Sea Marconi

Sea Marconi supports the children of the Divine Providence Association in Peru

A few days ago our e-mail box received a very welcome communication: the Charity Association

“Divina Provvidenza” of TORINO informed us how our donation was used. In fact, last year, Mr. Vander Tumiatti and Mrs. Graziella Gardini (owners and top managers of Sea Marconi), for the Christmas holidays of 2010 received from all the company staff a donation in favour of the Charity Association “Divina Provvidenza” to support children in Peru.

On page 3 of their news bulletin we can read:

“A very recent operation in this direction has been to replace the kitchen block, that was in very poor conditions; luckily for us SEA Marconi intervened in giving us a hand, that (thanks to the donation by its personnel) sponsored the acquisition of a very nice gas fired system and many stainless steel accessories: a very important help for a considerable quality improvement”.

For Sea Marconi has been a very great pleasure and a deep pride having contributed to the daily needs of the community in Quillabamba (Perù), where a lay missionary Marisa Ferreri, created from scratch a kindergarten, a small hospital, and a boarding school, providing an alternative to ignorance, poverty and street violence for a lot of children.

We particularly liked the motto by the Association: “You start doing your share and have faith: for the rest the providence shall take care”, meaning believing in the help by Our Lord only and when all what can be done on Earth has been done.

Presented the nanosponges, revolutionary bio-materials for an intelligent agriculture

Press room (updated at 01/18/2012 11.38 a.m., only italian language)
A few hours ago (12/12/2011) at the Industrial Union of Turin, the presentation of functionalised nanosponges, materials of organic origin capable of considerably improving the growth and conservation of plants and agricultural products in general took place.
Nanosponges are an extraordinary example of research resulting from the collaboration between company of excellence, Sea Marconi and Green Has Italia, and the University (Facoltà di Agraria di Torino).
Functionalised nanosponges (patent applied for by Sea Marconi) are macro molecules derived from starch with innovative and surprising capacities of capturing and releasing in a controlled manner nutritive substances (iron, zinc or other active principles) required for the development of agricultural products. The effects of such technology consist in a reduced use of weed killers and fertilisers, thus healthier cultivations, with a faster growth, an enhanced production and qualities of the products. Thus, thanks to nanosponges it is possible to apply a smaller amount of active principles improving the conservation through time, being able to resist longer the flushing action of atmospheric agents.

TAESA Brazil communicates the results of the Selective depolarisation (Chedcos) against DBDS

after about two years from the start of the research and development project finalised toward the evaluation of the Selective Depolarisation project used to solve the problem of corrosive sulfur in Brazil, on 28th October 2010, a meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro to share the results of the research (download the PPT presentation - in Portuguese).

The event has factually validated the Selective Depolarisation process by Sea Marconi (with on-load application) as the best available technique against the problem of corrosive sulfur by DBDS on the transformers and reactors of the Brazilian grid (up to 500 kV) controlled by TAESA. With a clear and full letter of reference in favour of Sea Marconi, TAESA formalised the validation of the Selective depolarisation and the benefits obtained in operational terms, both economically and environmentally. Let’s take a step backward.

TAESA (Transmissora Aliança de Energia Elétrica S.A.), ex Terna Participações S.A.is currently one of the largest groups for the transmission of electric power in Brazil. After suffering several failures caused by corrosive sulfur and after discovering they had 76 (out of 112) transformers and reactors contaminated by DBDS (totalling 2,093,358 kg of corrosive oil), they decided to implement different countermeasures, including the Selective Depolarisation by Sea Marconi. Prior to procuring a DMU (Decontamination Mobile Unit) from Sea Marconi, other countermeasures were tried on the Brazilian grid: passivation, changing the oil, replacing the windings on the worst contaminated units.

