Analysis of power quality has an increasingly important role to play in maximising energy efficiency, as concerns about the impact of carbon emissions on the environment and depletion of fossil fuels continue. Utility companies, in order to comply with stringent international legislation, need to assure the quality of the electricity that is passing through their distribution networks is constantly kept at an acceptable level. Likewise, industrial processing plants, manufacturing facilities, residential complexes, university campuses and hospitals all have to accurately monitor how effective their electrical systems are – so that energy wastage is minimised and operational costs are always kept under control.
Through properly executed power quality analysis, sources of energy loss can be located and subsequently eliminated. The effectiveness of each element of a system involved in either the generation or the distribution of electricity (generators, transformers, cabling, switchgear, etc.) can be thoroughly scrutinized using advanced analysis equipment. This permits power quality problems such as load switching (where the current drawn can result in a drop in voltage level), load imbalances (caused by uneven loading on each phase in the system), harmonic distortions (where non-linear loads lead to overheating of the system), voltage fluctuations, voltage transients, supply interruptions and reactive loads to be uncovered. As well as reducing the size of bills, this activity will help to minimise the level of on-going maintenance work and the period of downtime while repairs are done, as well as avoiding the expense of vital components needing to be replaced.
Test sourcing specialist Livingston stocks power meters, power data loggers/recorders, electrical insulation testers, high end power quality analysers, plus a wide range of different types and sizes of current clamps. In addition it can give customers highly professional guidance (both technical and application led) in order to achieve the best measurement results.
Livingston understands that the needs of its customers differ both by application and by geography. For this reason, the company has kept away from centralised call-centres that lack local presence or an appreciation of local factors.
What engineers can expect from Livingston:
- Possibilities for multiple instruments at the same time
- Access to a wide range of different instruments
- Single source for all required test items
- Selection across a wide price range
- Professional helpdesk
- 24 hours delivery time
Power quality analysis products available from Livingston:
Fluke 437- Logging Power Quality Analyser
- 4 voltage & 4 current channels
- Measurement of dips, swells, interruptions & transients
- 400Hz measurement functions
GMC-MavoWatt 40 – Power & Disturbance Analyser
- Power/mains disturbance analysis per EN 61000-4-7 & EN50160
- Analysis for the direction of the voltage drop, switching tops of the power factor correction & the quality of motors
- 8 measuring channels: 4 for voltage (differential) & 4 for current (current sensor), for measurements at 50/60Hz power frequency
Fluke 1735 – Power Logger
- Measure maximum power demand over user defined period
- Record power & associated parameters for up to 45 days
- Supplied with Power Log software
Dranetz PX-5 – Power Explorer
- 4 voltage & 4 current channels
- Full disturbance measurement to IEEE 1159. IEC 61000-4-30 & EN50160 standards
- Supplied with Dranview software
Chauvin Arnoux 8335 – Power Quality Analyser
- 4 voltage inputs up to 1,200V & 4 current inputs up to 6,500A (depending on sensors)
- Electrical safety: IEC 61010 600 V CAT IV / 1,000 V CAT III
- Simultaneous real-time display of all 4 inputs is available in graphic, vectorial or value-table format
Yokogawa WT-1600 – Real-Time Precision Power Quality Analyser
- Voltage input: 1.5V to 1,000V
- Current input: 1A to 50A
- Frequency range DC, 0.5Hz to 1MHz
- Basic accuracy: ±0.1%
