Anguila High Power Changeover Switch into new heights

With The Anguila High Power Changeover Switch (HPCS) Bennex Group opens new proportions within subsea control systems.

Bennex AS signed a contract on June 8th 2007 with Talisman Energy Norge AS to deliver 3off 5kV Anguila High Power Changeover Switches to the YME field in the North Sea. On May 6th 2009 all 3 HPCS were installed and went through FAT on the Vetco Debric-Cap in Dusavika, Stavanger, Norway

 

During the project lifetime there were a lot of technical challenges for Bennex and the joint venture partners in this project, Tronic and SINTEF. The major challenge was to satisfy the value of the "partial discharge level" <10pC (Pico Coulomb) with test voltage at 5,8kV. For Bennex this delivery is a milestone in regards to marketing this product for the global oil industry.

 

The 5kV Anguila High Power Changeover is designed for switching 3phase electrical power between two high power consumers like; pump motors, subsea separation, subsea compressors or pipe-heating systems, installed subsea. The hydraulic/mechanical switching system is designed to ensure that the power switch remains in the same position if hydraulic pressure is lost.

 

The switch is qualified according to the following criteria / tests:

 

• Operation at the Temperature Limits
• Temperature Test of the Compensation System
• Shock Test
• Vibration Test
• Insulation Measurements in Pressure Vessel
• Switch Operation Test in Pressure Vessel
• Mechanical Endurance Test in Pressure Vessel

The switches have passed all tests performed without deterioration or damage.