RCM Energy Services project visualization

RCM has designed hundreds of substations and switchyards worldwide for electric utilities, independent power producers and industrial installations from 2.3 kV to 765 kV. Our experience includes open-air and gas-insulated stations, both Greenfield sites and upgrades, and expansions of existing substations.

RCM’s comprehensive services range from conceptual designs, cost estimates, and siting studies to physical design, grading and drainage design, protection and control engineering, foundation design, and preparation of complete specifications for material, equipment and construction.

This extensive experience is applied to develop creative solutions for challenging projects, including innovative physical arrangements to accommodate space constraints and irregular site boundaries, enclosed substation designs compatible with urban environments, grading and drainage designs to comply with storm-water runoff and retention regulations, and integrating new control and protection systems into existing substations.

Protection and Control Engineering

RCM Engineering approaches the Protection and Controls design by meeting customer expectations through a detailed review of specifications and protection system standards. Throughout the design process, communications with the customer ensures that their preferences are understood and considered. It is also important to communicate with any neighboring utilities early in the project.

A Protection Package typically includes the creation of protection panel front views, AC/DC schematics, and protection schematics. Calculation reports are a part of the protection package and include CT Performance, Relay Settings (using software such as Aspen or ETAP), and a final protection system description. The Protection Packages also include all of the cabling details and cable schedules.

Finally, we develop complete design packages for protection of transmission lines, distribution lines, transformers, generators, motors, capacitors, shunt reactors, series reactors and buses for all switchyard configurations and all voltage levels – from 4.16 kV through 765 kV.

Station Design

RCM is dedicated to the integrated design process approach when it comes to station design.station design

An integrated design process is a method used for integration of different disciplines of design work from the early start of the project to the end of construction.

Critical to the process is getting everyone, all the key project personnel, involved in the project together right from the outset to collectively collaborate; from the design phase, to construction, and to the actual day-to-day operations.

This approach requires the entire project team to consider the overall project and all of its systems together; emphasizing connections and improving communication among professionals and stakeholders throughout the life of a project. It breaks down disciplinary boundaries and rejects linear planning and design processes that can lead to inefficient solutions.

Civil, Structural and Architectural Engineering

RCM provides Civil and Structural engineering from pavement design and site development to utility design and grading, including foundation design, retaining walls, bridge design, transmission structures and facility design.

Transmission & Distribution Line Engineering

RCM Energy Services specializes in Transmission and Distribution line engineering services for all your power needs, from new builds and rebuilds to underground and EPC projects. Our experienced team of engineers use advanced technology and innovative solutions from conceptual design to hardware selection and procurement, construction, commissioning, and testing to ensure that every project is completed with quality and safety in mind. Our experienced team of engineers take the necessary steps to ensure that our projects minimize the impact on the environment and are safe to construct. 

We understand that some transmission line projects can have a significant environmental footprint, and we strive to reduce impact while keeping safety and constructability at the forefront of the design. We are dedicated to complying with all applicable environmental regulations and guidelines, quality, safety ensuring that our projects meet the highest standards. Our commitment to quality and safety is one of the reasons why we have become a trusted provider of transmission line engineering services.

4D Visual Schedule​

4D modeling combines geometry (3D) and time to provide construction visualization, project scheduling, advanced risk management, supply chain management and cost allocation for complete virtual construction – 4D simulations. The use of 4D engineering design models enables our designers to explore options, manage solutions and optimize results to reduce design and construction errors. Through the use of these models, we are able to analyze and determine complications which would normally not be discovered until the construction phase. The elimination of inconsistencies leads to a decrease in overall construction time and an increase in accuracy and safety on site.

An entire construction team, consisting of engineers, architects, owners, operators, manufacturers, subcontractors and material suppliers, can share a single view of an entire project in real time. This visual representation allows for optimization of the construction process and better utilization of available resources.

RCM Technologies provides a unique engineering and construction planning solution in one cohesive 4D deliverable. Through the use of 4D modeling, projects can be designed and planned to avoid serious construction issues and to make better use of available resources.

All information from the early start of the project is incorporated into a 3D model and is revised based on inputs from many different sources. The final 3D drawings are extracted from the same model into a 2D CAD drawing using intelligent tools that connect the information to actual 3D solid objects. As a result, the overall time required to perform this work is shortened.

Aerospace Engineering

RCM’s Aerospace Engineering Division provides a wide array of technical support to major aerospace companies.

Committed to affordable engineering excellence, RCM has been awarded several prestigious contracts including the UTC “One Company Partnership” and the Lockheed-Martin Nationwide Staffing Partner designation. Our customer base includes virtually all major aerospace OEM’s including, Sikorsky Aircraft, GKN aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Meggitt, and Aurora Flight Sciences.

With two state of the art design centers located in Shelton, Ct. and Westerly, R.I., and 30 other offices across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, RCM is ready to serve your every engineering need.

Mechanical Engineering

  • Stress Analysis
  • High Energy Piping Design
  • Process and Instrumentation Drawings (P&ID)
  • Major Equipment Specifications and Purchasing
  • ASME Code Calculations and Design (B31.1 ASME Section 8)

Electrical Engineering

  • Station Design
  • Process and Controls Design
  • Power Distribution
  • Grounding
  • HPFF Underground Transmission Design
  • Lighting Design
  • Lightning Protection
  • Arc Flash Calculations

Fire Protection and Suppression System Design

  • Fire Alarm Controls

 

RCM PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRIAL MARKETPLACE

Engineering and design

RCM has designed hundreds of substations and switchyards worldwide.

Owner's Engineer

RCM has a deeply etched history in serving as an Owner’s Engineer.


Project Management

Providing Project Management expertise based on industry experience and PMI methodology.

Testing and Comissioning

HV Substation and Generation design experience allows us to develop testing and maintenance programs

Reverse Engineering

RCM offers Reverse Engineering for new plants and upgrades to existing plants.

Construction Management

Ongoing management, coordination and oversight of work during all phases of a construction project.

EPC

Offering complete Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to our clients.

Tank Services

Storage Tank and Facility Engineering Services.