OFFERINGS

Testing & Commissioning Support

From laboratory design to commissioning and advanced material tests, we ensure that every system and component performs safely, reliably, and in line with international standards. Our testing services support utilities and manufacturers in building confidence and reducing risk.

WHAT WE DO IN DETAIL

Securing Performance Through Proven Standards

Discover our expertise in laboratory layouts, grounding and shielding concepts, calibration, and testing procedures. We also provide witnessing, seismic qualification, and modular HVAC/HVDC test systems — all designed to verify compliance, reliability, and long-term resilience.

A well-prepared layout facilitates smooth workflow, accurate testing, and compliance with standards, while also allowing flexibility for different types of equipment and future expansions. Proper laboratory layout is essential for reliable, repeatable, and safe testing of primary and secondary equipment.
The Trench Consulting is capable of planning and designing the physical arrangement of equipment, workstations, and safety systems in a test laboratory to efficiently perform electrical, mechanical, and environmental tests on substation or HVDC components. This includes defining space for high-voltage testing, control panels and measurement instruments, while ensuring proper grounding, clearances, and safety zones.

The foundational planning is critical for reliable, repeatable, and safe testing in high-voltage laboratories. The conceptual design of grounding and shielding focuses on ensuring electrical safety, measurement accuracy, and protection of both personnel and equipment. Trench Consulting is able to design grounding systems to safely carry fault currents and minimize touch and step voltages, as well as shielding, such as Faraday-cages, to protect sensitive instruments from electromagnetic interference during high-voltage or high-current tests.

Calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting measurement instruments to ensure accuracy and traceability to recognized standards. Trench Consulting can help test laboratories to follow internationally recognized procedures to guarantee the quality and reliability of measurements, including uncertainty budgets to quantify the potential errors in measurements. This procedure ultimately ensures test results are both precise, repeatable and in compliance with standards.

Clearly defined procedures ensure consistency, repeatability, and reliability of results, reduce the risk of errors, and provide a documented basis for quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and safe commissioning. Whether for systems or primary equipment, Trench Consulting can ensure all these benefits to verify that specifications, performance requirements, and safety standards are met. This includes determining the types of tests, test sequences, measurement techniques and acceptance criteria.

A dedicated and independent engineer can be made available by Trench Consulting to attend the testing and verify the outcoming results, be it for start-up of power systems like HVDC links and FACTS, or primary equipment like insulators and instrument transformers. The goal is to ensure that all specifications, standards, and contractual requirements are met. By witnessing of the commissioning and FATs, we make sure that the asset is ready for reliable operation and that any issues are identified and addressed before full commercial use.

To ensure that materials meet international standards, verify long-term reliability, and support the development of new, more durable solutions, Trench Consulting offers a wide range of material tests. By simulating real operating conditions, the test laboratory helps to prevent premature failures and optimize the performance of primary equipment.

Trench Consulting offers highly specialized, metal-encapsulated systems for both HVAC and HVDC testing, designed with modular architectures that are fully upgradeable and expandable to meet future requirements. Whether the application involves testing GIS switchgear, capacitors, or circuit breakers, customized solutions can be delivered with exceptionally low partial discharge levels, ensuring reliable performance across all types of high-voltage testing.

To verify both structural integrity and continuous functionality, seismic qualification methods like the shake-table test are invaluable. Trench Consulting is able to organize and lead such crucial procedures for ensuring the seismic resilience of substation equipment and compliance with standards like IEEE 693 regarding dynamic behavior under earthquake conditions. Despite its higher upfront effort, shake-table testing delivers real-life results without relying on assumptions and consequently ensures a resilient energy infrastructure.

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