Insulation Bushings
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Electro Composites Inc.’s 69 kV-145 kV solid insulation bushings replace conventional oil-impregnated paper (OIP) and resin-impregnated (RIP) porcelain bushings typically used in substation circuit breakers and transformers. Compared with OIP porcelain bushings, the one-piece, solid-cast products provide improved in-service performance, easier handling and storage, and the ability to reduce the safety perimeter around substations. Because the solid epoxy bushings contain no oil, spare units can be stored at the substation in a space-saving horizontal orientation. Unlike OIP porcelain, cycloaliphatic epoxy bushings are shatter-proof to confine any damage resulting from excessive mechanical or electrical demands to the individual bushing. By contrast, utilities typically must maintain a 6- to 9-meter safety perimeter around oil-filled bushings.
Electro Composites Inc.
TWACS Operations Center
TWACS OC (Operations Center) from Distribution Control Systems Inc. (DCSI) features an easy-to-use interface to ensure smooth navigation across the TWACS Net Server (TNS) application environment. Using the TWACS OC interface, TNS will provide simple management of the TWACS communications network and adaptive control of advanced metering data in a relational database server. The software is typically operated by front-office personnel and includes meter maintenance, system status, substation maintenance, AMR job scheduler and system security. The application is installed on a customer’s existing server and client machines and will continue to run with the current TNS application.
Distribution Control Systems Inc.
Control Room Displays
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The Clarity RP and RX rear-projection displays from Planar Systems are designed for demanding utility control room environments. Available in 50-inch and 67-inch sizes, the Clarity RP and RX lines feature Texas Instruments’ single-chip DLP with Planar’s “Set It and Forget It” (SiFi) technology, which reduces the time and expertise required to optimally “balance” a video wall. The Clarity RX display provides a competitively priced solution for control rooms requiring standard XGA native resolution (1024 x 768), while delivering SiFi for superior brightness and color balance. The RP series is the first SiFi-equipped Clarity display geared for data-rich applications, such as running SCADA software. The Clarity RP and RX screens are designed to fit together with zero-mullion while retaining 100 percent pixel viewing, eliminating viewing obstruction due to screen staples or stitching.
Planar Systems Inc.
High-temp Transmission Conductor Hardware
THERMOLIGN hardware from Preformed Line Products is designed for use with high-temperature low sag transmission conductors. The products are designed for use with conductors operating at continuous temperatures up to 250 degrees Celsius and are currently available in three designs for various uses: THERMOLIGN Suspension for applications using aluminum-based, ACSS, ACCR or ACCC, high temperature, transmission conductors operating up to 250 degrees Celsius; THERMOLIGN Dead-ends for applications using aluminum-based, ACSS or ACCR, high temperature, transmission conductors operating up to 250 degrees Celsius; and THERMOLIGN Splice for applications using aluminum-based, ACSS or ACCR, high temperature, transmission conductors operating up to 250 degrees Celsius.
Preformed Line Products
Network Management Software
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RuggedCom Inc. has introduced RuggedNMS, an enterprise-grade network management software platform designed for the rugged communications industry. RuggedNMS provides a comprehensive platform for monitoring, configuring and maintaining mission-critical IP-based communications networks, such as those found in substation automation and electric utility “smart grids.” RuggedNMS is a server-based application that allows users to access the system via any web browser on the network. It provides a common user interface across all RuggedCom network infrastructure products, has extensive event, alarms and notification facilities, and includes a powerful reporting engine with many pre-defined reports and tools to create custom user-defined reports.
RuggedCom Inc.
Power Grid Simulator
Opal-RT Technologies Inc. has introduced eMEGAsim: a fully digital real-time power grid simulator. eMEGAsim allows an engineer to conduct real-time high-fidelity simulation of electrical and power electronic applications, which is particularly important for utilities seeking to connect technologies such as wind, photovoltaic, fuel cell, and off-grid systems with existing power grids. The simulator is also ideal for coordination and testing of protective relays; FACTS and HVDC control and integration studies; network planning and feasibility studies (single phase, three phase, and multi-phase networks); operator training; and balanced and unbalanced load-flow and short-circuit studies.
Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
Portable Radios
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Tait Radio Communications’ new TP8100 series of IP67-rated trunked and conventional portable radio solutions are available in both 5 Watt VHF and 4 Watt UHF versions with many complimentary professional-grade accessories. The TP8100s are well-suited for users communicating where dust, dirt and rain are issues. The conventional TP8120 and trunked TP8140 are full 16-key radios while the conventional TP8115 and trunked TP8135 radios come with limited keypads. These four products come with a 24-character LCD display screen, user-friendly Windows programming software and a 2,000 mAh Li-Ion battery.
Tait Radio Communications
Overhead Conductor Manual
Southwire Company has revised and released the Second Edition of its Overhead Conductor Manual: a design reference that consolidates basic information needed to evaluate the design, construction, uprating and upgrading of overhead T&D systems. The new edition consolidates the most useful Overhead Conductor data and reflects latest industry practices and changes in the 2002 and 2007 National Electrical Safety Code.
It features new material on steel-supported conductors including high-temperature, low-sag (HTLS) designs and updated information on ice and wind loading consistent with the National Electrical Safety Code. A bonus, not available with the original Overhead Conductor Manual, is SWRATE Conductor Thermal Rating software, a program that calculates ampacity in accordance with current IEEE standards.
Southwire Company
Compact SCADA RTU
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The Kingfisher G30 compact remote terminal unit from Semaphore introduces advanced capabilities, normally found only in much larger products, into a compact RTU that is cost-effective for small installations. The 32-bit, ARM9 main processor ensures there is horsepower to meet the needs of intensive applications. A memory system with 32 MB of SDRAM and 16 MB of Flash allows for high-speed data logging over extended periods. Integral communications include 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, USB 2.0 and an on-board module. The Kingfisher G30 RTU can process inputs and outputs on a 1 ms interval with full sequence-of-events monitoring. The Kingfisher G30 RTU is ideal for applications in the oil and gas, power, telecom/broadcast, transportation and water/wastewater markets.
Semaphore
Substation Switches
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Moxa has introduced a range of IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 compliant Ethernet switches suitable for electric utility substations. The 19-inch rack mountable switches feature a high level of reliability and the new Turbo Ring technology with faster network fault recovery. Additional features include fan-less operation at a temperature range of minus 40 to 85 degrees Celsius, dual redundant and integrated power supplies for high availability, and high EMI noise immunity. Moxa modular switch series supports up to 24 fast Ethernet ports and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Two different gigabit modules are available for copper or fiber connectors, which may be used to build a fiber optic Gigabit backbone, redundant ring, or redundant Gigabit uplinks.
Moxa Technologies Co.
