GENSET CONTROLLERS 33
At peak performance – reliable power for the Yas Marina Race Circuit, Abu Dhabi
The Yas Marina race circuit in Abu Dhabi is home to the FIA Formula 1 Grand Rix night race in the United Arab Emirates, amongst other notable events held there throughout the year. The 5.5km long FIA certified circuit, features 21 challenging corners which can be viewed by 41,000 spectators housed in the circuits five grandstands. Key to powering the site are the 44 independent generators operated by SICES controllers.
T
he circuit opened in 2009 with a construction cost of €893m, the
aggregate used for the high grip race circuit was specially imported from England. The circuit features the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world, which was designed and installed by the same company which provided lighting for The White House, The Statue of Liberty and even the famous Daytona Beach Raceway. Yas Marina race circuit uses
80MW of electrical power with the track lighting supplied by a total of 44 generators. Construction of the circuit
began in 2007 and many of the generating sets were installed at this time, providing electrical power during the construction
www.gmp.uk.com
“The reliability of the Sices controllers has been exemplary, meeting all the demands placed on them by circuit operations. No circuit lighting failures have been experienced.”
phase. Eventually these generators were supplemented by the remaining sets in time for the opening day-to-night race in 2009. The lighting system at the
site relies on Sices controllers for the generators, combining capability with reliable operation. The track lighting is divided into 22 different zones with two generators in operation at each zone. A central monitoring station allows the generators to be remotely-monitored, ensuring
any anomalies are immediately highlighted to maintenance teams.
During the Formula 1 Grand Prix, normally held annually in November, the circuit lighting is used to illuminate the race from a daytime race starting at 17.00 into a full night race. It ends 55 high-speed laps and two gruelling hours later. Clearly any generator failure leading to a loss of circuit lighting would have disastrous effects on the race, or even the FIA championship and the future use of Yas Marina as a Formula 1 venue. After almost 10 years of
operating outside in summer temperature highs of 50°C in a costal location subject to high humidity and saltwater spray, the generators show signs of their hard life. Faded paint- work, corroded steel
enclosures and plastics eroded by ultraviolet rays from the strong sunshine reflect the tough conditions. With the Sices controllers,
the LCD displays are still fully functional and readable, the label legends remain in perfect condition. Pushbuttons which have seen years of operation still function as intended. The reliability of the controllers has been exemplary, meeting all the demands placed on them by circuit operations over the years. No circuit lighting fail- ures have been experienced due to controller malfunction or failure. Sices continues to design and manufacture its controllers to the same high standards, and each controller is subject to a full 48-hour high temperature “burn in” test at the factory.
www.sices.eu
Worldwide Independent Power November 2017
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
