Advanced Technology Center
S&C Electric Company — one of Chicago’s leading manufacturers — continues to invest in the future with a striking addition to the area’s high-tech scene: the company’s unique Advanced Technology Center (“ATC”).
This state-of-the-art facility will enable S&C to accelerate development and delivery of innovative electrical switching and protection products worldwide, including the highly sophisticated automatic service restoration, energy storage, and power quality equipment needed for the Smart Grid.
At the heart of the ATC is the Nicholas J. Conrad Laboratory, the largest manufacturer-owned short-circuit testing laboratory in North and South America. It has two 850-megawatt electrical short-circuit test generators that can test up to 100 kA and up to 230,000 volts. The laboratory will allow S&C to perform quality control and other testing at the Chicago industrial campus, instead of relying on costly, time-consuming visits to test labs in Europe.
In addition to the Nicholas J. Conrad Laboratory, the ATC houses S&C’s Product Innovation offices, plus expanded molding operations. S&C is the largest manufacturer of high-voltage cycloaliphatic epoxy insulators in the U.S. These insulators are superior to porcelain insulators for many reasons — including their ability to integrate intelligent voltage and current sensing, as well as control, diagnostic, and automation components. Such components are essential to equipment for the Smart Grid.
Laboratory Accreditation
A2LAThe Nicholas J. Conrad Laboratory has been accredited to ISO17025:2005 by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation for the following tests:
- Line Charging,
- Cable Charging,
- Interrupting,
- Fault Making,
- Short-Time and Peak Withstand,
- Making / Breaking,
- Breaking,
- and Critical Current.
Nicholas J. Conrad Laboratory 50/60-Hz Testing Capabilities
| Rated/Test Voltage, kV | Maximum Current, kA |
|---|---|
| 15 17 27 38 |
31.5 25 25 15 |
| Rated Voltage, kV | Test Voltage, kV | Maximum Current, kA |
|---|---|---|
| 15.5 29 38 |
13.4 23.5 32.9 |
63 31.5 25 |
| Ten-Cycle Duration Three-Phase Momentary/Peak Withstand Maximum Current, kA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Constant Fault Current | Peak Current Mitigated By Switched Inductors | Current Droops to 80% |
| 40 | 80 | 100 |
| Short-Time Withstand Maximum Current, kA | |
|---|---|
| Two-Second Duration | Three-Second Duration |
| 100 | 80 |
| Load Switching | |
|---|---|
| Rated/ Test Voltage, kV | Maximum Current, A |
| 15.5 29 38 |
2000 1200 1200 |
| Fault Closing | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rated Voltage, kV | Test Voltage , kV | Maximum Current , kA |
| 15 15.5/27 27 38 38 |
9 15.5 27 22 38 |
63/80/100 40/50/63 25/31/40 25/31.5/40 12.5/16/20 |
| Rated/Test Voltage, kV | Maximum Current, kA |
|---|---|
| 15.5 29 38 |
50 31.5 20 |
| Rated Voltage, kV | Test Voltage, kV | Maximum Current, kA |
|---|---|---|
| 15 15 27 27 38 38 |
15 7.9 27 15.5 38 27 |
40 63 25 40 12.5 25 |
All current ratings are symmetrical. In each instance, the first peak asymmetrical current is 2.7 times the symmetrical current unless the current is controlled by additional circuit resistors or switched peak-currentlimiting inductors.
Single-phase testing at phase-to-ground voltage is permissible for single-phase switches.
Multiple current capability varies with standard requirements X/Y/Z, where:
X = Constant fault current;
Y = Peak current mitigated by switched inductors;
Z = Current droops to 80% at 10 cycles.
The ATC is one of the most environmentally-friendly facilities of its kind in the world. The 43,000-squarefoot structure minimizes environmental impact through numerous energy-efficient and sustainable design features, including an 8,000-square-foot green roof, use of recycled content and locally-produced building materials, and other innovative measures.
The ATC holds LEED Gold Certification rating per the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s one of the first industrial buildings in the Chicago metropolitan area to hold such a rating.