T&D India (Nov 2016): Excess Generation Capacity Needs Matching Demand

VOL. 1 ISSUE 4 PAGES 44 T.C. NO. MAHENG14206 November 2016 100

VOL. 1 ISSUE 4T.C. NO. MAHENG14206 November 2016 100

Special Report:

Published on 10th of every month

With the unprecedented increase in coal supplies, thermal power has once again become

an area of interest. Augmentation of power generation capacity, especially coal-fired

capacity, was perhaps the only focus area all through the past 10-15 years. Today, thermal

power is once again in the news but for different reasons. Let take a closer look at recent official

statistics. As of end-September 2016, India’s total power generation capacity—accounting for

all sources, including renewables—was over 300 GW (1 GW = 1,000 mw). A little over 60 per

cent of this came from coal-fired plants. Though the share of coal-based power capacity in the

total capacity is reducing, thanks to the thrust on renewables, the contribution of thermal power

in total power consumption is still dominant. This year, there has been a marked improvement

in coal production and therefore in coal supplies to thermal power plants. In fact, most thermal

power plants are already equipped with 20-day coal stocks, prompting them to reduce further

purchases. It is ironic to note that Coal India Ltd that had aimed for 1 billion tonnes of coal

production by FY20 is now going slow on its target.

Interestingly, the overall plant load factor of thermal power plants has dropped. During the July-

September period of 2016, the average PLF was as low as 55 per cent. The drop in PLF, on

face value, is intriguing because there is no worsening of power deficit. In the first six months

of FY17, the national power deficit was only 0.7 per cent, which means that only 0.7 per cent

of the overall electricity demand remained unfulfilled. The drop in PLF is explained by the fact

that power plants that were shut down due to insufficient coal have now revived. The power

generation capacity available has increased, but overall, plants are operating at only 55 per

cent capacity simply because that is enough to meet the demand.

One can see that India have come to a stage where power generation capacity or its utiliza-

tion is no longer the issue of concern. In the XII Plan period, the target for new thermal power

generation capacity was 72,340 mw. By end-September 2016 itself, this target was surpassed

by 15 per cent.

The new thrust area therefore is clearly on power transmission and distribution (T&D) side.

Aggregate technical and commercial (ATC) losses stood at an appalling 25 per cent in FY15.

Though this metric has ebbed in recent years, it is still in the region of 15 per cent. Even today,

an estimated 40 per cent of the total population has no access to electricity. What can bring this

deprived lot closer to an electric connection is well-entrenched power T&D infrastructure.

Optimum utilization of burgeoning power generation capacity will therefore depend on im-

proved demand—by reviving and sustaining the investment cycle especially in the manufactur-

ing sector—and by accelerating consumption through wider reach of electricity.

November 20164T&D India

EDIT PAGE

Excess generation capacity needs

matching demand

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

— Albert Einstein

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CONTENTS


8 NEWSTelangana transmission line targeted ahead of schedule

PGCIL approves investment for Vemagiri transmission project

18 POWER EQUIPMENTBHEL commissions over 4,000 mw in Uttar Pradesh

Korean boilers for Harduaganj TPP

21 PROFILE AGC-4 – All in one power control package: DEIF India

22 RENEWABLESSulzon inaugurates blade facility in MP

‘Solar trackers should be made mandatory’

14 EXPERT VIEW Advent of the “Prosumer”Ramakrishnan M, Vice President, The Smart Cube & Shruti Jain, Senior Analyst, The Smart Cube

40 NEW LAUNCHESABB launches scalable microgrid

MV cables for grid connectivity from Nexans

25 SPECIAL REPORT

Cover photograph (on page 3) shows dead tank circuit breaker DT1-362 for 362 kV of Grid Solutions from GE Energy Connections. (Photo Courtesy: GE)

Also: Photo Feature (20) Achievements (24) Orders & Contracts (37) Short Takes (42)

26 INTERVIEW MSME businesses have learnt to survive storms much better

Soeb Fatehi, Immediate Past President, Control Panel & Switchgear Manufacturers’ Association (COSMA)

28

31

TECHNICAL INSIGHT

Q+A

Vacuum circuit breakers for generator switching applicationsDr. Karthik Reddy Venna, Energy Management Division, Siemens AG.

The India market for AIS products continues to growKay Ravikumar, Business Leader, AIS, Grid Solutions from GE Energy Connections

32 INTERVIEW LV switchgear solutions have become compact and smarter

Sameer Saxena, Director- Marketing, Legrand India

34 INTERVIEWOur customers appreciate Japanese high quality standards

S. Sriram, General Manager—Marketing, Factory Automation & Industrial Division,

Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt Ltd

FOCUS: SWITCHGEAR & CONTROL PANELS

NEWS

T&D India November 20168

ujarat-based transformer and reactor manufacturer, Transformers & Rectifiers

(India) Ltd has announced a joint venture agreement with Jiangsu Jingke Smart Electric Company Ltd—a company based in China and popularly known as “Jingke.” T&R will have 60 per cent stake in the joint venture while the remaining 40 per cent will be held by Jingke.

A stock exchange filing by T&R said that the joint venture will manufacture and market gas insulated switchgear (GIS), hybrid GIS systems and products for voltages up to 220kV. It will also engage in distribution products of up to 40.5kV. This joint venture marks a diversification of T&R in the power transmission and distribution equipment space.

According to information available with T&D India, Jingke has been active in India over the past two years at least. The Chinese firm is collaborating with Vadodara-based Parth Electricals & Engineering Pvt Ltd. Speaking

to T&D India over phone, a senior official of Parth Electricals noted that a joint venture with Jingke was in the early stages of formation, and the association with Jingke would be for EPC projects. It is also reliably learnt that the Parth-Jingke duo has won and is working on its first project—a 66kV substation project in Gujarat.

Jingke has also completed a 220kV substation for Tamil Nadu

Electricity Board, in association with KEC International. The substation was completed within three months of products arriving on the site, it is learnt.

In yet another instance, Stelmec Ltd, a low-voltage switchgear manufacturer based in Gujarat, is also associated with Jingke for a 220kV/66kV GIS substation project at Sanand, an industry source said.

T&R to diversify into GIS switchgearG

Jingke, in association with KEC International, completed a 220kV substation for TNEB in late 2015.

POWER Grid Corporation of India Ltd has declared commercial operations

NEWS


ower Grid Corporation Ltd has advanced the scheduled commissioning date of an

important transmission line in south India, by three months. Reliable reports suggest that the Central transmission utility will complete the 765kV Wardha-Dichpally line by December 2016 as against the earlier scheduled March 2017. This line will be instrumental in transmitting power from Chhattisgarh to Telangana. The Wardha-Dichpally line will result in Telangana receiving 1,000 mw of power from coal-rich Chhattisgarh. Another 1,000 mw can be transmitted based on the requirements of the southern state.

The Wardha-Dichpally line is one component of the 765kV Wardha-Nizamabad-Hyderabad double-circuit transmission system with a total length of 1,094 ckm. One line is from Wardha to Dichpally (in Nizamabad district) while the other is from Maheshwaram (near Hyderabad) to Dichpally. The transmission scheme envisages one 765/400kV substation that will be further connected to the 400kV Dichpally substation of state power utility Telangana Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. The entire transmission scheme, scheduled to commission by March 2018, is expected to feed electricity to north Telangana – particularly the Nizamabad district and surrounding ones.

The Wardha-Nizamabad-Hyderabad transmission scheme has seen delays since its conception way back in 2010. The delays were reportedly due to environmental clearance issues that caused cascading effect on the granting of investment approval and award of contracts. The contracts were finally placed in March 2015 and erection of towers began in July 2015.

Connectivity to the southern grid has seen improvement over the recent past. It all began in early 2014 with the southern grid getting synchronously connected with the remaining grids (northeastern and north-east-west), ushering the era of “One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency.” Currently, the transfer capacity stands at around 5,900 mw that is expected to more than treble to 18,400 mw by 2020.

Apart from the Wardha-Nizamabad-Hyderabad line, there are three other systems that will work towards improving interregional connectivity to south India. These include the 765kV Angul-Srikakulam-Vemagiri double-circuit line that will feed power from Odisha; and the 765kV Warora to Warangal line. The most important line is the 800kV HVDC Bipole link from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to Trissur in Kerala, via Pugalur in Tamil Nadu. The way this HVDC scheme will function is that one 800kV HVDC will travel from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh directly to Pugalur in Tamil Nadu.

From Pugalur, this line will branch out to several other areas in Tamil Nadu, as well as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. For reaching power to Kerala, PGCIL will be using a new technology voltage source converter (VSC) for a line connecting Pugalur to Thrissur in Kerala.

Telangana transmission line targeted ahead of schedule

P

D

INDIAN Electrical & Electronics

Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) has

signed a Memorandum of Association with

Central Board of Irrigation & Power (CBIP),

Power Sector Skill Council (PSSC) and

National Power Training Institute (NPTI) to

deal comprehensively on the issues of skill

development and integrated training in the

Indian power sector during IEEMA Annual

Convention 2016.

The MoUs were signed by Sunil Misra,

Director General, IEEMA, V.K. Kanjlia,

Secretary, CBIP, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pandey,

Director General, NPTI and Vinod Bihari, CEO,

PSSC in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Union

minister for power, coal, new & renewable

energy and mines.

An IEEMA release noted that power

industry in India is facing a major problem

in getting skilled and employable manpower

which is technically competent and ready to

be deployed. The industry thrives with ad hoc

sourcing of manpower and ad hoc training

techniques. It is estimated that only 3-5 per

cent of the total blue collared workforce

employed by the sector has some formal

Keeping in mind these concerns of

the industry IEEMA is entering into an

agreement with these parties. shortage of

skilled workforce may adversely impact the

industry’s growth as the current sources of

training are not scalable, the release added.

IEEMA signs

agreement for skill

building

amodar Valley Corporation has recently launched a GIS (geographical information system) portal that was dedicated to the nation at the hands

of Andrew W.K. Langstieh, Chairman, DVC. The portal will serve as a complete database of DVC’s power transmission system and different powerhouse switchyards. The portal is in line with the Digital India programme and Smart Grid initiative of the Union power ministry. According to an official release by DVC, the GIS portal will greatly enhance the operational efficiency, reduce downtime, help identification of new corridors, etc. DVC is one of the few power utilities to have implemented this project, the release noted.

DVC launches GIS portal

NEWS


he board of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has accorded investment

approval for substation works associated with the “Strengthening of Transmission System beyond Vemagiri” project. The works are estimated to cost Rs.608.24 crore and have a commissioning schedule of 30 months.

These substation works will be completed along with the associated transmission line that is being implemented by PGCIL under the tariff-based competitive bidding route.

The entire transmission project, for which REC Transmission Projects Company Ltd was the bid process coordinator, aims to facilitate import of power from the north-east-west grid to the southern grid. Under the scheme, a 765kV double-circuit line from Vemagiri to Cuddapah is enivsaged. This line will pass through

Chilakaluripet where a 765/400kV substation would be built. This would facilitate dispersal of power beyond Vemagiri. Further, 400kV double-circuit lines have been proposed from Vemagiri, Chilakaluripet and Cuddapah for injection/ dispersal of power. The entire line is located in Andhra Pradesh.

The 765/400kV substation at Chilakaluripet will be equipped with 2x1500 MVA transformers and 2x240 MVAR bus reactors. One spare 765/400kV transformer of 7x500 MVA will also be built. According to information available, there will be two 765/400kV transformer bays located at Chilakaluripet.

