For electrical machinery and plant equipment to run at its most efficient there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration. Chief among these is the voltage that is required by machinery and the voltage that is delivered by the mains supply. Unfortunately, due to voltage changes in the 1990s and a disparity between supply voltage requirements in the UK and the rest of Europe there are many pieces of equipment and machinery that use considerably more power than is strictly necessary.
Until the mid 1990s, the UK had a supply specification of 240v which meant that power generated by the mains was supplied at 6% either side of this 240v level. This was changed in 1995 so that power is now supplied at 6% either side of 230v. However, the rest of Europe supplies power at 220v and this means that European machinery, which is often used in UK businesses, only requires 220v but is still using 230v.
The end result is that UK businesses and plants are using much more power than is strictly necessary. Not only does this mean that the modern business could be spending more on their electricity than is required but it also means that the machinery itself could be suffering greater wear than it should be. The end result is that this disparity is costing businesses money.
Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration with power supply is the inevitable peaks and troughs that occur. The power can fluctuate from minute to minute and this can also lead to an over-supply of electricity at virtually any point in the day. These factors combine and mean that businesses can really benefit from power quality management services.
Power quality management considers these and other factors to ensure that a business and its premises enjoy a consistent and high quality delivery of electricity. A combination of power management techniques can help ensure that machinery runs at its most efficient and its most economical. Those businesses that have a high demand for consistent electricity supply are likely to be the ones that benefit the most but all organisations can enjoy some benefits.
Visit OptiProUK.com for more information on leading power quality management services and to see how they can help improve the efficiency and performance of your power supply.