Prisma Plus - error

Busduct offers
more flexibility
When the designers of Auckland
University’s new Centre for
Advanced Composite Materials
Research began planning its wiring
system, they knew ongoing ‘change’
would be a key requirement – so
they elected to use Schneider
Electric’s Canalis technology.
The Canalis Busduct. Supplys power to the machines below is
simply a matter of inserting a tap off box – situated on both
sides of the busduct – and dropping an electrical feed.
The Research Centre is part of the
University’s Mechanical Engineering
Department, and is located at Auckland
University’s Tamaki Campus. Geared to
the research of a wide variety of
composite materials, the facility houses
a diverse array of machinery.
It includes hydraulic presses, plastic
injection moulders, extruders and ovens,
as well as the standard range of lathes,
milling machines and general workshop
equipment.
“Our new building is a marvellous, openplan
design that lets in plenty of natural
light,” says the Centre’s Technical Officer,
Rex Halliwell “but we knew that providing
three-phase power to the machines was
going to be an issue. For a start, there
are no vertical support columns, so there
are no obvious routes for electrical
conduits – or for getting power to the
centre of the building.
“Perhaps more significantly, this is a
research centre, and by its very nature,
we are continually adding new
machines to the inventory. That means
we are often moving machines around
to make better use of space and ‘flow’
though the facility. With conventional
wiring, that would require plenty of
rewiring and re-connecting.”
Collectively, he points out, the machines
also draw a substantial load. “All in all,
a conventional wiring system would be
a problem. Our consulting engineers,
Sinclair Knight Mertz, specified the
Canalis Busduct system. It overcomes
all those issues – and it works superbly.”
The facility’s electrical infrastructure
features four, parallel busducts running
the length of the building, mounted
above I-beams or suspended from the
ceiling. The busducts have different
amperage ratings: one each of 800A,
500A, 200A and 100A.
Providing power to machines is simple,
says Halliwell.
“We insert a tap-off box into the
overhead trunk busduct at the closest,
convenient point, and just drop a cable to
the machine. The tap-off boxes are selfcontained,
off-the-shelf items with built-in
circuit breakers. They can be fitted to
either side of the busduct, in designated
centres about 600 mm apart.”
Apart from the ease of connection, he
says, moving a machine and its power
source is simply a matter of unplugging
the tap-off box and moving it to the new,
appropriate take-off point along the
busduct. “There is no climbing around,
no re-routing cables, no disconnection.
It gives us remarkable flexibility.”
Single-phase power is also supplied
easily. “We simply take the supply – at
whatever overhead point is convenient –
from one of the phases in the busduct.”
The Telemecanique Canalis system
was installed by Allendale Electrical,
and project manager Bob Lawton says it’s
far easier to fit than conventional wiring.
“The pre-manufactured sections clip
together – it’s a bit like Lego – and as
they’re relatively light, they’re easy to
handle. It’s much easier than routing
cables within ladder trays, around
corners and down to switchboards
– so it’s much faster.”
He says a major advantage of the
busduct system is the freedom it gives
the end-user for future expansion.
“They’ve plenty of flexibility for rearranging
their facility into any
configuration they choose.”
The Canalis Busduct trunking system
is designed for different ratings: low
distribution and medium power
distribution.
Low power distribution
- Canalis KN (40 to 100A)
There are two low power versions:
• Canalis KNA – four live conductors
(3L + N + PE) for distribution up to 100A.
• Canalis KNT – identical to the KNA,
but fitted with a remote transmission
bus with three 2.5 mm2 conductors.
KNA and KNT busduct trunking provides
IP 41 protection or IP54 with accessories.
A wide range of tap off units to service
power and light outlets either protected
and non-protected are available.
Medium power distribution - Canalis KS
Designed for high tap-off density in
industrial and commercial buildings
(exhibition halls, hypermarkets, and office
blocks).The range is available in seven
ratings, from 100 to 800A.The standard
IP 52 protection makes KS suitable for
the majority of locations. It can be
increased to IP 54 by the addition of dust
and damp-proof blanking plates on the
tap-off outlets. A wide range of tap off
units either protected and non-protected
are available, rated from 25 to 400A.
There are four busducts running the length of the facility.
Some are mounted on an I-beam – others are suspended from
the roof.
For more information, contact:
Ross de Bueger
Applications Engineer
Industrial Control & Low Voltage
Schneider Electric (NZ) Limited
PO Box 15 355
Auckland
Tel: 09 829 0679