Power Insider Newsletter | Volume 8
RESA Power
RESA Power is the premier national provider of mission-critical power system solutions.
RESA Power | Volume 8
Welcome to the 8th volume of RESA Power Insider newsletter! We appreciate you taking the time to read our newsletter and gain valuable insights about our industry and company. It's been another very busy month for RESA Power. We are thrilled to share updates on another new company acquisition, expansion plans, upcoming events, market insights, new service offerings, and much more!
In this edition, we discuss our latest company acquisition and our major expansion across New York. We take an in-depth look at Partial Discharge Testing with an expert opinion piece written by our very own Don Genutis - a true expert in our field! Be sure to check out our in-depth market insights into NECA and Electrical Contractors and how we help power the semiconductor industry. Lastly, don’t miss our current career opportunities, our featured location spotlight, and the latest news from our Canadian team.
Acquisitions Announcement!
We are thrilled to announce that Prime Engineering Ltd. (“Prime”) is now officially part of the RESA Power family. Prime is a full-service electrical design, engineering, supply, and services business based in Victoria, British Columbia!
Since 2010, Prime has been specializing in medium-voltage electrical power and control systems, while also providing top-notch electrical field services. With this acquisition, we are leveling up our engineering capabilities and expanding our expertise in medium voltage power systems across Canada and the U.S. This means we’ll be even better equipped to tackle our customers’ toughest challenges and meet their growing needs. Exciting times ahead!
We are excited about the expertise and resources this acquisition brings to RESA Power and are eager to deliver exceptional services to our customers with this valuable addition to our family. Welcome to #ThePowerOfUs!
?For more details, please check out the press release on our website.
?? Services in Focus: Partial Discharge Testing
At RESA Power, we’re committed to our customers by providing exceptional testing services, unmatched expertise, and innovative technology solutions. We’re here to support you every step of the way, helping you maximize energy efficiency, minimize downtime, and maintain safety and reliability standards.
??Partial discharge (PD) cable testing is essential for maintaining the health and reliability of medium voltage (MV) power cables. PD is an early indicator of insulation deterioration, which, if left unchecked, can lead to cable failures. Regular testing and monitoring allow for the timely detection of these issues, reducing the risk of costly outages and ensuring reliable power distribution.
Traditional methods like DC Hypot and VLF testing were once common, but newer techniques such as VLF Tan-Delta and PD testing have proven more effective. PD testing, particularly using Damped AC (DAC) and Cosine Rectangular methods, provides the most accurate assessment of cable health. These techniques simulate factory test conditions and are especially useful for assessing both new and service-aged cables.
RESA Power offers comprehensive PD testing services for medium voltage cables, helping businesses ensure optimal performance and extend the lifespan of their electrical systems. By addressing potential issues early, companies can enhance the safety and reliability of their power infrastructure.
Get a Quote today!
?? Location Spotlight
Expansion Across New York
We're thrilled to announce our major expansion across New York with new service centers in Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany, adding to our established Syracuse hub. This strategic move enhances our ability to provide electrical testing, transformer services, and power distribution solutions throughout the state - from western New York to the Capital Region.
At RESA Power, our continued expansion is guided by a commitment to delivering top-tier service, ensuring safety, and enhancing reliability. We take pride in positively impacting the communities we serve – driven by our motto?Reliable and Safe. This is the Power of Us.
?? For more details, please see the additional information here
?? News from RESA Power Canada
Exell Power Services Ltd., a RESA Power company, recently completed a complex repair and maintenance shutdown for a client in Northern BC. Over 13 hours, the team handled tasks such as cleaning insulators and bushings at a main substation, modifying a 138kV circuit breaker’s control scheme, and replacing critical components in transformers.
As a trusted partner, our team of experts has provided maintenance, testing, and upgrade repair services to our client at this plant since 2020. Thanks to detailed planning and collaboration, the shutdown was completed on time without safety incidents. The project involved support from strategic partners and materials from top industry suppliers. We pride ourselves on delivering a full suite of mission-critical power system solutions for our customers.
? If you have similar projects, the RESA Power Team is here to help. Reach out to us today!
?? Worth Reading: Powering the Semiconductor Industry
Read the full article here
?? Hot Jobs: Exciting Opportunities Available to Apply
Discover exciting job opportunities that are currently available and ready for you to apply below, or check out our career resources "Why work at RESA Power"
For more job openings, check out our Career Page
??? Upcoming Events
Engage with our team and connect with industry experts at our upcoming events and tradeshows! Contact us to schedule a meeting and watch for exciting announcements on exclusive promotional codes for our valued customers in the coming months.
October 24: MIAT College of Technology Career Expo
October 29: 2024 Southern Region Safety Day (Minnesota)
November 1: Sumner County Annual Vendor Fair
The full list of our events and tradeshows is here
?? Expert Opinion
How has the demand for partial discharge testing services evolved in recent years, and what factors are driving this demand?
The demand and awareness for partial discharge testing services continue to grow. I recall about a decade ago when I was the only vendor showcasing PD at the NETA tradeshow and recently, I counted over 7 vendors that offered PD test instruments. Several factors are fueling this growth including the tremendous growth in the renewable sector which relies on MV cable integrity, aging MV infrastructure throughout our industrial and commercial campus installations, and better customer awareness and confidence about the benefits of PD testing.
