Page 13 - Energize March 2022

Tavrida Electric Etalon Switchgear

Tavrida Electric Africa has been supplying medium voltage auto reclosers and vacuum circuit
breakers to the industry and utilities in sub-Sahara Africa for the past 20 years.

he company has now added the ETALON Technical specifications
switchgear to its range of products. ETALON
Tswitchgear is the most compact medium voltage Rated Voltage (kV) 12
air-insulated switchgear panel in the world – only Rated lightning impulse withstand voltage (kV) 75
33 centimeters wide. The philosophy behind the ETALON Rated continuous current (A) 800/1600
panel is to provide the most reliable and durable
switchgear in the most compact size possible, complete Rated short circuit breaking current (kA) 20/31,5
with a powerful microprocessor-based controller for Mechanical endurance of circuit breaker, CO-cycles 50 000
distribution networks and industrial applications. Electrical endurance at rated load current, CO-cycles 50 000
The panel is supplied standard with a vacuum circuit Electrical endurance at short circuit current, CO-cycles 25
breaker, earthing and disconnector switch with visual
gap, surge arrestors and safety interlocking system. Closing time (ms) < 41
Each panel is also equipped with a fast arc protection Opening time (ms) < 22
system which detects the arc in 10 ms and clears Interrupting medium Vacuum
the arc fault in less than 35 ms. Measurements are Insulating medium Solid and Air
performed by modern combined voltage and current
sensors. Current sensing is performed by Rogowski Type of driving mechanism Magnetic actuator
coils while voltage sensing is performed by capacitive Weight (kg) 240
dividers. Both current and voltage sensors are supplied Dimensions – H x W x D (mm) 2000 x 333 x 818
as standard.
The circuit breaker is controlled by the control Contact Jerome Bell, Tavrida Electric, Phone 011 914-2199,
module which also provides measurement, protection, bjs@tavrida.com, service@tavrida.co.za, www.tavrida.com/tea
communication and self-supervision functionality. The
protection relay is embedded in the control module
and provides standard protection elements as well
as programmable logic control. Combining all these
functions in one product makes ETALON a truly unique
smart switchgear. The switchgear is designed and fully
type-tested according to IEC 62271-200.
Tavrida Electric recently installed and commissioned
its first project with ETALON switchgear for a mine in
South Africa’s Limpopo province. The project consisted
of providing two incomer panels and four feeder
panels. The feeder panels are being used to control
critical water pumps on the mine. Motor control
and protection has been implemented through an
embedded PLC. The switchgear now enables the mine
to have an up-to-date SCADA system with a much
smaller footprint in the substation, easier and safer
switching and isolating procedures, maintenance-
free and with superior reliability compared to the old
switchgear.

Benefits
• 50 000 operations
• Maintenance free
• Compactness and endurance
• Embedded fast arc protection
• Embedded self-supervision system
• Lightweight and easy to install
• Environmentally friendly

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