POWER QUALITY OF LIFE - Hospitals have a priceless ‘product’—human life

INTRODUCTION

When people think of high-reliability facilities, most often it is the financial data centres and the
continuous process plants that come to mind. While these types of facilities can experience very costly
downtime, the medical facilities have a far more valuable “product”—human life.

The healthcare environment is made up of perhaps the most unusual combination of electronic loads
found in any facility. The widespread use of sensitive, microprocessor-based equipment at hospitals
requires that the power delivered to such sensitive facilities be of a higher quality. For example, a
voltage sag may cause the DC voltage (produced by the power supply) to the microprocessor of a
blood-pressure monitor to decrease or suddenly change from an on state to an off state. Or, a
voltage transient incident upon the power supply may cause damage to the electronic cards of
the medical equipment or loss of power to the operating room during a transplant procedure? You
can’t put a price on poor power quality.

Unlike other places, a patient’s life could be threatened when an aortic balloon pump trips off line
during a cardiovascular surgery. While some devices such as Blood pressure Monitors and infusion
pumps are designed to operate on internal batteries and chargers, it could be rendered in operable as
a result of deep voltage sag. The cost associated with down time can be staggering, but no bounded
cost can be placed on the irreversible result of losing a patient.
An Electrical disturbance such as voltage surge or transient can enter healthcare equipment through
any electrical port: not only via the AC power input but also through communication ports. A
disturbance such as voltage surge may not be sufficiently mitigated by internal overvoltage and
overcurrent protection devices and may propagate through the power supply to other sensitive
electronic subsystems and components. Voltage sags may cause post- sag inrush currents, which may
cause permanent damage to over current protection unit and the connected devises. In fact, an under
voltage as short as ¼ cycle (about 4 milliseconds) is often sufficient to confuse sensitive electronic
devices.

Some equipment such as X-ray, computerized axial tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and
nuclear medicine devices are considered as polluting ones due to the high amount of harmonics and
Electromagnetic Interference injected on the electrical power supply during scanning mode, which
could affect other sensitive equipment, connected to the same power supply, causing malfunction or
failure. Also, the data acquisition, processing and rendering time of the medical device can
increase significantly due to excessive electromagnetic disturbances affecting the power storage
and data processing units. All these leads to repeat of the test and adds to hassles for the patient
and loss of revenue for the healthcare facility.

Compounding the problem is the fact that many codes or regulations applied to health care facilities
focus only on reducing electrical shock and fire and do not address power quality concerns in the
facility. Since power quality problems are cumulative; small power quality events (detectable in an
audit) can lead to loss-of-life and eventually premature equipment failure.

The healthcare facilities of the future are expected to be more and more transparent and
traceable. This requires ensuring the highest level of reliability and safety in delivering patient
care. Good PQ is central to achieving safe and clean electrical power and therefore cannot be
ignored anymore
POWER QUALITY ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE

Power quality is the concept of powering and grounding sensitive equipment in a manner that is
suitable to the operation of that equipment. “High power qualities” implies safety, reliable service
and lower initial and operational costs. Power quality is concerned with deviations of the voltage
from its ideal waveform (voltage quality) and deviations of the current from its ideal waveform
(current quality). Such a deviation is called a “power quality phenomenon” or a “power quality
disturbance.”
Many hospitals are older facilities that have grown with the needs of increased medical care. The
wiring and electrical infrastructure were often put in place well before the proliferation of electronic
monitors, computers and large inrush generating electric loads such as MRI, X-ray, and CT scan
equipment. The current drawn by such machines are often rich in harmonics and create problems of
overheated neutrals and transformers as in an industrial facility.

Given below are some of the general and critical challenges that Healthcare facilities face due to
poor Power Quality.
Incorrect Diagnostic Results

Several medical devises use CRT, LCD or LED based digital displays. The screens display vital
diagnostic information about the patient’s condition, often in run-time. The PQ issues such as
over voltage or inrush currents typically affect the DC voltages powering the displays that can lead
to distortion of display, a microprocessor malfunction, or faulty data from memory. For example,
a waveform from an electrocardiogram print out may be disfigured, film from an X-ray may have
a hotspot (a white area without any detail), or a video display on a physiological monitor may be
distorted. Faulty data from memory or a microprocessor may also degrade the quality or
resolution of an image captured by an imaging system such as scanner.
Electrical Disturbances can alter the control parameters stored in Electronic medical equipment
used to diagnose a patient’s condition. For Example the status of a CT system may be misreported
via the digital read out as illustrated in the figure below. Moreover, biomedical equipment such
as blood pressure monitors may display diagnostic data, such as a digital read out or level
indicator, that disagrees with the patient’s prevailing condition.

