SIPOS Attracts GKM

SIPOS Aktorik announces its largest order to date for its encoder version, non intrusive (NI) actuator. The contract win for one thousand actuators was awarded by Siemens for block nine of the Grosskraftwerk Mannheim (GKM) power plant.

SIPOS, a manufacturer and global supplier of electric actuators, has long standing track records with both Siemens and GKM. Originally part of the Siemens group, SIPOS is a preferred supplier for the engineering conglomerate. Over the last decade, the actuator innovator has supplied products for a number of GKM installations including GKM7.

GKM, which comprises RWE, EnBW and MVV Energie, is a major utility producing electricity for households/railroads and energy for district heating. Representing a 1.2 billion Euro investment, planned inauguration for block nine is 2012/13. Gross production will be 911 MW, with electric efficiency of 46.4% and district heating production, with cogeneration, to a maximum of 70%.

Key features of the actuation solution supplied by SIPOS for the block nine installation are non intrusive Position (niP) encoder and Bluetooth functionality for remote programming and downloading of data.

Commenting on the advantages of the NI solution, Michael Molle, SIPOS’ R&D Manager, said:

“NI actuation offers high precision encoder detection which allows identification, without battery or buffer capacitator, when power is off. To give an example, measurement of over 300,000 revolutions of the output shaft is possible, with accuracy pin pointed to 0.002% and resolution of 0.0005% at 36 revolutions per stroke.

“End positions can be set without opening the actuator housing – this non intrusive functionality offers major benefits regarding commissioning for power plants as it simplifies the process and minimises the time required for procedures.”

The Distributed Control System (DCS) for the GKM installation will be provided by Siemens.

Sipos Aktorik
Tel: 01275 871141
Website: www.sipos.de

Published: 28th November 2011