Helios Electric News

Failure to protect personnel adequately against injury or death from an arc flash event can financially decimate a company. Failure to comply with the requirements and guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Electrical Code (NEC), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E can cost you time and money through fines and unexpected downtime. In this article, they will be exploring one piece of data in Arc Flash Study models: cables, specifical...

Railways are relied upon as a means for transporting passengers and goods across short, medium, and long distances. In modern railway systems, electricity is a convenient source to power an efficient mass transportation system. An important part of this electrical system is the traction power substations whose function is to convert the incoming commercial electrical supply to a form usable by the motive power on the train. traction power systems  The electrical energy from the traction...

The failure to protect the employees against injury or death from Arc Flash can put them out of business. Failing to keep up with the latest Arc Flash safety standards and guidelines can cost time and money. Electricity is recognized as a serious workplace hazard where OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E standards exist to protect personnel against arc flash and shock hazards. arc flash Arc Flash is the sudden release of energy when a fault or short circuit occurs between the air gap An “Arc...

An enhanced grounding scheme not only helps protect the people and the electrical equipment, as per the NEC, but it also helps maintain sequential tripping, ensure maximum service continuity during faults, and minimize nuisance tripping and disturbances. An enhanced grounding scheme contains system faults within a localized area of the electrical distribution system. Such schemes are often found in specialized power distribution systems where reliability and protection are of the utmost im...

Most industrial and commercial facilities consume sizable amounts of electricity to fulfill their goals. These facilities are often equipped with a standby generator that is called into operation during an interruption of the incoming utility supply. However, when these facilities are equipped with a cogeneration system, specialized design and system protection aspects must be considered. What is a Cogeneration System? Cogeneration system is configured to work in parallel with the utility sys...

Electricity can provide power for trains to create an effective city-wide mass transportation system. An important part of this system is the traction power substations whose function is to convert the incoming commercial electrical supply to a form usable by trains via overhead catenary or an energized third rail. DC Traction Power Substations Urban metro systems in North America operate between 500 V and 750 V DC using the third-rail configuration Most urban metro systems in North America o...

The automobile is the perfect example of a system that will last longer with routine maintenance. Like the automobile, the electrical distribution system may let them down, just when they need it the most unless they take care of it. With a car, they know the need to take it in for periodic oil changes and tune-ups at designated intervals. Based on NETA testing and NFPA 70B guidelines, knowing when to perform periodic maintenance of the electrical system is now a no-brainer.  But how often...

Water pumping and booster stations are used for pumping potable water from lower-elevation areas to higher-elevation areas of a distribution system. This energy expenditure is necessary to supply potable water required for homes, businesses, and industries. Water pumps depend on electricity to run, but water pumping stations also depend on specialized instrumentation and control schemes to manage the safety and reliability of the water distribution system. Importance of the Pump Electrically...

A transformer is an essential component of any electrical system. A transformer transfers electricity from one circuit to another while adjusting the voltage level. Transformers are used in a wide array of applications including power transmission and distribution for electrical facilities. The operating principle of a transformer is based on Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction. General Purpose Applications Step-up transformers can change the voltage of a generator from 13.8 kV t...

Improving safety and ensuring the continued operation of the electrical system will help fulfill the long-term mission of the facility. Protecting the employees and equipment from electrical damage is also in the long-term interest, and it can help reduce insurance premiums. The key is to understand how safety interlocking plays an important role. What is Safety Interlocking? Safety interlocking is a system that is intended to prevent forced unsafe needs during the operation Safety inte...

Historically, electrical engineers have had only two choices when it came to specifying power circuit breakers: oil-filled or air. With established technologies for insulating and interrupting methods, the application of circuit breakers is sometimes an afterthought. Although the 2 kV-38 kV class of AC air circuit breakers has virtually disappeared from the scene, they still have a prominent place in the 250V-2000V class of equipment, particularly in AC and DC traction power systems. ...

Improving the quality of the electrical power improves reliability and reduces electrical costs. Additionally, it will improve their own electrical distribution system and reduce the likelihood of the utility company penalizing them for a low “power factor”. The key to improving electrical power is understanding the importance of the power factor. What is the Power Factor? Real power (also known as kW) is what powers electrical equipment and performs useful work The power fac...

Electricity is a serious workplace hazard. Its use is essential, yet every year many workers suffer injury or death from accidents involving electrical equipment. Every company that relies on electricity requires a safety program to protect its employees from electrocution, arc flash, or other electrical hazards. OSHA recognizes electricity as a serious workplace hazard – just one serious workplace injury could outweigh the time and cost of developing a proper electrical safety program....

Industrial electrical distribution systems typically consist of switchgear lineups to distribute power to various loads. Switchgear lineups are vital to an industrial facility to maintain production, process, and revenue stream. Frequently, existing switchgear lineups at such facilities are deemed to be in good condition but lack many modern-day technologies that could benefit them.  Improved Protection for Equipment Instead of replacing the kit to achieve benefits, they can retrofit and...