The Application of Advanced Technology for the Early Warning and Protection of Energy Supply Facilities in New Zealand
Philip A Hoby1 [email protected] Kevin E Hill1 [email protected] W Jim Cousins2 [email protected]
1AC Consulting Group Ltd, PO Box 2934, Wellington, New Zealand 2Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30-368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Abstract
The often remote location of power facilities in New Zealand combined with regions of high seismicity justifies the implementation of early warning and protection technologies. Recent applications of advanced technology in early warning and seismic protection for energy supply systems in New Zealand are presented.
The replacement of nearly all on-ground strong-motion accelerographs in New Zealand with modern digital instruments is discussed. The recorders communicate via cellphone and whenever they record an earthquake the data are automatically downloaded. The installation of five similar accelerographs at various power facilities in the South Island is also discussed. These power company instruments are linked to the national earthquake recording system as well as the power company SCADA network for immediate notification of shaking at the monitored sites. In each case 2-level alarms are implemented
Protection technologies for power equipment are presented with examples of New Zealand applications. Several examples of seismic analysis and strengthening of power equipment are reviewed contrasting several design methods and specifications. A practical application showing the benefits of utilising seismic isolation technology for protecting electrical equipment during earthquakes is discussed. The case considers retrofitted electrical equipment that survived the 1987 Bay of Plenty earthquake whereas non-strengthened equipment was destroyed.
Key words: Earthquake, Monitoring Systems, Seismic Protection