Finland's Meilahti Hospital Area, operated by HUS, has embarked on a comprehensive modernization program for its electrical system in partnership with ABB. This vital upgrade aims to maximize uptime, eliminate the use of SF6, a potent greenhouse gas, extend the life of electrical equipment, and optimize the operations of the hospital area. Meilahti Hospital Area, one of the largest in Finland, consumes as much electricity as a small town and serves over half a million patients annually. Therefore, a dependable and secure power supply is of utmost importance in ensuring the well-being of patients and healthcare professionals.

As part of the modernization effort, ABB carried out a turnkey medium-voltage (MV) circuit breaker retrofit, replacing SF6-insulated models with the next-generation VD4 vacuum circuit breakers. These innovative circuit breakers are capable of rapidly clearing short-circuit faults, preventing potential damage to the hospital's electrical infrastructure and reducing the risk of downtime.

To address the environmental impact of outdated equipment, ABB's full-circle end-of-life service safely and sustainably disposed of the old SF6 breakers and gases, complying with stringent environmental regulations.

The project also involved the replacement of aging relays in the switchgear with ABB's Relion® protection relays from the 615 series, REF615. These protection relays offer extensive protection and control functionality, ensuring uninterrupted power supply. An essential addition to the project is ABB's REA 101 modules, which provide reliable and fast arc fault protection based on optical arc flash detection with fiber-optic light sensors, capable of tripping at arc faults in milliseconds.

Moreover, the modernization program introduced ABB Ability™ Energy and Asset Manager, enabling remote monitoring and real-time condition information, such as temperatures. This predictive maintenance approach offers early warnings of potential failures, allowing prompt action to prevent unplanned downtime. Specific condition monitoring for the MV switchgear is now available, granting flexibility in carrying out maintenance when needed based on actual device conditions.

Sixten Holm, Business Development Manager at ABB in Finland, emphasized that modernizing outdated components is an effective way to enhance reliability and reduce costs, minimizing downtime during the process.

This comprehensive overhaul not only provides a technologically advanced and environmentally friendly solution but also ensures reliability, security, and safety. The integration of ABB's intelligent asset and energy management system optimizes maintenance activities, offering a forward-looking approach to healthcare power supply.

Jari-Pekka Korhonen, Operations Manager for HUS Kiinteistöt Oy, commended ABB's solutions, emphasizing the importance of a reliable power supply in healthcare and praising ABB's excellent collaboration with Meilahti Hospital Area.

Source: ABB