Power quality in medium & large commercial buildings

       

Further reading

• Power quality in medium & large commercial buildings (2012)

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. While electronic based commercial equipment increases productivity, this type of equipment can often be adversely affected by poor power quality.

Today, the quality of electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution systems is very high. With the exception of conditions associated with brownouts, most utilities deliver well-regulated power to all but the most extremely remote customers. However, power dips and surges are still of concern, largely because of the potential impact for electronics damage and interference with computer operations. Another power quality issue that must be kept in mind is the production of harmonic currents by nonlinear equipment, such as office equipment, lighting, and some HVAC systems.

The PQ TechWatch takes an in-depth look at some of the larger components of commercial operations, including HVAC, lighting, office equipment, and elevators. The intent of this document is to show how power quality impacts commercial equipment, and what mitigation techniques can be applied to minimize shutdowns and equipment damage.