Busbar system meets plant room's technical and logistical demands

The location of the site meant that the offsite constructed panel had to be craned into position, testing the rigidity and strength of the panel framework. Rittal’s Ri4power modular switch gear busbar system proved itself during the lift. The system's welded frame - tested for such lifting procedures - ensured that the installation of the panel within the new power station plant room proceeded without damage.

Safety in operation was a key concern to the customer, so Rittal’s internal RiLine60 busbar system was shielded and the panel designed compliant with the IEC61641 standard's 'Internal Arc Protection' instructions. Form 4 type 6 compartments segregated the control devices, busbar and outgoing terminals, which assisted the cabling on site and offered a higher level of safety for operators of the switchgear. Moreover, being of a modular design, Rittal’s Ri4Power allowed Nova Controls to make last minute changes to the design layout. 

The panel is located in a plant room subject to occasional high levels of moisture and a potentially acidic environment. A tropicalised paint finish was subsequently chosen in order to avoid possible corrosion damage to the panel.

In addition to the Ri4Power system, Nova also utilised Rittal’s RPE Engineering software (see separate item below) to generate design verification documentation that included heat calculations in line with the latest IEC61439 switch gear and control gear standards. Peter Hubbert from Nova Controls concludes:

“Working with Rittal Ri4Power gave us a proven high quality engineered product, incorporating all the solutions required to meet the demanding Form 4 specifications of our client and the power generation market. This highly flexible product allowed us to design and configure individual compartments with a range of versatile multifunction components, affording us a speedy assembly and a vital cost effective solution in this competitive arena.”

Rittal releases latest version of RPE software
For switchgear with ratings above 1,600A, air circuit breakers (ACBs) and copper connections have to be tested for short circuit and the effects of heat rise. Rittal’s latest RPE software (V6.2) can supply the actual current carry capacity of all leading air circuit breaker manufacturers, plus the CAD drawings of the ACB connections required to fit within Rittal’s Ri4Power modular switchgear systems. A typical ACB connection drawing as generated in the RPE software is shown.

Key features for users of this software (which will assist the panel builder or designer to comply with the new IEC 61439 switchgear standards) include generation of copper connection drawings; production of design verification documentation; the ability to generate users own documentation and internal enclosure temperature calculation.