Variations in DC voltages can cause problems with the images and digital readouts from CT scanners.

The following images illustrate the image artifact (left) caused by electrical noise present on the
input line of a power distribution unit that delivers power to various parts of an imaging system.
When the noise was removed, the artifact was not present in the next series of images. The
imaging systems contain many data processing, data storage cards to perform heavy duty filtering
and image reconstruction. Any damage to these cards caused by voltage transients or
electromagnetic fields that migrate through the system may cause card damage, image artifacts,
lost imaging data or malfunction of imaging systems. Such Electrical disturbances can also cost
millions of dollars in aggregate cost of spare parts.

Example of Image with Artifact (left) from poor power quality and without artifact (right)
Incorrect diagnostic results may also be caused by 50-hertz noise coupled to the patient or to the
leads of diagnostic equipment such as electrocardiographs (EKGs) (see figure below) and
electroencephalographs (EEGs). Such noise is commonly associated with stray currents caused
by faulty grounds (i.e. miswired ground conductors carrying unacceptable levels of 50-hertz
current), and miswired or damaged equipment that forces supply current through ground
conductors. Electromagnetic fields from certain electrical distribution equipment, medical
equipment, and facility equipment can also produce stray magnetic fields that can cause certain
artifacts.

Incorrect Diagnostic Results

An artefact-infested electrocardiograph (top) appears to match a textbook example of arrhythmia (bottom)

(reproduced from Capuano, 1993). The waveform on the bottom had a rate of 300 beats per minute or 5 hertz
and was accepted and diagnosed as arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat (but actually was not).

Device lockup

Lock-up or hang-up of devices is one of the most common issues arising in medical devices due to
poor PQ. The electrical disturbances starting from harmonic distortion, leakage currents, over or
under voltage instances can adversely affect the micro-processor based medical devices to lock-
up and fail to capture data used by caregivers to make critical medical decisions. Infusion
equipment used to administer patient treatment may fail to regulate or count the proper dosage.

The lock-up of life or emergency support equipment such as defibrillators pose life threatening
risks to patients. Rebooting of medical equipment may take as long as two hours and in some
cases cannot be accomplished if equipment software becomes damaged from electrical and
electromagnetic disturbances.

Procedure Interruptions

The dependency on electronic devices in medical procedures is on the rise. The use of remotely
operated robot based surgeries, or laparoscopic procedures, Laser based eye surgeries etc. are
prominent examples of this trend. The threat from poor PQ causing equipment lock-ups,
disturbances or general interruptions adversely affect the medical procedures. Depending on the
interruption and its timing, the medical practitioners face variety of challenges. For example, if
the video system fails during a routine laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon may have to incise the
patient to complete the operation, an unplanned procedure that significantly increases the
patient risk, recovery time and the cost of patient care.

Data losses

An electrical disturbance can damage an electronic component or circuit board in medical

equipment causing a loss of data stored in memory or rendering the memory inaccessible. Such
losses can occur in data stored in the memories of bio medical equipment and imaging systems,
as well as billing and patient records stored in computer memory. If previously stored data
suddenly becomes unavailable as a result of a disturbance incident upon an electronic data
storage systems, then patient tests may need to be repeated, delaying a patient treatment. Power
supply, main frame, memory, interface and other types of circuit boards may suffer damages from
disturbances. Permanent damage to a power supply circuit board, like that shown below may
initiate the loss of stored data on a circuit board downstream of the power supply board.

Damage to a Power Supply Board

A temporary over voltage permanently damaged this power supply board from a medical instrument

Data losses in healthcare environment mostly is a result of rapid frequency variation which
involves a change in frequency from the normal or stable utility frequency of 50 or 60 Hz. The
frequency variations are a result of sudden changes in electrical power such as emergency
generators or unstable power sources. The frequency variations are particularly fatal to the
sensitive electronic equipment as it induces failure of programs and alleviate the risk of data loss.

