High Power Testing

Beyond Limits: The Future of High-Power testing

KEMA Labs High Power Laboratories provide short circuit, switching testing and short time current testing based on international and regional standards, to utilities and equipment manufacturers all over the world. Several high-power labs are available in different locations, with short circuit power starting from 2,000MVA up to 15,000 MVA three phase, the widest range ever achieved in an independent third-party test laboratory.

These industry-leading facilities, together with our highly qualified and experienced test engineers, ensure maximum flexibility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in testing all kinds of transmission and distribution components. 

HV Switchgear Making and Breaking Testing

Reaching the high short circuit powers that are achieved in actual transmission networks is only possible using a synthetic test method with the right combination of two different circuits that individually each have a relatively low power. 

Our Laboratories has achieved the most powerful short circuit and synthetic test capabilities ever in our independent testing and certification laboratory, which can short-circuit test 1,200 kV power equipment, with the highest short circuit power of up to 15,000 MVA.

Equipment Tested:

• High voltage gas insulated switchgear
• Dead tank circuit breaker
• Live tank circuit breaker
• Generator circuit breaker
• Medium voltage switchgear 
• Cables and cable accessories
• Insulators
• Power and instrument transformers
• Panels and other components

Type of Test Performed:

• Single phase short circuit testing (terminal fault, short line fault tests and out of phase tests)
• Three phase synthetic short circuit tests
• Capacitive switching tests (line charging, cable charging, single and back-to-back capacitor bank)
• Reactor and small inductive current switching tests (direct testing method)
• Short circuit test on generator circuit breaker
• Power arc test
• Internal arc test

Selected applicable standards:

• IEC 62271-100
• IEC 62271-101
• IEC 62271-200
• IEC/IEEE 62271-37-013
• Other client specific standards

High Power Laboratories Locations 

• Italy – Milan
• Germany – Berlin
• Netherlands – Arnhem
• US – Chalfont
• Czech Republic – Prague

KEMA Labs offers a range of deliverables including Certificates, Type Test Reports, Design Verification Reports, Test Reports, and Inspection Reports and Certificate of Conformity. These documents certify the quality and performance of products based on rigorous testing standards and help facilitate global trade by ensuring compliance with international regulations.

KEMA Labs is a well-recognized conformity assessment body, accredited according to ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO/IEC 17065 standards. Additionally, KEMA Labs, through CESI S.p.a., is a notified body for the IECEx Certification Scheme and ATEX.

Moreover, KEMA Labs is founding member of Short Circuit Testing Liaison (STL) and is actively participating to the working group for the maintenance and improvement of STL Guides to facilitate the Type Test Certification process of T&D equipments.