Posted at 7:47 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2007
German firm joins probe of HECO explosion
Advertiser Staff
Engineers from a German manufacturer are assisting Hawaiian Electric Co. with its investigation into the circuit breaker problem April 4 at the Archer Lane substation which caused an explosion that injured two employees and briefly interrupted service in the Ward Avenue area.HECO spokeswoman Lynne Unemori said Archer Lane is a major substation and its circuit breakers are housed in 4-foot-tall tubular containers weighing about 100 pounds. A failed component in one of the circuit breakers caused arcing and a buildup of pressure inside an enclosure, which eventually caused its steel doors to fly open.
Two employees were injured, including one who was hit by the door. Privacy laws prohibit specific details of injuries sustained by the men but Unemori said both are not hospitalized and are recovering well.
Engineers from Germany came to Hawai'i to investigate the accident and HECO has sent the problem component to the factury in Germany to be studied. As a further followup, German engineers will be returning to Hawai'i to survey the remaining breakers at Archer Lane and recommend changes, if necessary, to avoid future problems, said Unemori.