??How often should partial discharge testing be performed in a typical maintenance cycle?
Generally, switchgear PD testing should be performed annually, and cable PD testing should be performed every 3-6 years.
??How do you interpret the results of a partial discharge test? What are the signs of a serious issue?
Switchgear and most cables should operate PD-free. Any PD in those types of assets should be considered potentially serious and will very likely lead to eventual failure. Some equipment such as rotating apparatus and paper-insulated cable (PILC) are much more resistant to discharge by design and are better suited for continuous PD monitoring to determine the need for intervention.
??What is considered a safe level of partial discharge, and when does it become a cause for concern?
NETA MTS publishes values for switchgear and there are IEEE acceptance testing cable voltage thresholds that cables and accessories must be PD-free as well. In general, we want insulation to operate PD-free.
??Are there any particular technologies you believe have had the most significant impact on the way technicians test??
PD testing technology has come a long way and has made it a lot easier and faster for technicians to grasp the technology. Along with that is the need to be computer savvy which sometimes opens opportunities to a diffident type of technician that is perhaps not as well versed in traditional electrical testing but is “techier” or can pay close details to watch they are observing during the measurements, sorting data, uploading files, generating, reports, etc. Having said that, however, none of the PD instruments are presently able to fully provide automated analysis, so it’s still up to the technician’s judgment to determine at the end of the day.
??In your expert opinion, how can companies and the industry better support technicians in overcoming these hurdles, whether through training, technology, or operational changes?
I’d like to focus on three primary challenges that I’ve encountered, particularly when it comes to cable PD testing:
I believe these challenges can be overcome with the right training and experience. We've been increasing our use of remote training and other screen-sharing sessions with field teams, but it’s not always easy to plan or coordinate these activities.
Another idea I’ve been considering is using my 2022 book, Partial Discharge and Other No-Outage Testing Techniques, as a fundamental study guide for PD basics. This could potentially allow team members to earn up to 16 NETA CTD credits—pending approval, of course.
??Could you offer insights into the current dynamics of partial discharge testing, and how it has progressed in recent years?
This is a challenging question. I always expected PD to be on the verge of exploding 20 years ago and even 10 years ago, but it seems that it has only gained fair growth over the years. I have some good friends from overseas that I’ve known for a couple of decades now and they are doing well but mostly in Asia and the Middle East where countries seem to adopt technology much faster than the US. However, I think the US PD testing market will continue to grow as clients see the value of the technology.
??How do you envision the industry unfolding in the short term, and what proactive measures can be taken to adapt to forthcoming changes?
Very few people know that switchgear PD testing technology was developed to detect PD because a switching incident on gear with unknown PD in England resulted in a fatality.
With the focus in the US on 70E and tying in 70B, along with switchgear PD now adopted in NETA MTS, it seems that the annual need for MV switchgear PD testing should be mandatory. I walk by a lot of MV switchgear and always think this should be PD tested, which only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require an outage. No panels or covers are removed.
?As an example of the great ability the technology has for efficiently detecting and focusing on issues, our technicians recently completed a three-week survey of 60 substations with over 1,000 switchgear sections for a major utility and focused the list of issues down to just a dozen or so major problems.
?? Market Insights
?? NECA and the U.S. Electrical Contracting Industry
The U.S. electrical contracting industry consists of more than 70,000 firms employing over 650,000 electrical workers. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) represents this $240 billion industry, which provides power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities nationwide.
NECA's members include electrical contractors who are technical professionals involved in all aspects of electrical construction across the United States. NECA supports its members and chapters in areas such as safety, labor relations, advocacy, innovation, and business leadership. Through various meetings, events, training programs, and workshops, NECA provides networking opportunities and resources designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of its members. Source:[1]
*sources are included in the article
?? One of the largest events NECA hosts is their annual Tradeshow. At the beginning of October, RESA Power attended the 2024 NECA tradeshow in San Diego, CA. With nearly 10,000 professionals from various sectors like electrical contractors and distributors, energy storage, security systems, data centers, and others, RESA Power's presence was heavily noticed with our new booth and streamlined equipment such as our temporary power skid provided by our Specialty Distribution team. The showstopper was our customized switchboard assembled by our Power Systems team in Plant City Florida. We were delighted to attend this cutting-edge day event and showcase our cutting edge capabilities.
Watch our videos (DAY 1, Day 2, Day 3) from the NECA exhibit floor, and follow our LinkedIn page for more updates and insights in the days to come!
?? Did You Know?
Solar power from the sun’s rays can be stored in salt and used at night time.
A power plant in Spain soaks up solar energy by day, and pumps out 7 hours of power to the surrounding area by night. The solar panels reflect the sun’s rays onto a tower that transmits energy at an intensity 1,000 times higher than the sun’s rays reaching the earth.
The energy is stored in a vat filled with molten salts at more than 500 degrees C. The salts are then used to produce steam to turn the turbines and produce electricity.
?? Social shout
We sincerely hope you had a chance to read our Community Service post from our dedicated RESA Power Systems group. If you missed it out, please take a moment to check out our special post dedicated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. And as always, stay tuned for more updates and insights in the days to come!?
Business Development | Sales Engineer | Account Management | Digital Transformation | Power Systems | Manufacturing Automation | End User and Channel Sales
3 个月Outstanding ??