The project-specific special purpose vehicle called “Vemagiri II Transmission Ltd” was transferred to Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd in December 2015. The project has a scheduled commissioning date of April 2019.

TL Lemnis and its global LED lighting brand, Pharox, were felicitated with India’s Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 award in the consumer electronics

category at a glittering ceremony recently held at Mumbai by URS International, the leading media and research services organization. Consumers and industry chose the best brands and leaders, Research for the awards was undertaken by United Research Services International and PwC were the process reviewers for the awards, a release from NTL Lemnis said.

The award was conferred on NTL Lemnis at a well-appointed ceremony at Mumbai where Tushar Gupta, Executive Director, NTL Lemnis, received the citation and trophy from Alok Kumar Mehta, Hon’ble Minister, Cooperative Department, Government of Bihar. More than 300 business leaders, corporate honchos and distinguished guests were present on the occasion.

NTL Lemnis deals with energy efficient LED lighting solutions for Indian as well as the global audience under its global brand “Pharox”. Today, Pharox has national visibility with its retail initiatives. NTL Lemnis has already provided 150 million LED lamps to EESL, the release added.

PGCIL approves investment for

Vemagiri transmission project

T

NDiscoms set to cut losses

with UDAY: StudyTHE Centre’s Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana

(UDAY) is set to have a positive impact on the

THE

SLDC commissioned in

Uttar Pradesh

NTL Lemnis bags award


EXPERT VIEW

14

he cost of renewable energy generation is decreasing substantially across the

globe, with solar energy likely to exhibit stronger growth than wind or gas energy in the near term. As a result, consumers—driven by environmental awareness—are increasingly switching to the option of generating their own renewable energy (by installing solar panels, batteries, etc.).

Consequently, a new trend is emerging—traditional energy consumers are becoming energy producers or “prosumers”, who want to buy electricity from the grid at low prices and sell it back (for rebates or credits) when prices are high. According to a report published by the World Economic Forum in January 2016, customers globally can save up to $32 billion from generating their own energy, as well as reselling excess energy back to the grid. This is likely to result in a reduction of carbon emissions by 531 million tonnes from increased adoption of renewable energy.

The energy sector in the future is likely to be characterised by energy service providers connected to prosumers through a decentralised energy network, wherein the latter will be able to generate, store and manage their energy use via real-time data.

INITIATIVES BY UTILITY COMPANIES

The utilities of tomorrow must adapt to prosumers’ demand for efficient energy management by leveraging this opportunity—instead of letting it act as a revenue-killer—by stepping in as energy advisors. According to the World Economic Forum report, the increasing penetration of renewable energy systems is likely to migrate up to $16 billion of revenue away from traditional utilities, with

the emerging energy management industry already being estimated to be worth $69 billion (as of January 2016). Hence, many companies have started offering services, such as mobile apps that allow customers to track and control energy usage, pay bills, report outages and receive reports.

British Gas, as another example, developed an app to allow users to predict bills and split payments with their housemates. Users can even compare their consumption pattern with neighbours, and integrate the app with remote temperature controls and smart meters.

As traditional utilities increasingly face a threat from digitally oriented companies—such as Google, with its Project Sunroof or SolarCity—they must offer evolved customer engagement tools to remain competitive. Experts predict that in the near future, utilities will seem more like modern digital retailers than traditional utilities, moving from supplying a commodity to providing an experience.

RISE OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

As the prosumers trend catches on globally, it has given rise to a new phenomenon – distributed generation, which refers to the generation of electricity at/near the consumption location using a variety of technologies—such as

solar panels and combined heat and power (CHP).

The economics of this new phenomenon are rapidly superseding those of utilities globally, as it offers advantages such as reducing transmission investment, managing constraints on transmission and distribution networks, mitigating power outages and hedging fluctuating energy prices. Further, as electricity is generated close to the usage location, the otherwise enormous costs of transmission and distribution are saved drastically. This concept also allows the prosumer to send surplus electricity back to the power grid for additional benefits.

Hence, while distributed generation accounts for less than 1% of the total global energy generation, experts argue that its growth potential is immense. It is estimated that the total installed global capacity of distributed power generation will grow to 495 GW by the end of 2016. This growth—marked by increased investments in CHP systems and solar photovoltaics (PV)—is expected to be led by a rise in global electrification, the drive to reduce carbon emissions, and reduction in costs of solar PV technologies, wind power and battery energy storage.

In the recently published State of the Electric Utility 2016 report, 52% of the electric utility executives surveyed showcased an interest in investing more in distributed generation systems. Companies such as SolarCity, SunPower, SolarEdge and Sunrun have already seized this emerging opportunity. Tucson Electric Power and Arizona Public Service offer residential solar programmes wherein they own and operate rooftop solar installations and give rebates to host customers, generating savings of $30 per month per customer over 20–25 years.

Advent of the “Prosumer”

T Traditional energy

consumers are becoming

energy producers or

“prosumers”, who want

to buy electricity from the

grid at low prices and sell it

back (for rebates or credits)

when prices are high.

RAMAKRISHNAN M & SHRUTI JAIN


EXPERT VIEW

16

REACTION OF GOVERNMENTS

Even state regulators have started joining the bandwagon to encourage this phenomenon. For instance, in 2015, distributed generation connections in Brazil grew 308%, primarily led by solar energy systems. To boost this growth, in December 2015, the Brazilian government launched a national programme to incentivise distributed generation with focus on solar PV. Under a net metering framework, the programme allows prosumers to exchange surplus electricity for credits.

In another instance, the state of New York has set an aim to reduce its carbon emissions by 40% (as against 1990 levels) and draw 50% electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Under its Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) programme, the state’s electric utilities will be restructured to allow for more distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop solar panels, batteries and home energy management systems. It also enables a higher level of market competition, thereby incentivising local utility companies to focus on DERs instead of traditional generation systems.

Following the precedent, the UK government is set to transform the UK utility sector with its Smart Metering Implementation Programme, which entails the installation of 53 million new electricity and gas smart meters by 2020. This rollout of smart meters will encourage customers to reduce their energy consumption by providing visibility into real-time usage, as well as generating bill savings by enabling a dialogue with the utility provider to direct smart

appliances to power down during times of peak demand (when energy is more expensive). Hence, with an investment of ~$13.2 billion, the programme is expected to provide net benefits worth ~$8.2 billion to the country till 2030.

NEW BUSINESS MODELS

Such developments are leading to the emergence of new business models in utilities. According to the State of the Electric Utility 2016 report, utility respondents favour two approaches—engaging third parties to deploy DERs and installing DERs as a regulated utility through rate-based investments. In this way, readily adapting allows utilities to create revenue streams out of distributed generation, mitigating the risk of load defection—prosumers shifting their energy load from utility- to self-generated power.

Further, utilities globally are forced to rethink their business models due to significant growth observed in distributed resources. Consequently, several utility companies are partnering with third-party vendors to offer “connected home” package services, which link consumers’ energy technologies and major home appliances to facilitate greater control over energy usage. For example, Comcast currently offers a service bundle in partnership with NRG Energy, allowing consumers to add electricity services to existing telecom or entertainment offerings.

“For example, Georgia Power offers bundled communication services, and Con Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric offer co-location with wireless facilities. Green Mountain Power offers a number of advanced energy options, including heat pump services. These innovative types of revenue streams allow utilities to use their assets for the benefits of both shareholders and customers.” – New York Public Service Commission (January 2016)

With falling prices of renewables and energy storage, and expansion

of distributed energy resources, the global utility sector is witnessing changes faster than ever. In many regions, wind and solar energy are reaching grid parity and even pricing out traditional generation systems. The utilities infrastructure of the future is likely to be a hybrid of the conventional centralised model and the rapid proliferation of decentralised energy resources (distributed generation). What remains to be seen is whether the upcoming integrated, intelligent grid systems have the potential to consistently deliver consumers clean energy efficiently while maintaining the critical role of the utility or if this will end like a far-fetched dream.

If you are an industry professional in the utility space, the following questions could be worth exploring:

impact of the above-mentioned trends on your company? How will your current and future earnings be affected?

marketing, legal, etc.) will be most heavily impacted?

suitable for your company to mitigate potential challenges and leverage upcoming opportunities?

to these new developments? What are the key best practices regarding risk management and the emergence of new business streams in your region?

Ramakrishnan M is Vice

President, The Smart Cube and

Shruti Jain is Senior Analyst, The

Smart Cube. Headquartered in the

United Kingdom with additional

offices in the United States, China,

Germany, India, Romania, and

Switzerland, The Smart Cube is a

global professional services firm

that specializes in delivering custom

research and analytics services to

corporations, financial services, and

management consulting firms.

POWER EQUIPMENT


ver the past 15 months, BHEL has commissioned 4,300 mw

of power generation capacity in Uttar Pradesh. This milestone was reached when it recently commissioned a 660-mw supercritical coal-fired power unit in the northern state. The unit in question is Unit-2 of the 3x660-mw Prayagraj super thermal power project. Located at Bara in Allahabad district, the plant is owned by Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd (PPGCL), a subsidiary company of Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. This is the second unit of the project to be commissioned. The first unit was commissioned earlier by BHEL in December, 2015 and the third unit of the project is also in an advanced stage of construction.

BHEL’s scope in the project consisted of design, engineering,

manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of the boiler and turbine-generator (BTG) package. The key equipment for the project has been manufactured by BHEL at its Haridwar, Trichy, Hyderabad, Ranipet and Bengaluru works, while the construction of the plant was undertaken by the company’s Power Sector -Northern Region.

Over 70 per cent of UP’s current power generation capacity,

aggregating to more than 16,500 mw, has been installation by BHEL, the PSU engineering firm said. On the supercritical power equipment front, BHEL has secured orders for 48 steam generators and 41 turbo-generators so far. While 12 sets of supercritical boilers and 10 sets of supercritical turbine generators have been commissioned, the balance are in various stages of execution.

Hydropower: A total of 1,732 mw of hydropower generation capacity was dedicated to the nation recently at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Incidentally, the entire capacity, coming from three projects--Koldam HEP (4x200 mw) of NTPC, Parbati HEP Stage-III (4x130 MW) of NHPC and Rampur HEP (6x68.67 MW) of SJVN—are equipped with generating equipment supplied and commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

OBHEL commissions over 4,000 mw in Uttar Pradesh

File photo of the 3x660-mw under-construction Prayagraj super thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh

(Photo source unknown).

oshiba JSW Power Systems Ltd (TJPS) will source super-critical boilers for the Hardu-

aganj power project of Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (UPR-VUNL) on Doosan of Korea, a senior official of Toshiba told T&D India. In September last year, TJPS had won the EPC contract for the 1x660-mw Harduaganj supercritical power project, with an estimated contract value of $540 million. The turbine generators for the project will be manufactured by TJPS at its Chen-nai facility. The scope of the order involves complete EPC including civil works, boiler island package and the turbine-generator set. This is the first EPC contract for TJPS and is scheduled for completion within 48 months from the date of contract.

In Uttar Pradesh, Toshiba has al-ready supplied subcritical steam turbine-generators for the 2x500-mw Anpara-B project of UPRVUNL.

This order, completed way back in 1994, marked Toshiba’s entry in the Indian power equipment. In May 2012, TJPS, in association with Toshiba India, won the mandate to supply supercritical turbine-gener-ators to the 2x660-mw Meja power project to Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between NTPC and UPRVUNL.

