Siemens Canada is the prime contractor for the supply, installation and commissioning of a 60-MVAR Static Var
Compensator [SVC] project for reactive power support at the Hydro One Lakehead Transformer Station in Thunder Bay,
Ontario.
Siemens Canada and Siemens Germany developed the basic design and control systems for this installation. Hatch was
responsible for detailed civil and electrical design for implementation of the overall project.
The SVC installation went into service in October 2009.
Hatch conducted detailed electrical, civil and structural design to incorporate the SVC components and to integrate the
installation with the existing Hydro One station facilities. Where necessary, customized bus work, cable trenches,
foundations and structures were designed to manage concerns with the existing soil thermal and bearing conditions.Detailed Bills of Material were prepared and assistance was provided for field installation.
Components and fittings were selected to conform to the stringent requirements of Hydro One material and installation
specifications.
The detailed design included civil and architectural requirements for the SVC control building auxiliary services.
Lightning and grounding studies were completed to ensure the design afforded superior reliability and protection from the
environment.
- The project included specific designs to accommodate high amperage cable and rigid bus installations
- The SVC detailed design was developed to accommodate unusually high magnetic field constraints attributed to high
current reactor components, including provisions for Faraday cage magnetic shielding
- The design elements were defined with sufficient lead time to ensure the construction schedule and the October 2009
completion of commissioning
As in typical Hydro One installations, the safety aspects of the design for inspection and maintenance are paramount in the
project development and the design accommodates the stringent safety aspects defined by the utility.
