News

October 27, 2011
ERLPhase Welcomes Rafael Chaparro as Director of Sales for Latin America

ERLPhase is pleased to welcome Rafael Chaparro to lead sales in the Latin American region.

Mr. Chaparro's experience includes over 25 years in the power utility industry, including 8 years in communications and relaying with RFL Electronics and 10 years in metering systems with Schlumberger.

Mr. Chaparro will work very closely with Hugo Davila, who has been with the company for many years and is the Technical Manager for Latin America.

"Rafael Chaparro is a very high caliber professional, whose communications experience in relaying and metering applications will be invaluable to ERLPhase and to our customers," said John Swindlehurst, VP Sales and Marketing at ERLPhase. "His experience with Latin American power utilities will help shape our strategies in that region, which will represent a growing part of our business in years to come."

Mr. Chaparro has an Electrical Engineering degree from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, and a Masters of Science in Telecommunications from George Mason University in Virginia, USA. He is an IEEE Power Engineering Society member and is active in Power Systems Relaying Committee working groups.

"I am excited about ERL's new generation of product and am pleased to be part of a dynamic organization with international vision," commented Mr. Chaparro. "ERLPhase is certainly ready with all the features demanded by clients in Latin America and I look forward to bringing these innovative solutions to the market. These products, along with ERL's tradition of excellent support and ease of use, will open new doors."

Mr. Chaparro is based in the Washington DC area and can be reached at rchaparro@erlphase.com or (703) 716-4507.

Link to high resolution photo.

September 2011
Krish Narendra Appointed as Adjunct Professor

ERLPhase Power Technologies is pleased to announce that the University of Manitoba has appointed Krish Narendra (Ph.D.) as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This 3 year term includes providing thesis topic advice to graduate students, evaluating graduate students theses, shaping graduate studies policies, and maintaining his high level of scholarship and research in the University community.

Dr. Narendra is the Vice President of Technology and Quality at ERLPhase Power Technologies. He obtained his B.E. (Electrical Engineering) in 1986 from University Visweswaraiah College of Engineering (UVCE), and Msc (E.E), Ph.D. (E.E) with a specialisation in High Voltage Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, India in 1989 and 1993 respectively. He joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of Concordia University, Montreal as a Research Scholar in 1995. From 1996, he worked in software development with APT Technologies and then NxtPhase T&D Corporation, heading Software Development for the Relay and Recorder division since 2006.

Dr. Narendra has over 18 years of software development expertise, as well as over 25 publications and 4 patents (pending) to his credit. He is actively participating in the IEEE PRSC (Power System Relaying Standards Committee), IEEE – IEC joint working groups and is a member of the PRTT of NASPI (North American Synchrophasor Initiative). His areas of interest include Power Systems Disturbance Analysis, Protection, HVDC Controls, Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Wavelets, Phasor Technology (PMUs), and IEC 61850 application to protection and control.

April 2011
Interview with Apps Engineer, Mark Peterson at IEEE Power Systems Conference

Listen as Mark Peterson gives an overview of ERLPhase products at the recent IEEE Power Systems Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mark gives a high level overview of why customers are choosing ERLPhase protection relays and power system recorders.

He was interviewed by Canadian Electronics for the article "IEEE Conference addresses the smarts in the smart grid"

April 6, 2011
Welcome Laura Hicks, Western Regional Sales Manager

ERLPhase is pleased to announce that Laura Hicks has joined the company as Regional Sales Manager of Western USA and Canada. Her territory includes Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, British Columbia, and Utah. She will be working closely with Adam Caballero who will work with customers in California and Nevada.

Ms. Hicks has a long history in the communications sector, recently working in a sales manager role for RuggedCom, where she developed the industrial sales market, including key marketing programs to support that goal. Before that she was a sales manager at GarrettCom where she built territory revenue significantly, through Smart Grid and security applications. She is a consistent performer with focus on quality, customer service, and long-term relationships for referral based sales. She has also held sales positions for companies such as Federal Network Services, Allied Telesyn International, Cabletron Systems and, in the laser industry, Kentek Corporation. Ms. Hicks has an educational background in Business Administration, as well as IT and sales training.

"A natural customer-first attitude is a key trait for all professionals on our sales team," said John Swindlehurst, VP Sales and Marketing at ERLPhase. "Ms. Hick's proven experience entering Western USA's industrial market will also be beneficial as we look to ensure that market is aware of how our 61850-enabled protection solutions can benefit their applications."

