Siemens receives order for three generator switchgear for Sarulla project
Outdoor switch gear (source: flickr/ Kecko, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
22 Sep 2015
Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. signs contract with Siemens for the delivery of three generator switchgear for the Sarulla geothermal project in Indonesia.
Announced by German Siemens AG, the company reports that it has “received an order from Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. for the delivery of three generator switchgear for the largest geothermal power plant in Indonesia to date. The type HB3-80 switchgear each have an output of 100 megavolt amperes (MVA), a voltage of 12 kilovolts (kV), and a rated current of 5,000 amperes (A). In power plants, generator switchgear provide for reliable synchronization and for maximum operating reliability. The first of the switchgear manufactured in Germany will be delivered in September 2015, and the other two will follow in June 2016.
The geothermal power plant is currently being constructed in the Tapanuli Utara district in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. As general contractor, Seoul-based Hyundai Engineering and Construction will complete the power plant by 2018. Once completed, it is expected to generate 351 MW of geothermal electricity annually. Indonesia plans to expand renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy and hydropower because these sources are far more economical compared to the expensive transport of fossil fuels to the country’s numerous islands. Operator of the new power plant is Sarulla Operations Ltd., a consortium made up of several companies based in the U.S. and Japan.
Deployed between generators and transformers, the generator switchgear synchronize conditions such as frequency, voltage, and phase with the network. In the event of a short circuit in the generator or transformer, the integrated vacuum circuit breakers will immediately interrupt the flow of electricity. This protection prevents subsequent faults that could impair the operation of the entire power plant. Last but not least, the generator can be switched on and off within milliseconds by means of a control command, which allows it to be connected to the grid with pinpoint accuracy.
The HB3-80 generator switchgear is single-phase encapsulated and, depending on the power plant type and operating voltage, is suitable for power units up to 160 MW or 250 MW. The HB3-80 is the world’s first generator switchgear equipped with a vacuum generator circuit breaker for up to 10,000 A with natural cooling and an IEEE C37.013 type-tested switching capacity up to 80 kA. In addition, the switchgear is type-tested in accordance with IEC 62721-200 and the draft Dual Code Standard IEEE/IEC 62271-37-13. It offers maximum operating reliability and a high degree of personnel safety thanks to its single-phase encapsulation, which eliminates the potential for short circuits between the phases.”
Source: Siemens Press Release
