EMSc Asia Pacific group sales manager, Sam Czyczelis explains how voltage optimisation technology reduces electricity usage and extends the lifespan of electrical equipment.
Australia has a problem with over-voltage so ‘voltage optimisation’ offers a simple solution to not only reduce energy consumption and remove significant tonnes of CO2 but also deliver improved power factor and extend the lifespan of equipment.
Powerstar voltage optimisation is a highly effective energy-saving technique that has an excellent payback period, which on average is around 30 months.
The technology has a significant impact on the amount of energy used because it brings the voltage supplied by the grid in line with what is actually required by equipment manufacturers.
The statutory electricity supply range for Australia is 230V +10 per cent to 6 per cent, which means that electricity suppliers are required to provide a voltage level that is between 253V and 216V. Therefore, the supplier will distribute electricity at 253V and over distances the voltage will decrease. On average, facilities receive it from the grid at 247V.
Most organisations in Australia would no doubt be aware that most electrical equipment used here is designed to work most efficiently at 220V to 230V. This means that any incoming power that is higher than this level is wasted energy and means organisations are paying for power that is not required and not used.
Voltage optimisation works best on inductive loads such as motors, especially if these are not loaded at 100 per cent of their capacity for 100 per cent of the time.
Operating like a power conditioner, voltage optimisation effectively reduces the voltage to an optimum level whereby all the equipment operates correctly but consumes less power in the process.
These systems should also offer improvement in power quality by balancing phase voltages, mitigating damaging harmonics and transients from the electricity supply and reducing the reactive power, hence improving power factor by up to 20 per cent.
Over-voltage means that energy consumption is not only higher, but as a result, the lifespan of equipment is shortened.
Installing a voltage optimisation unit leads to reduced maintenance costs as less demand is placed on electrical equipment.
Generally, Powerstar voltage optimisers will deliver between 12-15 per cent savings but some highly efficient VO solutions produce savings of up to 26 per cent of total electricity consumption.
Other benefits include:
* protection against damaging transients (power spikes) of up to 25,000V
* lowers the operating temperature of motors
* provides an improved power factor by up to 20 per cent
Higher frequency harmonic currents can cause overheating and hardware damage including:
* Equipment malfunctions due to excessive voltage distortion
* False tripping of branch circuit breakers
* Metering errors
* Increased internal energy losses in connected equipment, causing component failure and shortened lifespan
* Fires in wiring and distribution systems
So not only does over-voltage mean that energy consumption is higher, but maintenance and repair costs are higher as greater demand is placed on electrical equipment.
Another major benefit is that Powerstar voltage optimisation units don’t have any moving parts and therefore no maintenance is required on the voltage optimisation unit itself.
Saving money through energy reduction is a commercial necessity and with every upward shift of electricity prices, the need becomes more urgent.
As each building is different, with its own unique infrastructure and specific load requirements, a voltage optimisation strategy should be customised to ensure that savings are maximised. While VO can be applied to any site, regardless of building type, size or location, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Voltage optimisers are suitable for most buildings and businesses and in Australia they have been installed in facilities such as municipal offices and even the WA Parliament House, at manufacturing and utilities sites, retail outlets, universities, supermarkets, hotels and clubs, and cold storage outlets.
An additional feature of VO systems is the provision of an intelligent interface, which allows operations/facility managers to track product and site performance in real time, enabling them to identify where emissions stand compared with the usage and spend of previous months and years.
This data can be used to not only set a benchmark for the future, but also to evaluate the efficiency of various green measures that have been taken within the organisation.
Saving energy and money begins with information and knowledge. It is about understanding where, when, and how much energy is being consumed, and having the ability to effectively act on that knowledge.
The reality is that it doesn’t have to cost more to make a building more efficient. With an array of technologies, tools, and expertise available, managers have never been in a better position to take control of their energy costs and reap the financial returns that high performance solutions can deliver.
Ultimately, going green is easy if you have the right tools at your disposal – and voltage optimisation offers a strong business case when looking at the importance of energy efficiency in buildings.