"I look forward to working with ERLPhase customers, both existing and new, and am excited about the value these solutions offer to the industry," commented Ms. Hicks. "I've always believed in a consultative approach to sales, based on earning trust by offering excellent service paired with systems that are truly valuable for my customer."

Laura is based in the Seattle area and can be reached at lhicks@erlphase.com or (206) 204-9484.

Link to high resolution photo.


Presented recently at Winnipeg's IEEE Power & Energy Society meeting...

An Insight into IEC 61850 Protocol Implementation
Dr. Krish Narendra, PhD

On January 25, 2011, Dr. Krish Narendra presented at a luncheon meeting for the Winnipeg section of the IEEE Power & Energy Society.

Many publications and free online tutorials describe the IEC 61850 standard protocol, but very few implementation details have been published. This presentation included implementation details of the IEC 61850 protocol (both station bus 8-1, and process bus 9-2) with ERLPhase new generation relay and recording systems. It covered a brief introduction to the 61850 standards, logical node descriptions, GOOSE and Sampled Value publishing and subscriptions. An update on work being done to transmit Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) data using the 61850 protocol was also discussed.

January 25, 2011
ERLPhase Power Technologies Announces S-PRO Sub-Harmonic Protection Relay

Winnipeg, Canada, Jan 25, 2011 – ERLPhase Power Technologies, a provider of easy-to-use protection relays and digital fault recorders, today announced the S-PRO Sub-Harmonic Protection Relay. Solutions, like the S-PRO, that help control harmonic oscillations are especially valuable in wind farm applications.

"The S-PRO was installed at a wind farm substation in Trimont, Minnesota to detect subharmonic oscillations occurring at adjacent wind farms connected to the series compensated line," said Pratap Mysore, Consulting Engineer at Xcel Energy. "In tests so far, the unit has performed well and the relay has been designed well to detect and protect against sustained harmonics from the wind turbines."

Since wind farms are generally located far away from load centers, power flow is increased using series capacitors to compensate for transmission line reactance. Unfortunately series capacitors can interact with the wind system, creating undamped sub-harmonic current oscillations that can cause serious damage to wind turbine controllers and also to conventional generators. The wind turbine's own mechanical system interactions (tower-to-blade) can also generate sub-harmonics, which are detrimental to induction generators, transformers, and may cause resonance at the point of common coupling in the electrical grid. By isolating the healthy grid from sub-harmonic generation sources, damage to the electrical interconnection can be prevented.

The S-PRO 4000 relay provides real-time processing of voltage and current signals with sub-harmonic monitoring at 1 Hz intervals between 5 and 25 Hz (5 Hz, 6 Hz, 7 Hz… 23 Hz, 24 Hz and 25 Hz). It protects the grid from sub-harmonic oscillations at the point-of-common-coupling every 1 second, with additional user-configurable delays. Like all ERLPhase relays, the S-PRO is easy-to-use with intuitive settings and analysis software. The S-PRO has already been installed with a lead customer and will begin full production shipment in Q1 2011.

"Our sub-harmonic protection relay (S-PRO) is the first advanced microprocessor-based relay with 10 second high speed recording capability. It can also be used for detecting Sub Synchronous Resonance (SSR) frequencies," commented Krish Narendra, Vice President of Technology and Quality at ERLPhase.

ERLPhase has a history of pioneering innovative protection and monitoring solutions including transformer loss-of-life monitoring in the T-PRO Transformer Protection Relay, dynamic swing recording in the L-PRO Transmission Line Protection Relay, the use of low impedance current inputs in the B-PRO Bus Protection Relay, and dynamic swing record capture with cross triggering in the TESLA Power System Recorder. All these innovations now find wide spread industry application.

Link to full press release.

Link to S-PRO 4000 product info.

Link to high resolution S-PRO photos for download both with windfarm background, and without windfarm background.

December 20, 2010
ERLPhase Power Technologies Announces Availability of L-PRO 4000 Transmission Line Protection Relay

Winnipeg, Canada, Dec 20, 2010 – ERLPhase Power Technologies, a provider of easy-to-use protection relays and digital fault recorders, today announced the L-PRO 4000 Transmission Line Protection Relay is available for ordering immediately. The IEC 61850 station bus embedded L-PRO 4000 provides comprehensive distance-based line protection, best-in-class DFR quality fault oscillography, standard ring bus capability, swing recording, event logging, SCADA control and metering.

