Power Quality & Load Study

Comstock Bros. Electric Co., LLC will provide technical labor and diagnostic instrumentation necessary to determine the loads and power quality associated with your existing power distribution system. Our Power Quality Analysis will provide the following information:

  • True RMS Voltage, min, max and average
  • True RMS Current, min max and average
  • Watts, per phase pair and total system
  • Vars, per phase and total system
  • Voltamps, apparent power per phase and total system
  • True Power Factor (watts divided by voltamps)
  • Displacement Power Factor (cosine of the angle between the fundamental voltage and current)
  • Kilowatt hours, per phase and total system
  • Kilovar hours, per phase and total system
  • Kilovolt amp hours, per phase and total system
  • Harmonic magnitude and phase shift
  • Out of limits events, with time stamp and duration
  • Sub-cycle events

These parameters will allow accurate Electrical Design Decisions. Power quality improvements, increased capacity (amperage), and direct utility savings are among some of the benefits derived from our testing. Here are some additional benefits you may experience with our diagnostics:

  • Identifies most cost-effective solution to power quality problems
  • Solves process disruptions due to power disturbances
  • Reduces economic effects of poor power quality
  • Decreases maintenance costs
  • Identifies disturbances originating on electric utility system and recommends improvement to reduce number and severity
  • Evaluates power management and loading levels of electrical circuits
  • Determines adequacy of circuit to serve sensitive loads
  • Power measurements on key circuits, including loading, power factor and voltage and current parameters

Harmonics Evaluation

  • Assesses harmonic distortion with respect to IEEE 519
  • Identifies excessive harmonic loading and poor power factor
  • Evaluates harmonic mitigating savings opportunities
  • Evaluates economics of power factor correction and harmonic filters
  • Ensures proper operation of sensitive equipment
  • Identifies power management savings.

Defining a Power Quality Problem

  • What equipment is having a problem?
  • Type of equipment failing or malfunctioning
  • Time of day the problem occurs - Specific or Random?
  • Are there coincidental problems occurring in the facility?
  • Are there loads within the facility which could be causing the problem?
  • Is there a power conditioner in use within the facility?
  • How did problem manifest? (System Related)
    • System Lock Ups
    • Stop/Unready Lamps Lit
    • Machine Resets
    • Errors
    • Inconsistent Results
  • How did problem manifest? (Equipment/Product Related)
    • Hardware Failure
    • Process Control Loss
    • Production Control Loss
  • How long is the disruption of operation when a problem occurs?
  • What does the customer think caused the problem?
  • What has the customer done to solve the problem? Did it work?
  • How many disruptions are occurring per day, week, month, and year?
  • Any recent work on the Electrical Distribution System?
  • Any new equipment installed?
  • Has there been a utility operation review?