Electrical System Audit

Is it Important ?
 Electrical System Audit

What is Electrical System Audit

1. Energy Efficiency and Power Saving

2. SLD Review and Update
3. Electrical Equipment Survey & Records Update.
4. Power System Studies
5. Device Evaluation ( Application, Rating,
Standard, Technology )
6. Obsolescence & Technical Issues
7. Action Plan for Maintenance, Upgrade and/or
Replacement.

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 Electrical System Audit

What is Energy Efficiency & Power Saving?

Energy efficiency study include:

• Evaluating your facility electrical network and review your

power consumption
• Propose an attractive payback electrical savings solutions
by improving the efficiency of the distribution system.
• The proposed solution will usually identify the
opportunities available for power saving and thus reduce
your electricity bill.
• Power quality audit will be used to determine power
quality problems generated by nonlinear loads like
computers and other digital equipment.

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 Electrical System Audit

What is Energy Efficiency & Power Saving?

Energy efficiency study include:

• Harmonics analysis is performed to determine the

distortion level in power signal due to these harmonics and
recommend solutions to reduce them and keep within an
acceptable THD ( Total Harmonics Distortion) level.
• These harmonics are generated by computers, UPS
systems, office equipment, PLC's, variable frequency AC
motor drives, DC motor drives, rectifiers, etc.
• Motor power consumption saving . motors are not
intelligent and efficient electrical equipment when they are
lightly loaded.

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 Electrical System Audit

SLD and Electrical Drawings Review and

Update
1. Old SLD and drawings must be updated
to reflect new changes and expansions.
(true as-built, updated as-built)
2. Basis for Electrical Equipment Survey &
Records Update.
3. Basis for any power system study.
4. Basis for any device evaluation study
( Application, Rating, Standard,
Technology ).
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 Electrical System Audit

Electrical Equipment Survey & Records

Update.

1. Site survey and verification of equipment

data ( name plate data, physical condition,
etc.)
2. Tabulation of equipment data and updating
existing data base, if any, to reflect new
changes and expansions.

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 Electrical System Audit

Electrical Power System Studies

• Maintain acceptable power Quality levels, including

proper operating voltages.
• Ensure reliability of power system and reduce costly
system disturbances.
• Ensure that power distribution system is designed and
implemented adequately and efficiently.
• Minimize harmonic disturbances created by nonlinear
loads.
• Identify opportunities for enhanced energy
management and a more cost-efficient operation.

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 Electrical System Audit

Electrical Power System Studies

• Short Circuit
• Relay Coordination ( Selectivity)
• Load Flow & Voltage Drop
• Power Factor Correction
• Grounding
• Harmonics
• Insulation Coordination
• Switching Transient
• Specialized Studies ( Insulation Coordination,
Switching Transient, voltage regulation, transient
stability, load shedding, voltage flicker and Ferro
resonance).
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 Electrical System Audit

Electrical Power System Studies

“Audits”
1. Power Quality Audit - identify the nature and source
of power problems experienced by a facility's
electrical system.

2. Electrical Safety Audit - audits procedures and

guidelines in accordance with industry standards.
This is related to personnel safety and aim to improve
the safety of maintenance and operating personnel.

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
 Electrical System Audit

Device Evaluation ( Application, Rating,

Standard, Technology )

Application : ( Breaker vs. Contactor ?)

Ratings : Frequency, Cont. Amp, KA, MVA,
De-rating factors ..
Standards : ANSI, IEC, SASO, etc.
Technology : Vacuum, SF6, GIS, Numerical
Relays, energy efficient motors ..
Age : Deterioration of material and
insulation.

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
 Electrical System Audit
Equipment Type Applicable Standards

Medium Voltage IEC 56, 298, 694

Switchgear ANSI C37 20.2
UL 1670
BS 5311, 6581, 5253
DIN 40050

Low Voltage Switchgear IEC 129, 439, 157

ANSI C37 20.1
UL 891, 1558
BS 5486, 5227
DIN 40050
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
 Electrical System Audit
Equipment Type Applicable Standards

Low Voltage Motor IEC 158, 157, 292

Control Center (MCC) ANSI NEMA ICS 2-322
UL 845
BS 5424, 4794
NEC NFPA 70 430

Low Voltage PanelboardsIEC 439, 408

ANSI Federal WP 115C
UL 67, 50
BS 88, 5486
NEC NFPA 70

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
 Electrical System Audit

Obsolescence & Technical Issues

 Spare parts availability

 Old technology
(OCB, ACB, Old relays, Low efficient motors, etc.)
 Manufacturer Support
 Environmental and legal issues
( PCB, Asbestos, SF6, etc.).
 Power quality issues
 Energy Efficient equipment

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 Electrical System Audit

Action Plan for Maintenance, Upgrade

and/or Replacement.
Maintenance
 Digital diagnostic and predictive maintenance
software.
 Advanced on-line assessment programs like on-
line partial discharge, on-line power transformers
combustible gases monitoring,etc.
Upgrade
 Switchgear retrofit , Protection retrofit/upgrade,
Control and EMS.
 Replacement Plan for obsolete equipment.
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