Power Systems Studies and Analysis
KimiaPower engineering team uses advanced tools to analyze your power system and provide the critical information for your power system infrastructure. We provide short circuit & coordination studies, arc flash analysis, load flow analysis, and power systems transient stability analysis.
Short Circuit Study
A short circuit study is an analysis of a power system to determine the level of fault currents flowing throughout the system during an electrical fault. Short circuit currents generate significant amount of heat and magnetic forces. IEEE Violet Book – Std 551- Calculating Short Circuit Currents in Industrial and Commercial Power Systems defines short circuit as: “An abnormal connection (including arc) of relative low impedance, whether made accidentally or intentionally, between two points of different potentials.
KimiaPower team performs short circuit analysis to calculate the magnitude of fault currents and compare these values against the equipment ratings to ensure that the entire power system is operating within their designed and manufactured rating thresholds. Once the expected short circuit currents are identified, the results will be used for protection system coordination study as well as for the arc flash analysis.
Coordination Study
IEEE Red Book – Std 141 – Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants states that “the primary purpose of a coordination study is to determine satisfactory ratings and settings for the distribution system protective devices.” KimiaPower team performs time overcurrent coordination (coordination study) and provides settings of the overcurrent relays and breaker protective trip devices with the upstream and downstream breakers and fuses to ensure a coordinated power distribution system.
Arc Flash Analysis
Since 2011, KimiaPower has performed numerous arc flash risk assessment studies. Projects have ranged from small analyses for mission critical facilities upgrades and modifications, to detailed analyses of new data centers power systems.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E defines flash hazard as a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc. NFPA70E and OSHA regulations require flash Hazard Analysis and Shock Hazard analysis to protect personnel from the possibility of being injured by an arc flash or shock hazard. The flash and shock hazard analyses are required to determine approach boundary requirements and PPE necessary to minimize the possibility of arc flash and electric shock exposure to personnel.
Our team will perform arc flash hazard analysis according to the requirements of IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E in conjunction with the short circuit analysis and the protective device time-current coordination analysis. In addition to arc flash labels showing the PPE levels as well as the incident energy levels, our reports include the arc flash boundary distances, working distances, incident energy levels and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) levels.
Transient Stability Analysis
Transient stability is the ability of a power system to maintain its synchronism when subjected to sever transients. The reaction of power system to major disturbances is large excursions of generator rotor angles. Stability is dependent on systems initial condition at the time of disturbance and severity of the event.
KimiaPower team provides power system modeling utilizing commercially available software tools to perform transient stability analysis. In a power system with multiple generators, lines and loads, stability is defined as equilibrium between input mechanical torque and output electrical torque of each machine. This is also called steady state condition under which all interconnected synchronous machines maintain their synchronism.