Using funding provided by PRONAC, Brazil’s National Program of Cultural Support, the local electrical utility, Companhia de Eletricidade de Pernambuco (Celpe), is presently converting the existing 13.8-kV overhead distribution system in Olinda, Brazil, to more-aesthetic underground distribution. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named the historic center of Olinda located on the country’s northeastern coast, a “World Heritage” site. This designation is aimed at safeguarding historic urban landscapes such as Olinda, a town of 25,000 residents known for its Baroque-style churches dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Six units of Vault-Mounted Style Remote Supervisory Vista Underground Distribution Switchgear, featuring the IntelliTEAM II Automatic Restoration System, were chosen to switch and protect the new underground distribution system.

S&C gear was selected for its rugged submersible construction and availability of IntelliTEAM II, and because both Celpe and the engineering company developing the project have had excellent experience with S&C’s products and services. Each unit of gear features a submersible low-voltage enclosure furnished with a 5800 Series Automatic Switch Control, which supports the IntelliTEAM II Automatic Restoration System. Each fault-interrupter way is equipped with a Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-351 Directional Overcurrent and Reclosing Relay. The relays are connected through a fiberoptic cable network. The IntelliTEAM II Automatic Restoration System continuously tracks system conditions and quickly initiates service restoration in the event of a fault or an outage.

One unit of gear has been already installed and energized. The remaining five are scheduled for installation in August 2009.