Is the Electrical Equipment in Your Plant Working in Harmony?
How Do You Know If You Have a Problem? Unlike a seized bearing or a fried motor, the effects of harmonics are often masked, because they don’t necessarily occur with the equipment causing the problem. Some common effects of harmonics problems are:
- Tripping of circuit breakers
- Controls, relays and other devices not functioning properly
- Overheating of bus bars, conductors and switchgear
- Breakdown of insulation which leads to shortened equipment life, and more.
What Is the Cause of the Problem? Technically – harmonics. But in layman’s terms, it’s really your electrical equipment that you use on a daily basis and can’t live without – like your computers. Yes, harmonics are created by such commonly used devices as transformers, computers, variable speed drives and UPS’s, and arcing devices like fluorescent and vapor lighting, arc welders and arc furnaces. Clearly, harmonic distortions are widespread – creating havoc in diverse businesses like small accounting firms to large manufacturing facilities.
What are Harmonics? Simply put – harmonics are voltages or currents that have multiplied within an electrical system. Commonplace linear loads continue to become more non-linear due to electronic and digital devices. These multiplied voltages or currents distort the shape of the traditional sine wave.
OK. What Can I Do About It? The main solutions to harmonic distortion are:
- StacoVAR® passive tuned filters – application designed
- StacoSine® Active Harmonic Filters – which clean the sine wave for all types of harmonic orders – from the 3rd to the 51st
Where both power factor correction and harmonics are a concern, StacoVAR fixed or switched capacitor banks can be provided with filter reactors.
Staco works with professionals across the country to help you identify which solution is best for you. Cleaning up your harmonic problems will have your facility singing a new tune. Who knows, maybe your productivity will finally hit that high note?
