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A banker for Birmingham
12/07/2016
Investment in Birmingham’s electricity infrastructure continues with the completion of a scheme to replace a large transformer at a substation close to the city centre – further securing supplies to around 2,012 homes and business in the area.
The team in front of the new transformer radiator bank.
The project is part of over £7 billion which we are investing across our electricity network between 2015 and 2023.
The Birmingham substation building in Bordesley required extensive demolition and building work to be carried out before electrical work could even start.
Project Manager, Eddy Tracey in front of new transformer radiator bank.
With space at a premium in the city, the transformer, which had first been installed and commissioned in 1965, was enclosed in a large brick building, with just its radiator bank and cooling fans outside.
Measuring 6.5 metres by six metres, its main tank had to be removed through a blast wall, which is a specially constructed seven-metre-high removable brick panel that was three layers thick. All of the rubble then had to be taken away to make enough space for the transformer to be removed before the new one could be installed.
Fitters Jon Atkins (seated) and Steve Westwood working in the transformer marshalling kiosk before it was energised.
WPD’s Projects Central Team Manager, Nigel Morrey explained: “It was a big demolition job, further complicated by a very restricted site, congested access routes and a low railway bridge which made it difficult for vehicles and equipment to get through.”
“Once on site, however, a team of engineers worked tirelessly to get the transformer commissioned as quickly as possible and despite a number of challenges, the new transformer was connected in less than a month, which was a tremendous achievement by everyone involved.”
Fitter Colin Grant working on the transformer protection relay panel.
The team in front of the new transformer radiator bank.
The project is part of over £7 billion which we are investing across our electricity network between 2015 and 2023.
The Birmingham substation building in Bordesley required extensive demolition and building work to be carried out before electrical work could even start.
Project Manager, Eddy Tracey in front of new transformer radiator bank.
With space at a premium in the city, the transformer, which had first been installed and commissioned in 1965, was enclosed in a large brick building, with just its radiator bank and cooling fans outside.
Measuring 6.5 metres by six metres, its main tank had to be removed through a blast wall, which is a specially constructed seven-metre-high removable brick panel that was three layers thick. All of the rubble then had to be taken away to make enough space for the transformer to be removed before the new one could be installed.
Fitters Jon Atkins (seated) and Steve Westwood working in the transformer marshalling kiosk before it was energised.
WPD’s Projects Central Team Manager, Nigel Morrey explained: “It was a big demolition job, further complicated by a very restricted site, congested access routes and a low railway bridge which made it difficult for vehicles and equipment to get through.”
“Once on site, however, a team of engineers worked tirelessly to get the transformer commissioned as quickly as possible and despite a number of challenges, the new transformer was connected in less than a month, which was a tremendous achievement by everyone involved.”
Fitter Colin Grant working on the transformer protection relay panel.
Project Engineer Julian Bonney working on the transformer protection relay panel.
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