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The new Laboratory for Power Systems and Drives – LAVESP was officially commissioned on KONČAR’s 102nd birthday. This high-tech complex is vital to the Laboratory Center within KONČAR – Institute. The construction of this unique laboratory began in July 2021, and the €7 million investment is entirely financed from Institute’s own funds.
“In the laboratory, we will conduct type, special, and development tests of power and instrument transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors, earthing switches, shielded gas-insulated high-voltage plants, conductor and support insulators, overhead line and suspension equipment, high-voltage cables, HVDC cables, for both domestic and international customers.” – Dalibor Filipović Grčić, Ph.D. Director of the BU Laboratory Center, member of the Management Board
The central part of the facility is a high-voltage laboratory, completely enclosed by a Faraday cage, measuring 30 x 35 meters in plan and 28 meters high. The laboratory has three main new test systems – 1200 kV AC source, 1200 kV DC source, and 3.8 MV impulse generator. One of the many special features of this laboratory is the test transformer 1200 kV, 960 kVA constructed in one stage, instead of the usual cascade design, developed and delivered by KONČAR – Instrument Transformers.
Instead of cutting the ribbon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure Oleg Butković started the 3.8 MV Impulse Generator with the application of chopped lightning impulse voltage, using Multiple Stage Chopping Gap, which symbolically marked the operation start of the new laboratory.
LAVESP is extremely important for the continuity and development of high-voltage equipment testing, and in terms of technical characteristics, it is equal to renowned world laboratories. In addition to meeting the needs of the domestic power sector and strengthening cooperation with the scientific community, the new laboratory enables the expansion of existing cooperation and strategic connections with partners on the global market and contributes to increasing the global recognition of the KONČAR – Institute.
