"Research shows that over 90% of power quality issues that lead
to industrial equipment malfunctions are voltage sags.”
turnover. This is set to grow
as more processes become
automated leading to power
disruptions having larger effects
on operations.
Food manufacturers understand
that reducing food waste is a
key method for creating a strong
operation. The main way to
reduce food waste is to have
good control over processes.
However, modern methods
of increasing control through
software and improved monitoring
cannot have the desired effect
if they are damaged through
grid disruptions. As such,
plant power quality should be
closely monitored to prevent any
38 SEPTEMBER 2019
unexpected interruptions.
Protecting systems
Research shows that over 90% of
power quality issues that lead to
industrial equipment malfunctions
are voltage sags. These happen
when the RMS voltage decreases
between 10 and 90% of nominal
voltage for up to one minute.
Voltage sags are generally caused
by weather events such as high
winds, heavy rain or snow buildup,
but can also be triggered by
traffic accidents and construction
works. These sags can cause
short circuits and overloads.
Businesses, sadly, cannot
influence the weather or external
works and must rely on other
methods to protect equipment.
Active voltage conditioners, such
as ABB’s PCS100 AVC range, can
sense power disruptions, such
as voltage sags, and perform
corrective measure returning the
voltage to nominal levels. This will
allow for undisrupted production
reducing unwanted downtime and
eradicating food wastage caused
by system faults.
If an unprotected bottling plant
for soft drinks were hit by
power disruptions this could
cause large losses through, for
example, misalignment of injector
and bottles. Formulas for soft
drinks are also very delicate and
loss of precision could mean
that ingredient amounts could
become skewed altering the
taste of the product. By installing
active voltage conditioners plant
managers can rest assured
knowing that these delicate
processes are protected.
As food and beverage production
becomes a 24-hour process,
manufacturers need to take
greater precautions to ensure
both their equipment and staff
remain safe while reducing food
waste. Working with a provider
such as ABB to protect power
quality can minimise issues
and ensure your plant remains
operational, whatever the weather.