Electricity + Control November 2017

abbreviations

DB – Distribution Board E-house – Electrical-house FAT

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

– Factory Acceptance Test

– General Assembly

GA

– Human Machine Interface

HMI

– Low Voltage

LV

– Motor Control Centre

MCC

– Module Case Circuit Breaker – Manufacturing Resource Planning

MCCB

MRP

– Medium Voltage

MV

– Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM PCP PLC VSD

– Product Cost Planning

Beyond the advantage related to setting up and commissioning the E-house, are the portability and self-contained nature of this electrical power solution. While

of project management and allow for a seamless process from design through to fabrication, with all these activities undertaken at one location. This means a smaller team for the project engineer or consultant managing the project, leading to better productivity and resultant cost savings. A further cost advantage is achieved by the time saved through combining all the related disciplines when engineering and producing the E-house. When constructing a brick-and-mortar substation, the structure is first completed before a number of separate elements – mostly prepared off-site by a number of different suppliers – have then to be integrated into the building. This undertaking is complex and involves nu- merous sub-contractors – so it is open to human error. With an E-house, on the other hand, this integration is carefully coordinated at the facility of the OEM, where any teething problems can be immediately addressed. The cost-saving factors are making E-houses an increasingly attractive choice, as the economic climate places further pressure on project costing and forces contractors to look for ways to achieve savings in project expenditure. There is also a weather-related risk which the E-house avoids; rain and other poor weather con- ditions frequently delay construction time of built projects, particularly in regions with high rainfall. Being built off-site obviates these challenges and ensures on-time project completion.

– Programmable Logic Controller

– Variable Speed Drive

it can be easily installed on site – with just a sim- ple foundation – it can also be re-located without difficulty; this is particularly useful if the project expands and a substation is required to move to another working area. Modular design The modular design gives a great deal of flexibility while reducing the overall footprint of the struc- ture. On most sites, space is an important factor to consider, and the E-house allows the best possible use of the available space. The internal configura- tion of the E-house – which is usually equipped with MV switchgear, LV switchgear, transformers, instrumentation and auxiliary equipment – can be upgraded when necessary. In applications where required, multi E-houses can be used, again lev- eraging on the flexibility that this option provides. An E-house is a perfect interim solution where electrical power needs to be provided prior to the balance of the operational infrastructure. As a scal- able solution, it minimises project lead times and reduces on-site construction requirements. Motor Control Centres MCCs are in modern practice a factory assembly of several motor starters. A combination starter is

Shaw Controls has an established reputation for engineering and manufacturing quality bespoke

containerised solutions at its Johannesburg facility.

Kirk Moss (electrical engineer) has been with Zest WEG Group since 1996 – the last two years at Shaw Controls. He was involved in electrical motors and VSDs and more recently, he is in charge of the MV section of Shaw Controls. Tyrone Willemse has been with the Zest WEG Group for five years. He started as an electrical supervisor on the floor, then went into Sales engineering, and more recently, Business engineering.

Electricity + Control

NOVEMBER 2017

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