TJPS has also won the contract for supplying supercritical turbine-gen-erators for NTPC’s 3x800-mw Kudgi project in Karnataka. The first set was supplied by Toshiba from Japan. The second set was very recently supplied by TJPS from its Chen-nai plant, making it the first “Make in India” turbine-generator set for TJPS. The third set is currently be-ing manufactured at the Chennai plant. The latest order on TJPS is for supplying turbine-generators to the 2x800-mw Darlipali plant of NTPC in Odisha.

Korean boilers for Harduaganj TPPLARSEN & Toubro has synchronized one

660-mw supercritical power generation unit

for state power utility Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut

Nigam Ltd’s (RVUNL) Chhabra thermal

power project in the northern state. L&T

synchronized the unit in a record time of 42

months and four days from the NTP (notice

to proceed) date of March 28, 2013. The

synchronization period, according to an L&T

release, is the speediest one so far for any

indigenously manufactured supercritical unit

in India.

In early 2013, L&T had won a Rs.5,689-

crore EPC contract for setting up two

the Chhabra plant in Baran district. At that

for supercritical power equipment placed by

a state utility on a private sector player.

The two units represent Unit 5 and Unit 6

of the Chhabra plant whose current capacity

is 1,000 mw coming from four units of 250-

mw each, commissioned between June

2010 and December 2014.

Chhabra supercritical

unit synchronized

T

Last date for booking: November 30, 2016

December

2016

Advertise in the TRANSFORMERS

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PHOTO FEATURE

T&D India November 201620T&D India November 201620

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Glimpses of Switch Global Expo 2016(October 6-10, 2016, Vadodara, Gujarat)

PROFILES


n recent times, new technology and increased environmental awareness, combined with the

liberalisation of the power sector, have led to a boom in decentralised power production. An increased demand for high quality emergency power plants is another trend, as critical applications like Data Centres, Hospitals, etc. demand close to 100% secure, reliable electric supply. The control of decentralised power production and emergency plants orders for highly advanced and specialised technology.

DEIF’s robust and reliable Automatic Genset Controller, AGC-4 features proven technology that is flexible and suitable for a wide variety of complex applications that has a mix of solar, gas, hydro and steam power plants, both for power generation and emergency power supply.

Power Management: AGC-4’s power management package enables you to configure your own system from one genset to multiple mains, multiple genset up to 992 gensetin the same application.The complete power management system can easily be monitored from the PC utility software through a graphical supervision page. Running status, hours in operation, breaker status, condition of mains and busbars and fuel consumption are just some of the values that are presented.

Multi-master system and internal redundant communication between the controllers make it safe for operation with master backup.Every DG can be the commanding unit.Basic functions under power management include load-dependent start/stop operation, priority selection of genset, priority selection of mains (ID to Run), load management, multi-start DG control, ground relay, heavy consumer control, non-essential load trip, and quick setup.

Extendable multiple displays:

Up to 3 displays can be connected

over the CANbus to one controller to replicate the parameter values. These display units can be placed 30 metre away from the controller unit, example one display unit can be mounted on the controller unit near the genset in the machine room, one in the switchboard room and the third in plant control room, all connected over the CAN line.

Each AOP has 16 tricolor configurable LEDs and 8 configurable push-buttons. All LEDs can be configured for both alarm and function indication via the PC software.AOPs make it possible to optimise the panel perfectly for the exact application for lamp indications relevant to the operator, reducing panel size, save wiring, and ease troubleshooting.

The number of components on your switchboard/panel can be reduced as AGC-4 has all protections functions and measurements can be viewed on the display, with synchronisation and load sharing included enabling easy overview and operator-friendliness; while saving additional cost of meters.

Modular controller: AGC-4 controller isa modular controller wherein, it is possible to reconfigure the options to suit the last minute changes in the application giving you the much needed flexibility in hardware and software. While in service, it is also possible to replace only a faulty card by sending it to our repair centre without scraping the entire product. This proves to be economical as the service & replacement of card cost can range up to 30% of the unit cost, depending on the fault.

Fuel optimization: DEIF’s controllers are designed to run optimum combination of genset thus reducing fuel consumption, cutting emissions and operating cost, and increasing efficiency of your backup genset power making it greener with fast ROI.

Fast energy backup: AGC-4 controllers are capable of synchronous starting of multiple genset using Close Before Excitation and can deliver record start-up from an impressive less than ten seconds for multiple genset in parallel, redundant control systems, or even an entire redundant power plant. Switching over the load of whole plant quickly to backup genset is made efficient using digital voltage control.

Scalable system: DEIF’s controller system is fully scalable, multi-master system of up to 992 genset with plant management option in one application, without making major modifications in the existing project. When building your applications, the AGC-4 allows a change from island mode (single genset) into a multipurpose application.

Easy installation: The AGC-4 controller is base mounted which implies that all the cabling is done at the back, inside the panel which diminishes the load of cables on the panel door.

Serviceability: DEIF has a support system at your service 24x7 which is nearer to you to solve the toughest challenges that you may face. DEIF India has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai and a repair centre in Mumbai to analyse, identify,and rectify a defective controller. With all its features and functionalities, AGC-4 proves to be the superlative of all controllers available. For more information, please feel free to write us at [email protected] or contact DEIF India Pvt. Ltd. on (+91) 22 4245 2000.

AGC-4 – All in one power control package

I


RENEWABLES

new aerodynamic technology rotor blade manufacturing facility

of Suzlon Group was recently inaugurated at the hands of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Located at Badnawar in Dhar district, the facility, spread over 19 acres, has an annual production capacity of 400 mw and will manufacture rotor blades for its latest S111 2.1 mw turbine. The latest in its 2.1-mw fleet, the S111 has a blade length of 54.8m, making it one of the largest rotor diameter WTGs in India, a release from Suzlon said. Especially designed to enhance wind generation at low wind sites, the S111 reduces the cost of energy, increases return on investment for customers and makes low wind sites viable.

The facility at Badnawar is Suzlon’s 14th manufacturing facility in India and has been brought into operation in less than one year. The facility is also the first one of Suzlon to employ 20 local female engineers

who have been provided with nine months of training at the Suzlon Quality Academy, the release said.

Suzlon’s blade manufacturing units are now of are located at Bhuj (Gujarat), Dhule (Maharashtra), Padubidri (Karnataka), Pondicherry

(Tamil Nadu), Daman, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh). With this newest rotor blade unit in Madhya Pradesh, Suzlon has increased its global manufacturing footprint to 15 facilities, spread across India and China.

Sulzon inaugurates blade facility in MPA

‘Solar trackers should be made mandatory’WITH solar photovoltaic installations poised to grow tremendously

in the coming years, the government should make solar trackers

mandatory, felt Vinay Goyal, CEO, Ganges Internationale Pvt Ltd.

He was interacting with T&D India, at the InterSolar 2016 event

in Mumbai recently. India has targeted to achieve as much as 60

GW of grid-connected solar capacity by 2022. In keeping with this

target, solar PV additions are expected at the rate of 8 or 9 GW per

year from now to 2022. Currently, India has around 8.6 GW of grid-

connected solar PV capacity.

Discussing the need for trackers, Goyal said that apart from

improving power generation from solar plants, trackers are highly useful in

regularizing the generation from solar power plants. Explaining this he said

that generation from solar PV plants builds gradually from the morning and

peaks towards the afternoon, and then subsides as evening approaches. Due

to this, there is a “surge” in generation during a certain portion of the day.

This can cause imbalance to the grid, Goyal explained. Solar plants equipped

with trackers stabilize the generation and help make it uniform over the day.

When this happens, the stress on the power grid is substantially lower.

Goyal noted that over the next few years, when solar power capacity

trackers could be very helpful in alleviating grid stress. Developed countries

have already faced grid-related complications. In fact, Germany,

as an industry source pointed out, even faced a major grid failure

when a large quantum of solar power was injected at the peak-

of-generation period. In many developed countries, trackers have

move, Goyal asserted.

On other matters in the solar sector, Vinay Goyal expressed his

displeasure at the slow pace of solar rooftop installations. Even

as the government has targeted as much as 40 GW from rooftop

installations by 2022, the current pace is not encouraging. Much

work needs to be done on the policy front, which includes putting in place

net-metering policies in many states, said Goyal.

Ganges Internationale Pvt Ltd, it may be mentioned, has tied up with

SunLink for developing single-axis solar trackers in India. “We have already

begun manufacturing trackers at our Puducherry plant,” Goyal said adding

that the entire tracker is manufactured locally with SunLink only providing

technical support. “No components are imported,” Goyal informed. “There

is bound to be competition in the solar tracker business as well,” was what

Goyal had to say on the emerging scenario. Maintaining optimism on the

solar tracker business, the Ganges Internatinonale CEO felt that India could

have 3 GW of tracker-equipped solar plants by 2020.

Vinay Goyal, CEO, Ganges Internationale

GLOBAL SNIPPETS

Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Imetame

Energia to supply a 28-mw natural gas power

plant to UTE Prosperidade I in Brazil. The

power plant will be equipped with Wärtsilä

34SG engines operating on the “Gas to

Wire”-concept. This means that natural gas is

converted to electric power close to the remote

gas fields, and transmitted to urban areas via

transmission lines. Wärtsilä’s scope of supply

is basic equipment supply and engineering.

The value of the order is approximately 10

million euros, a release from Wartsila said.

ANDRITZ HYDRO, part of international

technology Group ANDRITZ, has received an

order from the Phonesack Group Limited to

supply electromechanical equipment for the

Nam Theun 1 hydropower project in the People’s

Democratic Republic of Lao. The scope of

supply comprises design, manufacturing and

the supply of the complete electromechanical

equipment, including three vertical Francis

turbines with a total output of around 670

megawatts, model test, generators, governors,

automation system, main transformer, medium-

and low-voltage switchgears, power and control

cables, fire protection system, 500kV GIS (gas

insulated switchgear), the main inlet valve,

mechanical auxiliaries, installation supervision

and commissioning.

The Stuttgart-based Lapp Group, a supplier

of integrated solutions and branded cable and

connection technology products, has acquired

CEAM CaviSpeciali, an Italy-based company

engaged in manufacture of data cables for

Industrial Ethernet and fieldbus network

systems. Lapp has also acquired Romania-

based S.C. Fender Cables that specializes in

cables for alarm and fire protection systems.

Both CEAM and Fender were part of COFIMA

Holding.

UL, a global safety science player, has

announced the acquisition of AWS Truepower,

a leading energy engineering services and

advisory firm. This achievement expands

UL’s global renewable energy portfolio by

strengthening full lifecycle solutions for wind

and solar energy sectors. AWS Truepower

is an Albany, NY-based company providing

renewable energy services through five

business units covering project advisory,

performance engineering, due diligence,

information services and grid solutions. Its

service portfolio complements UL’s current

renewable energy offering focused on

testing, inspection and certification as well

as performance verification of solar, wind,

batteries and energy storage systems.

Wärtsilä has signed a two-year maintenance

and advisory agreement with Simberi Gold

Company Ltd. The agreement covers, in

addition to scheduled maintenance, expert

advisory services to ensure continuous and

sufficient power supply for Simberi’s gold mine

operations on Simberi Island. The 10-mw

Simberi power plant operates in isolation from

the national electricity distribution network and

is located approximately 900 km northeast of

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, a release

from Wärtsilä said.

