Terasaki
and Mardix are delighted to announce the success of their joint
switchgear testing program. Engineers at Mardix have designed a new
industry-leading, high-capacity distribution switchgear system
incorporating Terasaki circuit breakers. Intended for use in buildings
with high, concentrated electrical energy demand such as data centres
and banks, it has now been proven to withstand short-circuit fault
current of up to one hundred thousand amps (100kA).
Peace of Mind from Independent Testing and Certification to IEC 61439
The consequences of switchgear failure when a business depends heavily on the availability of electricity could be disastrous. Terasaki
and Mardix had the system independently tested and certified to give
users and specifiers peace of mind about the performance of the
equipment.
Short-circuit performance at 100kA was tested at the ASTA-approved DAMSTRA laboratory in the Netherlands.
Temperature performance was verified at kA Testing in the UK (also
ASTA-certified). This highlighted the superior thermal performance of
the switchboard and circuit breakers in that:
- a rating of 6300A for the incoming circuit (a TemPower 2 ACB) was achieved with natural cooling;
- Outgoing circuits rated from 160A to 3200A (TemBreak 2 MCCBs and
TemPower 2 ACBs) achieved a diversity factor of 1 with natural cooling.
Latest Switchgear Standard
The system was designed and tested to the latest standard for
low-voltage switchgear assemblies, IEC 61439. ASTA certificates are
available and reference the new standard.
Collaboration Offers Choice to Clients
Terasaki and Mardix are independent companies, successful in their
separate, but overlapping business areas. Terasaki are the UK’s
foremost circuit breaker specialists, supplying components to
switchboard builders for a wide range of commercial, industrial and
marine projects. Mardix deliver an integrated solution for every aspect
of the critical power life cycle through switchgear, power management
and service.
The co-operation between Terasaki and Mardix offers choice to clients
who like to select the best technical solution for a project without
being restricted to using the same brand for systems and circuit
breakers due to existing certification.
Some examples of the benefits of this “best of breed” approach are:
- Reduction in space required for switchgear in the building.
100kA short-circuit withstand ratings can achieved in 1400mm wide
incoming switchgear compartments. This is possible only due to the
unique combination of Air Circuit Breakers with exceptional ratings
(Terasaki) and busbar design (Mardix) and can result in space savings of
up to 40% over conventional designs.
- Overheating is the single most common cause of failure in
switchgear. Full critical power monitoring systems, incorporating
real-time, continuous thermal measurement of circuit breakers is an
easily achieved option with this combination of equipment.