The Test Centre
Why does Kelvatek need an LV Test Centre?
Many of Kelvateks products are used within the electricity utility industry to locate faults on their LV underground networks. In order for these products to be developed, it is necessary to test them under realistic conditions. Such conditions can only be obtained by gaining access to live networks during fault conditions. This is difficult due to the random nature of faults and the pressure on utilities to restore supply within tight timeframes. It is also not possible to adequately demonstrate products to customers under such uncontrolled conditions.
Therefore having a dedicated test facility where faults can realistically be simulated using real voltage and current levels represents a unique facility within the electricity utility industry.
LV Test Centre Objectives
During the design and construction phase, the following objectives were identified
- To recreate an urban LV underground network
- To simulate the range of faults that occur on LV underground networks
- To provide a test facility for monitoring of network voltage and current flows during fault simulations
- To enable full range of Kelvatek LV products to be tested and demonstrated
- To include the facility for automatic switching and network reconfiguration
- To comply with all safety requirements
Key Features of the LV Test Centre
The LV Test Centre is supplied via a dedicated high voltage supply so that faults can be applied without affecting other customers supplied from the same network. The LV network can be energised from both 500 KVA and 200 KVA transformers so that different fault levels and circulating currents can be created.
The LV network is comprised of the following -
- Waveform, PILC, XLPE and NAYY copper and aluminium cable ranging from 16 mm to 300 mm which can be interconnected to form a range of circuit topologies typically found in UK and European LV networks
- Feeder pillars (DIN and British Standard)
- Mini pillars (6 and 4 way)
- Underground Link Boxes (4 and 2 way)
- Three phase and single phase services terminated in meter cubicles
- Fault trough which provides the facility to create intermittent faults
Key Benefits of the LV Test Centre
Having this unique test facility now offers the following significant benefits to Kelvatek -
- The ability to easily test new technologies and techniques at will, without the risk of customer disruption.
- The ability to simulate all fault modes under controlled conditions which will dramatically reduce product development cycle times while also improving product performance.
- A facility to demonstrate products to customers in realistic conditions will reduce the time to market.
- A unique facility to provide in-depth training on our products to customers
- To provide a facility for developing new products related to network automation and smart grid technologies.
Schematic
Click Here to see how the Test Centre was constructed.
