Insulect's Projects across power generation, transmission, distribution and end users

How Power Quality Monitoring Ensured Compliance and Reliability at BHP's Olympic Dam

Written by Admin | 21 Nov 2024
Company BHP
Location Olympic Dam, SA
Timeline NA
Project Overview The BHP Olympic Dam project involved Insulect providing a comprehensive power quality monitoring solution for BHP's mining operations in South Australia. As a large mining company, BHP required a significant amount of power to run its machinery and equipment, which was supplied through high-voltage transmission lines connected to the Electranet network.
Products
  • IDM+
  • Ongoing monthly monitoring and reporting

 

 

Project Overview

The BHP Olympic Dam project involved Insulect providing a comprehensive power quality monitoring solution for BHP's mining operations in South Australia. As a large mining company, BHP required significant power to run its machinery and equipment, which was supplied through high-voltage transmission lines connected to the Electranet network.

To ensure compliance with Electranet's power quality standards, BHP turned to Insulect to install the IDM Plus devices at the connection points between BHP's operations and the transmission grid. These devices were tasked with continuously monitoring the power quality parameters, such as harmonics, to verify that BHP was meeting the utility's strict requirements.

In addition to supplying the monitoring devices, Insulect provided a turnkey solution that included designing and installing custom enclosures to house the equipment. The Insulect team worked closely with BHP and Electranet to ensure the system was configured correctly and commissioned to meet all necessary compliance standards.

Recognising the importance of ongoing support, Insulect also established a service agreement with BHP, where they remotely access the devices every month to perform health checks and generate compliance reports. This proactive approach helps BHP stay informed of any potential power quality issues and address them before they become problematic.

Project Challenges

  • Understanding the extensive and technical power quality compliance requirements set by Electranet, including navigating a 400-page standard document.

Benefits to client

  • Provision of a turnkey power quality monitoring solution, handling all design, installation, and configuration, allowing BHP to focus on its core mining operations.
An ongoing service agreement to remotely monitor the system monthly and provide compliance reports, ensuring ongoing support and proactive issue identification for BHP.
 

Critical Success Factors

  • Insulects ability to navigate the complex power quality compliance requirements set by Electranet, the local utility.
  • Developing a turnkey solution, including custom enclosure design and installation, will be provided to integrate the monitoring system seamlessly.
  • Insulects collaborative approach with both BHP and Electranet to ensure the system was properly configured and commissioned.
  • The establishment of a proactive service agreement to remotely monitor the system and provide ongoing compliance reporting.
  • Insulects responsiveness and technical expertise to address BHP's specific power quality monitoring needs for their mining operations.