The Causes of Power Failures

Within a short span of two centuries, electricity has become indispensable to our day to day lives. Be it official work, entertainment, economy, healthcare or even simple activities of our livelihoods, we are totally dependent upon the constant supply of electrical power. In such scenarios, even a temporary loss of electricity can affect us greatly. It may lead to a relative chaotic situation, monetary setbacks may be faced, there may also be a possibility of loss of life. Power stoppage can especially cause mayhem when it comes to life-support systems such as in hospitals and nursing homes or in co-ordination facilities like traffic control, railway stations and airports.

Fortunately, most life support facilities have power backup which takes over automatically in the case of a power outage. Power backup is also increasingly being utilized in corporate offices, mining, manufacturing, businesses, and now even in residential complexes with the growing dependence on computers and electronics in everyday lives. So, though loss of power in small scale settings may not be lethal, it can still result into loss of data, missed deadlines, decreased productivity levels and also cause loss of revenue.

Thus, it is very important to know about the possible causes of power failure in order to be armed at all times, to protect ourselves and our businesses from its ill effects. When we have identified all that can possibly go wrong, it would be easier to ensure that adequate safeguards have been put into place.

 

Shared below are some of the major causes of power failure: -

1.       Weather conditions :- 

Power failures are majorly caused due to weather conditions. Lightning, wind, rain, snow and even dust are the various natural phenomenon that can cause power failure. While it is very difficult to guard against major power failures caused due to natural calamities as floods and storms, it is relatively easier to safeguard electrical systems from water and dust. Water can lead to short circuits and power outages. The damage caused due to water in electrical circuits are pretty expensive and thus it makes sense to ensure protection from it. Electrical switchboards, wires, and circuits should be protected and not exposed to water. Dampness and excessive moisture can lead to serious damages. Living in areas with higher levels of humidity makes it important to invest in specially sealed circuit protection devices. 

Dust can also wreak havoc with electrical systems and lead to short circuits and power failures. Areas that are exposed to dust and sandstorms are in dire need to ensure that the electrical circuits are protected from dust exposure at all times. Sealed circuit boxes can be helpful in ensuring protection of your critical electrical equipment and prevent power failures.

Natural disasters have historically been the root cause of the world’s most severe power outages. Floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, windstorms, and other severe weather conditions can completely destroy critical power infrastructure and result in outages that leave extensive geographic regions without power for months.

 2.       Short Circuits :-

‘Short circuit’ is the most commonly used term to describe the cause of power failure. At the same time, the term is also most bandied about without understanding the meaning very well. So, let us explain what exactly is a short circuit.

Short circuit occurs when electric current travels along a path which is not the intended path for it in an electrical circuit. Due to this, there is an excessive electric current which damages the circuit, cause fire and even an explosion to the extent that it’s one of the main causes of electrical fires all over the world. 

3.       Blackouts:-

‘Blackout’ refers to a total loss of electrical power in a given geographical area. It is also the severe most form of power outage that can occur. Depending upon what is the main cause of a blackout, restoring power is usually a very complex task for utilities and power stations and, repair time frames greatly depend upon the configuration of the affected electrical network.

4.       Brownouts:-

A brownout refers to a drop in the power supply. It is called, ‘brownout’ as it leads to a drop in voltage which causes the lights to dim. Brownout is not a total power failure, but it can adversely affect your electrical equipment. Induction and three-phase electrical motors (like the ones used in industrial diesel generators) are at greater risk during brownouts as they can get overheated and their insulation can be damaged. In case your main power supply is inconsistent and you’ve been experiencing brownouts frequently, you must invest in power back up system like diesel generators. They will automatically take over and provide your equipment with necessary electrical power whenever the voltage drops.

5.       Power Surges:-

Power surges are a bane when it comes to electrical systems. It can rapidly overheat and thus damage expensive electrical equipment. Surge protectors and circuit breakers can readily provide the much needed protection from such surges.

6.       Electrical treeing:-

Electrical treeing affects high power installations like transformers and high power voltage cables. If there are any impurities and mechanical defects in the equipment used in high voltage installations, then it can lead to partial electric discharges in the equipment. The process of damaging manifests in a tree-like pattern and hence the name ‘electrical treeing’. If over a period of time it goes undetected, it can continually degrade the equipment and eventually result into a complete breakdown.

To combat electrical treeing, one must only use top quality materials designed to handle the electric load. Maintenance by trained engineers can also help to identify and fix electrical treeing before a major breakdown.

