Energy is essential to our daily activities, from
commercial to industrial applications. This leads us to the importance of
efficient power system engineering to make sure that there is enough electrical
power supply. Engineers conduct power system studies to understand how an
electrical system must perform. Likewise, these studies are used to determine
an unexpected event or fault’s severity. Data in a power system study is useful
in safeguarding workers as it helps determine the personal protective equipment
level that must be used and reduce equipment damage by optimizing the
protective devices’ fault clearing capabilities.
Power system studies vary per calculation method
and their purpose. Every analysis is designed for a specific power system, and
any changes in that system can affect results and may require recalculation.
Reputable engineering teams can conduct a power system study of an array of applications, such as failure
analysis, design engineering, quality studies, and on-site investigation and
studies. Here is an overview of some of the different studies they can conduct:
● Load flow – This looks into
an entire system’s steady state, which can be defined by factors like the
reactive and real power generated, voltages, and line and absorbed losses. It
is among the critical factors in power system operation and planning.
● Protective device
coordination – These power system studies ensure that the
system can work safely to avoid nuisance tripping, which is caused by altering
the protective devices and their respective settings during maintenance without
proper analysis.
● Arc flash study – This evaluation
is performed by trained engineers on-site. After assessing the electrical
system, they will provide a report discussing the areas of potential risks, and
recommend the changes you should consider on your electrical system.
Power system studies also cover short circuits,
motor starting, smart/micro grid and transient stability studies, and may be
used to validate the overall system design. Be sure to hire a reputable and
experienced engineering team to conduct these studies for you.
