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16
'09
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Beijer Electronics Products AB
From 0 to 1500 rpm in 2 seconds
Guaranteed uninterruptible power
On 26 April 2009, everything stopped. Parts of the Telekom landline network and the T-Mobile mobile phone network were dead, and several hundred thousand mobile phone users in the region around Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn and Aachen cast irritated glances at their mobile phones. No network, no calls, no text messaging – and it lasted several hours. A power failure in the system of a local electricity supplier was responsible for this involuntary cessation of communication. Later it was found that although the backup power supply (UPS) had started up properly, it failed to shut down afterward on its own. The batteries became exhausted, and ultimately the system collapsed again.
Effective network security with a rotary UPS
Total power failures are not the only problem faced by the operators of telecommunication systems, health care facilities and large computer centres. Minor network disturbances, which occur much more often and cause enormous damage, are considerably more troublesome. Unlike the situation in Cologne, where a battery-backed uninterruptible power supply was in use, large database centres and similar facilities often have backup power systems that store kinetic energy. A rotary UPS of this sort consists of a Diesel engine, a generator, and an inductive coupling. This is a compact and reliable concept that does not need any batteries. It has the advantage of requiring significantly less space than a battery-operated UPS, as well as 3% to 5% better energy efficiency. In addition, it is not necessary to have a specially ventilated room with uniform ambient conditions, and the inconvenience of special waste disposal for used batteries is eliminated.
At home in many areas
Hitec Power Protection BV, located in Almelo (The Netherlands), is a specialist in uninterruptible power systems. With around 200 employees, the company is active internationally in fashioning environmentally friendly power solutions using the latest technology. Hitec UPSs are used in a wide variety of industries, such as health care, aviation, finance, computer centres, telecommunication systems, semiconductor fabrication, and production plants.
With more than 50 years of experience, Hitec has long since established a position as one of the market leaders in UPS systems with a capacity of 750 kVA or more. Their UPS product line includes models with output power ratings from 400 to 2000 kVA, which can provide up to 400 MVA in parallel installations. Design and production activities are concentrated at the headquarters site in the Netherlands, which also houses the world’s largest test facility for 50/60-Hz applications with a capacity of up to 20 MVA. Hitec maintains a worldwide service organisation with regional offices and qualified partners to ensure its customers of 24/7 service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Fast availability thanks to Turbo Start
A Diesel rotary UPS consists of a Diesel engine (1), an inductive coupling (2) and a generator (3), all mounted on a sturdy base frame. In normal operation, the generator in combination with a choke acts as a dynamic filter. In addition, it provides reactive power correction and prevents disturbances such as brief power interruptions, overvoltages and dropouts. If the supply grid is out of tolerance or even fails completely, the Hitec UPS systems utilise stored kinetic energy to bridge the time interval necessary for starting the Diesel engine, all without any batteries. When a power failure occurs, a preheated and perfectly lubricated Diesel engine accelerates from 0 to 1500 rpm in two seconds and bridges the power dropout until service is restored on the mains grid.
The company also offers another solution with their ‘ride-through’ system. It consists of a flywheel, the generator, and an electromagnetic coupling. This enables the system operator to bridge interruptions lasting 15 to 30 seconds, using only stored kinetic energy. As can be seen from the statistics of electricity supply companies, this short period is fully adequate because 95% of all mains power outages last only a few seconds.
Industrial-quality monitoring
Ease of use and rapid recognition of network parameters are important aspects of a UPS system. Consequently, Hitec decided to use Lauer panel PCs (Lauer as a member of the Beijer Elecronics group). With their 17-inch touch screen monitors, these industry-proven computers form the ideal basis for Hitec’s visualisation solution. Using a total of three main windows, the system displays the current process parameters – including everything from the voltage and frequency of the infeed power to the various filter states.
Signal processing for all parameters is provided by a Schneider Quantum PLC, which communicates with Hitec’s monitoring software via an Ethernet link. ‘The Lauer PC is ideal for our application due to its high industrial quality. Its ten-year availability gives us the long-term ability to provide our customers with a fast replacement in case of problems’, commented Marketing Manager Jasper Kerkwijk on their current solution. As a coordinator between sales, service and engineering, he knows exactly what customers demand, and he confirmed that their experience with Lauer PCs is entirely positive. In particular, their robust construction and the insensitivity of the touch screen to surface contamination enable them to reliably withstand the rough handling they often receive from service staff.
Comprehensive support wins customer loyalty
Hitec’s success demonstrates the importance of an international helpdesk. Jasper Kerkwijk on diagnostic support: ‘Our service staff can dial into the system concerned via the Internet or using a modem connection and perform remote diagnosis or correct a malfunction right away. And with our 24/7 service and additional training programme for system operators, system users always have a secure feeling – which is exactly what you need with mains power.’