Control loss and malfunctions

Most medical procedures require highly calibrated devices that respond precisely as per the
patient care needs. The possible result of microprocessor malfunction include loss of equipment
control or the false sounding of an alarm. For example, the keypad on an infusion pump may not
respond to finger touches of medical staff, the pump may not remain in the desired programmed
state, or the equipment may sound an alarm contrary to the condition of the equipment or
patient. Moreover, if an unstable patient condition develops and an equipment alarm does not
sound, then the patient may be placed in a life threatening situation. Some medical devices such
as infusion pumps have a built-in battery backup that provides for internal backup power in the
event of a sag or momentary interruption. The use of a backup battery system in a medical device
does not protect the device from malfunctions caused by voltage transients and other
disturbances.

Triggering of false alarms or no alarms in medical devices due to electrical disturbances due to
poor PQ are also common. The use of batteries offers no protection from malfunctioning of alarms
as PQ instances such as voltage transients can directly affect the controls of the devices.

SOURCES OF POOR PQ IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Several factors starting from lack of awareness on how PQ issues impact the electrical network to
the constraints in operating conditions, can be counted as sources or reasons behind poor PQ. The
most common causes of Electrical disturbances that lead to power quality problems in health care
facilities are

 Low and unknown equipment immunity

 Faulty facility wiring and grounding
 Upgrade or modification of equipment or facilities
 High- Wattage Equipment with dynamic Load
 Electrical Disturbances from utility source
 Transfer to an Emergency Generator or Alternate Feeder
 Electromagnetic Interference –Conducted or Radiated
 Leakage Current

Low and unknown equipment immunity

The immunity of most electronic medical equipment to electrical disturbances is low, unknown,
or both. This is evidenced by the number of cases of medical equipment malfunction and damage
that are caused by power quality problems. Many power quality problems can be avoided if the
quality of power is known at the point of use within the healthcare facility and if equipment
immunity is known and the immunity is sufficiently high to avoid equipment malfunction.
Faulty facility wiring and Grounding

The wiring and grounding errors enhance the negative effects of Neutral-Ground Transients which
can disrupt the functioning of Electronic medical equipment. The Electrical disturbances such as
a voltage surge or sag that are created inside the medical facility require low impedance ground
paths back to the voltage source to prevent ground currents from creating high potentials across
electrical devices where they can cause damage to the systems electronics. Reversal of Neutral
and Ground conductors, loose or corroded power or ground connections or redundant equipment
grounds are a few examples of faulty wiring and grounding.
Most importantly, medical electronic equipment such as patient monitors, defibrillators and
other medical equipment having applied parts or electrical patient connections must be properly
bonded and grounded for equalizing potential differences between protective conductors and
extraneous conductive parts located in the patient environment. The risks of patient injury due
to current leakage or malfunctioning equipment can be reduced by regular electrical safety
testing of the grounding system.
 Upgrade or modifications of equipment or facilities

With the constant evolution of diagnostic and patient care technologies, expansion and upgrade
of medical or facility devices is very common in healthcare facilities. However, most often, little
attention is paid to upgrade the electrical infrastructure to align to the new needs of the added
or upgraded devices. Problems in functioning of the devices surfaces immediately after the
installation is a sure indication of the shift in the PQ dynamics and must be addressed
comprehensively.

Small things such as proper checking of earthing and grounding compatibility, cable connections,
operation of construction equipment such as arc welders etc. also make a big difference when it
comes to ensuring good PQ with upgrade of equipment. PQ issues are common with addition of
high-wattage equipment such as CT Scanners. Power qulaity Audits, proactive monitoring of PQ
parameters in early stages of operation can help to diagnose and reduce risks from poor PQ.

High wattage Medical equipment with Dynamic Load

Large Medical equipment such as X-ray machines, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, CT
Scanners and linear accelerators operate at high line voltages, require high steady state current
and present dynamic loading to health care facility power systems.

The figure below is an example of a nonlinear current waveform characteristic of a high in rush
current when the system is placed in to the scan mode. If the health care facility contains wiring
and grounding errors with its earthing system, then dynamic loads such as those characteristic of
diagnostic imaging system operation cause PQ disturbances that may impact other electronic
devises in the hospital or even interfere with the operation of the dynamic load itself. Installing
high wattage electronic equipment without upgrading the existing facility power systems (i.e.,
switchgear, transformers and electrical wiring and grounding) to accommodate the higher power
consumption may result in overload, under voltage and even over voltage conditions.

Mechanical equipment containing loads that are inductive ( e.g motors) and resistive ( heating
elements)- such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, transportation, refrigeration and pump
equipment, which are controlled by starters and contactors- may also create electrical
disturbances. The startup, normal operation and shut down of this equipment can cause voltage
sags, transient over voltages and electrical noise.

