May 2010
Powertech IST Energy
Wins a further ICAP Order
from eThekwini Electricity
eThekwini awarded a further contract in December
2009 for three years to Powertech IST Energy for the
supply, installation and commissioning of Integrated
Control and Protection (ICAP) Schemes based upon
substation communication using the IEC61850. The
original contract was awarded in January 2006 and
Powertech IST successfully implemented the
schemes in cooperation with the eThekwini
Electricity Engineers. This cooperation has resulted
in protection schemes that are designed to comply in
full with eThekwini Electricity’s protection
philosophy. The uniform approach implemented in
the eleven substations to date and in the six
substations currently on order significantly reduces
the client’s training and maintenance load and spares
holding.
Figure 1. Close-up view of HMI
The original implementation was a first in many
respects for the use of the IEC61850 protocol. It was
the first compliant implementation of the protocol in
South Africa and indeed one of the first compliant
implementations in the world! It was also the first
implementation of the IEC61850 protocol on the GE
D400 gateway and human machine interface (HMI).
The Powertech IST Energy engineers were at the
front of the practical application of new technology
and by the end of 2008 knew the meaning of the
term “bleeding edge!”
It is a credit to all the parties, including AMG Power
Systems, Powertech IST Energy’s installation and
commissioning sub-contractor, that the first system
was commissioned at the Addington substation on
time. The system was ready for energising of the
substation by the time that eThekwini installed the
132kV feeder cables to the substation. The
subsequent substations were implemented with
improved efficiency as Powertech IST Energy and
AMG power systems became familiar with the new
technology and as various problems in the equipment
using this new technology were ironed out.
The equipment is now registered in Powertech IST’s
configuration management system as a suite of
standard products, allowing hassle-free procurement
and manufacture. Powertech has used this
technology-base as a launch pad for the installation of
over twenty IEC61850 systems to date.
Figure 2. A small ICAP System Showing
the HMI, Communications and protection cabinets
Advantages of the Powertech IST Energy ICAP
Solution
1. Powertech IST Energy engineers have a great deal
of experience in all the disciplines necessary in a
substation. The analysis and resolution of problems
experienced is well within the capability of the team.
An example was where problems were experienced
in the communication between the Powertech IST
Energy ICAP system and the eThekwini Electricity
control centre. Powertech IST Energy’s engineers
were able to work with the client engineers to
analyse the total system and recommend a solution
that was then implemented by the client engineers.
2. The HMI gateway, as well as the majority of the
protection relays, are manufactured by GE
companies. This has allowed a seamless interface
between the various components and the easy
resolution of the issues where different
interpretation of the specification in the various
components is encountered. This type of problem
often takes a long time to resolve when the affected
components are manufactured by different
organisations.
3. The HMI solution offered is solely based upon
embedded software running in the GE D400
gateway. It does not require moving parts such as
spinning disks, fans etc, which definitely do not
belong in an unmanned substation.
4. The fibre based LAN communication network
allows for secure communication between the
various protection relays for protection-related
GOOSE messaging and also provides a
communication path for high speed remote
engineering access to the relays from the client
engineer’s offices. This speeds up fault analysis in
the case of a network event, which is an essential
step in the correction of the fault and the restoration
of power.
2
Powertech IST Energy’s First With the existing underground cable in the area
where the substation yard had to be extended, the
Turnkey Substation Outside excavations had to be done by hand. The soil was so
hard that the normal pick and shovel method did not
Our Borders work. We had to make use of a Jack Hammer to
break the soil in most areas. Luckily this is not a stony
area.
Powertech IST Energy’s first Turnkey Contract
outside the borders of South Africa was awarded on
10 September 2008. The project awarded was for the
upgrade of the Mahalapye 66/33/11kV substation in
Botswana for the Botswana Power Corporation
(BPC). The project was completed in 18 months.

Figure 2. MV Switchgear in control room

Figure 1. Civil work in progress
Scope of Work
The scope of this project included the supply and
installation of 2 X 10MVA Transformers, a 7 panel
Medium Voltage Switchboard, 2 x Protection scheme
panels and the construction of a new Control
Building. We also had to extend the substation yard
for which we had to import 2075cu meters of soil.
Then there were of course all the steel columns for
the Current Transformers, Voltage Transformers,
Circuit Breakers and Surge arrestors that had to be
assembled and erected. We had to lay a substantial
number of 300mmsq single core cables and
multicore cables.
Highlights
First of all it was a huge learning curve for Powertech
IST Energy and our sub contractors to complete a
project outside the borders of our country. With the
support of the BPC representatives we experienced
minor difficulties in the understanding of their
philosophies and work ethics.
The Road Ahead
Due to Powertech IST Energy’s overall performance
the commissioning of the substation was completed
ahead of the contractual deadline which resulted in
the project being completed ahead of time. This
performance really impressed the client and I am
sure this will be a reference for Powertech IST
Energy in future projects with BPC.

