TMCnet News

PRODUCTS & Services
[November 06, 2012]

PRODUCTS & Services


(Transmission & Distribution World Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Line Monitoring System GE Energy Management announces the release of its Multilin Intelligent Line Monitoring System, an end-to-end overhead line monitoring solution with advanced analytics that provide actionable intelligence to distribution utilities for improving network reliability and efficiency. GE's innovative solution enables utilities to maximize network throughput, reduce outage duration through accurate determination of fault location and optimize maintenance activities on assets when needed.



Installing GE's Intelligent Line Monitoring System helps utilities solve multiple key challenges. This solution reduces network downtime by providing utilities with visibility of faulted and soon-to-be faulted circuits. The solution's advanced analytics allow utilities to dispatch crews effectively to address network disturbances. In addition, the system also dynamically rates the feeders to allow for maximization of throughput while helping ensure safety due to increased sag conditions.

GE Energy Management | gedigitalenergy.com Real-Time Simulation Solutions The ePOWERgrid product family from OPAL-RT is a complete line of integrated real-time simulation solutions dedicated to power systems, from microgrids to large grids. Not only does it cover every need for traditional simulation, it also offers an unsurpassed level of scalability to design, simulate and test complex power systems.


The capability of ePOWERgrid products to simulate everything from fast electromagnetic phenomenon to the transient stability of large power systems allows power engineers to optimize the security, efficiency and performance of microgrids, renewable energy sources and large interconnected power grids.

OPAL-RT | www.opal-rt.com Partial-Discharge Locator EA Technology has launched a handheld instrument to locate internal partial-discharge (PD) activity in high-voltage open-terminal switchyard equipment. The PD Hawk enables operators to identify PD emissions, which are characteristic of the breakdown of internal insulation that can lead to failure, from a safe distance. Operators can scan an entire switchyard for potentially failing assets in minutes.

The battery-powered PD Hawk can be used to locate PD emissions in assets including circuit breakers, isolators, disconnectors, surge arrestors, cable-sealing ends and instrument transformers.

The PD Hawk can be tuned by the user to measure emissions in the 47-MHz to 1,000-MHz frequency range. Its factory default setting of around 800 MHz enables operators to tune out non-PD emissions, including nondestructive corona activity, and eliminate false readings from wireless sources, such as TV masts and mobile phones. The operator can safely listen to emissions on the built-in speaker and/or over headphones. Signals also can be viewed on the instrument's menu-driven screen, which displays them as magnitude, frequency and pulse timing.

EA Technology www.eatechnology.com Spacer Cable Hendrix spacer cable systems reduce right-of-way requirements at substation exits, allow more efficient use of limited space in substations and provide increased reliability on the critical feeder circuits at substation exits.

Using bare wire at substations can cause significant issues with electrical clearance and reliability. Spacer cables allow for multiple circuits to be on each pole, reducing right-of-way requirements at substation exits and along the distribution line where multiple circuits are required. Furthermore, over- or under-building spacer cable systems in substation exits can reduce the cost of adding capacity.

A spacer cable system consists of a messenger cable that supports the structure, polyethylene spacers to hold the cable across spans and covered conductor cable. The messenger cable is the support member for the structure, serving as both system neutral and lightning shield. After being installed and attached to the messenger, the spacers support, separate and clamp the phase conductors.

The spacers have excellent weather-washing characteristics. Their long leakage distance resists flashovers, their close phase spacing minimizes voltage drop and their unique design provides high short-circuit strength. They are highly resistant to shock, impact or rifle fire, and can be installed with hot line tools. The individual cables used in the spacer cable system contain a three-layer covering, which can withstand temporary contact with tree branches and other vegetation, thus reducing outages and improving power quality.

Hendrix Wire & Cable | www.hendrix-wc.com ANSI Protection Relays ABB's facility in Coral Springs, Florida, U.S., is now producing the Relion 615 series American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-based distribution protection relays.

This Relion family of ANSI products had been manufactured in ABB facilities in Finland since 2008. With the production of the first U.S.-made units, as of June, ABB confirmed its commitment to protection relay customers, specifically those in North America and other ANSI markets around the world.

For several decades now, the ABB distribution automation business in Coral Springs has manufactured electromechanical, solid-state and microprocessor relays as well as the Flexitest line of test switches. With the addition of the Relion 615 series, the plant manufacturing capabilities now have been expanded to cover all distribution protection and control customers' needs.

Relion is ABB's state-of-the-art family of products for power systems protection, control, measurement and supervision that are designed for high dependability, interoperability and cost reduction of substation design. The Relion 615 series ANSI product line includes devices for protection and control of feeders, motors and transformers.