"Our customers have been eagerly anticipating availability of our next generation series of protection relays," said René Midence, Business Unit Manager for Protection Products at ERLPhase. "We are very pleased to be shipping this product and open to requests from new customers to evaluate the L-PRO 4000 in their own system."

The L-PRO 4000, a member of the 4000 series of protection relays, is a digital, microprocessor-based line distance protection system, which provides protection for medium to extra-high-voltage transmission lines. The L-PRO 4000 is a state-of-the-art, cost-effective product, providing control, automation, metering, monitoring and communications in one flexible and easy-to-use package. Apply the L-PRO 4000 system for high-speed distance and directional protection and complete control in multi-breaker applications typically found in ring or breaker-and-a-half substation arrangements. In addition, the L-PRO 4000 also offers:

• 4 shot recloser with sync check
• Single pole trip and reclose
• IEC 61850 station bus on a dedicated optical/copper Ethernet port
• User-friendly, Windows™-based relay setting and record analysis software
• ProLogic® – 24 control logic statements

Link to full press release.

Link to L-PRO 4000 product info.

July 20, 2010
ERLPhase Announces IEC 61850 Certification for L-PRO Transmission Line Protection Relay

ERLPhase Power Technologies, a provider of easy-to-use protection relays and digital fault recorders, today announced IEC 61850 protocol certification of its L-PRO 4000 Transmission Line Protection Relay. Issued by the Central Power Research Institute of India, this independent assessment is based on the UCA International Users Group Device Test Procedures.

ERLPhase will offer the IEC 61850 Station Bus protocol (8-1) as a standard feature on its 4000 Series relays and recorders, being released later this year.

"We're very proud of this certification and of the standards-compliant approach we've always followed in our platform design," said René Midence, Business Unit Manager for Protection Products at ERLPhase. "As we look forward to a new generation of Substation Automation IEDs, commitment to certifications like IEC 61850 is essential for the benefit of our industry as a whole."

In response to growing proprietary protocols, the IEC 61850 standard was developed to ensure interoperability of substation automation devices. Beginning in 1995, an IEC project group of about 60 members from different countries worked in 3 IEC working groups to create a single protocol which would: define basic services required to transfer data in the future, promote interoperability between vendor systems, standardize on a common format for data storage, and define testing requirements for conformance to the standard.

Link to full press release.

Link to L-PRO IEC 61850 Certificate.

June 21, 2010
ERLPhase Expands ISO 9001:2008 Certification

ERLPhase Power Technologies is pleased to announce we have been awarded a renewal of ISO 9001:2008 certification, including an expansion of scope to include Manufacturing processes. This certification covers the major processes ERLPhase has developed to ensure quality for our customers, including assembly, test, receiving inspection, equipment calibration, supplier selection and supplier review. Based on an external ISO audit by Intertek, the auditor found no non-conformities and noted a team environment that embraces our Quality System. Quality for our customers is a cornerstone of our company culture, and is considered a personal responsibility of all employees.


ERLPhase Quality Management Principles:

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Involvement of people
• Process approach
• System approach to management
• Continual improvement
• Factual approach to decision making
• Mutually beneficial supplier relationship

Download Certificate PDF

June 17, 2010
ESAM's Smart Grid Conference A Success

ERLPhase Power Technologies is a proud member of ESAM, and part of an organizing committee for the recent "Smart Grid: From Concept to Reality" conference. On behalf of everyone at the ESAM member companies, we wish to thank the many delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, and world-class speakers who made this first-ever conference such a success. By all accounts, it was a thought-provoking day packed with insights from a diverse range of speakers.

• Read More

May 2010
Welcome René Midence, Business Manager - Protection Products

For over 25 years, Mr. Midence has been involved in the design and commissioning of power substations and power plants including Protection and Control, SCADA, Substation Automation and Substation LAN systems. His well-rounded experience covers the fields of consulting and engineering, construction and commissioning, manufacturing and training.

Most recently, Mr. Midence was the VP of Marketing at RuggedCom Inc. Prior to that he worked for GE Multilin for 10 years in progressive positions in Sales, Service, Marketing, and New Product Introduction. Mr. Midence also worked at Klohn Crippen Consulting as Senior Electrical Designer responsible for the design and commissioning of several power plants in Canada and overseas, including the expansion of the largest Hydroelectric Plant in Thailand. In the manufacturing business, he has worked in the design and testing of medium and high voltage substations as well as metalclad switchgear, and protection and control panels.