Challenges Experienced
Good quality building material was not available
locally so it either had to be transported in from
200km away or from South Africa. As an example;
building sand and plaster sand was not transported
in, we used river sand from a nearby riverbed that we
sifted for this purpose.

Although we were allowed to employ South Africans

as part of the work force on-site, the majority of the
workers had to be citizens of Botswana. This
presented us with some challenges as the labour
available in that area had to be trained to improve the
quality of the end product and this occasionally lead
to re-work on parts of the project.
Figure 3. Outdoor bays completed

3
GE's Multilin SR 3 Series

SR 350 SR 339 SR 345

Feeder Protection Motor Protection Transformer Protection

GE's Multilin SR 3 Series of protection relays is a highly
functional innovative & intuitive series of relays for
feeders (SR 350), motors (SR 339) and transformers
(SR 345). By providing an economical system for
protection, control, monitoring and metering, and both
local and remote user interfaces in one assembly, the
SR 3 Series relays effectively eliminate the need for
expensive discrete components.
The SR 3 Series provides detailed diagnostic
information allowing users to troubleshoot and
minimize downtime. The SR 3 Series streamlines
workflow processes and simplifies engineering tasks
such as configuration, wiring, testing, commissioning,
and maintenance.
These relays also offer enhanced features such as
diagnostics, preventative maintenance, device health
reports and advanced security features.
The SR 3 Series hardware is robust, compact and
reliable with a state of the art full draw-out feature
supported by a modular communication port design.
Advanced & flexible communication options include
USB, serial, fiber & copper Ethernet with multiple
protocols such as IEC 61850 GOOSE, DNP 3.0,
MODBUS TCP/IP, MODBUS RTU, IEC60870-5-104 and
IEC60870-5-103.

Designed with Removable IRIG-B Communication

Full draw-out with very
low insertion force
minimal mounting & RS485 terminal cables (i.e Fiber,
requirements for troubleshooting Copper, RJ45) do
without removing not need to be
relay from service disconnected to
draw out relay

Magnetic module Easy upgrade

remains in to advanced
Chassis during options (i.e
draw-out to upgrade to
eliminate Ethernet)
chances of
causing open CT
circuit

Fully withdraw relay without Compact size allows

Captive screw on relay having to open panel door easy retrofit to existing
draw-out handle for secure to disconnect Ethernet panels (i.e S1, S2
connection connections cutouts)

4
Getting to Know You
Pieter Gerrit Smit
Snr. Protection Engineer, Powertech IST Energy

Career Summary
I matriculated in 2000 from Akasia High
school in Pretoria. In 2001 I commenced my
studies at the University of Pretoria in
Engineering and completed my bachelor’s
degree in Electrical Engineering in 2004. In
2005 I completed my Honors and Master’s
degrees in Electrical Engineering on a part Quick Facts
time basis while working for the City of
Tshwane (CoT) as an engineer. I have
Age
worked for CoT for four years gaining
experience in Project Management and 27
Protection and Control. In September 2008 I Qualifications
joined Netgroup Engineering Consulting as a
Protection Engineer and in September 2009 B.Eng (Electrical Engineering)
I started to work for a dynamic company B.Eng.Hons (Electrical Engineering)
called Powertech IST Energy as a Senior
M.Eng (Electrical Engineering)
Protection Engineer.
Interests
Rugby, Mountain biking, Reading, Movies,
Achievements Technology and Quality Family Time
Mentor
- Academics – Honory Academic Colors for I had various mentors during my professional
research in Generator Reserve development, but the people who helped
Optimisation. shape me into the person I am today are my
- Sport – Gauteng North in 80m, 100m parents.
sprinting. Marital status
- Awards – ABB Powertech Transformer
Single.
prize, for best final year student in
Electrical design, – Best research Favourite celebrity
presentation at the 7th International John Smit, John is a very good leader during
ICOPSOP, January 2007, Cape Town tough times. He stays calm and leads from
the front.
Leadership style
Future
It depends on the situation, condition and
environment.
I wish to maintain a balance between my
career and my social life. I would like to Business philosophy
complete a master’s and doctorate in Go the extra mile and work smart. Spot
Business Management. potential and be prepared to wait.