HVM's Total System Capability offers the engineering services you need to periodically evaluate the changes in your system.

HVM power system study engineers are experienced and registered professional engineers specializing in power system analysis. They use sophisticated computer hardware and software to analyze power system problems. Using computer modeling, the engineer can perform complex calculations and evaluate the performance of the system by simulation. The following are some of the types of studies performed by HVM:

It is essential for personnel safety, equipment protection, and system reliability that power system equipment be adequately rated for the maximum short circuit currents. The short circuit study calculates the maximum available fault currents throughout the system and establishes the adequacy of the equipment short circuit ratings to assure a safe, reliable system.

For new facilities, a short circuit study should be performed before the electrical equipment is selected. For existing facilities, a short circuit study should be performed if significant changes have occurred either within the facility or in the utility system.
 

In a properly coordinated system, only the protective device nearest the fault operates to isolate the faulted circuit without disrupting power to other portions of the system. This study provides recommended fuse sizes and settings for circuit breakers and relays to achieve optimum system protection and selective isolation of faults to minimize system downtime. The study engineer must often arbitrate between competing solutions to achieve maximum protection while ensuring minimum service interruption.

Poor voltage regulation or low power factor loads may adversely affect equipment performance, system efficiency, and the cost of power. Alternate operating configurations may result in unequal load distribution or overloading lines within a network system. The load flow study calculates load distribution and voltage profiles to examine the performance of the system and determine the effectiveness of voltage regulation or power factor correction equipment.

Proper system neutral grounding methods must be employed to ensure personnel safety and service reliability. The grounding study determines the optimum method for grounding to provide a safe reliable system and meet the overall operating objectives of the facility.

Facilities which must maintain service to essential loads require a system designed for minimum downtime. The reliability study analyzes the capability of the system to service essential loads and uses statistical data to assist in the planning, design, or upgrade.

The increased inrush current during starting of large synchronous or induction motors may cause an unacceptable system voltage drop which can prevent the motor from accelerating or have an adverse effect on other system loads. The motor starting study determines system requirements or appropriate starting methods to assure the motor can accelerate to speed while normal service is maintained for other loads.

The application of non-linear loads (such as rectifiers), can subject a system to sustained high-magnitude harmonic voltage and currents especially when applied in conjunction with power factor correction capacitors. These high-magnitude harmonics will adversely affect system performance or cause equipment failure. The harmonic analysis will isolate the cause of harmonic distortion and provide corrective measures to reduce harmonic magnitudes to within acceptable limits.

Transient stability concerns power systems containing two or more synchronous machines remaining in synchronism after a major system disturbance. System stability is a major concern to many engineers, with the increasing popularity of facilities which co-generate or maintain critical loads with in-plant generation. The transient stability study determines system design parameters and protective relay operating times necessary to maintain stability after a fault or sudden load change, and assures that critical loads will remain in service.

Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) studies focus the role of preventive maintenance activities on the retention of the equipment’s inherent design reliability. The backbone of RCM methodology includes first, the basic concept of reliability theory, and second, the key reliability tool known as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). It is through this process that scheduled maintenance burden and support costs are reduced while sustaining or improving the necessary uptime and availability.

Although system inefficiencies result in higher power bills, sometimes the purchase and installation of new high efficiency transformers, motors and lighting may not be economically practical. HVM provides net worth analysis, pay back analysis, and life cycle cost analysis to demonstrate the economic practicality of additional capital costs of high efficiency equipment.

Basic system design and equipment selection must supply satisfactory power to the loads and achieve the facility’s operating requirements. Further, the system designed for today must be suitable for expansion to meet the load demands of tomorrow. The conceptual design/master plan study optimizes system design, assists in the selection of power equipment, and assures that present and future energy requirements are met.

HVM has the experience and capability to perform a broad range of specialized engineering studies and investigations such as switching transients, voltage unbalance, and ferroresonance to solve uncommon system problems.