The Synchronous Condensers are required to provide grid stability. Similar in comparison to horizontal generators, the Bipole III Riel Station Project synchronous condenser assemblies support the Manitoba Hydro grid with reactive power. As part of the consortium agreement with Voith, we were responsible for civil design and all on site construction. The project scope consisted of various civil, structural, electrical, mechanical and piping works.

The team’s civil work included civil design and installation of pre-cast piles, 1 metre diameter caissons 100’ deep-socketed into bedrock, 650 cubic metres of concrete slab, unit transformer slab, blast wall and oil containment, building cooler foundation and slab, concrete duct banks and pre-cast cable trenches. Piping work consisted of the fast drain, hydrogen, building service, cooling, compressed air and instrumentation systems. The team supplied and installed four electrical and mechanical buildings, cooler foundations, pipe supports and all other miscellaneous steel for access and support.

The electrical scope required the installation of switchgear, all 600V-120V distribution systems, protections and controls, excitation system, braking system, instrumentation, building services, unit transformer and steel gantry structures. As part of the installation of the synchronous condenser, the mechanical work included shipping both pieces of the unit at over 100 tonnes each and unloading stator and rotor onto the foundation. Alignment of the equipment was critical as the synchronous condenser turns at 1200rpm.