Case Study: Storm-Hardened Switchgear Weathers the Elements to Help Power NOAA’s new Pacific Fleet Headquarters

The NOAA MOC-P facility in Newport, Oregon provides global communications and high-performance computing operations on a 24/7 basis. Designed for extended service life under harsh environmental conditions, Trayer’s 3805 series of storm-hardened switchgear ensures power availability for this mission-critical facility.

Download NOAA/Central Lincoln Case Study (PDF 2MB)

Case Study Describes Trayer Storm-Hardened Switchgear’s Unique Distribution Automation Solution at NOAA’s Pacific Fleet HQ

Utility installs a Trayer 6-Way SCADA Vacuum Fault Interrupter (VFI) to provide ruggedized 15kV service to NOAA’s new facility in Newport, OR; case study describes industry’s first implementation of SEL-487E control relay’s full automatic transfer potential using multiple distributed I/O.

Trayer Engineering Corporation highlights a new, cutting-edge distribution automation application with the publication of its latest case study.

Newport, OR is the site of NOAA’s new Marine Operations Center-Pacific, a 24/7/365 mission-critical facility with global maritime responsibilities. The facility’s serving utility, Central Lincoln People’s Utility District, installed Trayer 3805 Series medium voltage switchgear to protect their distribution system from a failed transformer or other system fault/overcurrent condition. In addition to the gear’s ruggedized physical and electrical attributes, this particular application represents the first known use of the industry-leading SEL-487E relay for distributed I/O automation functions beyond the scope of its original design.

“Working closely with Central Lincoln, we fine-tuned the standard SEL relay package, modifying its firmware to unleash the relay’s untapped capability of simultaneously protecting four different three-phase circuits,” said Michael Daish, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing. “In so doing, we provided Central Lincoln with a one-of-a-kind solution that will have industry-wide appeal for reliable, high-performance automatic switching far exceeding the capability of standard switchgear solutions.”

The switchgear in operation at Newport is the Trayer 3805 Series VFI. Rated at 600A continuous current, the gear is capable of up to 10,000 load break operations at full load and 65 operations at 12.5kA fault current. To optimize performance, the switchgear employs custom, compact vacuum-bottle contact and industry-standard SEL automation and overcurrent controls. The unit also features the company’s patented tri-phase visible disconnect switch, manual trip indication and is offered with either liquid or gas dielectric mediums.  Like all Trayer switchgear products, 3000 Series VFIs are constructed of hermetically sealed 304 stainless steel and are designed for years of service life.