How Does Voltage Power Optimization Benefit Your Site?

Voltage power optimization is an effective energy saving technology that helps ensure that the power delivered to a site or equipment is clean, regulated and optimized so that it does not exceed the optimum level. Some of the major benefits of voltage power optimization are given below: 

• Your equipment is supplied with the optimum voltage
• Reduction in the energy consumption & associated costs 
• Decrease in the indirect greenhouse gas emissions
• Overall increase in the lifetime of your equipment
• Potential reduction in the maintenance frequency, effort, as well as costs 
• Improvement in the overall electric power quality (depending on the type of voltage optimization technology implemented)

Prior to the installation of a voltage optimizer, it is critical to assess the present mains voltage level. As electricity supply companies charge users in kilo-Watt-hours (kWh) and kW used is related to the mains supply voltage, the higher the voltage, the more kWhs is used. Icopower ESCO is one of the companies in Kenya and Seychelles that would gladly measure your mains supply voltage and can also help correct situations, such as over-voltage, under-voltage or phase imbalances through highly cost-efficient voltage optimization solutions. Built around a proprietary and patented design, our voltage optimizers can be installed on your existing infrastructure to reduce the voltage supplied to your equipment. Our voltage optimization system works by minimizing energy consumption while remaining within the operating conditions specified by the equipment manufacturer.

Icopower ESCO is an independent Energy Saving Company in Kenya that develops, implements, and arranges its own financing for projects designed to improve the energy efficiency for business facilities over a 3-5 years time period. Apart from voltage power optimization, we offer power factor correction, energy audits, energy monitoring, thermography services, lighting retrofit, solar PV, and various other energy efficiency solutions. For more info, please visit https://icopower-esco.com/.

Everything You Should Know About Power Quality Problems and Solutions

Even though power authorities in all parts of the world work hard on supplying the best electric power quality that is free from corruption, local or unforeseen circumstances such as neighbouring industries, storms or accidents have often been reported to intervene and cause irregularities in the power quality and cripple the operations. With the technology evolving each day, a lot has been done to make electronic equipment less tolerant to transient voltages.

Some of the most common problems one has to experience because of poor power quality include: 

1. Under-voltage
2. Temporary over-voltage (TOV)
3. Transients
4. Power outages
5. Noise
6. Dropouts
7. Harmonic distortion
8. Frequency variations

Most of the above-mentioned problems can be dealt with efficiently by relying on power quality solutions such as

1. Surge Protection Devices (SPDs)
2. Filters
3. Line Conditioners
4. UPSs
5. Short Break or Standby
6. True on line
7. Hybrid
8. Isolation Transformers

While we try to gather information about the problems and solutions related to power quality, it is important to understand what causes fluctuations in the supply. Most power surges and disturbances are often a result of lighting and power switching transients. Switching of inductive loads such as motors, air conditioning plants, domestic appliances and more can cause huge transient spikes.

Icopower ESCO deals with problems related to power quality with the help of voltage optimization solutions, power factor correction, and harmonics. Our mission is to analyze, design, and implement energy efficiency solutions that will create value for facility owners and operators across all sectors in East Africa and beyond and we work with our clients to reduce operating expenses, upgrade and maintain infrastructure, stabilize energy costs, improve infrastructure efficiency, increase energy reliability and conserve the environment by reducing the carbon footprint.

Visit www.icopower-esco.com to know more.

Power Factor Correction Capacitors Explained!

Power factor is a measure of how effectively you are using electricity. Improving the power factor can increase current-carrying capacity, improve voltage supply to the equipment, decrease power losses, and cut down electric bills. If you have a large commercial site, one of the reasons you must correct poor power factor is to restore the (KVA) capacity of overloaded feeders within your building. One of the easiest ways to improve PF is to add power factor correction capacitors to the electrical system. These capacitors act as reactive current generators and help offset the non-working power that’s used by the inductive loads, and therefore improve the PF.

 
Power factor correction capacitors can switch on daily whenever the inductive equipment starts. Switching on a capacitor produces a brief “over-voltage” condition. In case you have problems with variable speed drives turning off because of “over-voltage” at almost the same time daily, you must check the switching control sequence. If you face the problem of fuses blowing on some of the capacitors, check for the harmonic currents.

