Eletrobras completes a number of projects utilising NOJA Power’s Reclosers (ACRs)

Eletrobras, a major Brazilian Electric Utilities Company is completing major projects throughout Brazil which includes the purchase and installation of NOJA Power’s Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACRs)

Eletrobras Distribution Piauí, a subsidiary of Eletrobras, concluded another phase of a project that aims to increase the reliability of Teresina’s (Piauí’s capital) power distribution networks. The utility reached 100 installed Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACRs). NOJA Power’s ACRs provide a number of benefits but foremost they can reduce the occurrence of power outages.

“The recloser is a protective equipment that, when it detects faults (short circuit) on the network, cuts off the network in seconds and then makes repeated attempts to re-energize the line, in order to avoid long periods of power failure,” explains Maintenance Manager from MV and LV, Abraão Galeno.

"Statistics show that 70-90% of faults in the electricity distribution system are temporary, so stopping the effect a few milliseconds after the occurrence, the recloser then acts to restore the electrical system automatically, without any operator assistance," explains further Abrãao.

Electrobras Distribution Piauí is extending this action to all Piauí, in order to reduce complaints by costumers regarding power outages.

Eletrobras Acre Utility, another subsidiary of Eletrobras, is investing about R$ 10 million (U$ 2.89 million) in the purchase and installation of 212 new NOJA Power’s ACRs on the electrical distribution networks of the state of Acre in Brazil, to improve the energy supply. The project is being carried out by the Distributor’s expansion board with resources provided by the World Bank.

NOJA Power’s control system allows the recloser to perform automatic trips to open and close circuits in order to protect the electrical system. The device minimizes the affected area during interruptions, ensures a higher fault interruption capacity (usually an overload caused by short circuits) and provides increased security and safety for installations and people.

The first step of the project will begin in July with the installation of the ACRs. The second step includes configuring the automation process.

"With these measures, the prospects for improving the quality of supply of energy for the state of Acre are greatly increased, especially in the winter period, because we are tripling the number of these devices on our distribution network, greatly increasing the automation process," argues Joaquim Rolim, Operations Director of Eletroabras Acre Utility.

Rolim points out that this is an important project, along with the other actions taken by the utility, such as daily assessment of events and execution of recurring actions; pruning program of trees; a range of cleaning, preventive and predictive maintenance activities; mobile dispatch program of vehicles; new commercial technical integration contract; operation improvement and expansion plan; control of critical materials; and the Integrated Operations Center (IOC) project will contribute to improving the results of quality indicators Equivalent Duration of Interruptions per Consumer (DEC) / Equivalent Frequency of Interruptions per Consumer (FEC) / Mean Time to Service (TMA) and in particular the perception of quality for customers throughout the state of Acre.

Eletrobras Distribution Amazonas also a subsidiary of Eletrobras, installed four new NOJA Power’s OSM reclosers in June 2016 in Humaitá’s substation, strengthening the overall primary protection of the 13.8 kV equipment. NOJA’s ACRs replaced old oil circuit breakers, which are already out of date and have been in use for over 25 years. This new equipment increases the reliability of protection of the distribution system and generation at Humaitá.

NOJA Power’s OSM series ACRs benefit from the use of vacuum interrupters and solid dielectric insulation instead of the environmentally unfriendly oil or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas used in sectionalizers and older recloser products. Another key feature of the OSM series is its stainless steel enclosure that forms the only solid dielectric unit with controlled internal arc fault venting on the market.

The OSM series has been fully type-tested by independent laboratory KEMA in the Netherlands to ensure long life and reliability under the harshest environmental conditions. Since their introduction, the OSM series ACRs have been installed by utilities in over 84 countries around the world.

According to the José Francisco Albuquerque da Rocha, Operation Director Eletrobras Distribution Amazonas, these four reclosers installed in Humaitá are part of a package of 120 reclosers acquired by the Eletrobras Utility.

“All new equipment will be installed in our substations throughout the first half of 2016. It is a major breakthrough in the security of our energy system network and I must highlight the importance of the support received from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the commitment of the minister, Mr Eduardo Braga,” stressed the director.

Eletrobras Amazonas Utility is also preparing another large group of power generators to be replaced in the thermal power plant Humaitá. The equipment, with capacity to generate 2000 kW, is under technical evaluations in Manaus. Internal inspections include the evaluation of machine components with installation forecast in Humaitá plant in May 2016.

About Eletrobras

Eletrobras is an electric power holding company. It is the largest generation and transmission company in Brazil. Through its subsidiaries it owns about 40% of Brazil's generation capacities and controls 69% of the National Interconnected System.