Power Switchgear Pty Ltd was Highly Commended in the Exporter of the Year category.  This is a substantial achievement for NOJA Power, proving their success has continued to grow in the wake of receiving last year’s top honors at the Queensland Exporter of the Year Awards.

NOJA Power Switchgear’s Managing Director, Neil O’Sullivan, commends the team at NOJA Power on their contributions to the company’s continued success and ensures achievements will exponentially increase over the coming years. This is a foreseeable future with NOJA Power’s recent factory expansion further driving the company’s low voltage switchgear and medium voltage autorecloser manufacturing capabilities.

 “NOJA Power’s foundation lies in manufacturing products for global applications. With a competitive edge on a globally ready product, we are continuing to expand our worldwide distribution capabilities and marketing channels,” Neil said.

Receiving the High Commendation at the Manufacturers Monthly Endeavour Awards has further instilled NOJA Power Switchgear as a key player in Australia’s manufacturing and exporting industry. 

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PRESS RELEASE


OSM Reclosers helps Mine through Bat Season

Every dry season in the northern tropics of Australia bats roost in large numbers. During the night they take to the skies in search of food and fly into power lines causing frequent outages. This can cause havoc with 24-hour mining operations which have to clear the lines and replace expensive fuses on almost a nightly basis.

GBS Gold’s processing plant is situated in Pine Creek, 250km south of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Outages caused by bats on the 11kV overhead distribution system costs thousands of dollars with the amount of fuses that are used each dry season. Costs associated with lost productivity of staff, who are required to manually change these fuses, adds to the annual expense caused by this problem – all at a time when gold has been at record prices.

Maintenance staff at the mine made numerous efforts to minimize the effects of bat strikes on the lines, but nothing seemed to have a lasting impact. After asking around other mines in the region for any solutions to the bat problem, the electrical supervisor at GBS Gold, Paul Barnes, was told about the NOJA Power recloser installation at the Sally Malay Nickel mine for this exact purpose.

GBS Gold had two main objectives – minimize disruption to the processing plan and stop replacing expensive fuses. Two OSM15 reclosers were purchased so that the distribution line could be sectionalized into two separate segments. A fuse saving strategy was employed in the protection settings so the reclosers would isolate the faulted line without blowing the fuses.

NOJA Power configured each recloser to operate three shots to lockout, allowing the power to be restored if the bat falls free from the line during the dead time of each operation. In the event that the bat remains on the line, the recloser will go to lockout after three trips and sectionalise the faulted section of feeder, leaving the rest of the processing plant still operational.

OSM Recloser installation to reduce maintenance costs and lost production time at GBS Gold Mine

OSM Recloser installation to reduce maintenance costs and lost production time at GBS Gold Mine

The return on investment for these reclosers is expected to be almost instant. When the cost of replacing the fuses, lost production and maintenance time is taken into consideration, the cost of installing the two OSM reclosers will show a positive return to the operation before the first bat season has finished.

The OSM recloser is well suited to this type of application. Numerous faults occur during the bat season and the 30,000 full-load operation rating of the OSM means it will easily last the distance. The NOJA Power OSM recloser is also the lightest and smallest on the market today, ensuring ease of installation on distribution lines where weight and space is important.

The maintenance team was also impressed with the well thought out package supplied in the crate. NOJA Power pre-assembled the surge arrestors and connecting bars on the bushings, supplied molded bushing boots to fit the arrangement and supplied insulated water-blocked cable pre-stripped at the ends for convenience. The installation team was able to place the crate at the base of the pole and install the OSM recloser with ease.

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May 2008

PRESS RELEASE


NOJA Power exhibits OSM Recloser reliability at IEEE Conference

A substantial issue that faces worldwide energy generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the power industry is that of sustainability. Not only does this include environmental sustainability, but it also encompasses energy quality, costs and reliability and these were the main themes of the 2008 IEEE PES Conference and Exhibition.

