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Simultaneous Suppression: Protection with a Payback A Holistic Approach to Power Quality Energy Solutions

This item is part of the The Grid: Reliability & Resilience - October 2022 SPECIAL ISSUE, click here for more
The Applied Energy Voltage Stabilizing Ground Reference (VSGR) provides the world’s first and only complete method of power monitoring and power quality control. In 3-phase power systems, it will suppress all unwanted changes in voltage, thus preventing the voltage imbalance event.
When a voltage imbalance between phase and ground occurs, the VSGR provides a phase voltage equalization to keep voltages equal within 1 to 2 volts. Additionally, if phase angles are not equal, the VSGR provides a correction to provide equal phase angles for each phase voltage.
This phase angle correction assures that each of (3) phases does 1/3 of the work. Other power quality devices cannot provide this equal division of work and can add to the system imbalance. This could make the problem worse.
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Harmonic distortion also becomes a non-issue: the VSGR is a proven means of reducing phase voltage harmonics at all frequencies.
The VSGR has also been proven to prevent arc flash events. At a high-power test laboratory, the VSGR was connected in parallel with an operating 480 volt 3-phase load power circuit. The circuit was hit with voltages ranging from 2,500 to 8,400 volts for a duration 750 times longer than a SPD is tested for. There was no arc flash, nor was any damage dealt to the VSGR, the operating 3-phase load, or the power transformer powering this circuit.
In a 3-phase power circuit, power quality problems can only be prevented by instantly and continuously equalizing the voltages between phase and ground. Testing data has proven the VSGR will:
- Reduce harmonic energy by 85%
- Correct phase angle distortion from >12 degrees to ±1 degree
- Correct phase to ground voltage imbalances from >20% to about 1%
All of this is performed at the speed of the flow of current (186,000 miles per second). In the case of many competing Power Quality devices such as HRG, NGR, ZIG-ZAG, insulation monitors, ground detectors and SPD devices, there is a delay until the voltage builds up to the clamping voltage level, as well as a reaction time. Even if this lasted only 1/10th of a second, the spike in voltage could travel 1,860 miles by the time these devices provide a reaction. These competing products are not designed to react at the speed of the current flow, meaning there is a built-in delay in reaction before attempting to control the voltage waveform.
Other technologies claim to provide a solution for individual power issues, one for spikes, one for harmonics, one for limiting AC current feeding each drive, but none provide any voltage balancing and the voltages are allowed to spike outside the CBEMA curve. The IEEE has determined that motors should not be powered from a power system with a voltage imbalance exceeding 2%. So none of these or other “solutions” will stand the test of time and cannot compete: the VSGR provides real-time corrections for all power quality problems at the beginning of an event, and will continue to do this for over 35 years, even in environments with high electrical noise. Applied Energy’s policy is to provide “Protection with a Payback”: The resulting clean power provided by Applied Energy LLC’s patented products will generally result in a payback or ROI of less than 1 year. You may be wondering which specific industry was this device designed to protect? The only correct answer is ALL OF THEM! All the loads are powered from the same power grid.
The VSGR is effective at reducing additional heat caused by harmonics, eliminating control and drive lockups due to surges and limiting the times UPS systems switch over to battery. The VSGR has been demonstrated to greatly reduce the damage to LED lamp fixtures due to dirty power.
Yes, the VSGR is the one solution which cleans up and equalizes the power and when the power is cleaner the motors run cooler and the electric bill automatically reduces by 5 to 20%. How would a 35% increase in up-time AND an electric bill 20% lower. This will generally happen immediately and continue for the next 35 years.
The Phaseback VSGR was designed, developed, tested for over 19 years, manufactured, and patented by Applied Energy LLC. Patent reference at the USPTO: 10,985,648 B2 (SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWER MONITORING AND CONTROL)
To get your facilities protected, contact one of our authorized representatives at: https://phaseback.com/contact-us/.
For more information, visit our blog at: https://phaseback.com/blog/
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