• • • EDITOR’S CHOICE • • •
Rittal’s VX25 Ri4Power Panels deliver solution for renewable energy project
ESTONIANS INTRODUCE FIRST AUTONOMOUS BUS IN GREECE
service that was first piloted in the summer in Tallinn, in Ülemiste City. For the first time in Greece history, a fully street-legal autonomous vehicle is operational in the frames of an autonomous public transport pilot project led by Estonians. The autonomous minibus developed by AuveTech in Estonia is the first 4th
T R
ittal was approached by Powerfish, a Scottish-based panel builder and electrical engineering business, with a brief to design and deliver
robust, flexible, and easy-to-install panels for a renewable energy customer. All the consultations, as well as the design work on the panels, were done remotely, in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions. The copper connections were created in-house from drawings produced
by Rittal’s online configurator, saving the client both time and money. The project was turned around quickly while still maintaining Rittal’s
high standards across engineering and customer service. Powerfish is a progressive electrical engineering and panel building company based in Perth, Scotland.
Its engineering and manufacturing
facility delivers a full range of engineering capabilities for the power generation and controls industry. The company’s G99 control system provides clients with a remote monitoring and a web interface for control and automation systems; access is provided through proprietary Powerfish® monitoring and datalogging software. Powerfish approached Rittal about building three new panels for three
new hydro-turbine generators at a site in the Scottish Highlands. The panels needed to accommodate large 400mm incoming cables from below via a trench. They also needed sufficient space within the panels to house new voltage transformers and G99 control equipment. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions on movement meant that the
panels had to be constructed without a site visit from a Rittal engineer, however, the VX25 Ri4Power was the obvious, ideal choice for this project. Its maxi PLS busbar system could easily contain the cable lugs and its design makes it extremely flexible and able to accommodate changes during the build (such as the compartments’ size). The ACB connections were created in-house by Powerfish from
drawings produced via Rittal’s online configurator. Connection clamps were used for a voltage reference, avoiding any drilling of the busbar; the clamp simply clips on the copper bar. Added to which, VX25 Ri4Power has a robust welded frame, well-suited to large power applications and (as indicated above) they are easy to install. Powerfish provided a written specification from which a detailed design
and panel layout was completed for two types of panel: the 2500 amp system and the 2000 amp system. The PLC section contained the G99 controls as required from the local
DNO company. The entire panel is automated and, of course, they can be monitored remotely through the Powerfish software. The ACB section and the outgoing section have a total of 24 x 400mm2 cables, however, the VX25 Ri4Power MAXI PLS incoming busbar system meant all the connections were easy to manage. David Kirkhope, Director of Powerfish, says: “The three systems were
built, programmed and factory-acceptance tested incredibly quickly and well within our customer’s timetable. “Sourcing the copper connections for the busbar system in-house, from
the drawings created by Rittal’s online configurator, reduced costs and increased our control. “This was the first time we’ve used the VX25 Ri4Power on a project of
this complexity. The panels look impressive and they have met both our expectations and those of our customer.”
44 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • NOVEMBER 2020
category autonomous vehicle that has been pigeonholed “street-legal” in Greece. The Greek authorities followed to a considerable extent the best practice of Estonian National Road Administration: we can say that besides technology transfer the Estonian experience has been used to develop the relevant legislation concerning autonomous buses offering public transport in Greece. The Estonian ambassador to Greece, Priit Pallum, expressed his delight in the future-oriented cooperation between Estonia and Greece while sending Iseauto to its route. “Welcome to the future! The Estonian enterprises are today testing here in Lamia technology and service that will be normality in ten years”, said Pallum. The autonomous vehicles will be tested in Lamia under various
circumstances. The buses have to cope with the traditional traffic, take into consideration drivers and pedestrians, keep constant contact with the operating room, and smart bus-stops. The top priority for Iseauto is the safety of pedestrians and light travelers. During the test period, an expert fully aware of the characteristics of the bus accompanies each ride. Also, the speed is limited to 25 km/h. The mayor of Lamia, Thymios Karaiskos, said at the opening ceremony that
the experience acquired during such pilots enables us to acquaint with new technologies and that is very important that research and development activities help to create more accessible services that improve the daily living of each citizen. “Adaptation to robotics and digital technologies is important for our country not to miss the new technological revolution taking place globally”. A representative of the FABULOS lead partner Modern Mobility Tanel Talve
said that the aim of the pilot project is to prepare besides innovative Tallinn also other cities to deliver future technologies. The pilots in Ülemiste and Lamia are preparation for autonomous vehicles to take a role in our daily public transport system in the future. Small, green, and silent last-mile public transport solutions suit to prolong bus-lines in small streets, residential areas, and also in city centers where regular buses are not feasible in terms of costs or size. The pilots are aimed to obtain real-life experience to integrate the autonomous buses into the public transport system. Smart public transport systems include autonomous buses, also smart bus-
stops, and software platforms that enable all partners in the system to communicate with each other and with traditional public transport in the future. The smart bus-stops developed by Modern Mobility and connected to the public transport platform allow the passengers to request a ride or notify about their special needs (wheel-chair, pram, etc) using a screen in the bus-stop or an app. The buses can thus avoid empty rides out of rush-hours but ensure them being ready for the passengers. Implementing new technologies helps to change public transport more user-friendly and smoother, encourages to abandon one’s personal car and makes public space greener. The scientific work of the pilot, developing innovative solutions, and testing
them is the responsibility of TalTech that also partnered in working out the first Iseauto prototype a couple of years ago. The TalTech autonomous vehicles research team led by Raivo Sell has acquired global recognition in the field due to its unique results, fast development process, and successful cooperation with enterprises. Although much of the Greek project is based on the experience obtained in
Ülemiste City, the operational environment is different. Solar panels were installed on the bus roofs together with the Solaride team to use the sun and its energy in Lamia. The panels act as additional power sources to the buses and help the students of the educational student project Solaride to obtain relevant information about solar energy. The Solaride team are planning to travel across Australia in the next year using only solar energy as a power source. The FABULOS project is financed by the European Union and coordinated by
Forum Virium Helsinki. The Tallinn and Lamia pilots are carried out by Mobile Civitatem consortium, consisting of Modern Mobility, TalTech, Auve Tech, and Fleet Complete with Bercman Technologies acting as a cooperation partner.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
he autonomous bus “Iseauto” started its work in Greece, in the city of Lamia. The bus has been developed in Estonia and offers a full-scale autonomous
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