advanced search

Taking TVSS Technology to the Next Level

Apr 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Ellen Parson, Contributing Writer

Taking TVSS Technology to the Next Level

About four years ago, Joe Arnold, president of Best Quality Power in Farmington Hills, Mich., set out to find a more practical and cost-effective way for electrical engineers to protect their clients' systems from harmonic distortion and voltage transients in a single specification. What he developed was a hybrid device within the panelboard enclosure that addressed both power quality problems. And his vision became a reality last November when he unveiled the Series 519-EHGTP (patent pending) Electronic Harmonic Grade TVSS Panelboard based on that technology at the Power Quality Exhibition and Conference in Chicago.

In industrial and commercial electrical design work, consulting electrical engineers typically specify circuit breaker panelboards with built-in surge suppression. In facilities with an abundance of computers or sensitive electronic equipment, they also specify an extra transformer — possibly phase-shifting, zig zag harmonic cancellation, or K-rated — to reduce the harmonic distortion produced by this equipment. These transformers not only take up valuable space in the facility but in many cases can be quite expensive.

Arnold points out that the cost is often a factor of the increased protection such transformers can provide in certain situations. They can all but eliminate total harmonic distortion (THD) even though some facilities can continue to operate with moderate levels. “I think a number of technologies on the market today are addressing the harmonic distortion issue and solving it wonderfully but very expensively,” Arnold says. “They're reducing harmonic distortion to a negligible level, but that's not necessarily what most people need.”

Of course, that's only if they know they have a problem. If you ask the maintenance staff of most commercial and industrial buildings if they're having power quality problems — specifically associated with harmonic distortion — the vast majority will say no. But considering the high level of electronic sophistication available in those settings now, Arnold says THD is there whether they know how to look for it or not. “If you start talking about some kind of solution to a problem that they don't perceive they have, even if it totally eliminates harmonic distortion, it's not going to fly,” Arnold says. “What we did was come up with something we felt would offer what people really need and that's a technology that would ensure harmonic distortion won't get out of hand as they add more nonlinear loads to a building.”

Arnold says this is the industry's first, cost-effective electrical distribution panelboard to reduce current and voltage THD and to suppress damaging voltage surges/transients. The company states that in documented lab tests with single- and 3-phase nonlinear loads, the device reduced total harmonic current distortion by more than 50%. It should be noted, though, that that level of reduction is acceptable depending on the application, the site itself, and the population of nonlinear loads at the site. In addition, the panelboard includes the Sine Wave Phase Angle Tracking TVSS module, which is capable of suppressing 6,000V IEEE Category A3 ring wave transients inside the sine wave with nearly identical results — anywhere along the sine wave.

By giving electrical engineers an answer to design and coordination issues associated with configuring consistent performance solutions to address harmonic distortion, voltage transient, and noise concerns, Arnold expects the 519-EHGTP to have an immediate and significant impact on the new construction industry. “Part of what I've learned over the years is that when it comes to power quality concerns, most people — whether they are engineers or consumers — typically go as far as wanting to make sure their equipment works reliably,” he says. “They're not looking for perfect power; they're just looking for power that makes everything work smoothly.”

For more information, visit www.bestqualitypower.com.

Product Features

• 200% rated neutral

• 10kA AIC fault rating

• Main breaker and lugs rating: 400A maximum

• Voltages: 120/240VAC, single-phase, 3-wire + ground; 120/208VAC, 3-phase, 4-wire + ground; 277/480VAC, 3-phase, 4-wire + ground; or 347/600VAC, 3-phase

• Peak surge current: 40kA, 80kA, 120kA, 160kA, or 200kA per phase

• Operating temperature: -40°C to +140°C

• EMI/RFI attenuation up to 34 dB (normal mode)

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters