Posted on 01/22/2008 3:38:05 PM PST by SandRat
SULAYMANIYAH — More than 20,000 homes in the Sulaymaniyah province have reliable electrical service since a new substation became operational last month.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned the South Sulaymaniyah electrical substation project over to the Government of Iraq onc. 27. When Iraq’s Ministry of Energy installs three additional 132kV power lines this year, the project will service another 50,000 homes.
The gas-insulated system, or GIS, is new technology for this province.
“It’s the first time this technology has been used in the 33kV field here,” said Shafqat Malik, resident engineer in the Corps’ Sulaymaniyah Resident Office. Unlike the more common oil- or air-insulated methods, sulfur hexafluoride gas insulates the system.
“This is the largest and most modern substation in the province,” Malik said. “It brings in high voltage, acts as a distribution point, and sends out lower voltage to smaller substations.”
Gas-insulated switchgear has a higher equipment cost, but requires less maintenance and saves space. Approximately 80 percent of the South Sulaymaniyah substation is inside, with the main transformer outside. The contractor is funding follow-on training.
“There are six electrical engineers training on operation and maintenance of the 33kV GIS switchgear in Germany now,” Malik said. The European training facility is a model of the system, where power can be switched off and on; which is normally not possible in other types of working substations.
The $28 million project was funded through the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund and currently employs 95 Iraqi workers daily; 45 on the substation, and 50 security personnel.
Good to see that they are moving into 60’s and 70’s technologies. SF6 is used as an insulator in electrical substation switches.
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