Plant Electrical Systems

Low Voltage Systems

Plant Electrical Systems
Low Voltage Systems
Low Voltage Systems

We help utilities to build and maintain
reliable power system installations safely
and efficiently.

ABB offers complete instrumentation, control
and electrical system integration for power
generation plants of all types. Coupled together
with ABB's innovative products in low voltage
systems our integration experts can offer the
most economical and reliable integrated ICE
(Instrumentation, Control and Electrical)
package for your power plant.

Transformers

Business Application
Auxiliary transformers are
used in power and waste to
energy plants to transfer the
generated electrical energy
from medium to low voltage
level to supply the power
plants consumers such as
motor pumps, lighting
installation and
uninterruptible power supply system.

Main Features
The main transformers categories are:
Dry type transformers, e. g. RESIBLOC
resin-encapsulated transformers, which are
characterized by high mechanical resis-
tance of the winding
Hermetically encapsulated oil insulated
transformers

During the over all engineering stage the
design of transformer must match with the
consumers loads to ensure the proper function
during normal conditions such as start of
motors and abnormal conditions such as in
case of short circuit faults. The loads and their
behavior will be considered in the selectivity
protection scheme of the power plant. In addi-
tion all transformers have temperature control
system to ensure the function of the units.

Customer Benefit
ABB standardized products ensure an eco-
nomical solution, safety of personnel and
increase the overall availability of the energy
supply.

Switchgears

Business Application
Low-voltage switchgears and distribution
boards are widely used in power generation
and waste to energy plants. Depending on the
application, they include equipment for switch-
ing, protecting, conversion, control, regulation,
monitoring and measurement of electrical
equipment such as motor pumps, fans, lighting
and emergency system. The selection of
switchgear apparatus is based on the specific
switching task, for example isolation, load
switching, short-circuit current breaking, motor
switching, protection against over current and
personnel hazard.

2 ABB
Plant Electrical Systems
Low Voltage Systems

Main Features
The dimensions and terms of low voltage
switchgear assemblies have been standard-
ized. Expressions such as section, compart-
ment, fixed- & withdrawable-part, type-tested
and partially type-tested to describe the low
voltage switchgear have been introduced. Also,
barriers and partitions, such as internal segre-
gation of functional areas, i.e. between the
busbars, switching apparatus and cables as
well as protection for the operating personnel
have been considered.

Depending on the type, switchgear apparatus
can be used for single or multiple switching
tasks. Switching tasks can also be conducted
by a combination of several switchgear units of
fixed or draw-out installation type and can be
actuated by different types of protection as in
case of motor control centers (MCC). The main
switching apparatus are:
Circuit breakers (CB), which must be
capable of making, conducting and switch-
ing off currents under operational condi-
tions and specified extraordinary conditions
such the short-circuit case. Circuit breakers
arc extinction medium is mainly air. CB can
also be classified as compact (moulded =
insulation case that contain CB parts) or
open (air break) design


Contactors, which are remote-control
switching devices and primarily intended
for frequent switching under normal and
overload operations
Motor starters, which are a combination of
all devices used for motor operation includ-
ing overload protection
Fuse combination units, which are set
together with load-break switch, switch-
disconnector or disconnector
Miniature circuit breakers (MCB), which are
manually actuated, primarily current-
limiting switches with fixed magnetic and
delayed thermal tripping

In most cases of power plant low voltage
switchgear, several over current protection
devices are connected in series between the
current source and apparatus to be protected
in case of fault. These devices must operate
selectively to limit a fault to the place of its
origin as far as possible. Redundancies in the
switchgear design ensure the availability of
energy supply.

Customer Benefit
ABB is a leading manufacturer in low voltage
switchgear business and has developed their
unique systems that ensure the safety of oper-
ating personnel and a reliable energy supply.
Through our overall planning, knowledge of
process and its requirement we can ensure the
proper design and function of the low voltage
switchgear according to consumers loads and
the integration with the power generation con-
trol system by conventional or state of the art
wiring connections. ABB solutions are an
investment that pay back during lifetime of the
generating plants, its operation and service
activities.

ABB 3
Plant Electrical Systems
Low Voltage Systems
Frequency Converters

Business Application
You would be surprised how many industrial
processes can be improved by using variable
speed drives (VSD). The larger the process
and the higher the performance demands, the
greater the benefits from electronic speed
control. The energy savings alone in a drive of
a few megawatts can offset the cost of the
speed control system in just months or a few
years. Typical applications in power plants and
waste to energy plants: Speed control and soft
starting of fans, pumps, compressors and
blowers.

Main Features
ABB LV frequency converters are micro-
processor-controlled enabling following main
advantages:
Efficiency: Compressors, fans and pumps
run at their optimum operating point
accordingly substantial energy savings.
Lower short-circuit stress and voltage drop
on the switchgears and power cables
during the start-up
Maintenance: Less stress and wear
reduces the maintenance requirement
Emissions: Electric drives avoid emissions.
Noise reduced to the minimum possible
level
Better process control: Protection and
monitoring of motor and driven aggregate
by the frequency converter. Higher accu-
racy, smooth control at low flow rates,
faster response with greater stability, set
points quickly reached and therefore
shorter production process
Soft starting: Less mechanical stress on
motor and driven plant. Reduced tem-
perature rise while the motor is
accelerating

Customer Benefit
ABB frequency converters are of highest
reliability and proven technology. The most
important benefits are:
They allow substantial savings of energy
No short circuit contribution to the network
from the drive system (accordingly smaller
dimensioning of electrical system)
Lower maintenance costs
The smoother running results in higher
productivity, longer equipment and plant
lifetime and higher return of investment
ABB frequency converters are easy to
operate and to commission with a built-in
start-up assistant or maintenance tool
running on a PC
4 ABB
Plant Electrical Systems
Low Voltage Systems
Motors and Generators

Business Application
Physically motors and generators are the same
electrical machine. Usually in power generation
and water plants motors are asynchronous
machines (ASM) and generators are syn-
chronic machines (SYM). The main consumers
in power plants are ASM motors, used to drive
pumps, crashers, fans etc. SYM are used as
main generators and emergency diesel
generators.

Main Features
ABB manufacture nearly all kinds of motors
and has over 100 years experience in applying
AC machines to virtually all industries including
power plants. Motors with different bearings as
ball, roll and sleeve are available.

We can differentiate between several cooling
systems as:
Separate forced air cooling for VSD-low
speed
Air/air cooled
Air/water cooled

We can categories the use of motors into the
following main branches:

Variable speed drives (VSD), where
frequency converters are used
Drives with constant speed (directly
connected to switchgear)
Poles switch-over motors

Also motors with low starting currents can be
applied.
To reduce significantly the starting current of
motors soft-starters or frequency converters
are available.
Motors have to be designed according to their
aggregate. Especially the VSD including the
frequency converter will be calculated exactly
based on the aggregate characteristic curve,
aggregate data and different operation point;
also, the process requirements have to be
considered. Motor starting load calculations
have to be done to avoid excessive voltage
drop and to optimize load flow.
The motors loads will be considered in the
selectivity protection scheme of the power plant
and motors protection system. This includes
over current, over voltage and over tempera-
ture protection. By large motors, supervision of
bearing (bearing temperature and vibration)
has to be considered. In case of applying VSD
the speed, torque and other parameters will be
also monitored.

Customer Benefit
ABB motors have the advantage of having very
high efficiency and very low sound pressure
level which is important for the environment.
Through our overall planning we can ensure
the proper function of the whole drive systems
thus ensure the reliability and availability of the
energy supply.
ABB 5
Plant Electrical Systems

Low Voltage Systems
DC Switchgear and Distribution

Business Application
It is essential that the instrumentation, control
and protection system components of a power
plant or waste to energy plant have a secure
DC bus bars power supply as well as a secure
AC bus bar connected to this DC system via an
inverter. In most cases an additional stand-by
diesel generator feeding this DC system
through rectifiers is also considered.

Main Features
The power supply system must include redun-
dancy to avoid outage of the whole plant in
case of a fault in one of these DC systems. In
our design stage and depending on the proc-
ess requirements we consider two parallel sys-
tems, which can be coupled together and each
is capable of feeding all consumers necessary
for the safety and reliable operation of the
plant. In normal operation, loads are distributed
as far as possible symmetrically on both
systems to which batteries and rectifiers are
connected in parallel. Rectifiers will supply the
required load and keep the batteries in charged
condition. In case of disturbance the batteries
are able to supply the required energy for a
limited time to ensure safe shutdown of the
system without interruption.
The in- and outgoing feeders are mounted in a
metal enclosed type-tested switch bay having
fixed or withdrawable units. The design of DC
system is based on power requirements of
consumers as well as short-circuit level and
selectivity.

Customer Benefit
We consider in our overall design all necessary
consumers and all interface points. We design
the DC system to ensure safe operation of the
whole plant under economical and environ-
mental aspects.


ABB AG
Power Technology Systems
P.O. Box 10 03 51
NOTE:
We reserve the right to make technical changes or modify the contents
of this document without prior notice. With regard to purchase orders,
the agreed particulars shall prevail.
The Industrial
IT
wordmark and all mentioned product names in the
form XXXXXX
IT
are registered or pending trademarks of ABB.
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68128 Mannheim
GERMANY
Phone: +49 621 381-3000
Fax: +49 621 381 2645
E-mail: powertech@de.abb.com
Internet: http://www.abb.com

ABB does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for potential
errors or possible lack of information in this document.

We reserve all rights in this document and in the subject matter
and illustrations contained therein. Any reproduction in whole
or in parts is forbidden without ABB's prior written consent.

Copyright

2005 ABB
All rights reserved.