Cummins installs back-up power system at the ABC Elsternwick facility
Back-up power system at the ABC
Any TV studio is a technically complicated facility where a lot can go wrong, especially is there are power glitches.
The design of the mechanical and electrical systems for studios, especially those involved in live audience television, must therefore meet stringent criteria for power quality, emergency power, and system redundancy.
Reliable back-up power systems and facilities to test these systems safely with minimum disruption to business operations are an essential ABC requirement.
Cummins has installed a new back-up power system at the ABC Elsternwick facility in Melbourne, incorporating a 1340 kWe Cummins Power Generation generator set and Cummins MC130 Master Controller to enable mains paralleling.
The genset, powered by a Cummins 50-litre KTA50-G8 engine, feeds a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) system, batteries that provide constant power to critical functions at the ABC Elsternwick studios.
In the event of mains power failure, the Cummins genset comes online within seconds to replenish the batteries. As well as supporting the UPS system, the genset provides back-up power to the entire Elsternwick site.
The Cummins Master Controller was built into a new extension to the existing main switchboard to reduce site installation works and test and commission the transfer switchgear and controls as much as possible in a controlled factory environment.
Design integration between Cummins, Downer Electrical and the switchboard manufacturer has ensured that the system can provide fully automatic seamless mains parallel re-transfer and test operation, with a fail-safe manual backup to meet the strict requirements of the ABC, Alinta Power Services and Bassett Kuttner Collins consulting engineers.
Cutover and commissioning of the generator and new transfer switchgear was successfully achieved over a weekend window. Extensive testing was also carried out to give ABC personnel the training and confidence to operate the new paralleling system.
The mechanical installation works to install the generator, exhaust system and bulk fuel supply systems were carried out by Cummins supply partner Exhaust Control Engineering, the engineering division of Exhaust Control Industries.
12-Jun-2007