The 11kV/1kV modular substation starters will be designed, manufactured and tested at the company’s Tomago manufacturing site in Newcastle.

The first of the five units is scheduled for delivery later this year with the final unit due on site in May 2003 to support the longwall production which is expected ramp up to full capacity of 5.2 Mt by 2006.

The skid mounted substation starters, varying in size from 1.5MVA to 2.5MVA, are being used to provide power distribution and electrical control equipment for the underground conveyor. The 1000 volt 450kW direct on line substation starter panels will be used for five different conveyors and the drive compartments have been designed in a modular format to allow for growth and future development.

The low tension enclosures have been designed to house the D.O.L motor drive comprising a 1000 volt vacuum contactor and the latest Ampcontrol integrated protection relay. The IPC integrated protection relay incorporates motor protection, earth leakage and earth continuity protection in a single plug in unit. The relay’s event log gives the user a chronological listing of the most recent 120 events including the reason for a trip condition, changes to the relay settings and metering. The relay can also initiate an automatic motor insulation test.

An additional provision has been allowed in the starters for on board PLC control with human machine interface screens and monitoring equipment.

Both the high tension and low tension enclosures will be manufactured from stainless steel and wheel attachment brackets and towing attachments will be installed to allow ease of movement.

According to Scott Dallen, Ampcontrol operations manager, each unit can be adapted to accommodate between one and four motor drives.

“The modular design will give the customer considerable flexibility, and a lot of planning has gone into the concept to allow for future growth,” he said.