POWER SUPPLIES & GENERATOR
MANAGING VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION
Dr. Alex Mardapittas, Managing Director at Powerstar® , a company
that has been at the forefront of the voltage optimisation (VO) industry for 15 years, explains the technology behind VO and the benefits it can provide for facilities managers.
WHAT IS VOLTAGE
OPTIMISATION? The concept behind voltage optimisation (VO) is refreshingly simple, despite it being technically complex. In general, power is supplied from the grid at a voltage higher than is required by most commercial properties. The average supplied voltage in the UK is 242V even though electronic equipment in the UK and across Europe operates optimally with a supply of 220V. The unnecessarily high levels can not only result in a waste of energy and money but also has adverse affects on equipment’s longevity; furthermore the user pays for the extra voltage supplied, even though it is not needed.
“VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION
CORRECTS OVER- VOLTAGE AND
ALIGNS IT WITH THE ACTUAL
REQUIREMENTS OF A SITE.”
Voltage optimisation corrects over- voltage and aligns it with the actual requirements of a site, resulting in an optimised supply. The installation of a device in series with the mains electricity supply is all that is needed to implement VO technology into a site. Once this is complete it allows companies to only pay for the electricity they actually need and consume.
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ARE ALL SITES’ VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION NEEDS
THE SAME? Sites requirements can differ depending on a variety of factors such as; site size, voltage infrastructure, voltage requirements and equipment used, to name a few. Most VO specialist companies offer a full site survey that will identify the best solution for the client’s needs prior to installation, alongside a range of bespoke products that allow users to get a tailored system, offering the most efficient and cost saving solution.
HOW DOES IT SAVE
ENERGY? Any excess voltage above the determined required set point is cut and returned back to the grid. This generates induced negative power (back EMF) that flows towards the supply and is subtracted from the incoming power (the subtraction process occurs within the VO transformer). The back EMF accounts for 70% to 80% of VO savings, with the remaining 20% to 30% savings coming from equipment efficiency improvements.
WHAT BENEFITS CAN
VO BRING? Facilities management can encompass the entirety of a site, from maintenance and security, to IT systems. As previously mentioned, the ‘raw’ voltage entering a site is usually higher than required, which can result in electrical products prematurely failing and having a
much shorter life and having to be replaced more often. By specifically adapting the voltage to meet the exact needs of a site, you can reduce the interference of life-reducing factors such as harmonics and excessive voltage supply, allowing products to run at an optimal level and reducing the amount of maintenance needed.
“A REDUCTION IN VOLTAGE FROM THE AVERAGE CAN GENERATE
ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS.”
A reduction in voltage from the average supplied 248V down to approx. 225V can generate energy savings in the tens of thousands, not to mention the added benefit of a reduction in carbon emissions, which aligns with many companies ‘green initiatives’ to have a positive impact on their carbon footprint.
Of course, the biggest benefit VO will offer the facilities management sector is lower electricity bills. VO technology has an estimated ROI of between three and five years, and with the facilities management industry estimated to be worth approximately £35billion by 2020, the implementation of a reputable VO system is an investment that can be deemed ‘future proof’.
www.powerstar.com
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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