This new technological innovation developed by civil engineers at the Universidad EAFIT Laboratories, recently presented to the entire academic community, prevents damage to the high-voltage electrical power substations equipment during a seismic event.
It is the innovative seismic isolator, a mechanical device made of steel that is placed at the base of the structures of the electrical power substations to protect them from damage during an eventual earthquake of medium or high intensity. This project was developed in cooperation with Ecuas Consultores, a company that provides consulting services, carries out activities in the design of civil and electromechanical works for the energy sector and does research in the field of seismic performance of structures.
"The isolator is placed at the base of the structure to dissipate the ground motion. It means that, if you stand on that device, you will hardly feel the earthquake; it barely moves. It's as if the system swallowed the earthquake, similar to an acoustic wave silencer, but what it really does is isolate the movement," says Juan Diego Jaramillo Fernández, an EAFIT faculty member and earthquake expert.
According to a research project carried out by the University experts, the equipment of the electrical power substations is damaged during a seismic movement and sometimes is out of service, affecting the generation and supply of energy.
"This isolator, in particular, is meant to solve the problem of equipment in the electrical substations, which looks like very high 'pancakes' filled with porcelain disks that electrically isolate the circuits. This equipment is very fragile and has had major problems lately because it breaks when earthquakes of medium to high intensity occur. The solution to this problem is to isolate this type of equipment that has a very peculiar geometry and very defined weights," says professor Jaramillo.
The seismic threat
If a high intensity earthquake occurs today, part of the Aburra Valley electrical infrastructure transmitters, located in the patios of the electrical power substations, would be seriously damaged.
The seismic isolator was tested at the University Laboratories during the development of the device. Researchers used a large sized shaking table capable of supporting large weights used at the Seismic Laboratory to simulate seismic events of high intensity. With the help of the table, they carried out full scale tests on the impact an earthquake had on the equipment at the electrical power substations.
"The seismic isolators were tested in full scale. We borrowed actual substation equipment from the company Interconexión Eléctrica (ISA) and mounted it with a crane on the shake table, which is perhaps the largest in Colombia. What needs to be pointed out is the fact that we designed a device with a very specific application because these dampers and springs not only depend on the type of seismic movement they are able to isolate, but on the structure they are isolating," states the researcher.
Before the creation of this technological development, companies in the energy sector in Colombia solved the problem importing seismic isolators from Europe at very high costs. With this innovation, we are competing not only in terms of cost, but in technical quality and effectiveness.
"The level of innovation of this project is remarkable. There is a patent pending and its performance is better than many other on the market. In addition, and given that local materials are used, it allows for the substitution of imports. The isolator can be used for new or existing equipment for electrical power substations," says Sara Hernández, Transfer Leader at Universidad EAFIT.
Thanks to these kinds of innovation, the University's scientific research gets several benefits. On the one hand, academic returns are obtained through the creation of patents, publications and the generation of greater experience gained by faculty members and their research groups. In addition, a contribution to society is made when power outages, due to earthquakes in any town, are prevented.
For more information, contact:
Alejandro Gómez Valencia
Journalist - EAFIT Information and Press
Phone: 574 2619500 Ext. 9931
Email: jgomez97@eafit.edu.co