EMC & Circuit Protection


Circuit protection: putting the care back into healthcare


The healthcare sector is undoubtedly one of the most important sectors in the electronics industry due to it having the ability to affect and save lives. Therefore, it is paramount that the equipment used is in full working order and highly unlikely to breakdown. Gary Buckingham, product and segment marketing manager, partner projects at Schneider Electric, talks about how to ensure circuit protection in medical electronics


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t goes without saying that patient safety, a good outcome, and a great experience whilst in hospital are paramount to us all.


There’s simply no room for downtime, especially for those critical infrastructure systems that support these aims. It’s no surprise then that healthcare facilities and hospitals have more


critical equipment in the event of a power outage, as well as the resource drain of locating and repairing malfunctioning equipment. Worse still of course is the potential for patients to come to harm.


More reliability


With healthcare facilities becoming increasingly dependent on the latest


technology to support their everyday operations, the availability of clean and reliable power supplies has become more important than ever before. Thankfully, there are tools and


technologies out there that offer superior levels of support and reliability, such as Schneider Electric’s Masterpact MTZ. The next-generation circuit breakers provide outstanding power uptime for


stringent circuit protection requirements than other commercial applications. New technologies such as digital imaging are helping to reduce diagnostic errors, improve care, and decrease costs simultaneously. However, in order to enable these technologies, healthcare facilities need a rock-solid physical infrastructure to back up their assets in the event of cable overloads, short circuits and insulation faults. Even the most minute electrical fault or failure can have disastrous consequences, including expensive and extensive operations downtime, damage to


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low voltage electrical distribution networks, even in the harshest environments. Having access to reliable and quality power means having a robust electrical system in place that is equipped to handle all of the small, everyday threats to your power system. Even power quality fluctuations that last only milliseconds can corrupt the data on a healthcare facility's network, or damage equipment.


More safety Healthcare facilities require safe, reliable and well maintained electricity supplies to operate. EU statistics reveal that an


estimated 400 - 500 arc flash accidents occur in the UK each year, typically resulting in four or five deaths. Since downtime is highly disruptive and full isolation are difficult there is an increased risk to technicians that must work on the equipment while it is still in an energised state. With the Masterpact MTZ, achieving safe and efficient day-to-day facility management is made easier through connectivity to smartphones and operations and analytic software. Technicians don’t need to come into contact with the live equipment as they now have visibility into all the necessary information through a secure Bluetooth connection on their smartphone. Similarly, in the event of a power outage, technicians can minimise downtime and restore power quickly and safely. In the event of circuit tripping, key data is saved, giving technicians access to an explanation of the root cause of the problem and step- by-step instructions on how to rectify the problem. Quick view, self-diagnosis of protection setting and modification, energy consumption, power quality, phase balance, and health status are all available in real time.


Rule of thumb when considering switchgear


Of course, when it comes to switchgear in particular, there is the challenge around spending when it comes to maintenance and services. There is no doubt that regularly scheduled maintenance extends the life of existing switchgear. However, at some point, healthcare facilities must decide whether to maintain or replace with new equipment. Switchgear modernisation solutions are also a viable option. As a rule of thumb, consider the various aspects before reaching a decision: 1) Age of switchgear: If your switchgear


is recently purchased and in great working condition, it will be highly beneficial to invest in service and maintenance as it will provide longer life, better performance and economic viability. On the other hand, if the switchgear is too old and giving poor performance, it might be a better idea to invest in newer technology. With the advancements in circuit breaker designs, those with older technology may no longer be considered sustainable solutions. To take advantage of the more advanced technology, the switchgear lineup could be replaced. A more cost-effective alternative would be to leave the switchgear structure and bussing in place and upgrade the


existing equipment with the latest state of the art intelligent trip units. 2) Application: The type of application for which the switchgear is used determines the frequency of maintenance required. For example, switchgear installed in a healthcare facility will have to be serviced more frequently as compared to one installed in a commercial complex. Accordingly, one can choose the different service and maintenance options that are available. 4) Environment: The physical


environment like temperature, humidity, pollution, dust etc where the switchgear is in operation also has a significant impact on the type of services to be considered. Apart from these, altitude and seismic tolerance are also major factors in the environment. 5) Electrical conditions: Finally, take into account the voltage level and quality of power that is in operation. One needs to factor in the duration of operation of switchgear, peak load and off-peak load conditions, fluctuations and their frequency etc.


Future ready


Having visibility of the condition and performance of a hospital’s systems and infrastructure is key to ensuring patient safety. The direct implications on the health and wellbeing of patients and operational considerations make the Masterpact MTZ a game changer.


Connected, intelligent controls and equipment can now deliver greater insight into the performance of health facilities resulting in improved system reliability, greater operational efficiency, proactive instead of reactive interventions, faster repairs, and intelligent planning for investment based on real information. Schneider Electric’s healthcare team has a deep understanding of the issues facing healthcare organisations. Significant investment has been made in recent years into developing solutions and technologies that can increase reliability, boost operational productivity and improve patient safety, experience and boost operational efficiency. We help healthcare providers to do more with less, releasing time and resources to front line patient care.


Now is the time for healthcare providers to make the most of the tools available to optimise patient care and wellbeing.


www.schneider-electric.co.uk/en/ Components in Electronics September 2016 19


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