Icopower ESCO is one of the companies that that have been providing excellent power quality solutions to businesses across Kenya and Seychelles from the past many years. We design and install high-performance capacitor banks tailored to a specific site’s requirements. These are usually installed at the incoming mains supply to a building, but can be installed on any specific plant equipment that needs power factor correction. Our experts can also help troubleshoot and fine tune existing power factor banks for maximum functionality. The units have been manufactured in Italy, using superior quality components and sturdy steel powder coated enclosures for preventing corrosion and exposure to harsh environments. So, if you have been looking for energy efficiency solutions, contact Icopower ESCO today! 

If you have any questions, you can write to us at fm@icopower-esco.com

The Effects of Overvoltage and Three Phase Imbalance on AC Motors

3 phase AC motors are typical three phase loads & are used in many different equipment, such as pumps, refrigeration, conveyers, and air conditioning. The effects of over-voltage and 3 phase imbalance on AC motors are that they lead to saturation of the motor iron core, which wastes energy through eddy currents, increase in hysteresis losses, and excessive heat. This stress caused due to over-voltage further decreases motor lifetime.

 
Voltage power optimization helps prevent overvoltage that saves energy & increases motor life, without reducing motor efficiency or affecting motor speed. This is apparent especially if the motor is operating under many different loading conditions, since motor efficiency tends to reduce in case of over-voltage as well as less-than-full loading – however both these situations can be well-managed through the use of voltage optimizers. Moreover, substantial savings can be made through both - direct consumption of less power and through extended equipment life.

If you want equipment at your three phase site to benefit from voltage optimization technology, contact Icopower ESCO today. They offer a broad range of voltage optimizers that deliver reliable and consistent savings to a number of businesses across Nairobi and surrounding areas. The optimizers can be installed on existing infrastructure to reduce the voltage supplied to equipment, and minimize consumption while remaining within the operating conditions specified by the equipment manufacturer.

Icopwer ESCO is an independent Energy Saving Company with extensive design and implementation experience in integrating multiple efficiency measures, mitigating technical and performance risks, and generating energy savings for their clients at almost no capital investment. Their remuneration is based on Energy Saving Performance Contracts whereby the payment is on a shared savings basis. For more information, feel free to visit https://icopower-esco.com/ or drop an email at fm@icopower-esco.com

Reasons for Low Power Factor and How It Can Be Corrected

What Is Power Factor?

Power factor is the ratio of the real power that’s used to do work and the apparent power that’s supplied to the circuit. In simple words, it is a way of measuring efficient power usage, or how effectively the equipment at your site utilizes electricity. It is expressed as a numerical value between 0 & 1. The closer the power factor is to 1, the more efficiently your business is consuming electricity.

Some Common Reasons for Low Power Factor  

• Inductive loading – Almost 90% of industrial load consists of single and three phase induction machines, which draw magnetizing current for producing the magnetic field and therefore work at low power factor.

• Harmonic currents – Harmonics increase the amount of power required by the system due to a reduction in electric power quality, and therefore contributes to a lower power factor.

• Variations in power loading – When the system is loaded lightly, the voltage increases and the current drawn by the machines also increases. This results in a low power factor.

• Improper wiring or electrical accidents – A condition called ‘3 phase power imbalance’ occurs as a result of improper wiring or electrical accidents that further causes low power factor.

When you have a low power factor, you aren’t able to fully utilize the electrical power you’re paying for. Utility companies often penalize the customers for low power factor to compensate for this inefficiency and that’s one of the reasons it is important to invest in power factor correction.

Icopower ESCO is one of the companies known for providing the best power quality solutions to businesses across Kenya and Seychelles. The company designs and installs capacitor banks tailored to a site’s specific requirements, and also troubleshoots and fine tunes existing power factor banks for maximum functionality. To know more, please visit https://icopower-esco.com/ or email @ fm@icopower-esco.com 

LEDs & CFLs – Leading the World of Energy Saving Technology

The large chunk of money that we have to let go as our electricity bills has always been a matter of concern and problem for most of us. The consumers have always craved for obtaining some easy to implement and effective energy-saving technologies to get rid of the heavy burdens of their electricity bills. The introduction of LEDs as a leading energy-saving technology has helped a lot of use for the greater good.