The research and development project, the results of which have been divulged last October in Rio de Janeiro, have evaluated on one side the effectiveness of the Selective Depolarisation process by Sea Marconi, on the other hand it was compared with the alternative solutions mentioned above, both on the technical-functional level and the financial and environmental sides. A synthesis of the project is provided here below

	Advantages	Disadvantages
PASSIVATION	- Low cost and easy to be applied - It contrasts the formation of copper sulfide (Cu2S)	- It doesn’t remove the DBDS from the insulating oil - It doesn’t solve the problem since in TAESA for example, nine reactors were subject to failures in spite of passivation - Need to repeat again the passivation at later stages - Equipment downtime, loss of production and financial costs due to penalties
CHANGE OF OIL	- It eliminates the danger of formation of copper sulfide (Cu2S) since the new oil is DBDS free	- High cost - Equipment downtime, loss of production and financial costs due to penalties - Risk of contamination due to improper stocking of the oil (cross-contamination)
SELECTIVE DEPOLARISATION	t is the method causing the least downtime of the equipment - Lesser operational risks - It eliminates the formation of copper sulfide by removing the DBDS from the insulating oil	none

In summary:

- The Selective Depolarisation process represents an assurance for the removal of DBDS; all the forms of application of the process showed being effective: with energised or de-energised equipment, or with the oil in tanks; the duration of the treatment varies depending upon the type of application.

- The process does not change the chemical-physical properties of the oil. However, it is necessary to add an anti oxidant additive (DBPC) to the oil after the treatment.

- Under an environmental point of view, choosing the change of the oil, especially when thousands of tons of oil are involved, produces a large volume of waste to be disposed of, whereas the Selective Depolarisation process provides in fact the full recovery of the oil, preventing its change.

- Also, still on the environmental side, it must be pointed out that the passivation with BTA can cause environmental problems at the end of life of the equipment.

- On the financial side, the Depolarisation, with respect to the change, has a lower total cost.

- In the TAESA instance (~ 1.100 tons of contaminated oil), the Depolarisation, with respect to the change of oil, saved 1,600,000 Euro (without considering the costs for the disposal and the penalties for loss of supply of power).

- A financial comparison with passivation has not been done, since the latter can only be considered as a temporary solution for the action of the DBDS on copper, but it does not eliminate the DBDS.

- Selective Depolarisation is the option generating the least operational risks: in case of emergency, it is possible to obtain the immediate availability of the equipment.

- With respect to the other measures for DBDS in oil (change of the oil and passivation) it is possible to state that the Selective Depolarisation process represents currently the best available technique and the best environmental practice (in the case of TESA it prevented the disposal of 1,167,000 kg of oil).

The Sea Marconi laboratory among the front runners in the RRT organised by ASTM

The Sea Marconi analyses laboratory can be defined, without doubts, among the “front runners” after the results of two inter-laboratory tests (RRT - Round Robin Test or proficiency test) organised by ASTM International (USA).
The first RRT, in which Sea Marconi obtained extraordinary results, compared the quality of 65 laboratories on an international range in performing analytical tests on dissolved gases (DGA). In the second RRT, 87 laboratories were put in a contest in performing different physical-chemical tests (see Table below).

Both Round Robin Tests emphasised an absolute quality and a great competence by the Sea Marconi laboratory, thus confirming its role as international leader in the analytical tests of insulating fluids. For the accredited laboratories such as Sea Marconi’s. these RRT are essential to maintain the accreditation by Accredia (ex SINAL): in this instance obtained by Sea Marconi in February 2009 and extended in November 2010 and recently renewed.

To interpret correctly the data listed below, some information about these inter-laboratory tests is added. The RRT, also designated as proficiency tests, are an instrument ensuring the quality of the laboratories and the results of the analytical results issued. At the end of each RRT an evaluation is provided by a score system designated as “Z score”, the more this score is near to zero the better is the operation of the laboratory. As a conclusion, in both the RRT the Sea Marconi laboratory has provided a great proof of force, by obtaining excellence scores both in absolute terms and in comparison with the laboratory worldwide. Please find here below the results of the Proficiency test.

