The Russian energy industry keeps marching on despite all the challenges, and hi-tech projects and products presented at the International Specialised Exhibition POWER & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING are a proof to that.
Many exhibits offer a significant contribution into continuous operation of all the energy facilities, which is essential if not vital for all the citizens of Russia. In particular, there is the system for automation of electric energy facilities designed by Prosoft Systems. It enables control over everything that is happening in-situ – you can see the real parameters, like current, voltage, and temperature.
At their stand, the company demonstrated the improved version of their own product, ARIS-11ххЖ multifunctional controller, which is a component of the above-mentioned system. Its predecessor was almost twice as big. Another exhibit was a server in a metal casing which screens equipment from magnet fields that can affect them at energy facilities.
Another company that works to provide a valuable contribution to operation of automated systems at energy facilities is PLC Technology. At the exhibition, the company arranged their stands to demonstrate the system for cable lines monitoring, the digital substation, and the new rack switches in metal casing with faster data transmission rate.
Matritsa Company presented a system solution that can be used to monitor all the metering devices powered by the substation, plus a modified series of smart electricity meters. Casings of such electricity meters are designed with replaceable communication modules, which facilitates flexible use of communication channels. The exhibit showcased by Matritsa can be used to upgrade energy systems thanks to ultra-modern communication modules, including the ones with G3-Hybrid PLC+RF combined data communication technology. By the way, the energy system is fully compliant with the parameters outlined in the Decree of the Russian Government No. 890 about smart systems.
У325К brought by PEAK-PROGRESS is a data collection and transmission device capable of aggregating readings from many meters at once. This unit can get readings from electricity, water, and gas meters. According to the company’s representative, У325К offers the necessary scope of options needed to operate discrete objects.
Radas MMS had several expositions arranged at their stand. Two of the sections were dedicated to all kinds of sensors that the company assembles in Russia. Some of them monitor the wind speed, and others can be attached to an unmanned aircraft and used to discover metallic ore fields. The list of exhibits included a UAV – БВС ВТ-45 capable of 10 kg, which can be used for monitoring, prospecting, as well as search and rescue missions.
Moreover, the developers showcased a sensor that exceeded the functionality offered by its legendary imported equivalent. The new device can not only measure intensity and direction of current, but is also capable of measuring the sag angle of a cable or detect ice build-ups. If combined with a meteorological situation sensor, it can be used as a fully-fledged system for HV distribution line monitoring. In a year after its mounting, the owner will have enough data available to predict real conditions of their equipment.
A curious product was exhibited by DMT at their stand. Their DMT-EX-MB dash cam was presented to the visitors along with other models, one of them explosion-proof, at POWER & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Exhibition. The X-proof camera can be used in highly explosive areas – for example, those with gas leakage. Under no circumstance, DMT-EX-2 can produce a spark that will result in an emergency. The products designed and made by the company can be operated in extreme conditions to register legally relevant data thanks to top-grade video and audio data recording. With an integral battery, the devices can be used for up to 17 hours without recharging.
Berkana demonstrated their KAZ COM electrical engineering shelves made of composite materials. Such materials combine the properties of metal and plastic – they are lasting, incombustible, resistant to temperature differences and harsh media, light, and radio transparent. For Russia, this material is quite innovative despite the fact that across the globe it has been used to replace other materials for a while. The life of this material reaches 30 years.
At the stand arranged by Saint-Petersburg Electrotechnical University ETU LETI, they presented interim results of the projects implemented as part of Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program. In particular, the visitors were demonstrated the uninterrupted power supply source based in SiC electronic component base. Its main feature is that it can be integrated into the grid directly, and in case of power failure, it will power all the devices connected to the switchboard. The device can work with the output capacity of 10 kW for a long time, and for a short time of 5 to 10 minutes it is capable of up to 30 kW. Moreover, it can be connected to the Li-ion battery stack and send voltage to the grid. The grid pickup time is about 20 microseconds, which is one oscillation’s time.
Besides, LETI brought a selection of minerals and a magnetic-pulse plant. With the electromagnetic pulse, it can physically impact metal, shape it to make plugs, or harden cutting tools. Just like in case with the UPS, this unit was made for a commercial user, and there were several operational copies made. In future, both devices will be produced serially.
Next to LETI’s stand, Terra Electro demonstrated their electrical energy accumulation system capable of 100 kW. It was designed to accumulate and store energy, send it to the grid, or impose a load to maintain operation of an energy system. With it, voltage oscillations in the supply grid can be reduced and risks of electric energy consumption can be mitigated thanks to no peak loads on the power source. The system can be charged at night, when the energy charges are lower. Such an energy accumulator can be used both in electric power supply systems of industrial facilities, residential houses, and office buildings, as well as at the sites that use independent electric power supply.
This product won’t just increase production output and reliability of the grid, but will also reduce electricity costs. Thanks to such devices, it will be possible to store and port electrical energy, which can tilt the balance of simultaneous generation and consumption. Systems of this type are defined as a rapidly developing class of hi-tech devices that open revolutionary opportunities for progression of the electric energy industry.