Innovations in a container terminal area and electrical power distribution for the service continuity

Abstract

The economic efficiency in competitive container terminals promotes continuous innovations to reduce the operating costs based on the reduction of processes operating time by automated means, on the service continuity enhancement and on energy saving techniques. The increasing container number moved makes necessary the compensation of high values of energy absorbed from the utility by promoting renewable energy sources and an innovative approach of a coordinated management of the global energy absorption of all the port tenants (microgrid management). The paper deals with the relevance of system integrity aspects in the design phase and in its following management. Electrical distribution architecture, integrated at least by two independent sources from the utility company, has a vital impact on system availability throughout its lifecycle. Thanks to a flexible power distribution system assisted by a prompt reaction of a qualified maintenance staff, system critical loads could be re-energized in emergency condition such as faults, maintenance operations and interruption of one energy supply from the utility company. The paper used as reference the Port of Long Beach for the data reported as example.