EDF renews two contracts with Sea Marconi: diagnosis of strategic transformers and management of environmental crises

EDF, the energy giant, confirms the confidence in Sea Marconi by extending two frame agreements. The first agreement, signed in January 2009 and just extended for two more years, EDF allocates to Sea Marconi the monitoring of the state of the health of its electrical equipment through the analysis and diagnosis of the insulating fluids they contain. The second agreement, instead, extended through 31^st November 2014, involves the emergency response by Sea Marconi in case of environmental crises linked with EDF transformers contaminated by PCBs.

Thus, Sea Marconi is taking over the continuous monitoring of the life cycle of the power transformers, strategic equipment for the production of nuclear, thermal and hydro-electrical power, as well as its transportation and distribution. Sea Marconi demonstrates once more unique qualities in providing services to groups with a primary importance at international level:

Forty years experience with a data bank with over 50,000 pieces of electrical equipment analysed and over 150,000 diagnoses issued
Being an interface independent from repair shops, manufacturers of equipment and producers of insulating liquids
High quality (certified ISO 9001, IEC 17025, accredited by Accredia for gas (DGA), furans, PCBs, PCTs, PCBTs, water tests
Advanced laboratory instrumentation, competent and motivated personnel with experience achieved also in the participation to international normative groups
Very short response delays with emergency response between 2 and 24 hours

Innovation, development of new analytical methods and advanced diagnostics (i.e. method for the simultaneous determination of DGA and SF6 on the same insulating liquid for high voltage bushings with two compartments: oil and SF6).

Accredia renews the accreditation of the Sea Marconi�s laboratory

After the extension of the accreditation in November 2010, a few weeks ago the Sea Marconi laboratory passed the supervisory control visit by Accredia (the only organization authorised by the Italian government to provide accreditation activities).
The control by Accredia evaluated both the technical and organizational procedures and the human and instrumental resources involved by the test and calibration activities. Thanks to all the accredited tests (see here below) the Sea Marconi laboratory is one among the very few laboratories worldwide the only one in Italy) capable of offering a package of accredited tests fundamental in the diagnosis of electrical equipment with insulating fluids.

I would like to point out that the participation by Accredita to the Multilateral Agreements for Mutual Recognition (MLA) is such that the test and inspection reports issued by Sea Marconi relative to the accredited tests are recognised and accepted at international level by all the signatory nations for the mutual recognition agreements (see the list of EA countries (European Accreditation); and the list of IAF countries (International Accreditation Forum).

Thus, the accreditation brand on the Sea Marconi test report “operates as a passport in the international markets, where the holder is not required to have its product, service or professionalism subject to additional tests, inspections or verifications [web site Accredia, pag. Accordi internazionali].

The accreditation of the single tests assures that the Sea Marconi laboratory is fully complying with the procedures and analysis methods on the single matrices. Also, in relation with standard ISO IEC 17025 about the measurement uncertainty, the Sea Marconi laboratory monitors periodically its performances also through the participation to international inter-laboratory circuits (RRT – Round Robin Test o Proficiency Test) achieving scores (Z score) at absolute excellency levels.
Consequently, the Sea Marconi test report achieves a specific relevance in legal terms, when prescribed, and is fully complying with the Directives, implementation Laws or the technical Standards of the sector (IEC, CENELEC, CEI, etc.) assuring an independent and expert evaluation. The Sea Marconi test report, together with the other parameters of evaluation, is dynamically interpreted (with diagnostic algorithms and the Sea Marconi data bank on over 60,000 pieces of equipment) to ensure the best diagnostic coverage for the Life Cycle Management – LCM of fleets of equipment with insulating fluids, strategic units in the generation, transportation, distribution and use of power.

