Sparks Electrical News July 2019

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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ABB WINS LARGE POWER TRANSMISSION ORDER FROM CHINA’S STATE GRID ABB has won a large order to supply converter transformers and high- voltage equipment for an 800 kilovolt (kV), ultrahigh-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission link, owned by the State Grid Corpora- tion of China (SGCC), in China’s Shaanxi and Hubei provinces, in the North West and Central regions of the country.

Power Grids business. Converter transformers receive electricity from nearby power stations and increase their voltage to extremely high levels in order to transport it over long distances and with minimal losses. Near to the end consumer, similar transformers will decrease the voltage in order to ensure distribution to the local grid. High-voltage equipment includes breakers, which protect the grid from disruptive faults, and capacitor banks which improve the quality of the electricity supply, thus increasing the product lifespan and helping to reduce losses. At 8 000 MW transmission, the Shanbei-Wuhan link will be among the world’s most powerful and is an important step for SGCC in developing global UHVDC systems standards. They will interconnect the electrical grids of regions, countries and continents to efficiently transport clean power in large volumes over long distances.

The 1100 km long power transmission link will transport up to 8 000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to meet the needs of around eight million people in China. The orders were booked in the first and second quarters of 2019. “The ultrahigh-voltage (UHV) transmission equipment from ABB is an important milestone in realising SGCC’s vision of building stronger and greener grids. The UHV super-grids will enable the reliable integration of ever more power sources from remote areas into the power grids of urban centres,” said Claudio Facchin, President of ABB’s

UHVDC utilises direct current (dc) electricity at extremely high voltages that can have as much as 40 percent lower losses than an equivalent conventional alternating current (ac) system. This means far less energy is wasted, more power reaches end users and carbon dioxide emissions come down. In this case, savings of up to 1,2 million tons of CO 2 emissions per year can be expected.

Enquiries: www.abb.com

TOOL BACKPACK DESIGNED FOR ELECTRICIANS

I t is very inefficient, not to mention frustrating, for maintenance professionals to have to go back and forth to the office stores to get additional tools because they cannot carry everything they need on site. Designed specifically for electricians, the Fluke Pack30 Professional Tool Backpack from Comtest makes it easy to organise, trans- port, and access all the tools needed for the day, including digital multimeters, clamps, tools and ac- cessories. The rugged backpack also protects tools – even on the dirtiest of work sites. For digital users, the Fluke Pack30 offers a way to carry all the nec- essary tools while keeping ‘hands free’ to use cell phones and tablets. The Fluke Pack30 features: • More than 30 pockets and pouches designed to hold a broad array of Fluke tools and acces- sories, as well as screwdrivers, pliers, tape rolls, and other hand tools. • Six main storage compartments for convenient organisation. • A special pocket for tablets and laptops 12 inches (30 cm) wide or smaller. • Storage for safety glasses, earplugs, cell phones and valuables. • Rugged, waterproof moulded bottom to protect tools and accessories from the elements. • The moulded base also holds the backpack up- right, keeping tools organised and within easy reach.

Contact Comtest for more information on the Fluke Pack30 Professional Tool Backpack.

Enquiries: +27 (0)10 595 1821

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JULY 2019