Ecmweb 8850 Opinion
Ecmweb 8850 Opinion
Ecmweb 8850 Opinion
Ecmweb 8850 Opinion
Ecmweb 8850 Opinion

Feel the Power

Feb. 14, 2014
Many of the articles in this month’s issue focus on the topic of on-site power equipment and systems.

Many of the articles in this month’s issue focus on the topic of on-site power equipment and systems. Based on all the whacky winter weather we’ve witnessed over the last few months, it seems pretty timely to draw attention to this subject. The country has been battered by storm after storm this winter season. High winds and rain, sleet, ice, and snow have wreaked havoc on electric utility systems and customer-owned power systems alike. One thing we’ve all been reminded of with these powerful storms is that having a backup power system can prove invaluable to your health and well-being.

Exactly one year ago, we zeroed in on this topic and published several articles as a “postmortem” to Hurricane Sandy in our February 2013 issue. As you most likely will recall, floodwaters from this superstorm raised many questions about the sufficiency of flooding protection for standby power systems. This catastrophic event forced design engineers and construction professionals to reassess design practices, address redesign challenges for existing systems, and seek out new best practices.

This month, we revisit the topic more than a year later to review the progress that’s been made in addressing the vulnerability of power supply systems in the flood-prone areas of New York and New Jersey. Interviews with consulting engineers reveal new business opportunities as facility owners seek out assessments and hardening of their current systems. Engineers are also analyzing the pros and cons of fuel storage and delivery for these units (i.e., diesel vs. natural gas). If that’s not enough to worry about, they must also adhere to new rules on the siting of backup power systems in New York City. For a closer look at these rules and a detailed follow-up story on this topic, read this month’s cover story by Tom Zind. 

We also touch on the topic of power sources in several of our monthly Code columns this month. One of the Q&A items in Code Quandaries answers the question, “Can a building or structure be served by more than one service?” Yes, it can. As noted in Sec. 230.2(A) through (D) of the NEC, additional services are permitted for fire pumps, emergency systems, legally required standby systems, optional standby power systems, parallel power production systems, and systems designed for connection to multiple sources of supply for the purpose of enhanced reliability.

Although they may not be very popular yet, small wind electric systems can also be used as sole sources of power or to supplement another type of power source. When set up as a sole power source, they typically feed a specific load or piece of equipment. For example, they might be used in remote areas to feed a pump or motor. When the system is set up as an interactive system (i.e., it supplements the electric utility power source), a number of additional safety requirements come into play. You can get a better handle on those requirements by reading this month’s Code Basics article by Mike Holt.

If the number of severe weather events across the country remains at current levels or increases in frequency, we’re all going to have to revise our thinking with regard to the availability and reliability of our power systems. I, for one, am hoping that Mother Nature has worn herself out a bit and doesn’t unleash an additional round of fury on us in the form of tornadoes, hail storms, or supercell thunderstorms come this spring.

About the Author

MIKE EBY | Senior Director of Content - Buildings

Mike received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1986 and an M.S. degree in engineering management in 1994 from the University of South Florida. He is currently a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), and American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE).

Prior to joining EC&M as Editor-in-Chief in September 1999, Mike served as the Executive Editor of Transmission & Distribution World magazine for five years. Before joining Penton Media, Mike held various engineering titles within the Substation and Transmission Engineering Groups at Florida Power & Light Co., Juno Beach, FL.

Mike was awarded the Southeastern Electric Exchange (SEE) Excellence in Engineering Award in 1993 and has received numerous regional and national editorial awards for his reporting and writing work in the electrical market.

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