ACHIEVEMENT


BB has developed, manufactured and energized a 1,200kV ultra-high-voltage

power transformer to support India’s plans to build a 1,200 kV transmission system, supplementing the existing 400kV and 800kV transmission grid as demand for electricity increases. The transformer was manufactured and tested at ABB’s state-of-the-art Vadodara facility in India, a release from ABB noted.

This 1,200kV transformer represents the highest alternating current voltage level in the world and is installed at the national test station at Bina, Madhya Pradesh, as part of a collaborative initiative by the country’s central transmission utility, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

India’s geographic span means that resource-rich generation centers and urban and industrial load centers are often far apart therefore requiring efficient power transmission. Along with the country’s commitment to enhance the contribution of renewables, these factors are driving the development of an ultra-high-voltage transmission infrastructure, the release observed.

The 1,200kV transmission system will help strengthen the grid and enhance load capacity up to 6,000

mw. Transmission at higher voltages enables larger amounts of electricity to be transported across longer distances, while minimizing losses. At the same time, less space is needed for fewer transmission lines, which reduces the environmental impact and overall cost.

In addition to the transformer, ABB has also developed a 1,200kV circuit breaker that was previously commissioned at the test station. This was the first hybrid gas insulated switchgear in the world to be energized at this voltage level. The

uniquely designed circuit breaker is safely housed with the disconnector in a tank filled with insulating gas – resulting in a space saving potential of up to 60 per cent compared with conventional designs.

T&D India adds: The 1,200kV Bina test line of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) is India’s pilot project to bring 1,200kV power transmission on commercial scale. According to information available with T&D

India, the Bina line is currently in testing phase. At one end of the line, voltage is being stepped up from 400kV to 1,200kV, and after passing through the 1,200kV line, voltage is being stepped down from 1,200kV to 400kV. In this way, all the equipment to be used in the 1,200kV transmission setup is “stressed” as per live conditions. Equipment used in the 1,200kV test station has been supplied by around 35 Indian suppliers, some of which have been given in the table alongside. By current thinking, India’s first commercial 1,200kV line will be the Wardha-Aurangabad line in Maharashtra. Construction work on the transmission towers is currently in progress.

ABB develops 1,200kV power transformer

A

KEY PARTNERS IN 1,200KV BINA TEST STATION

Supplier Scope of Works

Areva T&D* Capacitative Voltage Transformer

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd Auto transformer (333 MVA; single-phase)

Crompton Greaves Capacitative Voltage Transformer, Surge Arrestor

Hivelm Industries Isolator

KEC International EPC Contractor for the Bina test line

Siemens Capacitative Voltage Transformer, Surge Arrestor, SF6

Circuit Breaker, Disconnectors

Supreme & Co Various types of hardware

Auto transformer (333 MVA; single-phase)

Vijai Electrials Ltd** Auto transformer (333 MVA; single-phase)

*Now, GE T&D India; **Now, Toshiba Transmission & Distribution India Ltd

Note: List is not exhaustive

SPECIAL REPORT


ndia has traditionally met its base load

power requirements through coal-fired

power plants. Even through the stress today

is on renewable energy sources like solar and

wind, green energy will only make progressive

contributions to the energy mix, but the reliance

on coal-fired power plants cannot be wished away.

India is moving to a phase where coal-fired power

plants are equipped with supercritical technology

that is much more efficient than the conventional

(subcritical) variant. In the XIII Plan period (FY18

to FY22), India has targeted all its coal-fired power

capacity through supercritical units alone. While this will take care of

future capacity, the fact remains that India a huge base of old coal-fired

power plants that can be revived through modern technology. Retrofitting

automation solutions to such old plants is a service that Schneider Electric

India as part of its process automation solutions. After the acquisition of

Invensys Plc, a leading automation player, in 2014, Schneider Electric

has substantially improved its automation solutions basket. The power

generation segment is going to be a key area for Schneider Electric’s

automation solution, in the years ahead.

Interacting with T&D India, Rahul Nargotra, Director, Strategic Business

Development (Power Industry), APAC, Schneider Electric Systems

explained that automation is the heart of a power plant. It is like a

central processing unit with modules and software that ensures regular

and reliable generation of power. Nargotra said that while Schneider

Electric is strong on the conventional thermal side – including coal and

gas, it is also planning to enter the hydropower and nuclear segments.

This apart, renewable energy will also be a key area for automation

solutions. When it comes to solar power, the level of automation in a

concentrated solar plant is much higher than that in a solar photovoltaic

plant, observed Nargotra.

For Schneider Electric, the major

business area is the automation of

old power generation plants of state

power utilities. Rahul Nargotra recalled

a project of providing automation

solutions to the 2x210-mw coal-fired

power plant of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut

Utpadan Nigam Ltd. The scope of

work included the boiler and balance-

of-plant, and the order was secured

through Kota-based public sector unit

Instrumentation Ltd. Encouraged

Most of these plants are owned by

state power utilities. We have done

an excellent job in Rajasthan where

we provided automation solutions to

the 2x210-mw Kota thermal power

plant. We did the boiler and the

BoP plant. Our contract was through

Instrumentation Ltd. Encouraged with

the success of the Rajasthan project,

Schneider Electric is eyeing similar projects from

state power generation utilities of Punjab, Gujarat,

Maharashtra and Haryana, among others. The

focus area is coal-fired power units of 210-250

mw that are in operation for more than 15 years.

These plants have little or no automation. “This is

a very strong market in India. That is why we are

promoting our systems for older plants,” observed

Nargotra. Discussing the benefits of automation on

old power generation units, the Schneider Electric

official explained that once a plant is equipped

with automation, several benefits accrue—plant

availability improves, controls are tighter, coal consumption is lesser and

the overall results of the power plants are superior.

While providing automation for old as well as for new plants, Schneider

Electric needs to work mainly with suppliers of boiler turbine-generator

suppliers as well as EPC contractors. Sometimes, the company needs to

work with overseas vendors as well, explained Nargotra whilst discussing

finer details of the project functioning.

Summing up prospects for India, Rahul Nargotra said that the domestic

market has been dynamic since the past 7-8 years. “Though moving

towards renewable energy, India will be a coal-dependent nation. We see

India as a growth segment,” asserted Nargotra.

I

INSTALLED POWER CAPACITY

(As of September 2016)

Type MW

A. Thermal

Coal 1,87,253

Gas 25,057

Diesel 919

Total 2,13,229

B. Nuclear 5,780

C. Hydro 43,112

D. Renewables

Small Hydro 4,304

Wind 27,151

Solar 7,805

Biomass/Cogen 4,861

Waste-to-Energy 115

Total 44,237

Grand Total (A to D) 3,06,358

Retrofitting automation solutions to old coal-fired power plants can significantly improve their

operational efficiency.

(For

illu

stra

tion

only

)


INTERVIEW

COSMA is nearing completion of

three decades of service to the trade.

Please tell us about the journey so

far.

COSMA began as an informal “tea and chat group” of four that met casually at the office of Satish Kazi as friends owning similar businesses. They met more than once before they realized that they could share so much knowledge and grow their relationships that way. They learned quickly that shedding a feeling of rivalry in business and looking upon competition as a healthy propellant for growth was the need of the hour for all of them. They invited some more friends, who were also manufacturers of control panels like they were, to meet up too. Soon they decided to institutionalize their friendship and form as association of manufacturers – COSMA was born! Sharing of knowledge, on a variety of subjects, while also building a fraternal feeling among constituents became the main plank for COSMA.

Many corporate groups were happy to support the effort and companies came forward to organize product and technology presentations for the benefit of control panel manufacturers. Technical discussions interspersed with talks on subjects ranging from management to finance, commerce and taxation were offered to members on a regular basis over the years.

You have always talked about

collaborative working and

encouraged organizations to work

together. Tell us about how COSMA

works with other industry and trade

bodies.

COSMA has always worked closely with other trade bodies. COSMA aligns with IEEMA and regularly supports all IEEMA activities, especially through the low voltage switchgear division and the SME division of IEEMA. COSMA has also supported SWICON conferences of IEEMA. COSMA participates as

COSMA is the apex

association of

the control panel

and switchgear

manufacturing industry.

Immediate Past

President Soeb Fatehi

recently interacted with

T&D India and shared

his observations and

thoughts on where the

industry should head in

the foreseeable future.

Fatehi told us about

how several small and

medium businesses

are accelerating

their growth and

consolidating their

market position by

embracing change

as a way of life while

leveraging their agility

and responsiveness.

Recently Soeb handed

over the reins to

COSMA’s new President

Sanjeev Khinnavar who

has served on the board

MSME businesses have learnt to

survive storms much better— Soeb Fatehi, Immediate Past President, Control Panel & Switchgear

Manufacturers’ Association (COSMA)


INTERVIEW


a member in programs of Indian Merchants’ Chamber and Bombay Industries Association. COSMA is an active member of the Indian Green Building Council since inception of the council by CII in 2001. Regular collaborative participation with Bombay Management Association has helped COSMA members gain access to some great training and development programs. COSMA also has worked closely with the Electrical Merchants’ Association and the Electrical Contractors Association of Maharashtra. Our (new) President Sanjeev Khinnavar is keen to increase our collaborative working opportunities to gain benefit and exposure for our members.

Do you see a slower growth forecast

for the low voltage control panel

industry in India? What is the

sentiment of COSMA members in

the current scenario?

Our members are mostly MSME businesses and a large number of players in the field are technocrats. Most of the businesses are family owned and family managed. A fairly large number of second and third generation family members have entered the businesses already. The infusion of fresh talent with modern education including management education is helping our people to re-vision their organizations. The dividing line between family management and professional management is getting fuzzier and may soon be blurred out. The younger-generation business owners have realized the need for profitability in even the most adverse times. They are learning to manage

finances with eye on assetization of profits. Human capital is better respected and appropriated than before. Intellectual capital is being created. Goodwill has acquired a larger meaning in the minds of the new business leaders. With that scenario, the forecasts by market analysts do not scare people anymore. Now MSME businesses have learned that they have to, can and will survive storms much better than their larger counterparts because they are more agile, flexible, and frugal. We at COSMA are very confident that our members will be able to weather any rough patches with a smile – bad times are never permanent and as electrical people we understand the sine wave well!

You have always suggested that

MSME manufacturers must

leverage their agility and push

themselves to adopt and embrace

new global standards for their

products. Do you see a possibility

for COSMA to support members

towards such ends?

Sure! Our President Sanjeev Khinnavar has already requested our board members to work on creating a platform for learning for our members. COSMA is organising a series of regular workshops for members to share knowledge on global requirements to conform to contemporary standards. For electrical products the degree of harmonization of global standards is fairly high. Most UL and IEC standards for switchboards, control panels, instrumentation, control and

automation are already harmonized and all countries are harmonizing their national standards. Local electricity supply company rules and National Electrical Codes of all countries are working to closely follow the harmonized standards. Insurance companies require increasing emphasis on safety assurance that is possible through adoption of conformity to current standards and codes. Globalization of operations of corporations leads to internal standardization within corporations to match their building and installation components and practices at all their locations – this is increasingly important to ensure portability of their employees and maintain parity in safety practices worldwide. Realizing this COSMA will endeavour to share information on how to upgrade products to comply with changing requirements and also support members desirous of pursuing certification of their products to meet international requirements. Naturally this will increase opportunity for our members to become exporters of products to all parts of the world. COSMA is closely in touch with all major MNC producers of switchgear and control gear so members can get easier and faster access to technology information. Sanjeev is keen to ensure that any growth which the industry sees touches our members and brings us closer to the vision of our Chairman Emeritus Satish Kazi to see COSMA members as the most preferred producers of control panels and switchgear.