Operating as one of the largest global platforms for information on electrical engineering, the 2008 IEEE PES Conference and Exhibition was held in Chicago, Illinois on the 21st to 24th of April and centered this year’s theme around “Powering Towards the Future” which provided a focus on the issues of reliability and quality of electricity supply. The City of Chicago catered perfectly for the extraordinary number of delegates and guests, and with views of the magnificent Chicago skyline and splendid coastline views of Lake Michigan, the setting for sharing of information and knowledge was world class to say the least.

At a conference designed to provide transmission and distribution professionals an insight into the latest technologies, best practices and tools available in the industry, the team at NOJA Power Switchgear’s exhibition stand ensured their contribution to the event was beneficial to the relevant individuals of the 13,000 in attendance.

NOJA Power Switchgear team at the 2007 Queensland Export Awards

NOJA Power Switchgear’s Sales Director Tony Stacey and Managing Director Neil O’Sullivan exhibit the OSM Recloser

NOJA Power’s stand was located at booth 1290 in the 184,000 square feet area of the Exhibition Hall in the McCormick Place Conference and Exhibition Centre. The booth was attended by NOJA Power factory management and sales staff, all NOJA Power manufactures’ representatives from within the U.S., with a large number of NOJA’s exclusive distributors for Canada, Mexico, Central America, Latin America, The Bahamas, West Indies, Jamaica, Europe and Asia. The NOJA Exhibition booth was a popular discussion ground for Distribution Utility Engineers from most states of the USA and many international Engineers, for many of whom, NOJA Power is the Recloser Switchgear manufacturer of choice.

Discussions at the Conference and Exhibition revolved mainly around the demand on the US Distribution Utilities to provide reliability improvements. This provided a very sound platform for discussion at NOJA Power, as well defined use of the pole mounted auto circuit recloser can provide very rapid reliability gains. The NOJA Power Recloser offers the Distribution Network Engineer a very powerful tool in terms of directional protection schemes for rapid network re-configurations, extremely fast timings for precise protection grading providing an increased number of network sections protected, and a very high level of distribution System Automation and communications capabilities. These inherent features come as standard in the OSM Recloser with many optional configurations also available, and all contribute to strategies for proven high feeder reliability.

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April 2008

PRESS RELEASE


NOJA Power Awarded for Exporting Success

In 2002, NOJA Power made its first ever sale of medium-voltage reclosing switchgear to China, a country renowned for embracing new technologies.

In just five years NOJA Power has developed markets on every continent on Earth, an impressive feat that has earned the company the title of Queensland Exporter of the Year at the 2007 Premier of Queensland Export Awards. 2007 also saw NOJA Power awarded with the Latin American Business Award and the British Chamber of Commerce Export Award.

Managing Director Neil O'Sullivan describes the company as being “born global”, and that the key to NOJA Power's exporting success is the development of a product suitable for the global market rather than any single market.

While Australia traditionally sees itself as a country built on mining exports, Neil states that high-tech innovations offer the same massive export potential.

“We realised early on that our world-first technologies, which increase the reliability of electricity supply, had many global applications so it was always our intention to sell overseas as well as domestically,” he said.

“Our export business has established channels to market in 70 countries and we currently supply switchgear products to 46 of them”.
           

Highly skilled staff and an ongoing commitment to research and development ensure the success of NOJA Power's cutting-edge product range in the worldwide marketplace.

Where other switchgear manufacturers utilise the insulation properties of the environmentally harmful gas SF6, NOJA Power Switchgear remains SF6 free by utilising solid dielectric technology. NOJA Power also holds the patent on the arc fault contained and vented vessel to create a safe and environmentally friendly product.

NOJA Power Switchgear team at the 2007 Queensland Export Awards

NOJA Power Switchgear team at the 2007 Queensland Export Awards

Since the company was established, their number of employees has grown ten-fold.

“Because of our cutting edge technology, we tend to attract high performers who seek challenges and job satisfaction beyond the monetary rewards ”.

