How to deal with the complexities of power quality?

Electricity powers all industrial facilities, yet not all electricity is created equal. Poor power quality can lead to a slew of issues.

Poor power quality is a rising problem with several reasons, in our opinion. As businesses grow, new machines are frequently added to individual facilities without regard for the influence on power quality. Installing drives without line reactors, for example, can overload circuits and generate voltage sags. These interruptions cause downtime and raise the risk of early failure. Unexpected maintenance and replacement expenditures have a negative impact on the bottom line. Efficiency and sustainability suffer as a result.

Adding more complicated technology to the grid can create electricity outages on a larger scale. As a result, electrical distribution systems may be more prone to quality difficulties.

Why is power quality ignored?

Unfortunately, improving power quality is generally low on the priority list, despite the fact that disregarding it can result in equipment damage, production stoppages, and lower efficiency. Organizations require additional electrical professionals with this skills to fight these difficulties.

Because power quality concerns develop gradually and do not result in abrupt malfunctions, they frequently go unnoticed. Even obvious indications, such as flickering lights or annoying trips, may go unnoticed until something more terrible occurs. When machines start and lights turn on, the electricity is regarded “good enough.”

Poor electricity quality, like a chronic health issue, does not improve by neglect. Power distribution equipment deteriorates as facilities age. When more outlets, fixtures, and equipment are added, the electrical system becomes more complicated and difficult to troubleshoot, particularly if correct metering is not implemented.

The effects of electricity quality on decarbonization

Improving electricity quality can result in both direct and indirect carbon reduction advantages. A 30-horsepower drive, for example, that fails due to inadequate power quality must be replaced. This new motor generates carbon emissions. You may decrease equipment failures and the requirement for new, emissions-intensive manufacture by sustaining high-quality electricity.

Improved electricity quality also contributes to more efficient production. It removes the need for long work shifts to reach requirements, lowering overall energy consumption and emissions. Even if these emissions do not occur on-site, eliminating them has an effect on your carbon footprint.

When should you start looking at power quality?

Unexpected shutdowns, early equipment breakdowns, or even flickering lights are all symptoms of power quality issues. Other issues, such as significant harmonic distortion in voltage, frequently go unreported. We occasionally detect distortion of 7% or more, which is more than enough to create operational interruption when the customer is ignorant of the situation. Metering is required to identify and resolve these issues.

Variable frequency drives and massive industrial motors may be the culprits in production.

Medical imaging equipment, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), laser surgical equipment, dialysis machines, and battery chargers are all common sources of harmonics in healthcare settings. UPS, variable frequency drives in cooling systems, power distribution units, and servers with switched-mode power supply are common sources of recurring power quality issues in data centers.

Industries such as petrochemical and semiconductor production, which have extremely high downtime costs, can also benefit greatly from focused reviews of their electrical systems. Hospitals, data centers, and emergency response centers are examples of facilities that operate mission-critical systems.

Increasing electrical performance in stages

A low-cost technique for enhancing power quality and electrical performance begins with the installation of temporary meters in identified problem locations. The information acquired serves two purposes: diagnosing and correcting immediate problems and identifying areas that require additional examination.

Transitioning to at least some permanent metering generally makes sense once trouble areas have been identified. These strategically positioned meters will allow for continuous monitoring and preventative maintenance. Permanent meters, for example, can continually measure the efficiency of installed harmonic filters if temporary meters detect severe harmonic distortion in your equipment.

The significance of visibility

A robust metering and data gathering system can foresee the impact of equipment modifications, such as increasing the horsepower of a drive, and put protections in place to prevent interruptions. This not only makes your system responsive, but also robust and future-ready.

A careful examination to discover realistic, cost-effective solutions is the first step toward improving electricity quality. Strong Power Electric, as a professional power quality firm, provides a comprehensive range of monitoring solutions for your power quality and metering requirements. We provide our clients with the finest and most sustainable alternatives available, based on their experience and technology breakthroughs.