TECHNICAL INSIGHT

n power plants, generator switchgear will ensure dependable synchronization

and maximum operating reliability. Installed between the generator and the transformer, the switchgear can synchronize various quantities like frequency, voltage, and phase with the network. The integrated circuit breaker immediately interrupts the flow of electrical energy in the event of a short circuit in the generator or the transformer. This protection prevents secondary faults which could impair the entire power plant operation. In addition, the generator can be switched on and off within milliseconds with a corresponding control command allowing it to be coupled into the grid with a high precision. With renewable energy sources and smart grids driving the trend toward decentralized energy centers with several small generators, this function will become increasingly important in the future.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN

HYDROPOWER PLANTS

Due to their technical and physical characteristics, hydropower plants place different demands on generator switchgear than other types of power plants. For instance, the hydro generators normally rotate with a speed around 300-400 revolutions

per minute, which is significantly slower when compared with coal- or gas-fired power plants. This has a direct impact on the short circuit currents fed by the generator and a heavier load on the breaker during the switching process. In addition hydropower plants often use a three-winding transformer instead of the typical two-winding transformer to connect the high-voltage network. This results in a high DC component from a system source fault, which

in turn necessitates a higher switching capacity. Another special requirement is for pumped storage power plants, the circuit breakers must perform load switching or rated current switching where as for the other power plants, typically and no-load switching is performed.

To summarize: generator switchgear installed in hydropower plants have to withstand these special requirements and guarantee the maximum plant’s availability.


Vacuum circuit breakers for

generator switching applications –

An ideal solution for hydropower plants

I

Hydropower plants place very special demands on the generator

switchgear when compared with other types of power plants, especially

in terms of frequent switching operations, load switching, and easy &

DR. KARTHIK REDDY VENNA

The hydro power plant Tinizong in Switzerland has been equipped with a VB1 generator switchgear


TECHNICAL INSIGHT


Further the Asian countries like China, India, and Malaysia etc have ambitious plans to expand their hydro power generation capacity where as in Europe and US the development scope is limited and mainly focusing on modernizing the existing plants which are nearing to their life time. As a result, there is a high requirement for retrofitting as much as for new switchgears. Often the complete set of electrical equipment is replaced, but sometimes only individual components are exchanged. In this case, the replacement solutions must be easy and quick to install. This also applies to the generator switchgear.

One of the examples of the modernization is the Tinizong hydropower plant in Switzerland, with a rating of 70 megawatts which is considered as the power supplier ewz’s most powerful plant. In 2013/2014, a large portion of the electromechanical plant components were replaced. Siemens supplied the transformers, switchgear equipment including the VB1 generator switchgear, and secondary systems for control and protection as well as high-voltage components. The VB1 generator switchgear is equipped with vacuum generator circuit breakers with a rated current of 3,150 A, and can interrupt short-circuit currents of 50 kA.

TECHNOLOGY CHANGE: REQUIREMENTS

AND TECHNOLOGY

Generator circuit breakers are considered as the heart of the generator switchgear. For a reliable operation, it is necessary to guarantee that the electric arcs in the interrupter tube caused by short circuits are extinguished immediately. Up to about 15 years ago, the most preferred technique is using SF6 as the arc extinguishing medium especially for big generators. For smaller machines vacuum technology is still the leading technology.

However, the recent technical developments now enable the switching of high operating and short-circuit currents with

vacuum circuit breakers even for big machines for instance up to 450 MVA. Unlike gas-insulated switches, vacuum circuit breakers interrupt the electric arc in a vacuum tube which is hermetically sealed. This provides an exceptionally eco-friendly and reliable method with low/no maintenance which is making the vacuum generator circuit breakers as an efficient alternate solution for generator switching applications.

In addition, Siemens vacuum generator circuit breakers are tested as per the North American ANSI standard IEEE C37.013 (1997). This is at the moment the only standard in the world that takes into account the higher requirements to which the switching components are subjected during generator switching applications. This makes it possible to fully utilize the advantages of vacuum technology in a power plant’s generator switchgear for almost all operating modes and energy sources.

ADVANTAGES OF VACUUM TECHNOLOGY

As one of the pioneers of vacuum switching technology for reliable

power transmission and distribution in the medium-voltage range, Siemens continues to use the vacuum technology even for the high-current and generator switching applications up to 450 MVA range. The following are the distinctive advantages of vacuum generator circuit breakers over other technologies making the customers to choose the vacuum technology.

High reliability – The VGCBs guarantees a high level of personal and operational safety and makes them as highly reliable. This is mainly because of the less number of moving parts in the arcing chamber and in extremely unlikely case of loss of vacuum, the arc develops and stays inside the interrupter’s envelope until the backup breaker interrupt the circuit.

In addition there are no gas decomposition products exist in the vacuum and the hermetically sealed vacuum interrupter has no influences from environmental effects which ensure the constant dielectric strength. Further, the contacts cannot get oxidized in the vacuum medium which ensures their very small resistance

A look into the generator switchgear of the hydro power plant Tinizong shows the installed generator circuit-breaker


TECHNICAL INSIGHT


maintained throughout their lifetime.

Low maintenance requirement – Siemens vacuum circuit breakers are designed for a service life of more than 20 years. They are considered as maintenance free up to 10,000 operating cycles or 30 short-circuit switching operations. The vacuum interrupters themselves are generally maintenance-free as they do not need any auxiliary units such as gas monitoring or monitoring sensors for hydraulic drives which make them as No/Low maintenance equipment.

Simple installation & Cost efficientcy – With SF6-insulated breakers, the gas is removed from the finished products for transport and then refilled during assembly using special tools. This not only means more work, it also requires testing at the assembly. The vacuum generator circuit breaker, on the other hand, is a factory-assembled solution that has already been tested at the factory. It can be immediately integrated into the power plant technology on site. This feature makes it ideally suited for retrofitting projects. Vacuum circuit breakers are also smaller and more compact in design. Typically, their high degree of flexibility even makes it possible to replace the existing circuit breakers. With Vacuum circuit breakers it is just Plug-and-Play. And for not using the additional gas monitoring products and as well as due its low maintenance, vacuum circuit breakers are considered as a cost efficient solution.

VACUUMVV SWITCHING TECHNOLOGY FOR

SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS UP TO 100 KA

With its broadly diversified portfolio of generator switchgear with vacuum switching technology, Siemens can react to individual customer requirements of every size. The latest addition to the product range is the generator switchgear HB3-100 for generator ratings up to 450 MVA. The HB3-100 is the only generator

switchgear in the world using vacuum as an interrupting medium for the rated currents up to 12,500 A with natural air cooling and short circuit currents up to 100 kA. This air-insulated, phase-segregated switchgear has been type-tested in accordance with IEC standards 62271-1, -100, -102, -200, and IEEE C37.013.

The series HB3 generator switchgear designed for indoor and outdoor installation are suitable for power plants up to 400 MW, depending on the plant type and the operating voltage. HB3 switchgear is considered as an ideal solution not only in hydropower plants but also in pumped storage, combined cycle, coal-fired, geothermal, and solar thermal power plants, as well as in the oil and gas and the paper and pulp industry. There they provide maximum operational reliability as well as a high level of safety for personnel as the inter-phase short circuits are eliminated, thanks to its single-phase encapsulated design.

In addition, irrespective of IPB diameters and their pole center distances, HB3 generator

switchgear can be implemented due to its flexible design concepts. The switchgear can be operated with the overpressure required for the IPB system. The integrated generator circuit-breaker module 3AH36 for up to 100 kA consists of generator circuit breaker and disconnector and can be optionally equipped with two grounding switches and starting disconnectors. The system can also be optionally equipped with a starting disconnector for starting up the turbine.

SUMMARY

Generator circuit breakers in hydropower plants need to fulfill special requirements, especially with respect to frequent switching operations, load switching, and ease of retrofitting. The generator switchgear with vacuum switching technology can fulfill those special demands and with their distinctive advantages, they can offer the power plant owners an efficient alternative to the conventional SF6 circuit breakers.

Dr. Karthik Reddy Venna is an

expert for vacuum generator circuit

breaker with Energy Management

Division, Siemens AG.


CG extends date for overseas asset saleCROMPTON Greaves, in a communication to stock exchanges, has said that it has extended the Greaves, in a communication to stock exchanges, has said that it has extended the

date for completion of the share purchase agreement to November 30, 2016, from the earlier

announced October 31, 2016.

CG, along with its overseas subsidiaries CG International BV and CG International Holdings

Singapore Pte Ltd, is entering into a share purchase agreement with Pauwels Spaco Ltd, a special

purpose vehicle of First Reserve. Pauwels will be buying CG’s power transmission and distribution

business in Europe, North America and Indonesia. According to an announcement made by GC on

March 9, 2016, CG had received and accepted an offer from Pauwels to buy the aforementioned

overseas assets for an enterprise value of 115 million Euros.

CG is also in the process of identifying potential buyers for its international B2B automation

business. It may be recalled that in October 2015 CG sold its 50 per cent holding in joint venture

CG Lucy Switchgear to its partner UK-based W. Lucy & Co, for around Rs.40 crore. The JV was set

up in 1994 and has a manufacturing unit at Nashik, Maharashtra, for ring main units.

B2B Automation business as already communicated to stock exchanges in May this year.

The above strategic actions are intended to meet the company’s objective of debt reduction,

release from CG said.

Q+A


The India market for AIS

products continues to grow

Part of GE Energy Connections, Grid Solutions is a joint venture between General Electric and

Alstom. With customers in around 80 countries, Grid Solutions helps enable utilities and industry

to effectively manage electricity from the point of generation to the point of consumption, helping

have Kay Ravikumar giving keen technical insights into circuit breakers – a critical component

of an electrical installation.

—Kay Ravikumar, Business Leader, AIS, Grid Solutions from GE Energy Connections

What is the role of a circuit breaker in a typical grid

substation?

At home a circuit breaker is a trip switch that protects our

electrical installations in the event of a short circuit. In a

grid substation, the circuit breaker plays the same role. In

the case of normal functioning they allow the current to

current in the event of a short circuit of an overload.

Essentially, how does a circuit breaker differ from an

isolator or disconnector?

A disconnector is a device which has the capability to interrupt power

to an electrical circuit or a group of electrical circuits by de-energizing

circuits. It is primarily employed as a safety device in high voltage

substations and is the only totally safe way of protecting people

working on the network.

A circuit breaker is an on load/off-load device that can be

operated manually or automatically, that needs a clearance of a few

millimeters. It protects the substation from tripping/fault conditions.

A disconnector is an off-load device that is operated manually and

requires a clearance of several meters and is generally used for

planned maintenance.

We understand that circuit breakers could be of live tank and dead

tank type. What is the difference between the two?

The main difference between the live tank and dead tank is the way the

terminals are constructed.

The live tank is where the contacts to the circuit breaker housing

unit is energized – at the line voltage, and a dead tank is where this

housing unit is not energized and connected to the ground grid.

While circuit breakers, as we understand, are used predominantly

on the electricity transmission & distribution side, there are also

circuit breakers on the generation side. Please tell us more.

Circuit breakers are used in the same manner for transmission and

distribution as well as generation. However, the design could vary,

Apart from the circuit breaker, what are the other components in

typical switchgears?

