Retrofit. Updating medium voltage, low voltage electrical panels and protection relay

摘要

For us RETROFIT means renewing the active elements in electrical panels to get today's technical performance without having to change the original structure. This involves modifying the connections and then only replacing the active component, that is to say the circuit breaker, the part which is subject to most wear. There are basically two types of Retrofit. The standard version is to replace a circuit breaker from one of our old ranges by one from our current ranges and thus allow the unit to evolve naturally. We have a wide range of standardized M.T. and B.T. replacements available for this solution. The second option is to use a circuit breaker of another mark. In this case the modification is designed, put in place and tested in our workshops meaning that we have multiple prototypes of M.G. circuit breakers adapted to other marks of withdrawable trucks. We also reuse trucks and the mobile contacts from the old circuit breaker and the original interlocks and safety features are redesigned. The main advantage of retrofit solutions compared with installing a completely new panel are: the renewal is done progressively, working on the reserve bogies and not the active ones thus not having to shutdown the installation; the interchangeability of standard solutions and modification solutions using other circuit breakers; and a reduction in maintenance times with the Prodiag expert diagnosis system. The complement to the retrofit possibilities mentioned above is retrofit protection and control units where we include replacement of the protection relays, in many cases still electromechanical, with modern SEPAM relays whose high communication performance and great versatility enable perfect integration into centralized control systems.