The energy transition is forcing organisations to look at their electrical infrastructure differently. Simply connecting new consumers or generators (such as PV panels and EV charging posts) based on simple addition is no longer enough. This poses risks to operational security.
A Load Flow analysis (also called power flow calculation) provides exact insight into how voltage, current and power move through your installation, now and in the future. It is the fundamental calculation that answers the question, "Can my installation handle this change without failing?" At HyTEPS, we do not approach this as a theoretical exercise, but as a necessary step for safe and efficient electrical design.
What is it: A simulation of the steady-state of your installation to calculate currents, voltages and losses.
When needed: In the case of expansions, integration of renewable energy, new construction or unexplained failures due to voltage dips.
The risk: Without insight, expansion leads to cable overloads, unwanted triggering of protective devices or too high/low voltages.
The solution: A detailed model in simulation software (such as Vision) that calculates scenarios before you invest.
The result: An installation designed or adapted 'First Time Right', with demonstrable compliance to standards.
This knowledge is essential for professionals responsible for the continuity and safety of electrical systems. We see that Load Flow analyses are crucial for:
In practice, we often see reliance on historical assumptions ("it always went well"). However, due to the increase of non-linear loads and decentralised generation, the installation behaves differently than ten years ago. Blindly relying on experience is a risk in today's complex installations.
At its core, a Load Flow study is a numerical analysis that determines the flow of electrical power in a connected system. It calculates the voltage at each node (bus bar), the current through each branch (cable, transformer) and the power losses in the whole.
The equation: Your installation as a water supply network
To make the operation of Load Flow tangible, you can compare your electrical installation to a water supply network. In this metaphor, voltage (Voltage) equals water pressure, while current (Ampere) is the amount of water flowing through the pipes - your cables. A Load Flow analysis then calculates whether the pressure at the end of the pipe is still high enough for the nozzle (your machine) to operate powerfully enough. At the same time, the analysis checks that the pipes themselves do not burst due to excessive pressure or excess water, which in your installation would amount to dangerous overloading or short circuits.
Deterministic vs. Stochastic
A classic 'worst-case' calculation (deterministic) adds up all maximum powers. This often leads to over-dimensioning and unnecessarily high costs. In reality, all machines are never on at 100% power at the same time.
This is why we look at statistical reality. By calculating with stochastic load flow and realistic simultaneity factors, we simulate the actual behaviour of your installation. The result is a design based not on wide safety margins and assumptions, but on data. This prevents unnecessary investments in overcapacity.
You do not always realise immediately that there is a problem with load distribution until it goes wrong. A Load Flow study is necessary in the following situations:
1. Operational problems (Symptoms)
2. Plant changes (Triggers)
Proactive analysis prevents you from having to replace cables afterwards or shutting down production.
Reliable Load Flow analysis at HyTEPS follows a structured process. Garbage in = Garbage out; therefore, we pay a lot of attention to modelling (see also our view on Modelling).
A customer in the food industry wanted to add a new production line. The house installer indicated that the main distributor was "full" and recommended a new transformer (cost: €80,000+).
The HyTEPS approach: We performed a Load Flow analysis including a measurement of the actual load (which is often lower than the nameplate states).
Do you have doubts about the capacity of your installation or are you facing an expansion? Waiting for the automaton to trip is not a strategy.
What you can do yourself:
When to engage HyTEPS? If the installation is complex, the stakes are high (downtime is not an option), or if you are dealing with Power Quality issues. Our engineers combine measurements with simulations to provide conclusive advice. We look beyond the standard norms and make sure your installation is robust for the future.
Deepen your knowledge with related topics from our knowledge base:
Short-circuit calculations: What happens when things go wrong? Are your protections selective?
Harmonic analysis: The impact of pollution on your capacity.
Power Factor (Cos Phi): improving efficiency and reducing reactive current.
Voltage dips: Causes and solutions for short-term outages.
Symptoms are often subtle until things go wrong. Look out for unexplained machine failures, flickering lights, cables getting hot or transformers buzzing. Also, if electronics (PLCs, drivers) fail earlier than the service life indicates, chances are that the power quality is insufficient. A Power Quality measurement provides the answer.
This is possible, provided you have a high-quality Power Quality Analyzer (according to IEC 61000-4-30 Class A) and the knowledge to interpret the data. Collecting data is easy; analysing the correlation between events, harmonics and your specific business processes requires specialist engineering knowledge. We are happy to support you in the analysis.
Not by definition. NEN-EN 50160 describes the minimum requirements for voltage at the grid operator's transfer point. However, modern equipment can be more sensitive and malfunction even if the voltage is within this standard. We therefore look beyond the standard: we look at the compatibility between your power supply and your connected load.
Peace of mind, certainty and insight. You get a clear diagnosis of the 'health' of your electrical installation. We pinpoint the cause of faults, enabling you to avoid unplanned downtime and reduce fire risks or unnecessary energy losses. You receive a concrete advisory report with practical points for improvement.
No, that is a misconception. A filter is a powerful tool, but not a panacea. Sometimes the solution lies in changing transformer settings, redistributing loads or adjusting cabling. HyTEPS always recommends a thorough analysis and simulation before we recommend hardware, to avoid unnecessary investments.
Yes, significantly. Solar panel inverters and LED lighting drivers are non-linear loads that cause harmonics and sometimes supraharmonics. This can lead to interference with other equipment or overloading of the neutral conductor. When renovating or preserving, a Power Quality check is essential to ensure operational reliability.
We call this phenomenon 'nuisance tripping'. Often the cause is not the total amount of current, but the distortion of the current (harmonics) or short peak currents that your measuring equipment misses. This contamination can extra heat up thermal protections or confuse electronic protections, causing them to switch off wrongly. A specialised measurement can find out exactly why a protection reacts.
For a reliable picture, we usually measure at least one to two weeks. This is necessary to capture a full duty cycle, including weekends and peak loads. For specific acute failures, we can also take short-term measurements or deploy 'continuous waveform recording' to capture transients.
Your installer is an expert in installation and maintenance (the 'general practitioner'). HyTEPS is the specialist (the 'Power Quality Doctor'). We have advanced measuring equipment, simulation software and in-depth knowledge of theoretical electrical engineering and regulations. We often work together with installers to solve complex puzzles that fall outside standard knowledge.
After the measurement, you receive a report with conclusions in understandable language as well as technical details. If necessary, we simulate the possible solutions in our software. So you know exactly what the effect of a measure will be in advance. We then supervise the implementation and verify the result with a follow-up measurement.
Don't be surprised by unforeseen outages or unnecessary costs. Speak to an engineer from HyTEPS about your specific situation. We will be happy to help you with a clear diagnosis or a complete Load Flow study.
HyTEPS
Beemdstraat 3
5653 MA Eindhoven
