With the aim of improving job security of people working in the electricity sector, the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (ITE) and the Instituto Tecnológico del Textil (Aitex) started a collaboration in 2010 that resulted in an Electric Arc and Plasma Laboratory that, in a few months functioning, became a worldwide reference point.
The Electric Arc and Plasma Laboratory, where both materials and protective clothing are tested, has two twin rooms in order to generate electric arcs up to 1, 5 seconds and then accelerate the testing processes.
Moreover, in this building there is another room where materials are prepared to recreate the conditions of a real work environment, such as pre-washing, that could affect their properties.
Electric Arc and Plasma Laboratory capacities
- Electrical characteristics
- Permanent maximum power: 20MVA
- Maximum single-phase current: 8kA (@3kV)
- Interruptores con apertura/cierre controlado por ángulo eléctrico
- Distribution
- Two independent testing rooms
- Access control and safety: interlock, motion sensors, protective dull shutters
- Measurement
- High speed video
- Electrical V and I measurement
- Temperature and incident energy measurement
- Environmental conditions (T, P and RH)
R+D+I and testing
Arc testing
- According to regulation (IEC 61482-1-1, ASTM F1959)
- R+D
- New materials for the improvement of PPE thermal protection
Smart PPE design and testing
- EMC testing with real electrical arcs on electric circuits embedded in smart PPE
- R+D: New shielding tendencies and materials
Electrical equipment for Smart Grids
- EMC testing with real electrical arcs on electrical equipment for Smart Grids operation and control