Harmonic-Rich Current from an MRI System

Current (20 amps/division)

Time (25 milliseconds/division)

The distorted current waveform was captured with a power quality monitor during a PQ field investigation
The harmonics producing loads in health care facilities include all major biomedical equipment
such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI),
Ultrasound machine, Computerised Axial Tomography (CT) scan, laser surgery equipment, x-ray
machines, Gamma camera, etc. In addition to the harmonics pollution from biomedical
equipment, the harmonics are generated from IT/data support system, UPS, Lighting and Lighting
Control Systems (e.g. LED and CFL lamps), some of HVAC systems as well as Variable Speed Drives
(VSD) for lifts and escalators.

Electrical Disturbances from utility source

The utility supply received at service entrance of medical facility can many times be the source of
power quality disturbances such as Transients, Voltage Sags and Swells due to routine utility
switching activities in their grid. The wiring and grounding errors internal to the medical facility
can be linked to the severity of common disturbances entering the facility from every day
electrical events occurring on the utility power system and/or by the operations of large loads
with in the health care facility.

To correct the power factor of electricity, electric utilities routinely switch large capacitors on to
the power lines generating Transient over voltages. Other routine activities such as operation of
re closures and breakers to maintain or stabilize power systems can also result in some residual
disturbances.

The voltage sag originating from utility network due to Line to Line or Line to Ground short circuits
caused by Tree branches touching power lines, insulator failures, car crashing to utility poles,
accidents caused by bird hits and animals also be the source of Electrical disturbances from utility
sources

Activation of emergency power or back-up power and power switching

To ensure continuous power supply to critical- care equipment, health care facilities have ready
access to Emergency power. The transfer from Normal source to Emergency source is
accomplished with an Automatic- Manual Transfer Switch. If the Transfer switch is not properly
installed, adjusted and maintained to ensure a smooth transfer of power, the transfer may
produce electrical disturbances that are severe enough to cause malfunction of electronic
equipment.

Emergency and back-up power activation is also likely to trigger frequency variations which
adversely affect the functioning of sensitive devices such as 4D Doppler Ultrasonic Scan Machines .

The harmonic currents generated by the loads will be translated in to higher voltage harmonics
distortion while the emergency generators are switched on. This is due to higher source
impedance of the lower capacity emergency generator compared to the utility transformer.
Hence suitable harmonic mitigation equipment should be installed, if harmonics levels are noticed
higher than the recommended limits of applicable IEEE-519 /IEC-61000 standards.

Electromagnetic Interference

Electromagnetic Interference can propagate from a source to a victim via the Electrical
Distribution network to which both are connected. The transfer of electromagnetic energy (with
regard to prevention of interference) is broken in to four sub groups: conducted emissions and
continued immunity, radiated emissions, radiated immunity. The radiated emissions are assumed
to predominate above 30 MHz, while conducted emissions are assumed predominant below 30
MHz (Radio Frequency Noise).

The EMI in the clinical environment may have a strong adverse effect on the medical devices
increasing the potential risk to patients .Medical equipment utilized in medical facilities can act
as EMI sources. Some of the more prominent of these are listed below:

 Life support equipment such as ventilators, cardiac defibrillators, and infusion pumps.
 Patient telemetry and assistance equipment which includes electrocardiographs and
motorized wheelchairs.
 Electrical surgical units and their associated support equipment.
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) systems.
 X-ray units, both therapeutic and diagnostic.
 Gamma Beam Electron Accelerators and therapeutic equipment.
 Ultra sound imaging systems
 Patient monitors, Dialysis Machines, Respirators

Electromagnetic interference studies are complex and time consuming. In order to achieve
Electrical power quality and a clean electromagnetic environment, care should be taken at the
early design stage while building the hospital

Static Electricity and Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can be the source of several hazards to patients, staff and equipment in
healthcare facilities. Such hazards include

 Damage to medical instrumentation and data processing equipment.

 Damage to ESD susceptible electronic components and assemblies during service and
maintenance
 Electrostatic attraction (ESA) increases airborne microbe contamination and higher
incidence of hospital infections.
 Ignition of flammable gases, liquids and other materials and increasing the risk of fires and
explosions in laboratories, intensive care units and operating rooms
 Electrostatic shock to people.