Other Causes:-

When animals such as large birds come into contact with electric lines, power outages are bound to occur. Additional causes of power failures are primarily man made. Example, road accidents and accidents at construction spots with power poles and lines, maintenance issues and human error.

We at Mahindra Powerol offer solutions to combat these issues of Power failures. Visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com to know more.

Importance of Diesel Generators in Small Scale Industries !!!!

Owing to establishment of new industries, infrastructure development, and evolving business environment, continuous power has become one of the main challenges today.

There is widespread lack of grid connectivity and infrastructure growth in far-flung areas, growing electricity demand-supply gap, strong commercial growth along with power deficits in various parts of the country. Also, the number of telecom towers has risen tremendously. Due to all these reasons, DG sets have gained prominence in the small scale industries segment in India.

Points to consider:

Uninterrupted power supply

The main problem for small scale industries in the country is that in spite of their best efforts, power disturbances do arise. While some issues may be the outcome of problems within the industry, most are due to events that are outside and thus are beyond the control of the facility manager. Faulty distribution system, voltage sags, voltage spikes, blackouts and brownouts in the utility can all cause interruption in service.

A dg set can be of much help in such scenarios.

Small scale industries worst hit by erratic power supply

The power situation in the country has left various industries immobilized. In Bengaluru, scheduled power cuts for housing consumers has been started. At the same time, commercial and industrial consumers are bearing the brunt of unreliable power supply.

Micro and small industries are majorly affected. Processing industries like plastic, foundry and rubber, are the worst hit. When plastic is molded, it has to be melted. When power supply goes off, it turns hard again and the whole procedure has to take place one more time. Textile industry has also been overtly affected, as is the case with other continuous processing industries.

Regions with most demand for DG sets

High power deficits as well as rapid development and industrialization in southern part of the country like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad has meant that they have the highest demand for diesel generators. The auto component and manufacturing industries in Tamil Nadu, IT industry in Karnataka, pharmaceutical and bio-technology businesses in Andhra Pradesh and service sector and general engineering in Puducherry and Kerala are among the major markets for dg sets in this region.

The western region has the second highest position in the diesel generator market in India as it houses the largest number of industries, including automobile, iron and steel, chemical and petrochemical, textiles, jewellery, pharmaceuticals and cement. Maharashtra and Gujarat constitute of the maximum share in driving dg set growth in western part of India. Even though the power deficit situation in the western region is decreasing with every passing year, the demand for diesel generators remain constant, because they are a reliable source of backup power.

The manufacturing sector is projected to fuel growth in demand for dg sets due to the flourishing auto component industry. By the end of 2016, India is also being projected to become the second largest steel producer in the world. This industry demands continuous power supply for machining, running processing units, resin molding, welding, pressing, and assembling.

Easy to install and to operate, easily available in the market and low space requirements make dg sets the most preferred choice.

For the best and compact dg sets visit www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at our toll free number 1-800-419-1999.

Importance of Diesel Generators in Real Estate Segment !!!

It can be tricky to find a primary source of power when you are building new property. Sad is the fact that not all buildings will have an ability to be run on solar power. In an ideal world, instead of burning away all our precious fuels, we’d rely on solar energy for all our power related needs. But, this won’t always be the case. So, if you are building in an area where solar energy is sparse and you may be looking out for an alternative source of power, look no further than a diesel generator.

Below, let us give you a few pointers that highlight the importance of diesel generators in real estate:- 

1.       Power backup for commercial buildings

Is your commercial space or facility prepared to face emergency situations? What will be the scenario if a major storm would hit your area with a sweeping power failure and it caused a total loss of power? If your area is anything like most others across the country, it is possibly ill-equipped to face a sustained power outage. So, now is when you should assess the commercial facilities and govern the situation by ensuring access to emergency DG sets in case of a massive blackout.

2.       They work in sync with your existing systems

Are you working with real estate that already has a primary source of power? A diesel generator would be the best back up you can opt for. They work excellently with already existing systems for optimal output and great efficiency. Let it become a part of your systems and be in sync with the workings. In this way, you can choose to only switch the diesel generator on when your mains power (grid power) goes off.

3.       DG set will complement your solar-based systems

DG sets will make a great difference if your existing systems are solar-based. So instead of being solely reliant on solar power, you will be able to complement it with a diesel generator when you need it most.

4.       May be not the most environmentally sound, but an inevitability

Generators do eat away at our planet’s natural resources to some extent. But, real estate giants cannot entirely steer clear of them. Most of the times, DG sets are just an inevitability. So, you may sometimes need to grasp the nettle and look to save the environment when modifying, building, or renovating any property.

