A multi-level electrical house or e-house has been supplied as a fit-for-purpose oil and gas sector application at a major South African port.
An e-house is a customised, pre-assembled power distribution substation that is delivered to site as a fully assembled and integrated ‘plug-and-play’ unit.
Shaw Controls, a member of the Zest WEG Group, was responsible for the mechanical and electrical design as well as manufacture of this e-house solution, which comprises five modules.
The multi-level construction takes into account space constraints on site and comprises three modules at ground level with two above. The structure, including all electrical substation equipment, weighs approximately 90 t.
A section of the ground floor houses a medium voltage (MV) switchroom with a dry-type transformer, and a module fitted with three 450 kW MV variable speed drives (VSDs).
The first floor comprises one module with a low voltage (LV) motor control centre and four freestanding LV VSD panels, with a second module for control and automation.
An additional e-house comprising one module for a separate LV substation was also supplied.
Using 3-D modelling software and a turnkey approach, the e-house solution was designed and manufactured at Shaw’s facility in Heidelberg, where the modules were trial-fitted, assembled and tested before transportation to the site.
In addition, the design includes a fire rating, fire detection systems and systems for heating, cooling and ventilation. Rock wool mineral insulation between the cladding segregates the modules and provides a two hour structural fire rating. Climate control systems aim to ensure that the coastal temperatures and humidity of KwaZulu-Natal do not disrupt smooth operations.