Apart from the circuit breaker a switchgear also has the following:

instrument transformers for measurement of current and

voltage; disconnectors or isolators for protection.

What is the key difference in air-insulated switchgear

(AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS)? What are the

advantages of GIS?

In a gas-insulated switchgear the circuit breaker, disconnector

and isolator are fully encapsulated in a module, insulated with

6) gas. This module is small enough

to be kept indoors and is ideal for high seismic conditions

or where space is a constraint. You can also select GE’s

environmentally friendly g3 as an alternative insulating gas.

The air insulated switchgear uses air as the insulator, thus requires a

much larger footprint as compared the gas insulated option.

Is it true that there are environmental concerns regarding the use

of SF6 in GIS?

6 is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and is 23,500

times greater than CO2. Through a partnership with 3M, engineers at

mixture, which is called g³ — “Green Gas for Grid”, used for high

voltage equipment.

When it comes to circuit breakers on the T&D side, what voltages

does GE Grid Solutions currently cater to?

We cater across all voltages for India T&D needs from 72.5kV and

until 765kV.

India’s power transmission is moving to high voltage ranges both

in AC and DC (e.g. 800kV HVDC, and 1,200kV UHVAC). How is Grid

Solutions geared to serve the Indian market?

GE’s Grid Solutions business does have a complete portfolio of 800kV

switchgear products. 1,200kV is on a test mode now, as GE Grid

Solutions participated in this setup with their switchgear products.

How does GE Grid Solutions view the Indian market for circuit

breakers and other high-voltage grid equipment?

The India market for AIS products continues to grow. Our constant

endeavor for updated global technology up to 765kV coupled with

large industrial base will continue to support market leadership for

GE’s Grid Solutions business.

Q+AFOCUS: SWITCHGEAR & CONTROL PANELS

PHOTO:GE


INTERVIEW

Tell us more about the DMX3 air

circuit breakers range from Legrand.

In general, what are the advantages

of an air circuit breakers in terms

of offering protection to electrical

circuits?

Air circuit breakers, as you are aware, are used for the voltages less than 1kV. Their advantages are:

Air circuit breakers can handle large currents up to 6300AAir circuit breakers can offer protection against higher short circuit currents up to 100 KAThey are very easy to operate, and calibrated with is user-friendly but advanced releases

What about the MCCB range

of Legrand? Recently, you also

launched circuit breakers in the

DPX3 range. How has been the

market response?

Molded case circuit breakers (MCCB) have high current ratings, which allows them to be used in heavy duty applications.

Legrand offers DPX3 range of circuit breakers from 16A to 1600A in 4 frame sizes. DPX3 range is very compact in sizes but offers complete solution with Thermal magnetic & Electronic type. DPX3 is available in 16, 25, 26, 50, 70 & 100 KA breaking capacity. It also offers protection against overload, short-circuit, earth leakage and earth fault. DPX3 is first range in India to offer integrated earth leakage function in electronic release. The range includes all types of accessories in electrical and mechanical type like auxiliary contact, shunt trip, undervoltage, motor operator, rotary handles, spreaders etc. DPX3 offer

Electronic MCCBs with default display and is with ready to connect to communication feature.

Recently, you also launched

contolgear range in CTX3, RTX3

& MPX3 range. How has been the

market response?

Yes, Legrand recently launched CTX3 range of control gear, RTX3 range of thermal relays and MPX3 range of MPCBs. With this Legrand offers complete package for power distribution, protection and control. Legrand offers contactors till 800A in 3P & 900A in 4P with all types of accessories like front contact block, mechanical interlock etc. The market response is very positive and Legrand has started selling complete switchgear package.

What is an automatic transfer switch

and where does it find application?

Please elaborate on the technical

aspects of Legrand’s ATS.

Automatic Transfer Switches are critical components of any emergency or standby power system. ATS is used for quick transfer of power from one source to another source to have power supply continuity. ATS find its application whenever power continuity is required. Legrand offers an ATS solution which is ready to install and it is very simple to install as well. It comes with all components

Legrand is a global

specialist in electrical

and digital building

infrastructure. We

have Sameer Saxena,

in this exclusive

interaction with T&D

India, discussing

the circuit breaker

portfolio of Legrand.

Saxena notes that

energy protection and

distribution has always

been a core business

for the Legrand

group. Regarding

the acquisition of the

Indo Asian brand,

Saxena observes that

Legrand always looks

at supplementing its

knowhow with local

companies already in

this business.

LV switchgear solutions have

become compact and smarter— Sameer Saxena, Director- Marketing,

Legrand India


INTERVIEW


like motor operator, spreaders and interlocking plate, pre-fitted.

“Indo Asian” that was taken over by

Legrand has been a big name in the

switchgear segment. Discuss how

the “Indo Asian” and “Legrand”

brands coexist, especially for

comparable products.

Energy protection and distribution has always been a core business for the Legrand group. For all our geographies, we look at supplementing our know how with local companies already in this business. This not only gives us access to the distribution network of these companies, but also gives us a ready market to reach out to with newer offerings.

When we added Indo Asian as a part of the Legrand entity, Indo Asian already had a strong practice in manufacturing and supply of electrical power distribution, control and safety equipment including LV switchgear, electrical switches, circuit breakers, etc.

Legrand India has a premium positioning whereas Indo-Asian with its mass appeal opened up newer segments for us. The low switchgear products from Indonesian complimented well with high end switch gear products from Legrand.

Legrand has a complete suite of

products for power flow, protection

and distribution. What advantages

does this give you in terms of end-

to-end solutions?

We aim to improve the quality of electrical installations, in terms of safety, convenience of use, easiness to fix for the benefit of the entire chain - from specifier to user. It is typically like the case for cable management where we have a complete offer from under floor to wall and overhead solutions. Similarly, for the LV switchgear, market starts from the switch which is in what we call as the final stage of the distribution and is backwardly integrated with circuit breakers.

We have the maximum number of products in this range compared to the competition and enjoy a leadership position in the market. In addition to this we are present in home automation systems.

The biggest advantage is from a customer point of view. When our customer meets us, they know that we will be able to take care of their end to end building requirement and a true partner to their electrical and digital requirements.

As we perceive, energy efficiency

has become an important

consideration today. How do you

achieve this in your suite of power-

distribution products?

Globally, power protection device market is witnessing a growth and is expected to grow by 5-7 per cent from 2014 to 2019. This growth has been influenced by rise in renewable energy programs, growing demand of electronic appliances, high-cost due to equipment downtime, and various power quality issues. These issues have to be addressed in order to consumer power responsibly and this responsibility starts from the manufacturer of these equipments. We have to create solution for the consumer which will benefit not only them, but the environment at large.

Tell us how technology has

progressed in the field of low-

voltage circuit protection devices,

at Legrand.

Recent developments in the protection device market are very encouraging, where many companies are introducing new products and services as their key

strategies to capture the market. From a technological perspective, the LV switchgear solutions have become compact. Most of the latest solutions these days are coherent, i.e., these are compatible with multiple systems. Another technological advancement is that the switchgear solutions have become smarter, i.e., these can connect with the internet and provide comprehensive monitoring.

In the low-voltage circuit protection

segment, what are Legrand India’s

key business growth drivers?

This growth is likely to be driven by higher investments into and expansion of the industrial segment, Indian T&D sector, and respective power capacity addition over the next 5 years.

The energy sector in India has seen a transformational change with progressive policy-level changes and effective implementation of directives. These changes promise enormous opportunities for various stakeholders and market players.

The India Brand Equity Foundation notes that India has the fifth largest power generation capacity in the world. Installed capacity stood at 272.5 GW, as of FY15. Thermal power, the largest component, was 189.3 GW, followed by hydro 41.6 GW, renewable energy 35.8 GW and nuclear 5.8 GW. India’s total power generation capacity has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4 per cent over FY09 to FY15.

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world. In FY15, India generated 1,048.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. Over FY10 to FY15, electricity production expanded at a CAGR of 6.3 per cent. As per the 12th Five Year Plan, India is targeting a total of 88.5 GW of power capacity addition by 2017, of which, 72.3 GW constitutes thermal power, 10.8 GW hydro and 5.3 GW nuclear. Renewable energy is fast emerging as a major source of power in India.

LEGRAND INDIA


INTERVIEW

Tell us about the main products that

form part of Mitsubishi Electric’s

low-voltage switchgear products in

India.

Mitsubishi Electric offers a very wider range of low voltage switchgears – covering the requirements of switchgears from power distribution to final distribution, including various control gears for equipment control. Some of the key products are:1. Air Circuit Breakers (ACB): Low-

voltage air circuit breakers can be used as the main circuit breakers of power distribution systems for buildings, factories, ships, and more to realize high-level circuit monitoring and friendly networking. This standard model lineup, with products from 630A to 6300A frames, has a wide range of applications. High functionality and operation ease have been added in response to diverse customer needs.

2. Moulded-case circuit breakers are utilized to open/close low-voltage circuits and protect wiring by automatically closing circuits when overloading or short-circuiting occurs.NF-C Series Economy Type:

This basic model has excellent cost performance. Standard products range from 30 to 800Aframes.

NF-H Series High Performance Type: This standard model lineup, with products from 32A to 1600A frames, can be used for a wide range of applications. (H Series: 63A-800A frames)

NF-U Series Ultra Current-Limiting Type: Realizing the world’s maximum breaker capacity of 200kA, this high breaking capacity/high earth leakage

circuit breaker is the optimum model for backup shutdown.3. Miniature Circuit Breakers

(MCB) which are considered to be the most reliable for their safety features, range of Residual Current Circuit Breakers that boast of unmatched protection quality coupled with Distribution Boards that are known for their all inclusive aesthetics, customized for residential, commercial & industrial segments.

4.Contactor & O/L Relays: A comprehensive range of Contactors and Overload relays to meet various application needs.The corner stone of our offering

is “Quality & Reliability” - which is experienced by our customers over a period of time.

How has been the market response

to the low-price point products like

MCB, MCCB, RCCB, etc?

We are not a low cost supplier; hence we face immense competition for other such suppliers. Users understand that they have to pay certain cost in order to meet certain level of quality standards. However, we strongly believe in offering value for money solution to our customers.

Market acceptability for our MCB, MCCB & RCCB is very encouraging. Customers understand Mitsubishi Electric and put their faith in Mitsubishi’s quality and manufacturing standards. We have got great response from the Indian market which has forced us to expand our product portfolio to meet additional requirements from our valuable customers.

Though they come

with premium pricing,

the Indian customer

is showing inclination

towards Mitsubishi

Electric’s switchgear

and control gear

products due to the

respectability that

Japanese quality

standards command,

notes S. Sriram in this

exclusive interaction

with T&D India. While

giving rich insights

into the company’s

low-voltage switchgear

business in India,

Sriram observes

that all Mitsubishi

Electric products are

manufactured keeping

mind, aligned to the

company’s corporate

statement “Changes for

the Better.”

Our customers appreciate

Japanese high quality standards— S. Sriram, General Manager—Marketing, Factory Automation & Industrial Division,

Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt Ltd


INTERVIEW


MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC INDIA

G i v e n that the market for

low voltage switchgear (circuit

breakers) is very competitive in

terms of price, how has been the

experience of Mitsubishi Electric?

The ever increasing demand for energy, coupled with large scale infrastructure development projects in the developing nations has secured significant growth of switchgear demand in these markets.

