FEATURE ENERGY MANAGEMENT
AVOIDING COSTLY ARC FAULTS R
Eaton has launched a campaign to highlight the risk of arc faults arising from low voltage electrical distribution panels in industrial buildings which can have serious consequences
esearch by Eaton estimates the cost of production downtime alone in an
‘average’ factory could reach £31,900 within 24 hours of an arc fault. Then there is the threat to life safety posed by the initial explosion, the potential for reputational damage and the cost of replacement assemblies and parts to consider. These can be catastrophic consequences, particularly in power- critical environments such as process plants. The estimated costs of downtime are contained in an Eaton whitepaper written by European electrical safety expert Alfred Mörx and available at Eaton WorkSafe. He points out that even organisations meeting the minimum requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 61439 standard remain vulnerable to arc faults. Safety and Risk in Electrical Low-Voltage
Installations recommends that power- critical operations apply higher standards of safety than those outlined in IEC 61439 minimise the risk to personnel, production schedules and building infrastructure. “When planning and implementing low-
voltage switchgear assemblies and the low-voltage installations supplied from them it is in many cases necessary from a technical protection point of view to examine whether the minimum requirements specified in the generally- accepted technical standards are sufficient for actual operation,” says Mörx. In the event of an extreme incident a
and businesses will soon find themselves facing substantial costs. Eaton has carried out extensive research to develop solutions that can reduce the risk of arc faults and minimise the damage to switchgear in an incident so that businesses can protect employees and resume normal service quickly without escalating costs.” Low-voltage distribution panels play a
power outage can last days or even weeks, leaving businesses facing mounting recovery costs. Eaton’s whitepaper provides a detailed economic assessment of the damage that can be caused including shutdown, downtime and restart costs as well as additional costs such as any penalties imposed for failing to meet client delivery dates. In some countries companies could even face legal action despite meeting regulatory requirements. “The impact of arc flash incidents can be
truly devastating for commercial buildings where power supply is critical to daily operations,” says Eaton product field manager Chris Pack. “In extreme cases they can significantly disrupt the security of electricity supply, leading to an outage that can last days or weeks if not longer. Switchgear can be damaged beyond repair
Hazardous events can be triggered by human error while working on the switchgear; through contamination, condensation or by insects damaging the electrical system
decisive role in supplying electrical power but even if equipment is planned, built and tested to meet the standard, they are frequently modified and added to over time. Eaton contends that this can result in an arc flash incident. These hazardous events can be triggered as a result of human error while working on the switchgear, through contamination, condensation or even by small rodents or insects damaging the electrical system. Eaton offers a comprehensive range of solutions to help businesses reduce the risk of costly plant shutdowns. Its Temperature Diagnostic System provides an early warning of potential problems. Additionally, its ARCON arc fault protection system responds to incidents with unrivalled speed to limit damage. These are among the latest technologies that help to secure safety above the minimum requirements of the standard.
Eaton T: +44 (0)1753 608 700
www.uk.eaton.com
DON’T MISS OUT ON CARBON TRUST FUNDING
Launched in April 2016, the £7 million funding programme offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) up to a 30% financial contribution toward the cost of energy saving equipment capped at £10,000. “Energy costs are a major factor in company profitability,” says Powersun director Ian Brent-Smith. “In previous years many SME business owners were put off by the perception that incorporating energy efficiency measures was difficult and time consuming. Judging by the increasing number of applications being made to the Green Business Fund, the tide is turning. Business owners are finally realising that financial savings made from energy efficiency measures can be reinvested elsewhere in the business. This makes perfect business sense for businesses wishing to reduce energy expenditure and lower their carbon footprint. “Having recently been awarded the Carbon Trust’s installer accreditation
we can ensure that eligible SMEs are given access to a range of carbon- saving technologies such as solar PV, voltage optimisation and battery energy storage systems without having to pay for the entire capital outlay and installation costs”. According to The Carbon Trust, businesses could make significant savings on their bottom line. Savings of up to 20-30% savings on their energy bills could be realised simply by making smarter energy investment decisions and taking advantage of technology funding opportunities.
14 AUTUMN 2017 | IRISH MANUFACTURING “Although we initially expected financial support to be available until
early 2018, capital contributions are provided on a first-come-first-served basis and when the money is gone, it is gone,” says director of the Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund Laura Timlin. “Over the past year we have been busy promoting the availability of advice and capital contributions through the Green Business Fund as well as running workshops across Great Britain to directly reach hundreds of businesses. This increased awareness of the business opportunity in energy efficiency has driven continued growth in the amount of funding being provided each month with over 200 companies now having taken advantage of the scheme.” Delivery of projects funded through the Green Business Fund is limited to accredited suppliers which have met or exceeded Carbon Trust criteria designed to examine capability and track record of delivery. Business owners wishing to find out how solar PV, voltage optimisation and energy storage technologies can help save them money and learn more about the Carbon Trust Green Business Fund should contact Ian Brent-Smith at Powersun while funding remains available.
Powersun
ian@powersun.ltd.uk
T: +44 (0) 1869 250 505
www.powersun.ltd.uk
/ IRISHMANUFACTURING
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