Strengthening historical preservation with improved power quality

Segment background

In the era of digital transformation, facilities designed for the preservation of governmental or historical records have evolved far beyond simple storage spaces. These state-of-the-art centers are now complex technological ecosystems, incorporating a wide variety of electronic devices to ensure the safeguarding and longevity of valuable documents. As these facilities become more technologically advanced, the need for maintaining impeccable power quality grows increasingly critical.

Power quality issues, be they poor power factor, harmonic distortions, or voltage dips, can pose significant risks to such facilities. Poor power quality can disrupt sensitive preservation processes, compromise the reliability of digital archiving systems, and even put the integrity of the stored records at risk. Moreover, inefficient power usage can drive up operational costs and negate efforts to achieve sustainability goals.

Challenges at the customer’s facility

Our customer’s facility is a modern archives center in Australia. It is equipped with an astonishing 114 kilometers of shelving, and the systems that protect these valuable resources are equally expansive and intricate. Spanning 18,000 square meters, this advanced edifice is much more than a simple building; it’s a technological ecosystem dedicated to the safeguarding of historical and contemporary documentation.

The archives facility incorporates a wide range of electronic devices including Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, LED lighting, and multiple PC stations. VFDs are commonly used in HVAC systems to adjust speed and airflow. VFDs and UPS systems can introduce harmonics into the electrical network that distort the power supply. Additionally, the widespread use of LED lighting, while energy-efficient, can generate third harmonics to the network, that cause overloading of the neutral wire.

Our Merus^® Solution

In addressing the intricate power quality challenges of the archives center, a specialized solution was necessary. The facility required a system that could not only mitigate harmonics but also provide efficient power factor improvement, given its array of sensitive electronic equipment.

After a thorough review and consultation process, Merus Power’s local partner, Ampcontrol, was selected to deliver a Merus^® HPQ-Hybrid Power Quality Compensator to the facility. The Merus^® HPQ system combines dynamic and static reactive power compensation with detuned capacitor banks and Merus^® active harmonic filter modules. This unique blend offers a fast and dynamic, yet economic combination of stepped and dynamic compensation with harmonics mitigation.

Results after installation

The implementation of the Merus^® HPQ-Hybrid Power Quality Compensator at the archives facility yielded great results: the Total current Harmonic Distortion (THDi) was reduced to a targeted below 5% and the power factor was improved to 0.98.

Moreover, the Merus^® HPQ solution can reduce the risk of interruptions caused by nuisance relay tripping and equipment failures. This is particularly crucial for a facility where even minor electrical disruptions can compromise the integrity of valuable historical records. The installation process was seamlessly executed with minimal disruption to the facility’s operations, ensuring that critical preservation and archiving activities could continue uninterrupted.