The current Indian government has launched various schemes and agendas like Make in India, Digital India, Smart City program, Integrated Power Development Scheme, among others, in past year that ensure positive growth in switchgear industry. These schemes are focused at development of new infrastructure and also revamping of the existing infrastructure in the country thereby improving India’s standing on the global arena.

Today it is a buyer’s market. In the Indian industry all the customers wants value for their money which they have invested in buying equipments including low voltage switchgear. Mitsubishi Electric’s LVS comes with world-class technology and also promises value for money to its valued customers. The additional energy saving and flexibility of modular design with unmatched performance are strong enough for our customers to understand and give preference to Mitsubishi Electric. The response is very encouraging and our list of satisfied customers is increasing month on month.

India has high regard for Japanese

quality. However, do your products

face consumer resistance on the

pricing front?

We do face resistance due to price,

but that sometimes gets off-set by the high degree of reliability that our product offers. Customers who have experienced our products vouch on its reliability and quality.

We are very thankful to our valued customers and the Indian market for recognising Mitsubishi Electric as a strong manufacturer in low voltage switchgear segment. Our products are so well positioned that today we are competing with all global manufacturers available in Indian market. Our customers also appreciate the high Japanese quality standards and are ready to buy a better product for a little premium.

Energy efficiency is evolving as the

key theme in electrical equipment.

Tell us how Mitsubishi Electric

incorporates this virtue in its

switchgear products.

The Indian electrical equipment industry comprising of multinationals, large medium & small players is fully geared up producing, supplying and exporting a wide variety of electrical equipment including switchgear and control gear items needed by the expanding industrial and power sector keeping in mind the energy efficiency theme.

Mitsubishi Electric Products are renowned for reliability, safety and their contribution to higher efficiency. Our low and medium-voltage switchgears and systems are installed in power plants, substations, factories and building complexes around the world, helping to ensure a stable supply of electricity, wherever it is required. Our circuit breakers are designed to save energy and give adequate ROIs.

Mitsubishi Electric’s low voltage switchgear products comply with all international standards and are

one of the best products available in the market. Besides the technical advantages which can be derived from our products, all our low voltage switchgear products follow the low energy consumption mantra.

Adopting the unique products design and keeping the best manufacturing standards, our products consumes less electrical energy and delivers low watt loss and benefits our valued customers.

How do you see the road ahead

for Mitsubishi Electric switchgear

products in India? What would be

your major business drivers?

Well, Mitsubishi Electric’s DNA has always been reliability, quality, flexibility and eco-friendly products that give high productivity and efficiency to the user, leading to profitability. Our USP for switchgear also revolves around the same philosophy.

Our circuit breakers are most compact, reliable, and product with least wattage loss, enabling customer to save energy in short and long term with ROIs, though in switchgear industry this is not been talked about. However, with scarcity of energy and ever escalating energy prices, users have started to pay attention to energy optimization also.

Common to all of our products and endeavours is MEQ, which stands for ‘Mitsubishi Electric Quality.’ MEQ promises the best experience in our products, services, partnerships and people. It lies at the very core of our business. Guided by our corporate statement, ‘Changes for the Better,’ we take our responsibility as a corporate citizen very seriously. Our products are developed with superior energy efficiency and the environment in mind.

ADVERTORIAL


able glands and terminals play a key role in any secured electrical grid, are extensively

used in control panels, switchgear, transformers, circuit breakers and other applications in the field of power supply and distribution. A product of superior raw materials and stringent quality checks, Braco cable glands and terminals provides hassle-free solutions for a safe network in any premises.

NEW PROJECTS

“Our upcoming projects are an opportunity for us to shape the future for our company and for the industry. All our upcoming projects are based on company’s nucleus philosophy,” informs Mr Sobhani. Automation is the most crucial factor in this vision. To be in sync with the future has always been a priority at Braco. “Hence we are looking forward on manufacturing all our terminal products on completely automatic machines. Also, we aim to add impressive figures to our balance sheets by adding new products for connecting purpose, into our profile,” he adds. This expanding vision will be supported by the growing number of Braco branch offices in the metro cities of India. Starting from the metros of India, the company will strive to reach every patron in the industry and serve them with the best. The immediate upcoming project that the promoters are most excited about is launching of all types of Aluminium Glands for domestic as well as international market. While it is the clear focus that has made all its achievements possible for Braco, today the company is focused on three areas, viz., steady growth, standardisation and trust. It has

been registering consistent growth from last few decades. “This legacy will continue and will be our focus area in every future planning. To complement this growth story, we aim to meet international standards of electrical industry, across the globe. This standardisation of products is a step towards earning the trust of the clients and the industry alike,” says Mr Sobhani.

EXPANSION PLANS

Owing to its success and illustrious journey, Braco is in its full vigour to deliver exceptional results. The expansion plans encompass various factors like automatic manufacturing of products and nationwide presence. Braco will be seen in almost every metro city of India in the near future. The futuristic growth of the company is also on the radar. Manufacturing of products and equipments will be done with help of latest technology. “We have completed three decades of trust and quality and the vision of Braco

is to provide products, services and solutions that will transform the way electric power utilities manage and distribute electricity,” says Mr Suniil Giasotta, CEO, Braco Electricals. “We have been manufacturing cable glands and terminal products for the electrical industry. We will be expanding the existing segment by adding new products to it, the products that will serve the industry and will be produced by the use of latest technology and also launched our new Metal Division providing solutions in non-ferrous metals,” Mr Sobhani adds.

FUTURE CHALLENGES

The IT boom has created new challenges for many industries. The electrical industry is no exception to it. The demand for electrical supply and its products has grown beyond imagination. Hence, meeting these demands is the biggest challenge for every player in this industry. While meeting the demands of the client, quality becomes the most fragile factor. Quality maintenance is never compromised by Braco, and therefore, delivering quality products at competitive prices becomes a major challenge to overcome. Yet, the company has successfully managed to create a balance between these extreme factors. Speaking about the company’s plan over the next five years, Mr Sobhani elaborates that it is to increase sales fourfold with the expansion of the factory infrastructure and totally automate production on the modern machinery. “We plan to raise our export revenue up to 50% of our current turnover through advertising and marketing of our product profile, to all the electrical markets around the world,” he concludes.

Braco Electricals: Secure Connections

C

Braco Electricals (India) Pvt Ltd was established in 1977 by visionary electrical engineer Mr Ramesh Sobhani. It

was his vision that has today shaped into a company that is renowned for its quality, consistency and trust. All these

elements are found in every Braco product and the company shares its vision for the future in a brief rendezvous.

Mr Ramesh Sobhani, Technical Director (left) and Mr Suniil Giasotta, CEO & Director-Sales (right)


ORDERS & CONTRACTS

BGR Energy Systems Ltd has re-ceived a letter of intent from Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Corporation Ltd (Tangedco) for ex-ecution of balance of plant equip-ment / systems including civil works for 1x800-mw North Chennai Su-percritical Thermal Power Project (Stage III) in Tamil Nadu, on EPC basis. The total value of the contract is Rs.2,600 crore and has a comple-tion period of 36 months, BGR Ener-gy Systems said in a stock exchange filing.

Inox Wind Ltd has secured new or-ders for the supply and installation of wind turbine generators of 350 mw to several repeat customers. The orders cumulatively are worth more than Rs.2,000 crore and are expected to be commissioned by March 2017, a release from Inox Wind said. The projects will be executed on turnkey basis across locations in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The contracts include supply and commissioning of the wind turbines as well as multi-year operations and maintenance agreements. Latest technology like the one offered by Inox Wind’s 2-mw platform is being increasingly preferred by custom-ers for its ability to provide supe-rior generation, the release added. (3-Oct-16)

The power transmission & distri-bution (T&D) business of Larsen & Toubro has won EPC and construc-tion orders worth Rs.1,721 crore in the Middle East, the engineering firm said in a stock exchange com-munication. The scope of works in-cludes construction of primary sub-stations, extra high voltage cabling and overhead transmission lines at various locations.

KEC International Ltd has won di-versified orders together valued at Rs.1,192 crore. The power T&D busi-ness has landed orders worth Rs.631 crore for 400kV and 765kV lines from various customers in India, apart from orders valued at Rs.228

crore from international customers. The cables business clinched supply orders worth Rs.105 crore while the railways business secured mandates for overhead electrification, aggre-gating Rs.120 crore. The solar busi-ness bagged projects worth Rs.108 crore for providing turnkey EPC so-lutions for single-axis tracker solar projects, KEC International said.

Larsen & Toubro, in consortium with Sojitz Corp of Japan, will undertake railway electrification with 2x25kV AC high-rise overhead catenary system of the 128-km Rewari-Dadri section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. This contract is part of the Rs.3,799-crore design and build integrated package in-volving the construction of track works, overhead electrification, trac-tion substations and signaling and telecom works, awarded by Dedi-cated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. Together with earlier contracts received, L&T will be elec-trifying the entire Western Corridor from Dadri to JNPT covering 1,464 route km with over 3,330 track km of high-rise electrification.

Ujaas Energy Ltd has announced the winning of an order for design, man-ufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of grid interac-tive rooftop and small solar PV pow-er plants from Uttarakhand Renew-able Energy Development Agency. The order, of unspecified value, en-tails setting up of such plants of 4kw to 5kw each for 364 homes across two districts of Nainital and Podi in the hilly northern state. Under the Uttarakhand Grid Interactive Roof-top and Small SPV Power Plants Scheme, UREDA has been given a target to install cumulative 44 mw grid interactive rooftop and small SPV power plants based on net me-tering scheme, in the state.

Ashoka Buildcon, in a stock exchange filing, said that it has received let-ters of intent from state power distri-bution utility Dakshinanchal Vidyut

Vitran Nigam Ltd for execution of rural works under the national rural electrification scheme Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana. To be executed on behalf of DVVVNL and the Uttar Pradesh government, the works valued at Rs.178.66 crore, in Aligarh and Kanpur zones in Ut-tar Pradesh.

Hartek Power has bagged 460-mw solar EPC orders already in the first half of the current financial year, thus registering a steep in-crease of 373 per cent last year’s comparable performance of 123 mw. The 460-mw solar EPC orders bagged by the company include 16 substation projects of up to 132kV spread across six states, including Punjab, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maha-rashtra. Specialising in executing high-voltage turnkey substations and power infrastructure projects, Hartek Power will provide complete turnkey solutions for these projects and execute post-inverter works covering the design, engineering, supply, installation, automation and commissioning of the power plant electrification.

Gamesa has announced the win-ning of a 130-mw solar project from Atria Power to be commissioned in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by March 2017. This is the biggest or-der for Gamesa since its entry into Indian solar market in 2015, a com-pany release said. Under the order, Gamesa will handle the complete value chain of design & engineering, procurement, construction, commis-sioning and O&M of the project with the supply of 96 units of Gamesa E1-.37MW hybrid cooled solar inverter.

Ujaas Energy Ltd has been awarded, by Airports Authority of India, an or-der for design, manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of a 158-kw rooftop grid-connected solar PV system including O&M for five years at VSI Airport, Port Blair, Andaman &Nicobar Islands.

S


S E C T R U MPS E C T R U MP

SS E C T R U MP

ADVERTISE IN

Your cost-effective tool to reach out to

power T&D stakeholders.

Contact: Hemant Kumar

T:+91(22)62216615

E: [email protected]

S E C T R U MPS


NEW LAUNCHES


BB’s innovative technology with the PowerStore Battery and the dedicated Microgrid

Plus control system as well as cloud-based remote service can not only provide power access to remote areas, but also secure cost-efficient uninterrupted power supply to communities and industries during both planned and unplanned power outages from the main grid supply.

