Modern Mining June 2017

PRODUCT News

Containerised substations offer cost savings

More than ever before, businesses are under pressure to reduce their opera- tional costs and maximise their profits. One key area where big industries can

mounted on plinths, columns or skids. If mounted on columns, cable entry is pos- sible through openings in the floor at the base of the container. If this is not possible, 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 con- tainer is needed to prevent an arc from affecting the interior environment. Marine containers vary in size, with the average size being about 10 m long, 5 m wide and 4mhigh.Thismeans they can eas- ily be transported on a standard low-loader and lowered into position using a crane. JB Switchgear manufactures high qual- ity switchgear systems that meet the latest national and international safety and per- formance standards. Johan Basson, JB Switchgear, tel (+27 11) 027-5804

make significant cost savings is by using purpose-made, containerised substations, says JB Switchgear. These repurposed marine shipping containers arrive on site pre-installed with fully tested switchgear, ready for immediate cable connection. Containerised substations are very use- ful in remote areas. Civil construction costs are high and converting a standard marine specification container into a substation is significantly less expensive than arrang- ing for on-site construction of switchgear housing. Another major benefit of containerised substations is that they are fully equipped and assembled at the manufacturer’s premises, and can comprise bespoke combinations of distribution equipment, control gear and PLC equipment. All this equipment undergoes full function testing before being dispatched, which translates to huge time savings on site. They can even be pre-commissioned. Once on site, the containers are easily

A major benefit of containerised substations is that they are fully equipped and assembled at the manufacturer’s premises.

54  MODERN MINING  June 2017