CFL is an energy saving technology that is obtainable in easy to use CFL bulbs. The incandescent bulbs that you use in your homes and offices are not only expensive but also consume larger volts to emit light. However, a CFL is much efficient in regard as it easily cuts 60-80% of your electricity consumption by providing much brighter light in just 22-watts as compared to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. They not only cost less but also eliminate the need of replacing it for a long time as it lasts 10 times longer than the incandescent bulbs. Apart from this, the startup time of these bulbs is also less and they are quite easy to use. CFLs are not only beneficial in cutting cost but it is also eco-friendly due to their power of decreasing half-ton of the emission of greenhouse gases in the air. 

CFLs are available in different size and shape and can easily be used for lighting areas like bathrooms, kitchen, basements, staircase, table lamps, ceiling lights, and many more.

Just like CFL, dimmable LED lights also provide energy-saving benefits at low costs. Dimmers provide the benefit of cutting electricity consumption even without switching to CFL or LED lights. They can be easily installed with the complete lighting system of your house, without changing the lighting technology already being used. You can save energy by dimming your lights down without compromising with the convenience, beauty, and electric power quality. These dimmers are also available with remote controls and are completely programmed to security.

Another effective way to cut down on your energy costs is by using voltage optimization systems. For more information on what can be done to minimize your electricity bills, feel free to visit www.icopower-esco.com.

4 Significant Benefits of Power Factor Correction

Power factor correction is one of the many measures that can be applied to electric and power management systems to increase their efficiency. Some of the most significant benefits of power factor correction are:

1.      Preventing power factor penalties

Some industrial processing facilities utilize a large number of induction motors to function their pumps, conveyors, and other machinery. These induction motors permit the power factor to be intrinsically low for most industrial facilities. Many electric utility companies use a lower power factor to reduce the power factor penalty from your bill.

2.      Reducing demand charges

Many electric utility companies charge for maximum metered demand either on the basis of highest registered demand in kilowatts or a fraction of the highest registered demand in KVA, whichever is bigger. In case the power factor is low, the percentage of the measured KVA will be notably greater than the KW demand. Enhancing the power factor through power factor correction will, therefore, reduce the demand charge, helping to lower electricity bills.

3.      Increasing capability of existing circuits

Installing power factor correction capacitors at the edge of existing circuits close to the inductive loads lower the current flowing in each circuit. This lowered current flow, resulting from improved power factor, can allow the circuit to carry new loads. This prevents the expenses of renovating the distribution network when extra capacity is needed for additional machinery or equipment, saving individuals or companies thousands of dollars in redundant upgrade costs.

4.      Voltage power optimization

A lower power factor would mean a higher current flow for any given load. As the line current increases, the voltage drop in the conductor rises at the same time, which could lead to a lower voltage at the equipment. With a better power factor, the voltage drop in the conductor is close to negligible, optimizing the voltage power.

Power factor correction is also one of the finest ways for power quality monitoring and also helps negate resistive losses in the circuit. For more information, feel free to visit www.icopower-esco.com.

Avoid Common Electrical Issues with Power Quality Monitoring (PQM) Before They Become Bigger

Power quality refers to delivery of the energy required by electronics to run efficiently. Any change (sudden or gradual) in the power greatly affects the power quality that in turn reduces the efficiency and causes other problems. The three main aspects of electric power quality are the voltage, frequency, and waveform. Good power quality generally exhibits the following:

• Steady voltage supply
• Steady alternating current/AC frequency
• Smooth waveform of the voltage curve

In order to check & make sure the power quality is always good, it is important to invest in power quality solutions such as power quality monitoring which helps measure the supply of power to AC power units. 

Some common electrical problems caused due to power quality issues are:

• Overheating of electrical systems
• Automatic Resets
• Circuit Board Failure
• Power Supply Problems
• Memory Loss
• Data Errors
• Software Corruption
• Equipment Failure

There are various things, such as power surges, voltage sag, interruptions, etc. that can result in fluctuations in the voltage and cause these issues. A power quality monitoring system works by identifying these issues early on so you can fix them before they turn into bigger problems. Nowadays, a number of facilities are implementing a power quality monitoring system as a part of a broader objective to trim down their operating costs. If you also want to benefit from this power quality solution called PQM, get in touch with Icopower ESCO today! It is a leading Energy Saving Company in Seychelles and Kenya known for providing a wide range of energy efficiency solutions for on-grid corporate, institutional or private business owners. To find out more about them or how they can help you fix power quality issues, feel free to visit https://icopower-esco.com/ 

The Key Benefits of Power Factor Correction

According to a recent study, energy consumption is expected to rise by almost 30% over the next two decades. In order to keep up with our power-dependent lifestyles, we need to invest in better energy efficiency solutions. As a measure to move towards a more energy efficient future, businesses ought to measure how effective their electricity usage is through energy efficiency solutions like Power Factor. 