“We offer apprenticeships and traineeships that lead into engineering degrees and our employees can then take on more senior roles,” Neil said.


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Brazilian Intern Graduates & Joins NOJA Power Distributor

Bruno Kimura is an Electrical Engineering Graduate who has joined NOJA Power's Distributor in Brazil, Festimport Exportação Ltda.

He is an exceptional young man who took it upon himself to make application for an internship with NOJA Power for six months in late 2005. He was successful with this application and in January 2006 he began a six month internship with NOJA Power. In his own words he states, “The six months whilst I had my first and memorable work experience was marked by the trust the company put on me, the incentive I was given in every task and the friendships I made.”

During his internship he completed tasks like converting recloser control panel MMI strings from English to Portuguese. Today the control panel is available in Portuguese as a result. He then spent time on the production line and in the electronics laboratory where he assembled reclosers, manufactured cables and tested communications between modules.

NOJA Power Intern Bruno Kimura

NOJA Power Intern Bruno Kimura

As a result of his Portuguese skills he also became an interface with our Brazil Distributor which provided his first introduction that lead to the full time job he has today.

He then embarked on the major task of his internship and designed a new low voltage test bench as well as a 20kV high voltage test source. For both of these tasks his responsibility included research, design, manufacturing drawings, sourcing components and then overseeing the assembly and test of the finished products. The project was completed successfully. During Bruno's time in Australia he made many friends and those friendships will always exist.

He then returned to Brazil to the University of Sao Paulo where he completed the final year of his Engineering Degree successfully and has now graduated as an Electrical Engineer. Because of his internship he made particular focus on the last part of his degree in power engineering.

He has now joined the Festimport Exportação Ltda team to provide technical support for our Brazilian customers and is very well qualified to do so as a result of his internship.

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March 2008

PRESS RELEASE


NOJA Power Teams up to Supply PNG Power

NOJA Power was contracted by B&M Engineering to supply control panels for 800kW, 600kW, 250kW and 150kW diesel generators for Popondetta, Vanimo, Maprik and Finschhaffen Power Stations in Papua New Guinea.

The PNG Power Specification called for voltage controlled overcurrent / earth fault, under voltage, loss of field or reactive power and reverse / low forward power protection with differential protection required for generators >500kW. Accordingly, the 600 and 800kW panels were fitted with Areva P343 protection relays and custom designed CT's to detect any imbalance arising from an internal generator fault. Since differential protection was not a requirement for the 250 and 150kW panels, they were supplied with Areva P342 relays. Terasaki TemPower2 ACB's were used in all cases to switch the generator onto the load bus.

A Deep Sea Electronics Engine Control Module was integrated into the control panel to allow the generator to synchronise onto a live bus before connecting to it. For the smaller generator sets the DSE5510 also provided engine cranking and overspeed monitoring.

NOJA Power Control Panels

NOJA Power Control Panels

To assist operators in quickly identifying the cause of any ACB or generator shutdown operations, the specification called for an engraved annunciator panel with a mix of coloured warning lights. Each annunciator had different modes of operation specified for alarm, warning and acknowledged states. In order to simplify sourcing future spare parts, the specification deliberately excluded PLC control resulting in lots of relay logic with more than a kilometre of 2.5mm2 control wire in each of the 6 panels. With their high mechanical operations and robust construction, Sprecher and Schuh CS4 control relays were selected to provide long life and trouble free operation.

A critical aspect of the project was to integrate the required control with MDEC and DDEC engine controls of the MTU Detroit generator sets. NOJA Power engineering staff conducted commissioning tests at MTU Detroit's Richlands facility witnessed by representatives from B&M Engineering and PNG Power. The test program involved exercising all protection and generator control functions together with load testing to 110% of generator capacity. Successful testing was a satisfying milestone marking completion of a very challenging design and assembly assignment for NOJA Power.

