ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been awarded a three-year contract to provide maintenance supervision services for six medium-voltage DC traction substations that are providing power for the Gold Coast Light Rail project in Australia. KDR Gold Coast Pty Ltd, a consortium member for GoldLinQ, the operators of the light rail link issued ABB with the contract.
Images courtesy of GoldLinQ Consortium
The agreement provides a customised maintenance and service solution that will ensure the six traction substations continue to provide maximum reliability and power for the light rail system operated by KDR Gold Coast. Safeguarding the performance of this equipment is essential to meeting the transport needs of over 18,000 G:link commuters who rely on the rapid transit system each and every day.
ABB will utilise the most advanced diagnostic and repair practices to provide 24 hour support with a guaranteed response-time, annual preventative maintenance and access to NEPLAN® diagnosis for six transportable substations. The substations were designed, manufactured and commissioned by ABB in 2014 as part of an earlier contract.
NEPLAN is a planning and information system designed for managing, analysing and optimising all voltage levels of electricity networks. The collection and analysis of condition and diagnostic data throughout the lifecycle of equipment is permitting a shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance, maximising availability and reliability while also reducing the costs of interventions and the associated downtime.
"This tailored service approach and expert support means KDR Gold Coast can rely on ABB as their specialist service provider," said Axel Kuhr General Manager for ABB in Australia. "Combining more than 100 years of innovation and experience in the substation domain and rail sector allows us to maximise power availability and keep operating costs as low as possible for our customers.
The six substations are rated at 11 kV (kilovolt) AC (alternating current) / 750V (volt) DC (direct current) and are housed in transportable outdoor buildings with key technologies integrated. These products include rectifiers, DC switchgear, SafePlus medium-voltage switchgear, dry-type rectifier and auxiliary transformers, leakage current monitoring systems and auxiliary equipment.
ABB is a leading supplier of products, systems and services for rail infrastructure and rolling stock serving modern, conventional and high-speed rail applications. This includes AC and DC traction substations and railway electrification solutions for the rail industry that provide reliable power for mainline trains, metros and mass transit networks. Continued innovation for the sector will see ABB Australia launch a new prefabricated DC substation later this year. The substations are to be pre- designed and offer a compact modular solution.
Substations are key installations in the power grid that facilitate the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They include equipment that protects and controls the flow of electrical power. ABB is a world-leading supplier of substations covering a range of voltage levels up to 1,100 kV.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people.
For help with any technical terms in this release, please go to: www.abb.com/glossary