This report was generated with the friendly support of Hitec Power Protection BV.
Picture1: In normal operation, the UPS acts as an active voltage filter
Picture 2: A complete Diesel rotary UPS
Picture 3: A ride-through system rated at 1250 kVA
Picture 4: Reliable process control with an industry-proven panel PC
Effective network security with a rotary UPS
Total power failures are not the only problem faced by the operators of telecommunication systems, health care facilities and large computer centres. Minor network disturbances, which occur much more often and cause enormous damage, are considerably more troublesome. Unlike the situation in Cologne, where a battery-backed uninterruptible power supply was in use, large database centres and similar facilities often have backup power systems that store kinetic energy. A rotary UPS of this sort consists of a Diesel engine, a generator, and an inductive coupling. This is a compact and reliable concept that does not need any batteries. It has the advantage of requiring significantly less space than a battery-operated UPS, as well as 3% to 5% better energy efficiency. In addition, it is not necessary to have a specially ventilated room with uniform ambient conditions, and the inconvenience of special waste disposal for used batteries is eliminated.
At home in many areas
Hitec Power Protection BV, located in Almelo (The Netherlands), is a specialist in uninterruptible power systems. With around 200 employees, the company is active internationally in fashioning environmentally friendly power solutions using the latest technology. Hitec UPSs are used in a wide variety of industries, such as health care, aviation, finance, computer centres, telecommunication systems, semiconductor fabrication, and production plants.
With more than 50 years of experience, Hitec has long since established a position as one of the market leaders in UPS systems with a capacity of 750 kVA or more. Their UPS product line includes models with output power ratings from 400 to 2000 kVA, which can provide up to 400 MVA in parallel installations. Design and production activities are concentrated at the headquarters site in the Netherlands, which also houses the world’s largest test facility for 50/60-Hz applications with a capacity of up to 20 MVA. Hitec maintains a worldwide service organisation with regional offices and qualified partners to ensure its customers of 24/7 service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Fast availability thanks to Turbo Start
A Diesel rotary UPS consists of a Diesel engine (1), an inductive coupling (2) and a generator (3), all mounted on a sturdy base frame. In normal operation, the generator in combination with a choke acts as a dynamic filter. In addition, it provides reactive power correction and prevents disturbances such as brief power interruptions, overvoltages and dropouts. If the supply grid is out of tolerance or even fails completely, the Hitec UPS systems utilise stored kinetic energy to bridge the time interval necessary for starting the Diesel engine, all without any batteries. When a power failure occurs, a preheated and perfectly lubricated Diesel engine accelerates from 0 to 1500 rpm in two seconds and bridges the power dropout until service is restored on the mains grid.
The company also offers another solution with their ‘ride-through’ system. It consists of a flywheel, the generator, and an electromagnetic coupling. This enables the system operator to bridge interruptions lasting 15 to 30 seconds, using only stored kinetic energy. As can be seen from the statistics of electricity supply companies, this short period is fully adequate because 95% of all mains power outages last only a few seconds.
Industrial-quality monitoring
Ease of use and rapid recognition of network parameters are important aspects of a UPS system. Consequently, Hitec decided to use Lauer panel PCs (Lauer as a member of the Beijer Elecronics group). With their 17-inch touch screen monitors, these industry-proven computers form the ideal basis for Hitec’s visualisation solution. Using a total of three main windows, the system displays the current process parameters – including everything from the voltage and frequency of the infeed power to the various filter states.
Signal processing for all parameters is provided by a Schneider Quantum PLC, which communicates with Hitec’s monitoring software via an Ethernet link. ‘The Lauer PC is ideal for our application due to its high industrial quality. Its ten-year availability gives us the long-term ability to provide our customers with a fast replacement in case of problems’, commented Marketing Manager Jasper Kerkwijk on their current solution. As a coordinator between sales, service and engineering, he knows exactly what customers demand, and he confirmed that their experience with Lauer PCs is entirely positive. In particular, their robust construction and the insensitivity of the touch screen to surface contamination enable them to reliably withstand the rough handling they often receive from service staff.
Comprehensive support wins customer loyalty
Hitec’s success demonstrates the importance of an international helpdesk. Jasper Kerkwijk on diagnostic support: ‘Our service staff can dial into the system concerned via the Internet or using a modem connection and perform remote diagnosis or correct a malfunction right away. And with our 24/7 service and additional training programme for system operators, system users always have a secure feeling – which is exactly what you need with mains power.’
This report was generated with the friendly support of Hitec Power Protection BV.
Picture1: In normal operation, the UPS acts as an active voltage filter
Picture 2: A complete Diesel rotary UPS
Picture 3: A ride-through system rated at 1250 kVA
Picture 4: Reliable process control with an industry-proven panel PC
