Case Histories

.....................NEW..........
Tva Nuclear-A key Client for over 35 Years
33 isn't old......Unlesss your are a UPS

Industrial Grade UPS Systems Protect Electric Generating Plant Control Room
Power Generating Plant Uses Industrial Grade UPS System to Back-Up Critical Controls
Glass Making Plant Uses UPS System To Ensure Continuous Operation
Nuclear Power Station Installs New UPS System
Nebraska Nuclear Power Plant Upgrades UPS System
New Hampshire Utility Uses Industrial Grade UPS Systems At Several of Its Power Stations

TVA-NUCLEAR
Tennessee Valley Authority-A Key Client For over 35 years

TVA in TN supplies electrical power to seven major states. They produce Hydro power, Fossil power, and NUCLEAR power.

In the 1960's, Nuclear Energy became a new and major source of creating electrical power. It was more efficient, less costly, and cleaner than fossil or hydro energy. However, being a relatively new player in the market, there was much to be learned and understood. Nuclear Energy is created when atoms are split. Harnessing as well as overall management of this power source, presented many new and difficult issues. There was much to learn, gain, and regulate.

The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) established strict guidelines and standards for OEM manufacturers to meet. There are seismic testing and aging analysis (1E) criteria the product must pass before it can be installed in a Nuclear Site. SAFETY is the premier concern in everything connected with Nuclear Energy. Each assembly and every component has to meet this criterion. The paper trail (traceability) of every nut, bolt, wire, and electrical component must pass the standards set by the NRC.

At one time, TVA had the most ambitious Nuclear Power program in the United States. Equipment for 17 Power reactors would be needed from SCI. However, as the nuclear power projections flattened in the 70's (due to spiraling costs, longer construction times, licensing procedures and increased complex regulatory requirements) the need for our UPS equipment was recalculated. TVA place an order for Watts Bar (SCI order 6737) for eight 20KVA systems in 1974. This equipment shipped in 1975. Four of these units were diverted to the Sequoyah #1 plant. Sequoyah then ordered eight additional systems in 1979 (SCI order 13674) and sent four of them back to Watts Bar for the ones they obtained from their initial order! Today, TVA has six operational Nuclear sites that have SCI equipment: Browns Ferry 1,2&3, Sequoyah 1&2 and Watts Bar 1.

Recently, SCI replaced units at Sequoyah 1& 2. The original equipment used a constant voltage transformer (CVT) originally manufactured by GE. This transformer has been obsolete since the early 80's and essentially had an overall design life of 20-25 years. Since the late '70s SCI has been manufacturing our own CVTs, which are electrically a form, fit and function replacement for the GE transformers. However, given the seismic requirements for this Nuclear 1E rated equipment, replacing the GE CVTs in the field is not economically feasible because they may not be mechanical form, fit and function replacements (i.e. they may have a different footprint and weight).

The new units have Static Switches added, and the new systems meet the EMI/RFI (EPRI 102323R1) criteria recently adopted by Nuclear Industry. These systems also meet the 40-year design life (with scheduled replacement of key components) criteria.

TVA's Nuclear Corporate office is located in downtown Chattanooga, TN. Even when visiting there, strict security is observed. Much like airport security, you are cleared through a detector. Then you must check in at a security point and wait for the person you came to visit. Once you have been greeted by your escort, you can proceed with your business. You are with a TVA escort throughout your entire visit. (even to the ladies or mens facilities-Now that is security!!!)

33 IS NOT OLD...UNLESS YOU ARE
A UPS SYSTEM!

This article has three stories that are all connected. First of all, it is about RELIANT ENERGY in Avon Lake, OH, formerly CEI (Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company), then OH Edison/Toledo Edison, First Energy, Orion Power and now Reliant Energy.

Reliant Energy is home based in Houston, TX but has plants all over the United States. The one in Avon Lake, OH is a fossil and gas burning plant. In the building, off the east gate entrance, is a unit that was made and shipped to them in 1973. It is called a "Low Boy". This unit was manufactured at SCI's second facility on Oakland Park-Columbus, OH. SCI was only about 10 years old in 1973 but already a leading player in the Industrial UPS Market.

