Single Line Development
Often called the “Road Map” of an electrical system, the Single Line Diagram provides the plant professional with the immediate tools necessary to understand, operate and troubleshoot the plant’s electrical system. IDC Engineering’s approach to Single Line Development is systematic with an emphasis on quality control. Field personnel utilize a data collection format that assures a uniform, consistent product.
System Modeling and Analysis
Based on the information provided by the client or through the collection of information during the development of a single line, the client’s electrical system can be evaluated utilizing state of the art computer modeling software by SKM Corporation. This software permits the calculation of the power system’s available Short Circuit at all points, analysis of the network load flow, and coordination of the system’s protective devices.
Evaluation of Short Circuit current is essential for the plant professional to help with the maintenance and daily renovations that are common in today’s fast-changing plant environment. Identifying weak equipment presently in use is even more critical. The lean budgets of past economic downturns have left us with an array of inadequate protective devices in today’s industry. Under-rated protective devices pose an extreme life safety hazard to not only the production employee, but the maintenance personnel who operate this equipment as well.
Load Flow studies are also an important part of good plant maintenance practice. Understanding the magnitude and location of existing plant loads, along with the capacity and layout of the system is necessary for qualified decisions during expansion. Field measurements of relevant electrical values, including current, voltage, power factor and harmonics, along with a detail of the system capacity throughout the facility will allow the plant professional to make informed decisions for renovations and for accommodating expanding plant load.
Protective device coordination is an often overlooked part of plant operations and power quality. Coordination is necessary to minimize the impact of an equipment failure on plant operation. Assumptions and “rules of thumb” often fall far short of the mark when evaluating whether two devices will properly coordinate. All too often, a minor problem becomes significant when large portions of the facility are affected by an outage.