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Our test reports repository

Making things easier for everyone!

Screenshot 2016-08-25 09.02.33

ITL Test Certificate Example

We are always striving to make our customers’ life as easy as possible. ITL have always been known as the "go to CT/VT guys" but also for a great customer service. Fast responses, knowledge, quick orders, you name it (as in life we have stumbled in our past but more importantly we learn from our mistakes to prevent recurrance). However, our other great asset is efficiency. And that is where Test Reports Repository comes in.

Test Reports, or Test Certificates, are very important part of our products. It may seem they are just a supporting document but they clearly state that our CTs and VTs meet international requirements which is an invaluable information for a buyer and particularly for an engineer.

Traditionally, we supply paper copies or electronic copies of test reports. Sometimes we have buyers, engineers etc. e-mailing/ phoning us asking for duplicate test reports for a particular unit (I'm sure you can relate to this scenario). Emails are not always perfect and get lost, sent to junk or just plain deleted in error and don’t get to the intended recipient for what ever reason. We are sure you know it can get messy. So we created TRR. It is an easy way you can access your current transformer or voltage transformer test report by just logging in and doing quick search. 

It makes life easier for both us and our customer. And that is what ITL is about.

Below you can see a short video of how it works. Or you can have a quick test run here. (Username: C110011; Password: TestCertsTest)

Want to sign up? Take a look here! 

Keep a lookout for our developments.

You’ve been Screwed !

Headline caught your attention? Don't worry, we just wanted to grab you and tell you about a recent, project, so please read on. ITL has just completed another successful G59 commissioning project, this time for the Achranich Bridge Hydro Scheme, Ardornish Estate, Morvern.
g59_ardornish
 
 Our highly qualified engineers, predominately work on Wind Turbine & Photo Voltaic projects, the Archimedean Screw technology used in renewable energy generation is a first for us.
 
The Archimedean screw hydro turbine is a relative newcomer to the small-scale hydro world having only arrived on the scene over the last ten years. However, they have been around for many decades as pumps where tens-of-thousands have been installed worldwide, particularly in sewage treatment works. The same manufacturers that dominate the pump market are now the main suppliers into the hydro-power market as well.
 
As the name suggests, Archimedes is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the screw back in 250 BC, though the credit has been wrongly attributed because they were actually in use in Egypt many years before then. Historically they were used in irrigation to lift water to a higher level and were generally powered by oxen, or even humans on smaller versions. The basic principle of an Archimedean screw pump is shown in the diagram above. Basic-layout-of-an-Archimedean-screw-pumpIf the handle at the top was turned in an anti-clockwise direction it would draw the water up from the lower level to the top.
When used as a hydro turbine the principle is the same but acts in reverse. The water enters the screw at the top and the weight of the water pushes on the helical flights, allowing the water to fall to the lower level and causing the screw to rotate. This rotational energy can then be extracted by an electrical generator connected to the main shaft of the screw.
Archimedean screws for hydro-power are used on low head/high flow sites. They can work efficiently on heads as low as 1 metre, though are not generally used on heads less than 1.5 m (more for economic reasons than technical ones). Single screws can work on heads up to 8 metres, but above this multiple screws are generally used, though in many cases for
heads above 8 metres there may be more appropriate turbines available with much smaller footprints.

The maximum flow rate through an Archimedean screw is determined by the screw diameter. The smallest screws are just 1 metre diameter and can pass 250 litres/second, then they increase in 250 mm steps all of the way up to 5 metres in diameter with a maximum flow rate of around 14.5 m3/s. The 5 metre maximum is really based on practical delivery restrictions, and in many cases 3 metres is the maximum diameter that can be delivered to a site. If there is more flow available, multiple screws can be installed in parallel.

In terms of power output, the very smallest Archimedean screws can produce as little as 5 kW, and the largest 500 kW.

The main parts of an Archimedean screw used as a hydro generator are shown below. The actual screw is below the upper bearing. The helical screw or ‘flights’ are made from rolled flat steel plate that is then welded to a central steel core. Most Archimedean screws have three flights, or three separate helices winding around the central core.

Main-parts-at-the-top-end-of-an-Archimedean-screw-hydro-generator

Archimedean screws typically rotate at around 26 rpm, so the top of the screw connects to a gearbox to increase the rotational speed to between 750 and 1500 rpm to make it compatible with standard generators. Even though they rotate relatively slowly Archimedean screws can splash water around, though this is reduced significantly by the use of a splash guard shown running down the left-hand side of the screw as shown below.

Archimedean-screw-body

ITL continues to work with contractors throughout the UK, commissioning & testing G59 as well as traditional switchgear Protection Relays from leading manufactures Schneider Electric, ABB, Siemens, CEE.

FP-g59 relay testing and commissioning

ITL to the Rescue!

As we mentioned many times before, sometimes it is necessary to choose great quality, reliable product and make the smart investment.

As it happens, one of our new customers has seen the error of his ways when dealing with inferior quality products. ITL has been approached to replace a set of current transformers for a Hydro Electric project that is experiencing continued problems with their existing current transformers (see image above).

Our highly skilled engineers used their knowledge and experience, reviewed the problem and have offered an ITL solution. Our robust multi-core resin encapsulated current transformer complete with IP65 terminal box suitable for outdoor use, mounted on 120x5mm resin coated copper bar will definitely do the trick for the customer.

The Hydro Electric project is crucial for infrastructure and we understood the solution has to be swift. So we added significantly compressed lead time to the equation. The ability to deliver great results in a swift manner shows why our customers value ITL’s bespoke engineering & Scottish innovation.