• What Is Power Factor (PF)?

Power Factor (PF) is the ratio of working power, measured in kilowatts (kW), to apparent power, measured in kilovolt amperes (kVA). It is usually expressed as a percentage — the lower the percentage, the less efficient power usage is. One of the main causes of poor power factor is the inductive load on the equipment, which resists changes in current & causes lag.

• How Is Power Factor Correction Performed?

The simplest way to improve Power Factor is to add Power Factor Correction capacitors to the electrical equipment. The capacitors work as reactive current generators that help to offset the non-working power being used by the inductive loads, thereby improving the PF (Power Factor). Not only are these capacitors cost-effective and easy to install, but they also offer an excellent Return on Investment (ROI) typically within 1-2 years. 

The Key Benefits of Power Factor Correction

• Reduces electric bills by eliminating utility penalties for poor power factor
• Increases capacity of the current
• Improves energy efficiency through reduced power losses
• Improves voltage to equipment
• Enhances lifecycle of equipment as less heat is generated within switchgear, cables, transformers & other equipment
• Environmentally-friendly – lesser power needs to be generated, so lesser carbon-dioxide is produced

If you want to avail these benefits, get in touch with Icopower ESCO today! It is a well-known company in Kenya and Seychelles that specializes in designing as well as installing capacitor banks tailored to a specific site’s requirements. They also offer energy efficiency project financing for facilities over a 3-5 years time period. Visit https://icopower-esco.com/ to learn more! 

Understanding The Cost Benefits Associated With Voltage Power Optimization

Voltage Power Optimization is the process of systematic reduction in the voltage to a level that is optimal for your particular electrical equipment. Adjusting the voltage levels results in a reduction in electricity consumption as well as associated costs. Some of the other key benefits of voltage optimization include:

·  A reduction in energy consumption and therefore a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions

·  An overall increase in the lifetime of your electrical equipment.

·  Potential decrease in maintenance frequency, effort & costs

·  Improvement in the overall power quality (depending on the voltage optimization technology implemented).

Additionally, voltage power optimization provides various other benefits, including protection against voltage spikes and surges, no maintenance, significant reduction of harmonics, independent 3-phase control for providing voltage phase balancing, & an intelligent interface for real time tracking of product and site performance. 

Virtually all sites can benefit from controlling the voltage; however as conditions as well as loads differ from site to site, how much you’ll benefit will also vary. Typically, the savings are determined by the type of voltage optimization system used, your site’s specifications, etc. To ensure maximum savings and performance, it is best to go for a comprehensive analysis of your site’s power conditions. As every site is different due to its unique infrastructure & specific requirements in terms of load, a customized voltage optimization strategy helps maximize the savings. Besides that, it is also important to always keep in mind the current as well as future needs of your company.

If you want to invest in an efficient voltage optimization solution, get in touch with Icopower ESCO today. Built around a proprietary and patented design, our voltage optimizers deliver consistent savings. Power factor correction is another very important technology solution that we provide to help reduce the overall power demand and lower your electricity bills. And, if you do not want to bear the consequences of frequent power fluctuations or let poor power quality increase your business downtime, go for power quality monitoring. To learn more about these services, please visit http://icopower-esco.com/ 

Making The Most Out Of The HVAC Controls – An Emerging Energy Saving Solution

An energy management system belongs to the special category of systems that are designed to run individual pieces of equipment more efficiently. Energy management systems permit the integration of equipment, enhancing the performance of the system, and reduce energy consumption. The EMS sensors monitor parameters such as air and water temperatures, pressures, humidity levels, flow rates, and power consumption. These performance points are then used to control electrical and mechanical equipment run times and set points.

Not many people are aware that any facility’s performance can be improved dramatically by installing and fully using HVAC controls, provided you use those controls correctly. Here are a few ways in which you can make the best out of the HVAC controls:

· Seven-day scheduling provides hour-to-hour and day-to-day control of HVAC and lighting systems and can account for holidays and seasonal changes.

