Electrical Power Quality Troubleshooting & Load Study Services

Fox River Systems serves industrial and commercial clients with technical services in the form of electrical energy demand, load power studies, Power Quality (PQ) analysis, and troubleshooting of electrical distribution systems 1000V or less.  We work hand-in-hand with the client's site-electricians and/or electrical contractor to plan, carry out the work, and review results and recommendations. 

There are several applications that drive this work highlighted in the lifecycle graphic below.  Contact us to discuss your needs and for a no obligation quotation.

1) New Equipment Commissioning - Commissioning studies are conducted at the time new equipment is to be brought online.  These studies are particularly important with large motor loads and long feeders because large voltage drops are possible and can lead to excessive current draw and potential equipment damage.

2) Capacity Planning - Load studies are conducted to answer the question: How much additional capacity is available from a given power source?  The studies are conducted over a period of time that allows for measuring the worst-case combination of operating loads--typically a 1-week to 1-month period is required.  

3) Energy Conservation/Cost Reduction Initiatives - Energy studies are conducted to evaluate the cost of poor quality and to estimate the benefits of improving power quality.  Examples of how poor power quality costs:

• Harmonic distortion of voltage causes energy loss in motors and transformers
• Some utilities charge penalties to users based on Power Factor being less than a required minimum (typically 80-90%). Power factor is adversely impacted when the loads are reactive loads such as motors and transformers.

 4) A/B Testing - Energy studies are performed under 2 scenarios that can be compared.  Conducting an energy study before a lighting change-out and then after new higher-efficiency lighting has been installed is used to validate projected savings.  Another example of when this kind of testing is useful is when a operating energy cost comparison needs to be made of 2 machines doing the same job.

5) Diagnostic Troubleshooting - Power studies are often employed to determine if power problems that have been experienced by equipment at a facility are due to the utility power issues or caused by other loads within the facility.  Oftentimes a power analyzer with ability to detect common voltage events (e.g. dips, swells, and transient voltage spikes) and other qualities such as harmonic distortion, frequency, voltage unbalance, etc.  is configured to monitor the utility power over a period of time--the goal being that it's long enough to experience recurrence of the equipment/power problem you're trying to solve.  Presuming the utility power is being measured by an appropriate power analyzer and a recurrence of the power problem takes place during the period of the study, it will be possible to identify if there is a high or low correlation between the date/time of the equipment/power problem that recurred and the condition of power at the time of the problem.

In addition to electrical power studies, Fox River Systems also employs other relevant technologies in service to solving problems and improving uptime and reliability of assets.   

• Infrared thermal imagers for evaluating the condition electrical distribution and equipment/loads.
• Ultrasonic acoustic receivers and imagers for evaluation of compressed air/gas (and vacuum) leaks, electrical discharge from arcing, and more!
• Vibration analyzers-  for evaluation of rotating equipment to identify misalignment, looseness, imbalance, and bearing issues

Contact us to discuss your needs and for a no obligation quotation.