Eaton switchgear powers the new Mersey Ferry Terminal
Eaton switchgear and distribution boards have been specified and installed for the new £10.5 million Mersey Ferry Terminal. Delivery in a record four weeks was achieved for the low-voltage switchboard and a special low-voltage panel. Both have comprehensive metering to comply with the current Building Regulations and power-factor correction to improve the energy efficiency of the building.
Ferries have crossed the Mersey between Liverpool and The Wirral for over 800 years, and the new terminal offers greatly improved facilities. The 3-storey structure includes a Beatles-themed visitor attraction, restaurant and retail facilities.
The main supply from a transformer substation feeds the special low-voltage panel. It comprises an Eaton Glasgow busbar chamber feeding three fuse combination switches — two serving the lifts and a third feeding the main LV switchboard.
The 3-section Capitole 20 main switchboard was chosen for its compact design and excellent cabling facilities. Eaton components were specified throughout, with the 800 A incoming fused combination switch feeding 20 outgoing fused combination switches, a surge-protection device and automatic power-factor-correction module
Meters are fitted to 75% of the circuits, and there is a 5-stage 250 kVA(r) power-factor-correction module.
Final distribution is by Memshield 2 MCB distribution boards. Eaton also supplied 63 A auto-changeover units to provide dual supplies to two evacuation lifts.
