Radio signals are potential causes of explosions in hazardous areas, which means that radio frequency identification should be carefully considered. Versatile and low cost, passive RFID systems can improve efficiency, reduce downtime and aid productivity. These systems have proven valuable to industrial companies, helping with asset and personnel tracking, inventory management, maintenance planning and more. […]
This article discusses a break-through in electrical protection and identifies critical application areas where as arc fault detection devices enhance safety. An arc is defined as a discharge of live electricity through insulation material accompanied by a partial volatilisation of the electrode materials. Under normal circumstances, one cathode and one anode are separated by a […]
Where antennas are installed, IEC 60728-11 calls for earthing measures in addition to bonding of the cable network. Conventional satellite and terrestrial antennas are almost exclusively installed on the roofs of buildings. Therefore, the IEC 60728-11 (EN 60728-1) standard calls for earthing measures in addition to equipotential bonding and lightning equipotential bonding of the cable […]
Solar plant owners and operators seek to predict performance decades into the future, but long-term data is limited. When engineers consider the development and procurement of solar energy plants, they typically need to know which solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will perform best in our climate; which are most likely to continue producing energy into the […]
The challenge behind Germany’s largest electric filling station was to integrate 50 charging points into a parking garage with specific structural conditions and to supply it with PV power. Increasingly more companies in Germany want to electrify their vehicle fleets. Bechtle, the country’s largest IT systems house, has incorporated the issue into its sustainability strategy. […]
The options available for monitoring and inspection of surge protective devices. The status of surge protective devices is transmitted and evaluated throughout the system or between systems to able these devices to react quickly to overloads or failures. Sensitive electronic devices are increasingly being installed in areas where high system availability is required. Surge protective […]
Large generator sets produce high levels of noise that must often be mitigated to meet national regulations and directives. This usually involves key decisions about the optimal generator set location and installation, how to design noise control systems and other factors, which is why it is important to conduct accurate noise level assessments timeously, before […]
Whether to use screw or reciprocating compressors in air conditioning or refrigeration applications is a decades-old question with no simple answer. The fact is, the correct choice depends on a range of factors such as application and operating conditions. Advances in reciprocating (or “recip”) compressors, however, may well add weight to the argument in their […]
Failed multimeters are often discovered to have been subjected to higher voltage than the technician thought they were measuring. As distribution systems and loads become more complex, the possibilities of transient overvoltages increase. Motors, capacitors and power conversion equipment such as variable speed drives can be prime generators of spikes. Lightning strikes on outdoor transmission […]
Not implementing lightning and surge protective measures at PV installations is a recipe for disaster in countries such as South Africa. South Africa is seeing the rise of small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) as end-users and businesses alike work towards reducing their reliance on the national grid. Small-scale embedded generation refers to power generation under 1 MVA, […]