Joe Rada, a 33 year veteran employee, is a great source of knowledge about the plant and the SCI equipment there. Still working, this particular UPS supplies power for the 30 MW unit that carries a black load, and/or a peaking system.

The unit is a single phase 3 kVA inverter. It will be replaced in a few months with a 7.5 kVA as part of the upgrades being done to comply with the Clean Air Act. First Energy, in Eastlake, OH, has already installed a 7.5 kVA and the Avon Lake plant will be doing a similar replacement.

On the inside of the door was the original manufacturing tag and the name of the person who assembled this unit....Warren Wright-who is still with SCI (over 37 years now).

Secondly, the site visit provided an opportunity to meet one of our Eastern Regional Sales Partners, Tom Brajkovich, owner of DELTA INSTRUMENTATION-Richfield, OH. Delta was started in 1990 and has been with SCI since mid 1998. Currently, Delta represents several other AMETEK companies: they are Rochester Power Instruments, Panalarm, Gutton Stratham, and Scientific Columbus. All of these companies are part of the AMETEK Power Instrument Group. Tom has been associated with Rochester Instruments since 1980 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our group.

Third, this was a great opportunity for our International trainees to visit a client and see first hand the endurance of our product. It was also a chance to learn more about our Eastern Regional Manager David Sciandra. David has been with SCI since 1996. He became Eastern Regional Manager in 2001, and has seen this region grow. "I have 12 Sales Reps in my region", stated David, "and we have been busy the last six months with FGD/SCR projects that fossil plants are required to do to comply with the Clean Air Act. This has created a need to either add more equipment for additional controls or upgrade the UPS systems they already have. I expect to see the power plants in my region taking 3 or 4 more years to complete the process of meeting the government requirements. Whatever they need, whatever it takes, SCI will be ready to help," he added.

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Nebraska Nuclear Power Plant Upgrades UPS System

Nebraska Public Power Districtās (NPPD) Cooper Nuclear Station is located near Brownville, Nebraska, occupying a 1,351 -acre site on the west bank of the Missouri River. In commercial service since July 1974, the station has a capacity of 778 MW.

Recently, the Cooper Station replaced one of its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems because it had reached the end its design life expectancy. This particular system provides back-up electrical power for the fire protection system, instrumentation such as the reactor water pressure level recorders, the public address system and the plant security system.

The station went through a systematic procedure of evaluating UPS vendors before purchasing new equipment. According to Ladislav F. Bednar, senior staff engineer at Cooper Station, "A primary criteria of our analysis was the number of nuclear installations a vendor had supplied over the years.

Other nuclear plants were also contacted to gather information on how their UPS systems were performing. Based on this research, Cooper Station discovered that SCI had handled the most nuclear facility installations of any UPS vendor. They also received recommendations from other plants that use SCI equipment.

Another endorsement of SCI's performance came from within Cooper Nuclear Station itself. A 45 kVA SCI system had been used to back-up the plantās management information system computer since 1975. Station personnel involved with this installation had always been very satisfied with the service from SCI, especially the excellent parts availability.

Cooper Station was also impressed with SCIās quick response during the quoting process for the new system. Michael B. Kennedy, NPPD electrical engineer, said, " Sameday answers to changes in spec- ifications or other questions were the rule, not the exception."

Before the unit was shipped for installation, NPPD personnel came to SCIās manufacturing facility for a day and a half of witness testing. Kennedy added, "This allowed us to observe testing of the system, ask questions about its operation and to actually operate the system under a variety of conditions."

The new UPS system, with a 30 kVA capacity, is quieter, gives off less heat and takes up less space than the unit it replaced. The single-phase system features a variety of custom alarm indicators which were specially laid out for easy reading by plant personnel.

The Cooper Stationās UPS system is an industrial grade unit, designed for environments such as those found in nuclear power plants. The system employs ferroresonant technology that uses passive electronic and magnetic components in its design. This type of unit is better suited to industrial environments than UPS systems using more complicated power devices with complex feedback circuits.