Electricity + Control July 2018

2

round up

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

In the second of FOUR tutorials, Johan Basson of JB Switchgear, advises:

Containerised substations – thinking inside the box

M ore than ever before, businesses are under pressure to reduce their operational costs and maximise their profits. One key area where big industries can make significant cost savings is by using purpose-made, containerised substa- tions. These repurposed marine shipping contain- ers arrive on-site pre-installed with fully tested switchgear, ready for immediate cable connection. Containerised substations are incredibly useful in remote areas. Civil construction costs are high, and converting a standard marine specification container into a substation is significantly less ex- pensive than arranging for on-site construction of switchgear housing. Another important benefit of containerised substations is that they are fully equipped and as- sembled at the manufacturer’s premises, and can comprise bespoke combinations of distribution equipment, control gear and PLC equipment. All this equipment undergoes full functional testing before being dispatched, which translates to huge time savings on site. They can even be pre-com- missioned. Once on site, the containers are eas-

sible, then exterior cable entry boxes, mounted to the exterior of the container, provide cable entry through the side. These boxes are removed during transport of the container. Some switchgear (such as ring main units) also needs arcing ducts out of the sides or bottom of the container. In this instance, special modification to the container is needed to prevent an arc from affecting the interior environment. Containerised substations are most common- ly used in more extreme environments, such as mines and open-air construction sites, among oth- ers. Containers are by nature well-sealed, meaning they offer an effective way of keeping dirt, dust and other pollutants out. Ventilation systems with filters can be fitted to maintain positive pressure within the container. Each system can be custom designed to suit individual site requirements, in- cluding high pollution environments. Marine containers vary in size, but the 12-metre units are most popular. They are easily transport- ed on a standard low-loader or container truck and lowered into position using a crane. JB Switchgear manufactures high quality switchgear systems that meet the latest national and international safety and performance stand- ards. The company modifies marine containers for substation applications with options including insulation, flooring, lighting and small power, air conditioning and fire suppression.

Take Note!

Containerised substations are most commonly used in the following settings: Remote areas. Extreme environments. 1 2

Ventillation systems with filters can be fitted to maintain positive pressure within the container.

ily mounted on plinths, columns or skids. If mount- ed on columns, cable entry is possible through openings in the floor at the base of the container. If this is not pos-

JB Switchgear Solutions is a leading manufacturer of a comprehensive range of electrical switch- gear systems. Enquiries: Email johanb@jbswitchgear.co.za

36 Electricity + Control

JULY 2018