In order to operate effectively and efficiently, a company undeniably needs electricity. With power ups and downs, not only does efficiency suffer, but there is a risk of other problems arising. Therefore, in order to prevent them and allow businesses to achieve their best performance, the study of power quality emerges as a necessity.
The role of power quality in a company's performance
Power quality is particularly important in high-tech facilities, such as data centers, hospitals, or manufacturing plants. In any case, those that do not have as many technological advances, such as government and commercial buildings, can also benefit from this analysis, since their tolerance to electrical disturbances is also limited.
When power quality is compromised, there can be costly repercussions, premature equipment damage, reduced productivity, and operational interference. The most common variations are voltage dips or spikes, short or long interruptions, harmonic distortions, imbalances, etc.
Facilities that have power quality in place can benefit from 24/7 monitoring systems that use a variety of hardware to measure the susceptibility of electricity, software to record and interpret the data, and wired or wireless communication to inform management of any issues. trouble. This monitoring can also control the facility's backup systems.
What is a power quality study?
This is an analysis that identifies problems with power quality. This allows you to deal with reliability and stability issues before they affect the performance of a facility or the profits of the entire organization.
Power quality refers to the necessary delivery of energy to electrical equipment for it to function properly.
Through this study, it is possible to measure the voltage, the electric current and the quality of the grounding if harmonics are detected.
Why is it done?
Power quality is one of the crucial issues for industrial facilities, as well as one of the aspects that is least used to reduce costs. Improper wiring, improper grounding, unbalanced loads, or equipment without proper protection can compromise power quality. The need for guidance, monitoring and proper functioning makes the study of energy quality something recurrent in companies.
objectives
· Analysis of the inconsistencies between the load and the system.
· Prediction of the future operation of the loads of the equipment or of the deterioration of the latter.
· Improve system efficiency.
· Eliminate harmonics, surges and transients from the electrical network.
· Avoid fluctuations in voltage.
· Extend the life cycle of the electrical network and its components.
· Avoid overheating in transformers.
What is done in this study?
1. Harmonic Analysis. Includes the use of computer programs to recognize and predict potential harmonic problems and reduction methods.
2. Analysis of overvoltage’s and transients. Overvoltage’s and transients are recorded.
3. Analysis of voltage drops and surges. Small falls and rises are recorded, as well as values ??and routes.
4. Reactive Power Analysis. The preferred reactive power at the distribution and load ends is calculated.
5. Captive Energy Analysis. Captive energy is calculated and synchronized to meet demands and lower fuel consumption and utility charges.
6. Power flow analysis. It predicts power flow magnitudes, voltage levels, and system branch losses based on specified operating conditions.
Benefits of the power quality study
· Prevention of interruptions.
· Saving money.
· Improvement in productivity.
· Possibility of adding more machinery.
· Greater security.
· Assistance in preventive and predictive maintenance.
· Identification of the source and frequency of events.
· Condition monitoring.
· Performance evaluation according to specifications.
