Guide to dealing with power quality problems

bf0bc8db-23df-4564-a475-bf42bdb9f5b6

02 August 2017
|
Power quality specialist REO UK has released a whitepaper addressing electrical interference and power quality problems in the HVAC, food and beverage and medical sectors.

The whitepaper outlines the issues caused by technological development in each industry, as well as how electrical engineers and plant and facilities managers can mitigate these problems.
Many of the electrical problems dealt with, such as harmonics and power line interference, have traditionally been synonymous with industrial settings. However, the rise of electronic devices using power line communication (PLC), as well as portable device chargers that use switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) in a wider range of sectors, has increased the number of power quality problems in facilities.

One such example is commercial HVAC systems. The increase in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) workplaces has meant that office electrical infrastructure must now handle a larger number of electronic devices, such as smart phone chargers and laptops. These devices often use a SMPS, the high frequencies of which cause electrical harmonics that impact the performance of HVAC systems by damaging components. This subsequently increases energy costs and reduces the lifespan of the system.

“In the past 15 years, we have witnessed an unprecedented technological boom,” explained Steve Hughes, Managing Director of REO UK. “This has brought new challenges to electrical engineers in non-industrial environments, who must now invest in new equipment to mitigate the risks of poor power quality. Electrical engineers can use this whitepaper as a pocket guide to these emerging problems.''

www.reo.co.uk
Content continues after advertisements