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Electric Energy T&D - Index

Electric Energy T&D - EEMag May June 2008 - Index

Circle 7 on Reader Service Card
ABB to Upgrade Transmission
Control for Vital North American
Power Interconnector
New control system will enhance grid reliability
and extend link’s life span
Zurich, Switzerland, april 14, 2008 – aBB,
the leading power and automation technology
group, has been selected by Hydro-Québec,
Canada, for an upgrade of a high-voltage,
direct current (HVDC) converter station.
The 5-year-old 1000-MW (Megawatts)
Châteauguay back-to-back HVDC station
will be equipped with ABB’s control and
protection system, MACH .
“ABB’s well-proven HVDC control technology,
MACH , will improve the performance and
extend the life of the converter station,” said
Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems
division. “Upgrading of HVDC plants is a good
illustration of ABB’s long term commitment
to the protection of investments in the
transmission industry.”
The MACH system is the world’s most
commonly used control system for HVDC and
FACTS (flexible AC transmission systems)
with over 400 systems in operation. It is used
in all types of HVDC installations from small,
but very demanding, HVDC Light installations,
to large, 3,000-MW power links.
ABB has the widest experience of control
system upgrades in the HVDC industry. Recent
upgrade projects delivered by ABB include
the Square Butte and the CU HVDC links in
the U.S., the two Skagerrak HVDC links in
Scandinavia and the on-going refurbishment
of the Apollo converter station of the Cahora
Bassa HVDC link in Southern Africa.
Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and
distributes electricity, mainly using renewable
energy sources. The company provides
electricity to customers in Québec, other
parts of Canada, as well as to northeastern
parts of the U.S. and is one of the world’s
largest producers of hydroelectricity.
The new control and protection system in
Châteauguay will be commissioned during
April and May in 009, with an outage
time of only seven weeks. Since the station
comprises two blocks and each block will
4 I May-June 2008 Issue
be renovated separately, the station will
maintain at least half of its capacity during
the installation period.
For more information, please contact:
ABB Power Systems Division
Communications
Sian Curtis
sian.curtis@ch.abb.com
Or visit: www.abb.us
Circle 40 on reader Service Card
RITZ SELECTS RAUCKMAN TO
MARKET HOTLINE TOOLS in USA
Swansea, Il USa – March 20, 2008 – One
of the world’s largest manufacturers of
lineman’s tools and equipment has teamedup
with a long time marketer to North
American electric utilities. Ritz (formally
known as Ritz DoBrasil) has teamed up with
Jim Rauckman to form American Hotline,
LLC. www.americanhotline.com.
Located in Belo Horizonte Brazil, Ritz
produces hundreds of products related to the
live-line maintenance of electric utility lines.
The Ritz offering includes transmission tools
up to 800 kV, substation maintenance tools,
distribution hotline tools and even tools for
maintaining energized secondary voltages.
Ritz has been supplying hotline tools in
South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle
East for nearly 40 years. Additionally, Ritz
has supplied component parts for many years
to several US manufacturers of hotline tools.
American Hotline, LLC is managed by Jim
Rauckman – who also runs Rauckman Utility
Products, LLC, and with Kevin Clizer operates
Rauckman High Voltage Sales, LLC both
based in the St. Louis suburb of Swansea,
IL. American Hotline will offer the Ritz
products through a network of independent
manufacturers’ representatives.