Voith Hydro has signed a contract with AXIA Energia to modernise the synchronous condensers at the Recife II Substation in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil, in a project aimed at extending the operational life and reliability of key grid infrastructure serving the Recife metropolitan region.
The project will deliver digital and technological upgrades to electrical, mechanical and instrumentation systems originally installed in the 1980s. It marks Voith’s third project with AXIA Energia involving the deployment of its HyCon digitalisation platform, which is designed to improve the reliability, availability and efficiency of power generation and transmission assets.
“The delivery for Recife II reinforces our commitment to acting as AXIA Energia’s partner in standardized and predictive modernization projects, always focused on ensuring maximum asset availability,” said Leandro Lucas, Sales Director for Services at Voith Hydro in South America.
Recife II is regarded as the region’s principal substation, supplying electrical and reactive power to the wider Recife metropolitan area, which serves around 3.7 million people.
Under the contract, Voith will modernise the systems of two 150 MVAr synchronous condensers. The equipment has been operating for more than four decades and has reached a stage where spare parts are increasingly difficult to source.
The scope of work includes upgrades to control, protection, excitation, vibration monitoring and instrumentation systems. Voith will also modernise high-, medium- and low-voltage auxiliary electrical systems, including circuit breakers, disconnect switches, start-up and auxiliary transformers, reactors, distribution panels, lighting systems and power outlets.
In addition, the company will upgrade mechanical auxiliary systems such as hydrogen purge, water circulation and oil circulation systems.
“With the integrated supply of electrical and mechanical systems, the Recife II Substation will benefit from state-of-the-art solutions for technological upgrades and modernization of auxiliary equipment, contributing to the reliability of the region’s electrical system,” highlights Guilherme Gonçalves, Application Engineering Manager for Automation and Digital at Voith Hydro in Latin America.