ABB | www.abb.com Advanced Recloser Control Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. (SEL) has added new capabilities in the SEL-651R Advanced Recloser Control that improve reliability and communications for distribution automation.

New Ethernet communications allow users to integrate the SEL-651R into either Ethernet- or serial-based communications networks with standard DNP3 or Modbus protocols. The SEL-651R also has an option for IEC 61850. Ethernet provides another high-speed option for faster fault detection, isolation and restoration (FDIR).

To improve system operation, the SEL-651R now includes IEEE C37.118 synchrophasor capability for applications such as phase identification, islanding detection of distributed generation, and wide-area monitoring, protection and control.

SEL has added a built-in web server to the SEL-651R for convenient, read-only access to basic recloser control information, such as settings, metering, status and event history data, as well as for the secure, remote uploading of firmware. In addition, the new 60-cycle-length event reports and faster sampling rate of 128 samples per cycle provide better event analysis.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories | www.selinc.com Integrated Smart Grid Solutions Suite Recent upgrades to Telvent's Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS 3.3) feature several leading-edge additions, allowing it to seamlessly merge full-feature distribution management (DMS), outage management (OMS)and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) solutions.

With the enhanced technology offered by Telvent, utilities can deploy DMS, OMS and SCADA with a common network model, security infrastructure, integration services and a training platform all managed in a unified, role-based user interface. Utilities implementing the system will see immediate benefits from improved reliability, safety and efficiency through automation that supports multiple goals including energy loss minimization, improved demand management and emergency response. With new network planning functions and an improved web client, utilities have the flexibility to manage all ADMS applications in one secure user experience, making network operations and planning flexible, simple and accessible both inside and outside the control room.

Telvent | www.telvent.com In-Span Storage System Preformed Line Products's FIBERLIGN In-Span Storage System speeds up and simplifies the storage of aerial fiber-optic slack cable.

The Cable Capture Tabs on the FIS allow the installer to clip the loop of cable into place rather then using the traditional method of securing the cable using multiple cable ties. The installer clips the cable into the tabs and then pulls the storage bracket to the back of the loop. Once the storage bracket is in its final position, the cable is secure and the installer can work hands-free installing the few cable ties needed to complete the job.

The FIS can be hung from either an all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) or lashed messenger cable. The system's 12-inch (305-mm)-diameter storage bracket accommodates cable diameters up to 0.60 inches (15 mm), and the 16-inch (406-mm)-diameter storage bracket accepts cable diameters up to 0.80 inches (20 mm).

Preformed Line Products | www.preformed.com LCD Video Wall Bundles Barco's OverView LCD video wall bundles make it easier to compose and purchase tiled LCD video walls. Each bundle contains all of the components needed to install a small video wall: tiled LCD panels, a specialized controller, cables, software and wall mounts.

Tiled LCD video walls with LED backlights offer advantages over other technologies: they consume minimal power; offer high resolution and brightness; are not influenced by ambient light; are not subject to irreversible burn-in; and maintenance costs are low. The OverView NSL series combines these benefits with an extremely narrow bezel (5.7 mm/0.22 inch).

The Monolithic package, designed for client server-based applications, is used primarily in simple settings, such as meeting rooms. This package features the TransForm N Multimedia Terminal controller.

The Legacy Input package features the TransForm ECU controller and offers an easy-to-install, preconfigured solution for base band inputs.

The High-Performance Networked package, with the TransForm NSD controller, is suited for more advanced functionality, such as collaboration via networked sources and video decoding.

Barco | www.barco.com Volt-VAR Optimization S&C Electric Co. announces the latest generation of its IntelliTeam VV volt-VAR optimization (VVO) system. The new software supports multiple levels of line regulation and allows utilities to control them independently of one another. This gives grid operators more precise voltage control for an even higher level of power quality and makes it possible to achieve greater reductions in peak demand and energy usage.

S&C's VVO system helps utilities increase overall energy efficiency by improving power factor and reducing voltage across the distribution system. S&C's IntelliTeam VV also enables conservation voltage reduction, which allows utilities to lower voltage levels at the end user while still meeting power-quality requirements.

The new features allow utilities to create voltage zones where multiple grid devices can be grouped as an independently configurable zone, as well as voltage buffers that are configurable for automatic calculation and adjustment. The software also offers reporting on communications devices, alerting utility personnel to equipment issues that could impact performance of a VVO system.

S&C Electric Co. | www.sandc.com © 2012 Penton Media

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