Leakage current

The leakage current refers to currents, not intended to be applied to the patient, which flows
from exposed conductive portion of a devise to ground. These currents normally flow harmlessly
through the power cord grounding conductor. However if there is a break in grounding path, or
some other failure, these currents can flow through a person in contact with the device, possibly
causing injury. Leakage current may flow from the chassis or enclosure of a devise, from patient
probes and electrodes to ground, or from a part of a devise through patient or operator to another
part of the devise. Without proper use of grounding and equipotential bonding, leakage currents
could reach values of 1,000 µA before the problem is perceived.
The level of electrical shock protection provided to the patients ensure that the leakage currents
are maintained with in the safe values even when a single- fault condition occurs. For instance in
compliance with the standard IEC601601-1, the enclosure leakage current is 0.1mA in normal
conditions (0.5mA in single Fault conditions) for all types of medical equipment.
Leakage current is a critical aspect for safety of patients in Intensive care units (ICUs), Coronary
care units (CCUs), cardiovascular laboratories, Dialysis units etc.
Financial Impacts of Poor Power Quality

Common electrical disturbances can cause high-tech medical equipment to malfunction. As

medical equipment is often connected to vulnerable patients, such a malfunction can easily result
in serious problem. Electrical disturbances can result in diagnostic tests needing to be repeated,
an increase in medical supply waste and/or expensive service and repair calls. A recent study
carried out by a European agency to assess the costs related to power quality problems concluded
that inadequate power supplies can vastly increase a hospitals operational cost.

Some of the financial impacts at health care facilities due to poor power quality is as follows.

1) High Energy costs due to Harmonics and Improper Power factor Correction.

Many utilities charge their consumers based on Kwh (or KVAh) consumption, Lagging or leading
Power factor and KVA Demand. Many times capacitor Banks are installed at the service entrance
of the health care facility to reduce such charges. Harmonics cause failure of capacitors, increases
energy losses in Transformer and cables resulting higher Electricity charges.

In one of the major hospitals in Hyderabad with specialization in treatments of heart disease,
neuro-surgery, cancer and other life threatening diseases, the hospital was facing problems in
their distribution system like higher temperature in the transformer, humming noise in the
capacitor bank, disturbance on monitor screens of machines, higher energy charges, etc. resulting
in high economic loss. It was noticed that the presence of harmonics at point of utility connection
was higher than 30% exceeding the limits set by standards. By installing PQ mitigation equipment
at an investment of INR 7.5 lakhs, the management gained substantial monetary benefit in terms
of reduced electricity charges. Energy charges were reduced by INR 7.9 lakhs annually and the
payback period was less than an 1 year

2) Damaged hardware

Poor Power Quality can cause serious damages to many bio medical equipment increasing the
maintenance cost at health care facilities. In one of the major hospitals near Bangalore, there
were more than 30 instances of Bio Medical equipment card failures during the last 3 years
attributed to PQ problems. Many of these equipment were connected to UPS source. The Cost of
such damages were more than 15 Lacs over this period

3) Patient safety and reputation

Poor power quality caused by voltage transients, deep voltage sags and electromagnetic
interference can cause card damages, image artifacts, lost imaging data, malfunction of imaging
system etc. and can cost heavily in terms of spare parts and repair labor and overhead costs. The
results of such instances can cause in correct diagnostic results, missed patient schedules,
repeated imaging tests and idling of equipment, affecting the bottom line, reputation and patient
safety.

Health Care facility Standards

The health care and medical equipment industries are to be heavily regulated to protect patients.
There are many standards, recommended practices, guidelines that define disturbances and test
methods of power quality and electromagnetic compatibility. The United States has made
significant contributions in power quality standards and health care facility design standards.
Europe has made significant contributions in the area of immunity standard (i.e. emissions &
immunity) regarding product design and safety.

The major standards are

NFPA 99- Health care facilities Code: Establishes criteria for levels of health care services or
systems based on risks to patients, staff, or visitors for health care facilities to minimize hazards
of fire, explosion and Electricity
NEC- Article 517- Electrical Construction and installation criteria in Health care facilities to reduce
the risk of Electrical shock and fire
IEEE 1100-2006: Recommended practice for powering and grounding Electronic Equipment
IEC 61000 series: The series cover all relevant aspects EMC such as Terminology, Descriptions of
Electromagnetic phenomena, EM environment, emission & Immunity limits, measurement and
testing techniques and guide lines on installation and mitigation.
IEC 60601: is a series of technical standards for the safety and effectiveness of medical electrical
equipment.
IEC 60346-710: Electrical installations of buildings - Part 7-710: Requirements for special
installations or locations - Medical locations
IEC 62353: for electrical safety of any machine / device in the hospitals. The norming of the
62353 is based on the German VDE 0700 norming. IE

