High-voltage direct current power supply

Contracting authority is publishing direct award notice for 'High-voltage power supply'.

BACKGROUND INFO To advance research in energy and electrification, Tampere University is in the process of expanding its laboratory infrastructure with funding from the Research Council of Finland. As part of the interdisciplinary project “Digital electrification infrastructure”, also DC testing facilities of the high voltage laboratory are being developed to facilitate higher voltage and current tests, benefiting both research and educational purposes. The new test facility will be used both for testing and characterization of various high voltage direct current (HVDC) insulation systems. NEED This procurement focuses on the purchase of one HVDC power supply for indoor use in the high voltage laboratory of Tampere University. Technical specifications: • The maximum voltage of the power supply should be in the range 200 – 250 kV and it shall be capable of producing both voltage polarities. • The maximum DC current shall be at least 35 mA@200 kV – 30 mA@250 kV with 100% duty cycle. • The system current shall be expandable in the future e.g. by parallel units at least for three times the current indicated above. • The high voltage unit shall be air insulated, i.e. the HV is provided directly at the top of the HV unit, not through a HV cable. This kind of dielectric structure offers good usability as part of high voltage test hall test circuits. • The power source shall be equipped with separate control unit, which can be located in the control room of the HV laboratory while the HV source is in the test hall (min ~7 m distance). • The DC voltage ripple shall be <0.15% of peak to peak of rated voltage at full load. • The control of the unit shall enable constant voltage, constant current or current trip modes. • Voltage regulation shall be 0.005% and current regulation 0.1% or better. • The device shall be remotely controllable by 0-10 V analog signals (voltage/current). Also the other operating functions needed for the full remote control shall be remotely operable (e.g. HV enable). In addition, the voltage and current readings shall be readable remotely. • The device shall include an input port for external interlock circuit for test hall safety means. MARKET ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION FOR DIRECT AWARD Meeting all the specified requisites and the ability to provide all required properties is mandatory of been selected in this procurement process. HVDC power supply from the XP Glassman OQ product range is to be procured from the selected supplier, along with the needed options. The main key requirements are the rather high HVDC current/power needed, the expandability for even higher current afterwards by parallel slave units, air insulation as the primary dielectric of the HV unit, the defined minimum quality of the DC voltage (regulation, ripple etc.) and possibility for remote control. Only the chosen supplier can deliver a source in the indicated current range and expandability in combination with the defined level of DC voltage quality, which forms a good basis also for developing a partial discharge measurement setups with the power source. Due to the aforementioned high technical requirements, only the specific supplier can be considered. Reasonable alternatives or substitute solutions do not exist, at least not in the similar price level and in the required delivery time. The absence of competition is not due to an artificial narrowing of purchase conditions. The contracting authority has the right to set a quality level based on its own needs which products or services must implement.