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Westar Timber Limited, Carnaby Sawmill, British Columbia

Universal Dynamics was engaged to study the impact of the addition of a 15,000 hp synchronous chipper drive to the 25 kV power system available at the Westar sawmill. The initial concern was that the 25 kV system would not be sufficient to avoid line voltage dips.

Under conventional design standard procedures, the mill would be required to build a new 138 kV transmission line and substation to feed the chipper motor. Universal Dynamics developed a model of the power system and specified the chipper drive. By translating the log size to electrical system voltage disturbances caused by the chipper, we were able to demonstrate that the 15,000 hp chipper motor could be implemented without the expense of the 138 kV substation and line. This resulted in an estimated savings of $1 million for Westar.