Noja Power Extends Range Of Distribution Grid Protection Products To Include Upgraded 15- And 27-KV Automatic Circuit Reclosers

300 series 38-kV Automatic Circuit Recloser now complemented by independently type-tested 310 series 15- and 27-kV sister products featuring enhanced continuous current rating and RC10 control and communications module

Brisbane QLD - Electrical switchgear engineers NOJA Power recently announces the release of its 310 series 15- and 27-kV Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACR). The ACRs extend the company’s range of electricity distribution grid protection products by complementing the existing 300 series 38-kV ACR. The 310 series replace older products which were rated at 630 A with units capable of up to 800 A continuous current operation. The increase in the continuous current rating to 800A allows utilities to use the ACR in a wider range of electrical network configuration options. The 310 series ACRs also feature a fault make capacity (RMS) of 12.5 kA and an impulse withstand phase-to-earth and phase-to-phase of 110 kV for the 15-kV unit and 150 kV for the 27-kV unit.

The 310 series ACRs have been fully type-tested by KEMA, an independent laboratory based in the Netherlands to ensure long life and reliability under the harshest environmental conditions.

While smaller and lighter than the 300 series ACR, the 310 series products benefit from all the key features that have made the 38-kV product popular with utilities around the world. Notable among these are the use of a vacuum interrupt and solid dielectric insulator instead of the environmentally unfriendly oil or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas used in older products. Another key feature of the 310 series is its stainless steel enclosure that forms the only solid dielectric unit with controlled arc venting on the market. The controlled arc venting design meets the requirements of IEC62271-200 Clause 6.106 and Annex A, and the efficacy of this important safety feature has been verified as part of the type-testing procedure.

In addition, the 310 series benefits from NOJA Power’s RC10 control and communications cubicle and its comprehensive feature set. The RC10 is a SCADA-ready controller that provides a directional overcurrent, earth fault and sensitive earth fault relay, auto reclosing relay, instantaneous metering, event log, demand logger and remote terminal unit (RTU) for remote control in a single package. The RC10 cubicle’s power quality features provide an in-depth analysis of the changing state of the electrical network. A large backlit LCD display and keypad enable fast navigation and local control while ensuring information is presented clearly without recourse to scrolling or reference to manuals.

The use of the RC10 cubicle across NOJA Power’s entire range now allows Linesmen to take advantage of the company’s Recloser App for all products. Running on Apple mobile devices, the app remotely communicates with the RC10 controller via a TCP/IP connection and enables a Linesman to obtain measurements from multiple ACRs or control the devices without having to scale the feeder pole to reach the cubicle.

NOJA Power’s existing suite of software tools now automates the analysis of data captured by 310 series ACRs and RC10 cubicles allowing engineers to react quickly to problems on the network.

“The new 310 series ACRs are the direct result of over a decade of significant investment in R&D and now enable NOJA Power to offer 15-, 27- and 38-kV ACRs that meet the demanding requirements of smart grid distribution automation,” says Neil O’Sullivan, Managing Director of NOJA Power. “Chief among these are bidirectional protection capability and a wide range of local- and remote-communication options within the RC10 cubicle.

“But perhaps more importantly, the introduction of these products now means that all of NOJA Power’s ACRs boast the attributes which demonstrate our commitment to safety and the environment.”