Yukon Energy’s donation of some used computerized equipment will be a big boost to trades and technology students at Yukon College. The energy corporation has given the college several programmable logic controllers (PLC), which are shoe-box sized computers that can monitor and help control everything from diesel generators and substations to general heating and cooling systems. The PLCs also have the ability to send a message to an operator should they detect an equipment problem and can shut down a piece of equipment to prevent damage. Yukon Energy used the units to monitor one of its substations.
The controllers are in good working order, but are not compatible with Yukon Energy’s current system.
“These will be a great training tool for the electrical students at Yukon College as well as the students we help train at the Skills Centre outside the college,” electrical instructor Jerry Wald said. “While this isn’t officially part of the course at this point, any time we can expand the students’ knowledge we do.” Wald expects they’ll use the equipment to control motors and lighting in the lab at Yukon College and may find other uses later on.
“We’re delighted this equipment will be used for educational purposes,” Yukon Energy’s Director of Technical Services Alex Love said. “Whenever possible, we try to find organizations or community groups that can benefit from our fully functional but redundant equipment. We think Yukon College is the perfect fit for these controllers.”
If the college were to purchase this equipment new it would cost between $7,500 and $10,000.
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Contact:
Janet Patterson
Communications Supervisor
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
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