Electrical Engineering.
Here are a few examples that highlight our Electrical Engineering experience.
Substation Expansion
Varo provided engineering, design, construction support and commission support for the addition of a new 139 kV / 13.8 kV, dual secondary 84 MVA transformer at a major university’s main substation. In addition, Varo provided the same services for the upgrade of the controls and protective relaying for the existing two transformers at this same substation. Varo designed all aspect for the electrical installation including the power feeds, and cable pilasters for the new transformer, the transformers’ protection and control panels, new breakers’ control, integration of all aspects of the electrical design into one drawing system. Fire notification and building ventilation interlocks were also part of the overall design
For more information about this project, click here.
Arc Flash Assessment
Varo provided an Arc Flash Hazard assessment for an industrial manufacturing plant. Field data was collected on the plant’s incoming unit substation, distribution substations, 480V MCC’s, and load centers. Varo provided remediation recommendations, hazard label generation, and PPE recommendations. Varo also provided a detailed report of the analysis findings, with available short circuit currents, hazard boundaries, incident energy (cal/cm2), Risk Hazard Category, and a single line diagram printout for the plant’s distribution system.
For more information about this project, click here.
Control & Power Distribution For New Manufactured Stone Handling System
Varo was retained to provide engineering, design, programming, checkout and commissioning for the development of a prototype fabricated stone handling system, followed by the development of a full production system based on the prototype design. Motion equipment control was provided by a combination of VFD and servo drive motors, along with various proximity, photo-electric, and laser sensors, and a touch screen Operator Interface. These were connected to a PLC based control system via Ethernet and DeviceNet communication networks. Varo designed and checked out all control panels and electrical equipment for the system.
Power Distribution & Control System Upgrade for Coal Yard Segregation Project
As part of a Power Plant Coal Yard segregation project Varo was retained to analyze the existing power distribution and control system for the coal yard system, determine required improvements, estimate replacement costs for the power distribution and control system and provide engineering, design and equipment for the upgrade. The scope of work included the replacement of the 1910’s vintage Medium Voltage switchgear and the replacement of the relay based coal yard control system. A new Motor Control Center for new coal yard equipment and a new PLC based control system with redundant processor, redundant fiber optic control communication and a state of the art Operator Interface were installed. Varo provided factory testing of equipment, and on site checkout and commissioning of the power distribution and control system.
Power Distribution & Control for New Roofing Line Product
This work was part of a multidiscipline project to design new application systems for the purpose of changing and adding roofing line products at all of this client’s roofing plants. Varo provided engineering, design, programming, checkout and commissioning for the new power distribution and control system for the servo based application system and material mixing system. The new control system was PLC based with ControlNet communication and a state of the art touch screen operator interface.
Old PLC Control System Replacement with State of art PLC for Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) Packaging System
Varo was retained to provide design and engineering for the replacement of an antiquated PLC based control system and the simplification of an overly complicated program. The actual hardware design change for the system was very simple. The challenge of this project was to analyze a PLC program which had been developed by a C++ programmer many years ago. The goal was not just to replace the PLC but to update and simplify the program so that it was more efficient, more reliable, and could be easily analyzed by anyone familiar with standard PLC ladder logic. Careful analysis and observation of the original system operation, contributed to an excellent installation and startup. Maintenance trouble shooting with the new control system has proven to be much simpler.
Mat Line Drive & Control Upgrade
Varo was retained to provide engineering, design, programming, checkout and commissioning for a mat line drive upgrade. The purpose of the upgrade was to increase line speed and replace antiquated equipment. The drive upgrade involved the replacement of variable speed AC & DC drives with new drives and a PLC based control system and touch screen Operator Interface. The system was designed to control all of the drives via a ControlNet communication network from the PLC.
Power Distribution & Control for New Baby Formula Facility
Varo was retained to provide engineering, design and programming for a new Baby Formula facility. The power distribution system was for the new process equipment, and control programming was for a PLC based HVAC system for the facility.
Design Document Updating – ‘As-built’ Verification & Updating
Varo provides significant support to several of its clients for the verification and updating of field mark prints. Our services include the review of each drawing to insure accuracy of the mark ups, the updating of the drawings to required client CAD standards, and submittal to the client’s print room. Varo provides these services on several CAD platforms, and updates originally hand drawn drawings, electronically, as well. In 2008 Varo updated over 2000 drawings, not including as-built drawings normally provided for our other project work.