Challenges And Opportunities in Electrical Industry (Part2)

May 2006

Power Supply Interruptions

There are two categories of supply interruptions. The first one is from the supply
authority. The supply authority has a daunting task to ensure power supply without
interruptions. The second category concerns the distribution network at the user
equipment level. For the time being design of low voltage distribution does not provide
sufficient redundancy. In many cases distribution protection relays are not well co-
ordinated. The efforts required to provide additional and discrete zones of protection will
provide a more acceptable supply reliability in times of faults in the system. It is very
common to be informed that the whole plant has been shutdown due to the operation of
relay in the main incoming feeders.

I have just recently been requested to visit a large manufacturing plant. They experienced
power interruptions caused by earthfault relay operation. In this plant the earthfault relays
used in the main switchboard and sub switchboard have not been properly co-ordinated.
The outgoing breaker at MSB has an earthfault relay with definite time delay. The
incoming breaker of the receiving end sub switchboard has earthfault relay with IDMTL
characteristics. The EF relay with definite time delay has operated and supply to the SSB
was interrupted. The SSB supplied to many load centres protected by ELRs and RCCBs.
The cause of earthfault had not been determined. In order to improve the protection the
EF relay with definite time delay has to be replaced with an EF of IDMTL characteristics.
The need to evaluate the whole system earthfault protection is necessary in order to
prevent any future interruptions.

Surge Protective Devices (SPD)

We have been occupying our current office for the last 6 years. Our area happens to
experience plenty of lightning and thunder activities. The only piece of equipment that
had been properly protected against any voltage surges is the keyphone. Recently we
found 3 out of our many PCs were damaged during a rainy day. The power supply units
of these PCs had to be replaced.

We have installed SPD now in our DB and will expect good protection for all our
equipment in the office. The usage of SPDs in offices and residential homes is still not as
common as it should be. The investment in SPD certainly improve the reliability of the
equipment used. SPDs can improve relaibility of equipment by not allowing the voltage
surges to damage it. In view of the number of offices and homes the market is large. I
strongly believe that promotion of SPDs will improve the protection for electrical
appliances and equipment. In the application of SPDs we are able to apply the available
technology and provide our clients with a level of improve protection on their appliances
and equipment.
The appliances used at home and offices are getting more sophisticated and expensive
because of the additional and improved features of such equipment. The additional cost
of installing SPDs will not be too difficult to be accepted by clients if proper explanation
can be made to promote the usage of SPDs.

I believe one strategy to promote SPDs is to be aware of appliances and equipment

damages and be able to trace their failures to the abnormal voltage transients. Once this
can be established the client will be notified of the availability of effective SPDs to
prevent any recurrence. A cost estimation will be made and the client should be
persuaded to invest in the installation of SPDs. I do hope Consultants will assist in the
promotion of application of SPDs. We must agree on the reason of using SPDs at all
equipment levels. Currently some MSBs are equipped with SPDs especially in the
manufacturing sector. However SPD application can be applied to equipment level
accordint to their sensitivity and tolerance of voltage surges. It will help the industry if all
practitioners can view the neccesity of SPDs in most low voltage applications.

It is of course important for all to note that correct usage of SPDs can be very beneficial.
The reliability and effectiveness of SPDs must be properly monitored. It can be
disasterous if inferior and non-effective SPDs are being installed when damages on
appliances and equipment continue to occur. Good and reliable SPDs shall be promoted
for the good of the industry. In terms of cost it is hoped that prices can be more affortable
if the scale of demand can be large enough to cause such an effect.

The present appliances and electrical equipment are certainly much more delicate than
the older machines. Sufficient and effect protection against voltage surges is urgent and
critical.

I sincerely hope all in the same industry to seriously look into this subject and do
whatever we can to promote the installation of SPDs for the improvement of our
electrical supply system. When there is less failure of appliances and equipment the
efficiency of the offices and homes will certainly improve. We will also reduce the loss
of capital to replace the damaged appliances and equipment.

Improvement can take place when we apply the right solutions. Application of SPDs is
one of those applications that will improve the relaibility of appliances and equipment.
Although there is a cost factor involved it can be resolved if sufficient explanation on the
benefits that can be obtained in its application.

Our responsibility in the trade is to provide the proven and effective means of
improvement on the supply system. Application of SPDs can effectively provide this
improvement on the electrical system. This simple and effective device must be well
promoted to allow the whole society to benefit from its usage.