Prior to immigrating to Canada in 1988, Mr. Midence worked for the national utility of Honduras as an Electrical Engineer where he played an important role in the design, construction and commissioning of the El Cajon, the country's largest hydroelectric plant. Mr. Midence was the founder of CENCAP, the training center of the national telecommunications company of Honduras. He also worked for the University of Honduras where he taught in the faculties of Mathematical Science, Electrical and Civil Engineering.

Mr. Midence is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC57 WG10, and member of the UCA International Users Group where he has contributed in the marketing of the IEC61850 Users Community. He serves on the Advisory Committee for DistribuTECH and the Utility Products Conference and Exhibition. Mr. Midence has written and presented papers at several trade shows including IEEE Concapan and Mexico, DistribuTECH, Substation Automation in India, TechAdvantage, Smart Grid Road Show, T&D Europe, and UTC Telecom. Mr. Midence graduated from the University of Honduras with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Electrical and Industrial Engineering.

Based in Ontario, Canada, Mr. Midence can be reached at rmidence@erlphase.com.

February 2010
iSIS Solid Insulated Switchgear Wins Best Product Award at Elecrama 2010

Elecrama, in Mumbai, India, is among the world's largest exhibitions of T&D equipment. This year's show was no exception and we at ERLPhase were excited that a partner company won best product of the year for their iSIS Solid Insulated Switchgear. The innovative iSIS was developed by Switchcraft Europe in Germany, which is a subsidiary of Easun Reyrolle.

• Learn more about iSIS
  
• View Award Certificate

December 2009
Welcome Milton (Mack) Vaughn, Applications Engineering Manager

With over 34 years experience in the electric power industry, Mr. Vaughn is highly experienced working hands-on with a variety of industry relays in utility settings. Most recently he was a system protection engineer at GST Power Service Group, and before that a relay test engineer at Megger. Mr. Vaughn's experience includes 2.5 years as an applications specialist with Schweitzer Engineering Labs, and 20 years in relaying at Oklahoma Gas and Electric where he commissioned new construction at transmission substations, performed relay setting/maintenance, performed fault analysis, and supervised a 16 technician relay department. Mr. Vaughn served 4 years as an air traffic control radar repairman with the US Air Force. His education includes Engineering Technology at Rose State College, the US Air Force Radar School, and a range of protection-related industry courses.

Mr. Vaughn's depth of experience will be invaluable to the ERLPhase applications engineering team, and to our customers as they plan and implement their evolving protection systems.

July 2009
First shipment of 4000 series Relays

ERLPhase took the next step on its journey of continuous innovation with the first shipment of the 4000 series Relays on 31st July 2009. These B-PRO 4000 Relays were built on the new hardware platform at the Winnipeg, Canada facility.

July 2009
ERLPhase Power Technologies is now an ISO 9001:2008 QMS Certified Organization

ERLPhase's quality management system has been assessed and registered by Intertek Testing Services NA as conforming to ISO 9001:2008 QMS requirements for design, distribution and service of relays and recorders for the power industry.
Download Certificate PDF

May 2009
Introducing the 4000 series of Protective Relays and Recorders

ERLPhase Power Technologies Ltd has been known for its innovative user friendly products right from its origins as APT and later as the Relay and Recorder division of NxtPhase Corporation. Electrical Utilities in the Americas have found our TESLA DFR and Protective Relays extremely easy to set and use, and the intuitive software easy to understand.

We have pioneered innovative solutions such as transformer loss of life monitoring in our T-PRO transformer protection relay, dynamic swing recording in our L-PRO transmission line protection relay, and using low impedance current inputs in our B-PRO Bus protection relays. All these innovations now find wide spread application in the protective relays industry.

In our TESLA DFR we have pioneered the use of dynamic swing record capture with cross triggering and are a leader in the development of PMU and CDR for Power System Monitoring.

Now, as a part of a global manufacturing and marketing organization, we are introducing the 4000 series of products which are:

• built on a contemporary new fully type tested substation hardened hardware platform
• powered by a new processor
• embedded with IEC 61850 station bus communication protocol
• with enhanced user configurable DNP mapping list

With this we have taken another step towards our mission of "using the best in class technology to relentlessly provide Smart Solutions for our customers' power system protection, monitoring and control needs"