Mahindra Powerol’s new range of diesel generators are intended and designed to meet the patrons’ requirements in terms of performance, strength, serviceability, space, safety, and unparalleled aesthetics armed with topnotch post-sales support.

Visit www.mahindrapowerol.com for more information.

The Importance of Diesel Generators in Health Care Industries !!!

Health care industry has become an integral part of our lives and it is difficult to imagine our survival without presence healthcare facilities. Thanks to the advanced technology utilized by hospitals and other health institutions, we are able to cure several diseases that we could have otherwise never cured without it!
Many of these incredible pieces of technology, like the surgical equipment and monitors, operate on electricity. Any power outage during a critical surgery or treatment can be life threatening for the patients. Wouldn’t it be incredibly dangerous for hospitals if there was a power outage? Thanks to the Diesel Generators, the answer is “no”!

The Generators Used in the Health Care Industry :-

With power blackouts being unpredictable and devastating for hospitals, it is necessary for hospitals to have a back-up generator running electricity for at least 24 hours. In hospitals, there are two types of Diesel Generators that are often utilized.
 The first type operates on a lot of natural gas and typically requires regular fuel refills but is easy to maintain. Therefore, many utility companies recognize this generator as a main generator rather than as a back-up.

The second type of dg set, which is usually used as a back-up, operates on diesel fuel. When this DG set utilizes one tank full of diesel, it can last for 8 hours. Otherwise, depending on the size of the hospital and the amount of fuel available on site, this DG set can act as a back-up for a minimum of 24 hours!

An electrical shortage at Hospitals vs At Home:-

What if there wasn’t a Diesel generator acting as a back-up at hospitals? If hospitals couldn’t maintain power, people who are gravely ill and injured would be the most at risk. Monitors, oxygen pumps and other valuable equipment can stop working and communication within the hospital, including emergency services could stop working as well. In the worst case scenario, a lack of a back-up generator could result in deaths!

However, this is not often the case at places like homes. It would be an inconvenience if the electricity goes off but it wouldn’t result in life threatening situation.

Overall, it is very important for the health-care industry to have a back-up diesel generator. A diesel generator is so important to places like hospitals that without it, it could seriously affect people. We, at Mahindra Powerol, realize the importance of Diesel Generators in places like hospitals, ensuring that we provide our customers with dg sets of the highest standard and offer after sales services of highest standards.

Air-Cooled Engines vs. Liquid-Cooled Engines

An internal combustion engine generates heat in order to produce power. However, only a small percentage of the heat can be utilized for the conversion of power into mechanical force. The rest is discarded either through the exhaust, cylinder walls, cylinder heads, crankcase walls or engine oil.
To remove the waste heat in the most efficient and reliable manner possible, engines are either air-cooled or liquid-cooled.

Air-Cooled Engines:-

Air-cooled engines have an increased surface area for quicker heat exchange and usually have fins on them. Air-cooled engines have a high heat tolerance, which means the parts of the engines are rated to perform over a higher temperature range. This is very important in extreme conditions such as during extremely hot summers. The parts of the engine are made in a way to accommodate the expansion of the metal in the hottest of climates.

Liquid-Cooled Engines:

Liquid-cooled engines have their heads without fins and are surrounded by a water cooling system. Although the term ‘Water-cooled’ is more popular term for these engines, of late, the water in the radiator is replaced by Ethylene Glycol based coolant which has got better thermal conductivity than water. The coolant is used to keep the temperature of the engine at an optimum level. The coolant flows through the channels and absorbs the engine heat and transfers it out of the engine through radiator fan. The flow pattern, rate, temperature and pressure can all be adjusted in order to provide maximum cooling effectiveness without increasing the surface area of the cylinder head or walls.

Which is Better?

Generally, both of them have an equal number of advantages and disadvantages.
Below are the features of both types of engines:

a.Air cooled engines have lesser moving parts and hence less maintenance is required.

b.Setting up a cooling package of a Liquid cooled engine is complex affair as many hoses, pipes and accurate sizing of radiator is required.

c.With the same size of engine, a liquid cooled engine produces more power compared to an air cooled engine.

d.Due to higher thermal conductivity of Ethylene Glycol based coolant, liquid cooled engines are more efficient in removing heat and thus can operate at full load at longer time duration's.

To know more about diesel generators please visit www.mahindrapowerol.com/