HVLV Replacement Project

This is the first stage of a two stage tender process.

The Science Museum have identified the need to replace key components of their main electrical infrastructure supplying their South Kensington premises.

The building is supplied at Medium Voltage (MV) through a 6.6kV private network originating from two feeders originating at the neighbouring Natural History Museum site.

The MV distribution supports five load centres distributed around the basement of the Science Museum.

The load centres are denoted as substations H, J, K, L & M.

Load centre H, J, K & M each include: - 2 No 800kVA transformers, each with close-coupled ring main units. - 2 No LV switchpanels, each fed from a dedicated transformer.

The two LV switchpanels in each load centre are linked via a busbar interconnector, which is protected by an air circuit breaker (ACB) at either end of the connection.

In all load centres the transformers and LV switchgear are located in separate rooms Load centre L utilises a single transformer/RMU and single switchpanel arrangement.

The ring main units on site are generally manufactured by Brush and are the Falcon Beta model; however there are a limited quantity of Merlin Gerin Ringmaster units installed.

The transformers were either manufactured by Brush, Peebles or Schneider.

The LV switchgear was generally manufactured by Rees Switchgear and comprises GEC switch-fuse outgoing ways and GEC M-Pact ACB incomers and bus-interconnector protective devices.

Much of the distribution equipment is life-expired, is no longer supported by the original equipment manufacturers and has been identified as requiring replacement.

This project involves the replacement of RMUs and ACBs in substations H, J, L & M.

The replacement/upgrade project will be undertaken in a phased manner that causes no business disruption to the Science Museum.

This will require much of the works to be undertaken outside or normal working hours, during the evenings or weekends.

The Science Museum's MV and LV maintenance is carried out by an on-site FM provider.

All works will need to be undertaken in collaboration with the on-site team.