Paper Presentations

Site Audits and Analysis
John Johnson, Strategic Facilities, Inc.

Most Data Center Managers sleep easily at night because they believe that the infrastructure supporting their Mission Critical IT systems is rock-solid. They have been lulled into believing that just because they have a UPS System and an Emergency Generator that they are protected from any external or internal failure. We have found in far too many cases that this just isn’t the case. In most cases, the infrastructure was never properly commissioned. In some cases, the original design is flawed. A Facility Audit can answer those questions.

In this session we will discuss audits specifically related to power quality and reliability.

And if you don’t sleep easy tonight, we’re sorry, but it’s for your own good! Some day you’ll thank me for this. Honest.

The Comprehensive Approach to Facility Power Quality
César Chávez, Inelap—A Beckwith Electric Solutions Partner

Facility harmonic distortion problems surface in many different ways. Sometimes the symptoms are overheating transformers, lost computer data, system lockup, equipment interference, equipment malfunction or failure, audible noise, etc. Each facility is unique and their problems may also be unique to their set of circumstances (power sources, machinery, equipment, level of automation, equipment sensitivity, etc). Typically, there is no single textbook solution that will solve each and every facility’s problems. A large and expensive piece of power quality equipment is sometimes purchased and applied on a macro basis in an effort to overwhelm the power quality problem. Often, this means the utility gets the benefit, while the facility, having spent the money, maintains a distorted internal power system. In the application of harmonic mitigation equipment, the benefits are only realized upstream of the location where the equipment is connected. Satisfactory power quality performance and energy efficiency demands careful analysis of the facility problems and electrical system multiple solution approach with the proper solutions applied at the proper locations throughout the electrical system.

This paper discusses the comprehensive approach to facility power quality as it relates to harmonics, with the objective to maximize power system performance, energy efficiency and facility productivity.

The Application of Bi-Fuel Technology for Standby Generators
Mike Kirchner, Generac Power Systems, Inc.

Diesel and natural gas fueled generators have been common solutions for industrial standby power applications for decades. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Diesel gensets cost less and are more powerful, but come with a number of concerns related to fuel storage and exhaust emissions. Natural gas generators are cleaner, quieter and require no refueling, but are somewhat less powerful and considerably more expensive.

Bi-fuel gensets offer the best of both diesel and natural gas options. Using mass-produced diesel engines as prime movers, bi-fuel generators start up on diesel fuel in a normal manner. Once certain criteria are met, bi-fuel delivery systems introduce natural gas to the combustion air while reducing the amount of diesel fuel. Under full load conditions, bi-fuel generators will operate comfortably on a ratio of 10% diesel and 90% natural gas, with no reduction in power. At just a slight cost premium to diesel-only designs, bi-fuel gensets offer several powerful advantages:

• The lower capital cost of the diesel engine is retained
• Run times per tank of diesel fuel are greatly extended
• On-site fuel storage and maintenance issues are minimized
• The exhaust emissions profile is improved