· The night temperature setback allows for less cooling in summer and less heating in winter during unoccupied hours.

· Optimal start/stop allows the system to ramp up slowly, avoiding morning demand spikes or unnecessary run times.

Talking of HVAC upgrades, these can provide tremendous economic benefits, improve occupant comfort and system reliability, and reduce operating costs to become one of the best energy efficiency solutions. However, in order to maximize benefits and minimize capital investment, load-reducing measures such as lighting upgrades should precede HVAC system upgrades.

Icopwer ESCO is experienced in offering a delivery mechanism to provide the maximum amount of energy efficiency resources. We have extensive design and implementation experience in integrating multiple efficiency measures, mitigating technical and performance risks, and generating energy saving solutions for our clients at almost no capital investment.  In addition to that, we act as an energy-efficient project developer as we integrate the project’s design, financing, installation and operational elements like voltage optimization systems. Icopower ESCO’s remuneration is based on Energy Saving Performance Contracts whereby our payment is on a shared savings basis. You can know more by visiting our website http://icopower-esco.com/  or by writing to us at   fm@icopower.com.

The Impact Of Power Factor Correction On Your Utility Bill

Some of the top benefits of power factor correction are increased load carrying capabilities in existing circuits and reduction in demand charges on the power systems. The best part is that these benefits aren't just limited to the balance sheet. Rather, there are numerous environmental benefits too associated with it, which involves reducing the carbon footprint and serving the environment. Apart from that, it also impacts your utility bill the following ways:

· Reduces Demand Charges:

The electric utility companies charge based on maximum metered demand which is based on the greater of two - either the percentage of the highest registered demand in KVA meter or the highest registered demand which is measured in kilowatts. Nevertheless, you can reduce the electricity bill by lowering the demand charge and improving the power factor. Quite easy, isn't it?

· Decreases the Carbon Footprint:

When the demand charge of the power system reduces, less strain is imposed on the electricity grid, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint - all thanks to power factor correction. Nevertheless, when the demand for the electricity grid lowers, the carbon production is reduced drastically and this, in turn, helps in the improvement of the electrical efficiency of the power system.

· Avoids Power Factor Penalties:

Massive quantities of induction motors are being used by nearly all the industrial processing facilities for driving their conveyors, pumps, and other plant machinery. This causes the power factor to reduce drastically. Businesses can eliminate their bill's power factor penalty by making use of power factor correction.  

· Reduces Power System Loss:

The loss reduction from the conductor isn't sufficient to justify the capacitors' installation. However, this comes with an attractive additional benefit especially with plants that have long feeders or in times of field pumping operations.

To make the most of power factor correction, reach out to Icopower ESCO, a company known for providing the best power quality solutions in Kenya and Seychelles. They also provide services like power quality monitoring to help businesses cut down their energy costs and consumption.

Visit https://icopower-esco.com/ to know more!

Here’s Why You Should Invest In A Voltage Optimization System

If the voltage supply of the electrical equipment reduces, the energy usage and power consumption levels tend to decrease. Many voltage adjustment devices have been designed for controlling the voltage, reducing energy costs and in turn saving money. The higher input voltage is usually taken in from the electricity grid, which in turn comes out in the form of optimized lower voltage.

As voltage power optimization has been proven to be a trusted method of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions, it is widely used by businesses across various industries.

A voltage optimization system improves electric power efficiency in the following ways:

· This energy-efficient method provides payback within 1-2 years.

· It is a full-proof method which assures that your electrical equipment is provided with only optimal voltage.

· This system can be effectively installed in the equipment that has low voltage incomers and distribution levels.

If you're still unsure if voltage optimization is the most appropriate energy management solution for you, feel free to reach out to the experts at Icopower ESCO to discuss your voltage optimization needs.

They are the experts in voltage management and have been working with distinct technologies like voltage stabilization, voltage reduction, and voltage power optimization from the past several years. They can also help you in correcting problems like phase imbalances, over-voltage, and under-voltage. Their focus is on the reduction of energy consumption by making use of voltage optimization. They work efficiently in installing this technology on either your existing infrastructure for minimizing consumption, reducing equipment's voltage supply or others in accordance to the manufacturer's operating conditions.

For more information about Icopower ESCO or their wide range of energy efficiency solutions, feel free to visit their website https://icopower-esco.com/. You can also drop an email @ fm@icopower.com.