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Solid-Dielectric ACR Installation Improves Distribution Network Reliability

By Kitione Valili (FEA) and Oleg Samarski (NOJA Power)

With the increase in demand for high reliability power supply to Fiji Electricity Authority's customer base, FEA purchased an initial 20 OSM Recloser units for installation mainly on the rural spurs of several distribution feeders. Offering a circuit exposure of more than 1000 kilometres, these feeders supply approximately 20% of the FEA's customer base.

Recloser & Control Cubicle Installation

Recloser & Control Cubicle Installation

In the 12-18 months since the commissioning, over 500 network faults have been registered and successfully restored beyond the recloser installation, with two recloser units accounting for more than 150 of these alone. Previously, an oil circuit breaker rated for 50 operations was used to protect the nearby substation and distribution feeders. The two NOJA Power OSM Recloser units now installed at the location of the circuit breaker are rated for over 30,000 operations and have performed 150+ operations in the 18 month period since commissioning, representing a substantial decrease in maintenance time and an increase in customer power supply.

The installations in this division have substantially increased the mean time between network power outages and helped the maintenance teams identify feeder inadequacies by highlighting spurs with high fault incidences. By calculating the theoretical impact of a fault without the recloser installed, it has been estimated that the 20 units have saved over 350 minutes in SAIDI, and have enabled a 30% reduction in SAIDI for the FEA Network Division. Plans have been drawn up to accordingly address these network defects and their impact on the SAIDI performance of the feeders.

The success of this strategy is particularly evident through an approximate 70% improvement in annual SAIDI performance in one of FEA's distribution feeders.

To ensure future reliability of this network division, the recloser's provide functionality extending beyond the current standard for ACR's. The OSM Recloser utilises voltage sensing technology on all six bushings to allow automatic operations to be performed in response to network conditions. Functionality includes Automatic Backfeed Resoration (ABR), where the device automatically closes if supply is interrupted on one side of a normally open recloser and supply on another side is present. Advanced communication capabilities of the recloser are being utilised by the FEA to integrate the devices into their SCADA system. This will have additional benefits in fault locating and supply restoration.

Due to the measureable success of the OSM automatic circuit recloser installation on the FEA Distribution Network, the utility purchased a further 30 OSM Recloser units from NOJA Power in 2007, with the intention of continuing the implementation of Distribution System Automation. This is expected to further reduce SAIDI and improve customer confidence in the reliability of power supply from the FEA.

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February 2008

PRESS RELEASE


IEEE Transmission & Distribution Conference and Exhibition

NOJA Power will be exhibiting at the IEEE PES T&D Conference & Exhibition to be held on April 21-24, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois.  Our stand number 1290 will provide product displays of the latest available NOJA Power OSM recloser products.  Our Managing Director Neil O’Sullivan and Sales Director Tony Stacey will both be in attendance at the event.

2008 IEEE Conference & Exhibition

IEEE PES Conference & Exhibition

This year’s conference is themed around Powering Toward the Future and aims to examine how current managerial and operational trends and practices shape the future for electrical utilities. Presentations will be centered around the conference’s main theme and within the following key areas: Transmission and distribution system planning and implementation, integration of wind generation and other renewables, Energy storage, Reliability, Distributed generation, Safety, maintenance, and operation, Disaster/emergency response, Power engineering education, Dynamic performance of transmission systems, FACTS and HVDC, Power quality, Protective relaying, Transformers, circuit breakers, cables, insulators, switchgear, fuses, towers, poles, and conductors, Electric machines and drives in distribution systems, Cyber security, Substation and distribution automation, Application software for power systems.

Other sessions that will conducted include the ‘Super Sessions’, which will focus on topics of special interest including: Aging Workforce - Overcoming the Technical Talent Challenge, The Smart Grid, Blackouts and System Stability, Disaster Response and Recovery, Energy and the Environment.

Visit http://www.ieeet-d.org/ for more information on the presentation format and exhibitors for the event.

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