Full list of the tests (6) in revision 3 of 14-10-2011

Material / product / matrix	Designation of the test	Norm/test method
Insulating liquids	2-Furfural and derivative compounds : - 2-FAL (2- furfuraldehyde) - 5-HMF (5-hydroximethyl-2- furfuraldehyde) - 5-MEF (5-methyl-2- furfuraldehyde) - 2-FOL (2-furfurylalcohol) - 2-ACF (2-acetylfuran) (> 0,05 mg/kg)	IEC 61198:1993-09
Insulating liquids	Dissolved water (> 2 mg/kg)	IEC 60814:1997-08 (excluding point 2 and 4)
Insulating liquids	Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Polychlorobiphényles (PCB) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Policlorobifenilos (PCB) (> 2 mg/kg)	IEC 61619:1997-04, CEI EN 61619:1998-11
Insulating oils	Dissolved gases in oil (head space): - Oxygen (O2) - Nitrogen (N2) – Carbon dioxide (CO2) – Carbon monoxide (CO) - Hydrogen (H2) - Methane (CH4) - Ethane (C2H6) - Ethylene (C2H4) – Acetylene (C2H2) (Oxygen: > 500 )	Project IEC 60567 ed4.0 (excluding point 3; extraction technique: head space, pont 7.5)
Mineral Insulating oils	Total PCBs PCB (> 10 mg/kg)	D.Lgs. n° 209 22/05/1999 GU n° 151 30/06/1999, Dir CE 59/1996 GUCE L243 24/09/1996, EEC Directive 59/1996 GU CE L243 24/09/1996
New, used, treated petroleum products, Synthetic or recovered lubricating oils, mixtures of vegetable oils.	Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT), Polychlorinated benzyl toluenes (PCBT), Poly chloro phenyl (PCT), Poly chloro bencitolueno (PCBT) (PCBT: > 5 mg/kg PCT: > 10 mg/kg )	EN 12766-3:2004, UNI EN 12766-3:2005

In-depth examinations:

- Ricerca dei laboratori accreditati ACCREDIA (Search for the ACCREDITA accredited laboratories)

- EA (European Accreditation)

- IAF (International Accreditation Forum)

Sea Marconi�s solutions against PCBS for the power networks of Azerbaijan

After the visit by a delegation from Azerbaijan at our headquarters in Turin in March 2011, Vander Tumiatti went to Baku in Azerbaijan to participate to the vendors meeting organised from 15^th through 17^th November 2011. The meeting saw several potential suppliers on stage, each one of them presenting a solution for the problem of managing electrical equipment with insulating oils with PCBs. Vander Tumiatti presented the "GreenPro Transfo" solutions by Sea Marconi capable of supporting the holders of electrical equipment with insulating oils and PCBs, during the entire life cycle (Life cycle management – LCM). In his presentation, Vander Tumiatti illustrated the “PCBs Free Program”, a line of integrated services for the inventory, control, management and decontamination of electric transformer contaminated by PCBs, fully complying with the Convention of Stockholm and the technical norms of the sector: CENELEC CLC/TR 50503, IEC 60422 Ed. 3 2005.
Sea Marconi is an international leader in the management of electrical equipment with insulating fluids, strategic elements in the field of generation, transportation, distribution and use of electric power. The leading service for the decontamination from PCBs is the CDP Process®, the technology considered as BAT/BEP (Best Available Technique/ Best Environmental Practice) also reported by the brochure CIGRE no. 413 (April 2010).

Sea Marconi al GBEP, bioenergie, sostenibilit�, biodiversit�, accesso all'energia nel mondo

Dal 10 al 12 novembre 2011 il GBEP (Global Bioenergy Partnership) ha organizzato a Roma un seminario internazionale molto importante poiché si sono affrontate tematiche estremamente delicate come le bioenergie e la sostenibilità, le emissioni di gas serra, la biodiversità, il costo di un paniere di beni di prima necessità nel mondo, l'accesso all'energia, lo sviluppo economico e la sicurezza energetica.
L’evento aveva come titolo “Sustainable bioenergy: sowing the seeds of sustainable development”, tradotto in italiano: “Bioenergia sostenibile: piantare i semi dello sviluppo sostenibile”.

