A modular panelboard from Eaton Bill Switchgear met the requirements of Combined Building and Electrical Services and its client, SVG Intermol, for a new electrical distribution system to its molasses terminal in Avonmouth Docks, Bristol:
The three-section panel controls electrical supplies to motors, pumps and other services in the facility. It includes soft start equipment from another Eaton Electric group company, Eaton Cutler-Hammer.
The existing low voltage distribution system was no longer able to cope with the needs of the Avonmouth facility, where bulk liquids including molasses are stored, blended and loaded onto tankers. Combined Building and Electrical Services has installed new high and low voltage switchgear capable of meeting current and future needs of the site.
The Talisman MPS modular panelboard system from Eaton Bill Switchgear enabled the contractor to build a low voltage switchboard which has the capacity to handle more than twice the current load. It features Form 4 separation, for safety of personnel who work on the equipment.
Factory-built assemblies or by contractors:
The Talisman MPS system allows anything from a simple panelboard to a complex switchboard to be assembled from modular components either as a factory-built assembly or - as in this case - site built by the contractor. It allows for both fuse and circuit-breaker technology on incoming and outgoing sections. Various Forms of Separation, including Form 4, are possible.
A software program, claimed to be unique, allows panels to be designed on a PC, ensuring that all the necessary components are included and also producing a drawing and parts list, together with weights and costs.
Bill Switchgear's Area Sales Engineer, Andy Alsop, worked closely with Combined Building and Electrical Services, who had previous experience with MPS and have their own copy of the Talisman MPS Advantage software.
Three section panel:
The Avonmouth panel has three sections. The 800A moulded-case circuit-breaker incomer is located in the middle section. Two 400A MCCBs control supplies to the sections either side so that one section can remain energised if work is being carried out on the other. The left-hand section houses ten 100A and two 250A fused combination switches controlling pumps and motors around the site while the other houses moulded-case circuit-breakers feeding ancillary services including offices, computers, boiler plant and night storage heaters.
The central section also houses two Cutler-Hammer S801 soft starters serving the 45kW main pumps. These previously had direct-on-line starting. The soft starters have helped reduce 'spikes' on the system. The Cutler-Hammer soft starters, which were recommended by Andy Alsop, proved far more compact than any known alternatives, making it possible to incorporate them into the panelboard.
A third S801 soft starter has replaced an existing star-delta starter serving a 63kW compressor motor used to pressurise the storage tanks.
The existing load presents a maximum demand of between 150 and 200kVA but the new installation allows for potential growth of 50-75% in the foreseeable future and further expansion up to the 500kVA capacity of the site transformer.
‘Our preferred brand’:
Jon Colwill, Managing Director of Combined Building and Electrical Services is enthusiastic about the MPS system and about Bill Switchgear. "We have used Bill Switchgear for about 15 years; it is our preferred brand because it is a product we know and trust" he says. "We have used the MPS system on several jobs" he adds. He is also impressed by the compact size, low heat losses and overall flexibility of the Cutler-Hammer soft starters.
The MPS panels and soft starters were supplied through Bennett and Fountain of Avonmouth.
Contact: Richard Hunt
Eaton Bill Switchgear
Reddings Lane, Tyseley,
Birmingham B11 3EZ
Tel: 0121 685 2100
Fax: 0121 706 2012
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bill-switchgear.com