Schneider Electric delivers Uninterruptible Power Supplies fully compliant with Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1)

Class 1E Uninterruptible Power Supply equipment with Gutor technology has been built for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and was delivered in mid-August 2014, following successful prototype testing at an American external test laboratory. Equipment testing took place under the strict NQA-1 quality standards in accordance with IEEE Std 650-2006, which sets tests and checks designed to prove the equipment is qualified to operate in the specified environmental, electrical and seismic conditions and events. Following the positive sign-off by the customer, the equipment (dual Gutor PDW 400 kVA) could be delivered. The commissioning phase of this 15 meter long system in ongoing.

“We knew from the beginning of the project that it would be a challenge to obtain a large 800 kVA UPS system meeting the stringent IEEE Class 1E requirements necessary for the nuclear reactor industry”, says William Steele, Project Manager of INL. “Following a thorough evaluation of the industrial base, we awarded the contract to Schneider Electric with its Gutor technology in April 2013. INL and Gutor experts have worked collaboratively for the last 16 months to meet numerous technical and schedule challenges.“

Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Idaho National Laboratory is the U.S. Department of Energy''s leading center of nuclear energy research and development where nearly 3,500 researchers and support staff work with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to deliver energy and national security solutions and expand the frontiers of science and technology.