All the equipment required to run the microgrid – ABB’s power converter and dedicated control system, Microgrid Plus, as well as battery storage – has been integrated into a container for faster, easier and safer deployment. The customer can choose to configure the microgrid to integrate energy from solar, wind, main grid or diesel generator supply, based on the application and local

conditions.ABB’s modular microgrid is compact

and has four pre-designed variants in the range of 50 kW to 4,600 kW, to meet varying customer needs. The standard integrated functionalities include grid-connected and off-grid operation with seamless transition. It is a containerized solution

designed for easy transportation, fast installation and commissioning onsite. Operations and maintenance is enabled via a cloud-based remote service system, another example of ABB’s clear positioning as a pioneering technology leader driving the energy and fourth industrial revolutions, the release added.

ABB launches scalable microgrid

A

exans, in collaboration with the utility managing the majority of France’s public

electricity distribution network, has developed and tested a new genera-tion of medium voltage cables for the connection of power sources to the grid. Known as “EDRMAX by Nex-ans”, the new cable is eco-designed for a reduced environmental impact. It allows easier installation com-pared to the previous EDR version, particularly in challenging condi-tions like hard or rocky ground, a release from Nexans said.

The EDRMAX by Nexans solu-tion has been designed specifically to enable the grid connection of re-newable energy resources such as solar panels or wind turbines. This development is an illustration of Nexans’ contribution to address the growing demand for energy across the world. EDRMAX is compliant with the NFC 33-226 standard. It is available in single or three-core versions, with either aluminium or

copper conductor. EDRMAX allows a maximum permissible current in permanent service above 400 A and has a Class 2 (C2) rating for flame non-propagation performance.

A key advantage of the EDRMAX by Nexans(TM) design is the high mechanical strength provided by its over-sheathing that enables the cable to be buried directly into the ground with no need for an addi-tional sand layer. Furthermore, the flexibility of the cable makes it easy to handle and this combined with its high stripability with standard tools provides a faster connected cable solution, the release said, adding that Nexans is manufacturing the new cable at its facility in Bourg en Bresse, France.

NMV cables for grid connectivity from Nexans

NEW low-cost, low-risk memory solution

offering unlimited endurance and safe data

storage at power loss is now available from

Microchip Technology Inc., This new I2C

EERAM memory is an easy to implement

non-volatile SRAM memory that is ideal

for applications that need to constantly or

instantaneously record, update or monitor

data including metering, automotive and

industrial applications.

EERAM is a

standalone SRAM

memory with shadow

EEPROM back-up on

a single chip that helps

automatically retain contents of the SRAM

memory when system power is lost. The

EERAM offers instant random writes to the

array with no write cycle delay. The I2C

EERAM family is available in 4 Kb and 16

Kb densities and comes in standard 8-pin

SOIC, TSSOP and PDIP packages. EERAM

is available in 3.0V and 5.0V options and

in industrial and automotive temperature

ranges and is available in automotive

grade, a company release said.

Low-risk memory

solutions from Microchip

NEW LAUNCHES


app India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lapp Group Germany and a leading

supplier of integrated solutions and branded products in the field of cable and connection technology in India, has introduced its first permanently

waterproof solar cable under the flagship ÖLFLEX® SOLAR series.

OLFLEX® SOLAR waterproof series is an electron beam cross-

linked solar cable which is durable and weather-resistant for use in photovoltaic systems, Lapp India said in a release. Its optimised cable design and the constantly high insulation resistance ensure that it will still function reliably even after being in water for long time. The cable is now also available with relevant TUV and the latest EN certification.

When photovoltaic cables are exposed to dampness over a long period of time, it can lead to decreased performance and insulation resistance – the consequence of which may be short circuits, which in turn can lead to failure and damage to the respective equipment. The ÖLFLEX® SOLAR waterproof series is a safe alternative – particularly in areas which are prone to flooding, or where cables are installed underground in protective conduits where water, heat and moisture can accumulate.

Lapp India rolls out waterproof solar cables

L

Semiconductor test system from TektronixTEKTRONIX, Inc, a worldwide provider of measurement solutions, has introduced

the Keithley S540 Power Semiconductor Test System, a fully-automated, 48 pin

parametric test system for wafer-level testing of power semiconductor devices

and structures up to 3kV. Optimized for use with the latest compound power

semiconductor materials including silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride

(GaN), the fully integrated S540 can perform all high voltage, low voltage, and

capacitance tests in a single probe touch-down.

As demand for power semiconductor devices continues to increase and as

SiC and GaN are becoming more commercialized, manufacturers are adopting

wafer-level testing in their production processes to optimize yields and improve

high voltage measurement performance, a Tektronix release said. The Keithley

S540 is available for order now with delivery beginning in March, 2017.

SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE TO XLPE

Prysmian to launch the most powerful cable solution ever for power transmission grids

rysmian Group, in a release, said that it was ready to launch

a new breakthrough cable technology for the development

of power transmission grids that will ensure higher electrical

performances, lower costs and better environmental sustainability.

The Group announces today the successful development and testing

of its new P-Laser 600kV cable system for high voltage direct current

(HVDC) applications.

The successful testing at 600 kV is further proof of the quality

and robustness of the P-Laser insulation technology. P-Laser is the

name given to the most advanced and innovative technology using

an in-house developed thermoplastic material - known as HPTE

(high performance thermoplastic elastomer) - that permits a more

traditional XLPE, where the manufacture is performed in a single and

continuous process.

A key feature of this new insulation technology is that,

compared to XLPE, it does not require a chemical reaction during

manufacture to achieve the material proper ties required for the

long term electrical integrity of HVDC insulation systems. This

feature gives the additional benefit of shor ter production times

and results in both reduced energy consumption as well as lower

greenhouse gas emissions.

P-Laser technology is fully compatible with existing cable and

accessory technologies and provides a better electrical performance

and a higher reliability in comparison to traditional XLPE-insulated

cables. P-Laser application to HVDC underground and submarine

achievement follows the Group’s announcement in May this year of

the successful type testing for the XLPE extruded cable solution at the

same voltage level (600kV DC) and is the third insulation technology

made available by Prysmian for UHVDC (ultra HVDC) in less than one

year, the release added.

P

SHORT TAKES

BSES discoms in Delhi—BSES Rajdhani and BSES

Yamuna Power—have reported that they have en-

ergised 206 net metering connections with a sanc-

tioned load of over 7 mw. Apart from this, nearly 50

connections with a sanctioned load of over 1.5 mw

are under various stages of commissioning at the

consumer’s end. Some of the recent takers for net

metering connections through rooftop solar plants

are Delhi Cheshire Home, Vasant Valley School,

East Point School, Dayal Singh College, DMRC,

a Church in Mayur Vihar, Kohli Imports & Exports,

Spartan Management Services and the Delhi Sec-

retariat.

Kirloskar Ebara Pumps Ltd (KEPL), a joint venture

of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd (KBL) in India, won gold

and silver trophies at the“31st Chapter Convention

CCQC-2016”, organised by Quality Circle Forum of

India (QCFI), a release from KEPL said. Three teams

from KEPL (Team Anand, Team MSD and Team Ut-

karsh) participated and presented their Kaizen case

studies. The theme for this convention was “quality

circle and its allied concepts”.

The Telangana government has reportedly decided

to buy all electromechanical equipment for Mission

Bhaghiratha—its statewide irrigation project—from

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. The newly-created

state needs a wide range of motors, from 50HP to

1,000HP for the project, it is learnt. Mission Bhaghi-

ratha aims at providing drinking water to all its 84

lakh households by 2018.

To create awareness about the advantages of the

Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems, in view of the fast

growing HVAC market in India, International Copper

Association India (ICA India) conducted a seminar

in Delhi on October 14, 2016 and in Bengaluru on

October 19, 2016. The objective of this seminar was

to promote the use of VRF systems and best prac-

tices amongst stakeholders. ICA India along with the

panel of experts organized this seminar with the aim

of increasing the industry professionals’ awareness

of various options available to have more energy ef-

ficient spaces.

Otis recently sold its 500,000th Gen2 elevator, the

United Technologies Corp group company said in

a statement. The Gen2 elevator redefined the el-

evator industry with breakthrough technology that

replaced conventional ropes with flat belts, leading

to a more comfortable ride, greater reliability, more

efficient operation and increased energy efficiency

compared to conventional roped elevators. Since

its introduction, the Gen2 elevator has become one

of the company’s best-selling elevators in its 163-

year history, with 250,000 units sold by 2012, the

statement said. The 500,000th Gen2 elevator will

be manufactured in Gien, France for installation in a

project in Germany.

ABB has announced that it will install a fully integrat-

ed and standardized microgrid at its Vadodara facility

in Gujarat to help boost renewable energy genera-

tion while reducing dependency on fossil fuel. This

microgrid, with a rooftop photo voltaic field at the

company’s biggest manufacturing location in India

with around 3,000 employees, will help ensure unin-

terrupted power supply. Microgrids are considered a

viable and cost-efficient solution to not only improve

access to electricity, but also to address other press-

ing issues related to energy supply, ABB said in a

statement.

UBM India inaugurated the 8th edition of its flagship

international exhibition and summit, themed - Ex-

ploring Infinity in an Atom: Vision 2032 for the Civil

Nuclear Energy sector, India Nuclear Energy (INE)

at the Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai on October 20,

2016. The 2-day exhibition and summit exclusively

dedicated to supporting and promoting the growth

and development of the Civil Nuclear Energy indus-

try is co-organised by DAE (Department of Atomic

Energy) and supported by NPCIL (Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Ltd.).

With a view to reducing its 14 per cent transmis-

sion & distribution losses, Kerala has planned to lay

underground cables beginning with urban areas.

The project will cover the entire state in a phased

manner, it is reported. According to a press report

of June this year, the losses of state power utility

Kerala State Electricity Board stood at Rs.1,273

crore in FY15.

General Electric Co (GE) has announced that it

would buy LM Wind Power, a maker of rotor blades

used in wind turbines, in a deal valued at $1.65 bil-

lion. The deal with help GE in-source turbine blade

design and manufacturing, GE said, adding that it

intends to operate LM Wind Power as a standalone

unit within GE’s renewable energy operations.

Suzlon Group has announced a joint venture with

Ostro Energy for the development and construction

of a 50-mw solar project at the Wanaparthy site in

Telangana. According to the contract, Ostro Energy

shall acquire 49 per cent stake in Prathamesh So-

larfarms Ltd, an SPV set-up by Suzlon for executing

this project. Ostro Energy has the option to acquire

the balance 51 per cent in future in accordance with

the relevant rules and regulations. The off-taker of

this project will be Telangana Southern Power Dis-

tribution Company Ltd. Suzlon will be responsible

for the project commissioning and will also provide

comprehensive operation and maintenance services

for a period of 25 years. The project is expected to

be commissioned in FY17. Suzlon won solar proj-

ects of 210 mw in Telangana—including one of 100

mw, one of 50 mw and four of 15 mw each—through

competitive bidding.

Tata Power has announced the appointment of Ms

Anjali Bansal, Ms Vibha Padalkar, and Mr Sanjay

Bhandarkar as Independent Directors on the Board

of the company, effective October 14, 2016. The

appointment of all three Independent Directors was

passed at a recently conducted Board meeting. The

company has also declared that none of the above

named Independent Directors are related to any of

the other directors of the company.


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