Al seminario hanno partecipato le maggiori cariche istituzioni pubbliche ed enti di diversi paesi nel mondo, tra cui: Italia, Egitto, Argentina, Ghana, Paraguai; hanno partecipato anche università ed aziende private tra cui Sea Marconi.
Clicca qui per accedere all’Agenda, Concept Note e Lista dei Partecipanti
Scarica le foto dell'evento (Vander Tumiatti e Francesco Lenzi (Sea Marconi) con Guido Ghisolfi (Beta Renewables S.p.A.) e Corrado Clini (nuovo Ministro dell’Ambiente) [1,5 MB]

Sea Marconi sostiene i bambini in Per� dell'Associazione Divina Provvidenza

Qualche giorno fa nelle nostre caselle email è pervenuta una graditissima comunicazione: l’Associazione di Volontariato “Divina Provvidenza” (ONLUS di TORINO) ci ha informato su come è stata impiegata la nostra donazione. Lo scorso anno infatti, il sig. Vander Tumiatti e la sig.ra Graziella Gardini (proprietà ed altissima direzione Sea Marconi), in occasione del SS. Natale 2010 hanno ricevuto da tutti i dipendenti una donazione in favore appunto dell’Associazione di volontariato “Divina Provvidenza” per il sostegno dei bambini in Perù.

A pag. 3 del loro Notiziario leggiamo:

“Una recentissima operazione in tal senso è stata quella della sostituzione del blocco cucina, che era ridotto in uno stato penoso; per nostra fortuna è intervenuta a darci una mano la SEA MARCONI, che (grazie alla donazione di tutti i collaboratori) ci ha sponsorizzato l’acquisto di una bella apparecchiatura a gas e di parecchi accessori tutti in acciaio inossidabile: un bell’aiuto per un bel salto di qualità.”

Per tutta la Sea Marconi è stato un piacere enorme ed un orgoglio profondo aver contribuito alla quotidianità della comunità di Quillabamba (Perù), dove una missionaria laica, Marisa Ferreri, ha creato dal nulla un asilo, un piccolo ospedale, ed una scuola/convitto, dando a numerosissimi bambini un’alternativa all'ignoranza, alla miseria ed alla violenza della strada.

Ci è piaciuto moltissimo il motto dell’Associazione: "Cominciate a fare la vostra parte ed abbiate fede: al resto penserà la Provvidenza", che significa credere nell’aiuto del Signore solo e soltanto quando tutto ciò che umanamente è possibile fare è stato fatto.

Presentate le nanospugne, biomateriali rivoluzionari per un�agricoltura intelligente

Rassegna Stampa (aggiornata al 18/01/2012 ore 11.39)
Si è conclusa qualche ora fa (12/12/2011) presso l’Unione Industriale di Torino, la presentazione delle nanospugne funzionalizzate, materiali di origine organica capaci di migliorare sensibilmente la crescita e la conservazione di piante e prodotti dell’agricoltura in genere.

Le nanospugne sono uno straordinario esempio di ricerca frutto della collaborazione fra aziende d’eccellenza, Sea Marconi e Green Has Italia, e l’Università (Facoltà di Agraria di Torino).

Le nanospugne funzionalizzate (domanda di brevetto Sea Marconi) sono delle macromolecole derivate dall’amido con innovative e sorprendenti capacità di trattenere e rilasciare in maniera controllata le sostanze nutritive (ferro, zinco o altri principi attivi) necessarie allo sviluppo di prodotti agricoli. Gli effetti di tale tecnologia consistono in un minor utilizzo di diserbanti e fertilizzanti, e quindi coltivazioni più sane, con una crescita più rapida, un incremento di produzione e di qualità dei prodotti. Grazie alle nanospugne è dunque possibile impiegare un dosaggio inferiore di principi attivi e migliorarne la conservazione nel tempo perché in grado di resistere più a lungo all’azione dilavante degli agenti atmosferici.

Approfondisci le nanospugne funzionalizzate