Industrial

Solutions for Improving Industrial Power Quality

Throughout the industrial world, automation, miniaturization and the increased use of sophisticated computer-controlled manufacturing equipment are transforming industrial processes — and raising the stakes to industrial customers in ensuring a reliable, high-quality supply of electric power. 

The chart below highlights the number of thunderstorms that occur annually on average throughout the United States.  Most large industrial and commercial sites are served by overhead lines with feeders that are subject to these kinds of unpredictable and sporadic events. 

Sophisticated new manufacturing systems are being deployed in many industries as manufacturers look to improve their overall productivity and increase their competitiveness.  Unfortunately, these systems are highly sensitive even to brief variations in electric power quality — today's computer-driven devices can fail when power is disturbed for even a few milliseconds.  According to Sandia National Laboratories, power disturbances cost U.S. businesses $150 billion annually with $114 billion resulting from voltage sags and other voltage regulation problems.

Symptoms of Poor Power Quality

• Adjustable speed drives stop

• Fuses blow

• Lights blink

• Motors slow down

• PLCs and other process control equipment drop out

Solution Examples

American Superconductor's power quality product line is based on advanced power electronics technology that has been used in a variety of industrial settings including: automotive parts manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, chemicals, data center protection, and high-energy physics.