08_REDACTED_Brand_Name_Determination_(2).pdf

Brand Name Justification

Western Area Power Administration

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Simplified Acquisitions 17WA122295 - Folsom KV4A Transformer

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration, (WAPA), Sierra Nevada Region, Folsom, CA

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

WAPA’s requirement is for a transformer complete with tank-mounted surge arresters, insulating oil, features, and accessories. The specification identifies several brand name requirements for specific not separately identifiable transformer parts which include: bushings, monitoring systems and monitor, a wall mountable interconnect center, and a test switch.

BRAND NAME DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES

Bushings

(manufactured by ABB or PCORE)

Transformer equipment bushings enable the power equipment to be connected to the bus but still be insulated from any faults or power surges that may incur on the bus.

TOTUS Transformer Monitoring System

(manufactured by Camlin Power)

A transformer monitor that measures partial discharge, bushing monitoring and dissolved gas analysis (DGA). The monitor uses this data to track the operating history of the bushings, measure dissolved gases in the transformer oil and track the partial discharge of the windings.

Wall Mountable Interconnect Center (WIC), WIC-012-15

(manufactured by Corning)

A wall mount unit designed for storage and protection of fiber optic connections.

Series 24

(manufactured by Electroswitch Switches &

Relays)

A micro-switch installed in the transformer control cabinet which disables the buchholz relay and the sudden pressure relay during routine maintenance.

LumaSense Luxtron ThermAsset2 with

Luxtrol DipTip Rugged Probes Transformer

Monitor

(manufactured by LumaSense Technologies)

A transformer monitor that measures actual winding hot spots using fiber optic probes installed inside the transformer tank attached to the windings at designated points. The monitor uses this data to track the temperature of the hot spots continually as the transformer operates. The continual measurement of transformer winding hot spots offers a unique opportunity to see the actual operating history of the transformer across different loading conditions and ambient temperature ranges. Transformers are designed, according to the standard, to have a maximum winding hot spot of 80 degrees C above ambient. If a transformer is overloaded or operates in high ambient temperature environments for extended periods, winding hot spots may exceed the maximum design rating. This device will warn of this condition earlier rather than just relying on the average top or bottom oil temperature measurement. When this device alarms, load can be lessened on the transformer avoiding loss of life due to breakdown of insulation exposed to extreme heating.

BRAND NAME DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES

SEL 2414 Transformer Monitor

(manufactured by Schweitzer Engineering

Laboratories)

A transformer monitor that measures the top oil, winding temperatures, and through faults. The monitor uses this data to initiate cooling stages, indicate alarms, and trip out the transformer if necessary.

Test Switch FMS 10A1

(manufactured by STATES® Terminal Blocks

& Test Switches)

A test switch installed with the SEL 2414 monitor which allows the relays in the monitor to be tested without being removed from service.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

BRAND NAME UNIQUE QUALIFICATION OF THE SUPPLIES

Bushings

(manufactured by ABB or

PCORE)

These bushings are seismically qualified, can operate at rated BIL up to 10,000 feet, can be installed onto an existing transformer without draining the oil, and are available with higher current ratings to accommodate any possible overloads of the transformer. In addition, WAPA uses these bushings throughout its power system so fewer kinds and types of bushings have to be purchased as spares.

TOTUS Transformer

Monitoring System

(manufactured by Camlin

Power)

At this time this is the only device on the market that monitors three areas of transformer operation in one unit at a very reasonable cost. The DGA has no membrane, uses no consumables that have to be replaced, uses photo acoustic spectroscopy which is stable and accurate, and never needs to be calibrated after installation. The partial discharge monitor is protected against voltage surges, cancel signal noise expected from transformers, and presents data in an easy to read graphical form. The bushing monitor requires no manual tuning and is designed to reject false alarms. The bushings are monitored continually to provide early detection of potential bushing failure.

Wall Mountable

Interconnect Center

(WIC), WIC-012-15

(manufactured by

Corning)

This unit was requested by communication personnel at HQ, DSW, and RMR.

Communication personnel at WAPA have reviewed other wall mounted units from other manufacturers and determined that the WIC can accommodate a variety of connector types, is compact, is low cost, is compatible with other Corning products, and provides easy access to individual connectors.

Series 24

(manufactured by

Electroswitch Switches &

Relays)

Before the Electroswitch 24 was specified, the transformer specification contained a detailed paragraph describing how WAPA wanted the controls of the buchholz relay and sudden pressure relay designed so that they could be disabled during maintenance. Every transformer manufacturer designed the controls in a different way or sometimes they forgot to provide a shut-off mechanism. When reviewing the control drawings from the manufacturers, one had to be very observant to insure the shut-off was provided and if it was, then one had to determine if the control mechanism provided would actually work as specified. Once the Electroswitch 24 was specified that problem disappeared. The Electroswitch 24 replaced the complicated control design with one switch and now the method to disable both relays is always the same for every transformer ordered.

LumaSense Luxtron

ThermAsset2 with

Luxtrol DipTip Rugged

Probes Transformer

Monitor

(manufactured by

LumaSense

The monitor is equipped with a solid state LED light source so the lamps never need replacement over the life of the monitor. The monitor never needs to be calibrated, has 3000 V surge protection, allows for very quick response time to activate transformer cooling systems and has an internal status indicator constantly checking that the monitor is operating correctly. The temperature probes, which actually measure the winding temperature and communicate with the monitor, are chemically resistant and corrosion resistant able to be installed in harsh environments with a

BRAND NAME UNIQUE QUALIFICATION OF THE SUPPLIES

Technologies) temperature range of -30 to 200 degrees C. They are stable, do not drift under any conditions, and are non-metallic so they do not interfere with the normal operation of the transformer. LumaSense has thirty years of experience with fiber optic probes for the manufacturing, utility and medical industries.

SEL 2414 Transformer

Monitor

(manufactured by

Schweitzer Engineering

Laboratories)

This unit provides a function that many other similar units can perform which is the measurement of hot spot and winding temperatures to control and monitor the heat load of the transformer. WAPA chose to use this unit for its ease of use, reliability, low cost, and ease of installation for the transformer manufacturer.

Test Switch FMS 10A1

(manufactured by

STATES® Terminal

Blocks & Test Switches)

Maintenance personnel are familiar with this switch which is used throughout

WAPA’s system (for testing relays used for other equipment besides transformers).

This is a small low cost item readily available to any purchaser.