30S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

“Upgrade” Products - CAN • Provide Life Extension / Equipment Prolongation

WITHOUT replacing the equipment structure

• Be done in stages to minimize cost impact

• Often be done with minimum downtime

• Provide operational enhancements

31S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Trip Unit Conversion Strategies

• Typically Trip Unit Conversions are Implemented when the Mechanical Operation of the breaker is still nominal BUT there is a need for one or more of the following enhancements:

- Protection - Coordination

- Metering/Monitoring - Communications

- Safety - Unification

Existing Equipment Lineup is Intact (Switchgear and/or Switchboard), but with Aging LVPCBs and/or ICCBs

32S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Trip Unit Conversion Option

33S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

What is a Trip Unit Conversion?Replacing the protective element of a breaker with a modern (typically microprocessor based) device to augment the capabilities of the breaker

Typical installations take 60-90 minutes

34S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Addressing Concerns

• Questionable Operations (Reliability)Latest Technology, Enhanced Trip Diagnostics

• “Old School” Equipment Powering “New Tech” Devices

Latest Generation Trip Units with Expanded Settings are Incorporated into the Breaker. This provides as many as nine times the TCC settings you may presently have.

• Energized Work Permit EnvironmentTrip Unit Indicators may be visible from the breaker front. Maintenance Switch Options is available to reduce the Arc-Flash incident energy level.

35S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Allis Chalmers ACB Westinghouse ACBI-T-E ACB

GE AK / AKR ACB GE WP ACB GE PB-1 ICCB GE PB-2 ICCB

Installing the SAME Type of Trip Unit will Provide the SAME Settings Capabilities for All the Major Distribution Points

Even with a wide variety of manufactures, a wide variety of vintages and even a variety of breaker types, the TCC coordination platform can be Unified (providing tighter nesting and more layers)

36S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Addressing Constraints• Tight Electrical Budget

Potentially the Least Expensive Option (just the Trip Unit)Ability to Multi-Stage the Trip Unit Conversions over Time

• Space Retains the Present Footprint of the Present Equipment Lineup, even uses the same/existing breaker locations (and cables)

• Downtime IssuesMinimal compared to replacement of the lineup. Trip Unit Conversions can be scheduled with other equipment de-energized procedures

• Expanded RequirementsTrip unit displays a variety of metering parameters and well as details should the breaker tripCommunications capability from the trip unit is available

37S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

“Upgrade” Products - CAN • Provide Life Extension / Equipment Prolongation

WITHOUT replacing the equipment structure

• Be done in stages to minimize cost impact

• Often be done with minimum downtime

• Provide operational enhancements

38S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Unexpected Operational Enhancements

• Safety- Door Closed Breaker Racking (RetroFILL)

- Remote Breaker Racking (RetroFILL)

- Maintenance Switch to Reduce Arc-Flash Incident Energy Levels (RetroFILL, RetroFIT, Conversion)

• Protection/Coordination- Expanded TCC Values to Provide a Wider Variety of Setting Parameters (RetroFILL, RetroFIT, Conversion)

- Unified TCC Platform Provides Tighter Nesting and More Layers (Conversion)

• Diagnostics- Trip Details – Type, Magnitude, Etc. are Visible from the Breaker Front with Door Closed (RetroFILL, RetroFIT, Conversion)

• Metering/Monitoring- Meter Readings are Visible from the Breaker Front with Door Closed (RetroFILL, RetroFIT, Conversion)

• IT/Communications- Signals All Metering and Event Details for Remote /System Reading (RetroFILL, RetroFIT, Conversion)

39S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

Thank You for Your Time

Q & A

40S-Y/GE – Upgrading LV Dist. Equip

04/092012

imagination at work