By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2008-03-17 19:13
Welcome to the first issue of Volume 3 of EPQU Magazine. I hope you will appreciate the new features and format of our renewed e-journal.
So what's new?
First of all, EPQU Magazine becomes a fully and exclusively electronic magazine. The magazine fully exploits the benefits of electronic publication, such as reader comments and video interviews.
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Thu, 2008-02-28 15:58
According to the European Union, 40% of all electrical energy produced in Europe is used to power commercial and residential buildings. Commercial buildings include non-residential, non-industrial buildings such as hospitals, office and apartment buildings, hotels, schools, churches, stores, theaters, and sports arenas. Within those buildings, HVAC units, PCs, fax machines, copiers, and printers are now sharing the building wiring system with electronic fluorescent lighting, adjustable speed heat pumps, and various electronic communications equipment.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2008-02-28 15:32
By Dragomir Vasic
In this reader article, Dragomir Vasic introduces a basic technique of frequency regulation for preparing the fuel-air mixture in hot water boilers used for district heating. This simple and relatively low-cost measure saves 25,000 euro per year, with a payback of just 0.6 years.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2008-02-21 11:58
By B Franken et al
This paper provides an appraisal of what regulators need to consider in establishing an effective voltage quality regulatory framework for distribution networks. In particular, the paper considers the regulation of five voltage quality dimensions: short interruptions, voltage dips, flicker, supply voltage variation, and harmonic distortions. The paper assesses the most appropriate regulatory control method and presents practical experiences through a number of case studies.
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Tue, 2008-02-19 15:43
Luca Lo Schiavo from AEEG (the Italian Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Gas) presents his organization and its major contribution to EU works in this domain in this interview.
He also gives an overview of possible future trends in service quality regulation as well as some examples from Italy and France. He discusses the appeal of a reliability-centred approach as well as a measurement campaign in the context of liberalisation.
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Sat, 2008-02-16 16:09
Jonathan Manson presents the results of a survey conducted by the European Copper Institute (ECI) into the consequences for EU industry of poor power quality. These add up to >€150bn annually, are mainly experienced by industry and caused by power interruptions (dips, surges, transients and short interruptions). A call for action is made using the significant and disturbing conclusions drawn from the analysis of the survey.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Fri, 2008-02-08 16:53
This Application Note describes the use of energy and the potential energy savings in the hospital sector, on the basis of theory and practical case studies. Hospitals represent some 6% of total energy consumption in the utility buildings sector, which includes offices, shops, hotels, restaurants, educational establishments and care institutions.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Wed, 2008-02-06 12:08
By Angelo Baggini, University of Bergamo
& Franco Bua, Engineering Consulting & Design
In industrial plants, power transformers are expensive components of high strategic importance. Unavailability due to faults generally results in high costs, both in relation to repair work and in terms of lost production.
Efficient diagnostic monitoring capable of highlighting incipient faults and therefore able to reduce the fault rate and downtime of the transformer within considered physiological limits are generally of extreme interest for maintenance departments.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Wed, 2008-01-23 19:26
By A Baggini at al
The installation of non linear loads determines the presence of current and voltage harmonics and interharmonics. Components particularly sensitive to this kind of phenomena are power factor correction equipments. This paper describes the design process of a centralized PFC system under harmonic pollution conditions pointing out the key role of measurement campaigns.
Summary
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Tue, 2008-01-22 03:00
A new case study by Michèle De Witte, Laborelec.
A steel manufacturing plant was experiencing a flicker problem. Lights in the office areas of the plant were often flickering, affecting productivity and creating an irritating nuisance for employees.
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Mon, 2008-01-21 03:00
A new case study by :
Andreas Sumper, Roberto Villafáfi la, Rodrigo Ramírez,
& Paola Pezzini
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Mon, 2008-01-14 17:21
by Philip Keebler, EPRI
The healthcare environment is made up of perhaps the most unusual combination of electronic loads found in any facility. Healthcare facilities not only rely upon commercial loads (such as computers, servers, and lighting system) and industrial loads (such as food preparation equipment, laundry equipment, medical gas systems, but also rely on electronic medical loads (that is, medical equipment to operate the facility and provide patient care services.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Tue, 2008-01-08 17:27
The Belgian site being studied in this paper is connected to the public transmission grid (380 kV) by a High Voltage (HV) station. This HV station incorporates a 25 kV substation linked to a second substation via 25 kV underground cables. The second substation supplies the electric installations on the site.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2008-01-07 16:06
By Mark Stephens, EPRI
Power Quality in Internet Data Centers
The building of Internet data centers (IDCs) is a growing industry that is pushing the limits of electric power and reliability requirements. As utilities must decide whether it is worth the cost to build new infrastructure to keep up with the present demand, facility operators are looking at power distribution designs that will improve efficiency and allow them to continue to expand their operations.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Wed, 2008-01-02 18:03
A power quality case study
By Michiel Van Lumig, Laborelec
Various departments at a car manufacturing plant are suffering from regular process outages due to voltage dips. These dips are causing production losses in the Metal Operation, Spray Coating, and Assembly departments that directly affect the productivity of the plant. The cost of those losses is directly related to the profile of the voltage dip (duration and depth).
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By Stefan Fassbinder / Published on Wed, 2007-12-12 13:21
Once upon a time there was a buyer at a large company who had to purchase a large three-phase induction motor with a power rating of 1 MW that was to be used in a big machine. As usual, he invited suppliers to submit bids. Before drafting the tender documents he spoke to the head engineer and technicians at the relevant technical department about the expected number of operating hours per year, the machine’s level of utilization and its load profile. Talks then began with potential suppliers about what sort of efficiencies could be achieved.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2007-11-29 19:32
By Roeland De Meulenaere and Bohdan Soroka
Buildings account for 40% of energy consumption in Europe, so their inherent efficiency is very important.
Efficient space heating requires a properly insulated and sealed building, together with a correctly sized heating system. The choice of system is also important; best practice includes gas-fired condensing boilers and ground-water heat pumps.
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By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Wed, 2007-11-28 17:42
Leonardo ENERGY launches its video channel where you can watch interviews with sustainable energy experts around the world. In this interview, Bill Howe shares the vision of EPRI on PQ research for the next 10-20 years, and also presents a renewed and vigorous vision for the role that PQ can and should play in enhancing the economic performance of modern electric power suppliers, manufacturers, and other key industry partners.
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