Metering of electricity supplies to companies based at the Langstone Technology Park (LTP) in Havant, near Portsmouth, enables the management company to keep a close watch on patterns of use and to provide accurately monthly accounts to its tenants.
Metering of electricity supplies to companies based at Langstone Technology Park (LTP) in Havant, near Portsmouth, enables the company, which provides innovative property and facilities solutions, to keep a close watch on patterns of use and to provide accurate monthly accounts to its customers. The metering equipment is provided by Eaton, which has also supplied other electrical equipment to LTP, including switchgear and circuit protection equipment.
Langstone Technology Park, a former IBM manufacturing complex, comprises four major buildings with a gross internal floor area of more than 700,000 sq.ft. It occupies a 43 acre site alongside the A27 coastal road, close to its junction with the A3(M) London-Portsmouth road. Plans are in place to add another 100,000 sq.ft to meet increasing demand for space.
More than 2,500 people work on the site which is home to a variety of companies ranging from small businesses to high-profile organisations (e.g. AT&T, Battelle, CIMTEK, Hitachi, Jobsite, Lockheed Martin, Teleplan and Xyratex). These companies are engaged in many business areas including the design & manufacture of advanced test equipment, aerospace engineering, call centre operations, internet-based recruitment and laboratory services. All have one thing in common – a strong technology base.
Langstone Technology Park offers an exceptionally high level of support services, tailored to the needs of its customers. Infrastructure facilities such as cafeteria, shop, medical centre, gymnasium and automated banking facilities are all available at LTP. LTP also manages electricity, water and gas supplies, security systems, telecoms and data services allowing customers to benefit from their aggregate buying power. Customers can choose the level of service they require, from basic rental to fully-serviced accommodation including stationery supplies, mailroom services, maintenance, conferencing facilities/event management, cleaning, waste disposal and even laboratory gases.
As part of this service, LTP provides metered electricity supplies to the various customers and also monitors its own electricity demand. It provides accurate monthly accounts for energy consumed by each customer and has even been known to successfully challenge its suppliers’ claims for energy consumption.
“The original need was to monitor electricity use for energy conservation but now we use the system for energy conservation and billing” explains Paul Denne of LTP Engineering.
Metering
Metering originally made use of Eaton IQ Data Plus meters and PowerNet communications software to communicate with LTP’s operations centre. Since then the metering business has been subject to ongoing development.
Whilst many of the original meters are still providing sterling service, the modern generation of Eaton IQ Power Sentinel meters offers a more compact solution with more extensive metering and communications capabilities. Throughout the site there are some 78 meters in all. These communicate with the main operations centre via a twisted-pair data network and Eaton’s PowerNet software. This is a windows-based system that provides extensive capabilities for analysis and billing.
IQ Power Sentinels are highly accurate microprocessor-based devices capable of monitoring voltage, current, power, energy, power factor, frequency, apparent power and reactive power. They incorporate alarm capabilities which operate via the building management system that alerts the security systems if parameters such as voltage and frequency go outside pre-determined limits. The devices are so compact; they can even be incorporated into a distribution board.
While most of the Power Sentinel devices operate on low voltage systems, some monitor high voltage (3.3kV) supplies to chiller plant. The units are essentially monitoring devices with remote data output but local displays are also available.
The PowerNet software has capabilities to view the various parameters on screen, as if viewing the instrument’s panel directly. Alarm thresholds can also be set from the computer.
“The system is very flexible and easy to maintain” says Paul Denne. “We maintain it ourselves. If a new meter is required we can set this up in a matter of minutes including setting the unique address by means of four-digit DIP switches on the meter.”
H.V. and Standby Generation
But Eaton’s supplies to Langstone Technology Park do not stop at metrology. They also include switchgear and protection systems to the site which is supplied by two 16MVA feeders. Three 11kV ring mains distribute high voltage supplies to 14 high voltage substations located around the site. Total load is currently around 4MW so there is ample spare capacity. Mechanical plant with a 10.5MW (3000 tonne) chilled water capacity operates at 3.3kV.
Essential services provision is from a 550kVA Caterpillar diesel-generator (Caterpillar is an associate company of Eaton Corporation in the USA). In the event of a power outage, the generator supplies the security systems, communication rooms and essential lighting, backing up the conventional emergency lighting systems and also providing back-up supplies to clients’ uninterruptible power supplies.
Heavy switchgear on site is from a variety of companies including Ottermill, and there is extensive use of Eaton’s MEM loose switchgear such as Exel switch-disconnectors.
Final distribution
Final distribution is from riser cupboards strategically located around the site. Incoming supplies are taken into an Eaton MEM metering chamber and from here to three distribution boards serving lighting, power and mechanical plant. As riser cupboards are progressively refurbished, the new Eaton IQ Power Sentinel units are installed in the metering chambers.
One of the most recent additions to the electrical installations is a 12-way Memshield 2 panel board which supplies a recent extension to one of the buildings. This is a 600A panel board and is currently fitted with six 100A moulded-case circuit-breakers, leaving six spare ways to meet future needs.
One-Call Source
An ability to offer a one-call source of electrical installation supplies from the main switchboard to the socket-outlet is one of the strengths of Eaton’s electrical business in the UK and Ireland. It can offer both high voltage and low voltage switchboards, from its Holec and MEM brands respectively, together with a full range of panel boards, distribution boards, and even domestic consumer units. Distribution and control products, fuse and circuit-breaker based circuit protection systems, power factor correction, active harmonic control and surge suppression systems are also available as are low voltage busbar distribution systems.
LTP sources many of its electrical installation products through the local branch of Newey and Eyre.
Company Information
Eaton’s Electrical business is a global leader in electrical control, power distribution, and industrial automation products and services. Through advanced product development, world-class manufacturing methods, and global engineering services and support, Eaton’s Electrical business provides customer-driven solutions under brand names such as Cutler-Hammer®, Durant®, Heinemann®, Holec® and MEM®, which globally serve the changing needs of the industrial, utility, light commercial, residential, and OEM markets. For more information, visit www.EatonElectrical.com.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2004 sales of $ 9.8 billion. Eaton is a global leader in fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety; and intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy. Eaton has 55,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.
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