Designing industrial processes for PQ resiliency

Power quality can be defined as the ability of electric power to facilitate the proper functioning of end use equipment. Implicit in this definition is the role of both the characteristics of electric power and the sensitivity of the end use loads. When end-use loads are resilient in the face of common PQ phenomena, problems attribute to power quality can be minimized or even eliminated in a very cost-effective fashion. The not-for-profit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), in concert with its utility flinders, has developed a robust tool for facilitating robust end-use process design - the Industrial Design Guide (IDG). The IDG provides a strong technical basis for working with industrial end users in power quality, distribution, and economic development activities. The tool describes in detail such industrial processes as injection-molded plastics and CNC machining, includes electrical diagrams of the processes and sub-processes, and discusses the economics of process-associated downtime. The descriptions and drawings are interactive, leading the user to important power quality considerations, such as sensitive components, test protocols, solutions, and applications. This authoritative guide to industrial processes can be used to train new power quality engineers, refresh seasoned representatives, and enhance the credibility of all employees in the presence of end users, and the Web-based format makes it easy for even novices to use. This presentation will provide an overview of the IDG tool, affording insights on how a broad range of PQ professionals can help end users benefit from more robust process design vis-a-vis common PQ phenomena.