Mobile Substation Unveiling Wows Audience
25.11.02

Arthur D Riley Ltd unveiled its mobile substation in Auckland last Thursday and wowed its audience with a truly significant 'New Zealand first'. After a dramatic unveiling, the twenty metre long truck and trailer unit carrying the substation continued to dominate the hall in Auckland’s Show Grounds where it was unveiled, while ADR and key associated companies staged exhibits which attracted local bodies, electricity and water company guests from all over New Zealand.

Managing Director of ADR, Reg Caldow said that the launch event was an acknowledgement of the company’s ability to meet imaginative challenges and deliver world class solutions. "The challenge from Top Energy was to deliver a mobile substation that could provide 33 kiloVolt to 11 kiloVolt step-down capacity for substations in the event of a transformer related fault, or when by-passing capacity was required during maintenance with out any interruption to supply," he said.

While the mobile substation is a New Zealand first there are a number of 'world firsts' also to be found in its design and construction.

The power transformer is of European design, manufactured in China , with a German Tapchanger. It is a double wound, core type construction with a Dyn11 winding configuration and it uses molded rubber brushings under protective housing to enhance safety and protection. To control weight and for compactness the transformer has a 400-volt tertiary winding, connected Dyn11, on the core/winding assembly.

The breakers are new generation Nova vacuum circuit breakers from Coopers. They use solid insulation cyclo-aliphatic resin which negates the need for oil or SF6 Gas.

The protection functions associated with transformer and feeder monitoring are achieved through one IXP420 Cooper Protection Relay. A Rheinhausen Tapcon 240 is the voltage regulating relay.

An on-board crane and purpose made spools handle the H.V. Cable. Intellectual property rights have been sought for this unique innovative method of carrying rolling out and rolling in the connection cables. It dramatically reduces the cost and effort of pre-preparation of a sight. The cables are permanently connected at the mobile sub-station end thereby lessening risks of crossed phased connections and limiting the establishment effort.

The mobile substation is the result of collaboration between ADR and its first mobile substation customer, Top Energy. Major contributors to the project also included electrical consultants Odyssey Energy, trailer builder M F King, and electrical contractor Power System Maintenance.

The mobile substation makes its way from Hamilton to Auckland on its way to Top Energy.

The unveiled substation on display at the Auckland Showgrounds.