Monitoring and arc studies at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies
Thanks to measurements and simulations, companies can ensure complex, ever-changing electrical installations comply with a variety of international safety standards as defined by the IEC and the IEEE, for example. “Our US parent company has to comply with some 40 mandatory safety standards,” says the installation manager of the veterinary care division of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. According to Standard SN23 on ‘electrical safety’, our company has to conduct arc flash tests. Thanks to HyTEPS’ advice, we have increased the safety of the installation and can avoid a variety of problems.”
HyTEPS’ Technical Engineer explains how data and analysis from measurements and simulations can demonstrate how installations meet set requirements. “Measurements and simulations make it possible to increase safety, check compliance with standards, and map the impact of planned changes without making physical modifications. This allows customers to implement changes in a way that ensures compliance with standards and minimizes risks. Arc flash awareness is more developed in the US than in Europe. They understand the importance of measurements. Arc flash studies are also important because they indicate the possible consequences of an arc flash, which helps in making the right decisions to reduce danger and damage – although arc flashes can never be fully prevented. HyTEPS uses two different methodologies for AC and DC arc studies, based on European and US standards.”
The facility was mapped in detail and HyTEPS entered all the data into a modelling system. A huge job: the plant consists of two 6MW electrical substations with some 25 transformers and more than 400 main and sub-distributors. Terminal groups were also part of the study. Standards compliance was checked, problems analyzed and solutions recommended.
“It was nice to work so closely with the customer,” explains the Technical Engineer. “For example, we check new design proposals and offer multiple solutions so they can choose the most suitable one.”