EN50160: Voltage Characteristics of Electricity supplied by public distribution system

IEEE 519 - Recommended Practices and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power
Systems
IEEE 1159 - Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power Quality
IEC 61000-4-30: Testing and Measurement Techniques- Power Quality Measurement Methods

In India, the Power quality standards are still at the early stages of implantation by many public
utilities. The standards such as EN50160 allows greater voltage tolerances and higher transient
over voltages than the immunity levels of many of the equipment used in the medical facilities.
Hence continuous monitoring of PQ events at the equipment locations and adherence to
manufacturer’s guidelines and standards must be followed to mitigate the risk.

Mitigation of Power Quality Problems.

As healthcare facilities advance on multi-faceted technological frontiers in every function, the

need for improved PQ is even more critical for reliable delivery of services. Given the diverse
nature of PQ parameters, solutions to poor PQ will also have to be multi-faceted.

The healthcare facilities of the future are expected to be more and more transparent and
traceable. This requires ensuring the highest level of reliability and safety in delivering patient
care. Given the central and increasing role that electricity has to play in functioning of every
process within the modern healthcare facility, reliable and safe electrical power is of utmost

Importance. Good PQ is central to achieving safe and clean electrical power and therefore cannot
be ignored anymore.

Jef Techno Solutions offer following solutions and services for health care facilities

1. Enhanced Power Quality (EPQ) services

The major power quality problems in health care facilities are attributed to poor quality
of incoming power from Utility, High wattage Dynamic and harmonic producing loads in
the facility, Improper wiring and grounding practices, Electrostatic Discharge and high
Electromagnetic interference caused by the medical facility equipment. Our Enhanced PQ
services will cover detailed site measurements and investigation of all these aspects and
provide a comprehensive report with recommendation to mitigate any power quality
problems faced by health care facilities. Such services can also be offered for green field
projects by software based simulation and modeling techniques.

2. Real Time Continuous Power quality and Energy Monitoring

Traditionally, PQ monitoring is done on a case-to-case basis to help identify and

characterize existing problems. This approach was more reactionary than identify the
problem, before it occur. Power Quality monitoring systems can save time and money and
provide improved reliability for the overall system. Unlike portable PQ monitoring
equipment, the continuous monitoring has many benefits such as

 Early detection of an incipient problem, such as grounding problems resulting in

stray voltages and neutral problems.

 Resonance conditions that may lead to transient overvoltage’s, overheating of

incoming supply cables, Transformers, Generators and main switchgear feeding
power to all equipment installed at the facility.

 Continuous recording of waveform to identify and analyze anomalies such as

power outages, sags and swells, and transient harmonics, cycle by cycle in
milliseconds, that could lead to inefficient operation or premature Equipment
failure before an unwanted event recurs.

 Provide Historical records that can be compared to equipment and component

performance over time, enabling detection of performance trends that can be
interpreted to enhance preventive maintenance programs, predict future power
requirements and aid in plans for additional electrical equipment such as servers
or variable frequency drives to control energy costs.

 Arcing conditions or leakage current flows caused by bad connections and cable
insulation problems.
3. Smart Hybrid Filters (SHF) for Real Time power factor correction and Harmonic Mitigation

The hospitals receive their electrical power from utility supply. The stand by generators
are provided for essential power for areas of medical importance that are not critical to
patients in the case of supply interruption. The Emergency lighting, operating theaters,
patient monitoring and other equipment that is important to the well-being and safety of
patients are fed through Un interrupted power supply (UPS).

It is a common practice to install capacitor banks at service entrance to compensate

lagging power factor due to inductive loads (HVAC & Motor Loads). The Capacitor bank
sizing is determined mostly based on the name plate ratings of motor loads, without
considering the impact of many nonlinear loads such as VFDs, lighting and medical
electronic loads which produce high harmonic currents and operate at higher power
factor. In a Typical hospital facility following are the 3 major problems commonly noticed

 Higher Voltage and Current Harmonic Distortion levels above the standard
threshold of IEEE 519 standards
 Phase load unbalance
 Reactive Power balance on capacitive side ( Leading PF)

The smart hybrid filters (SHF) are ideally suited for such applications. It combines capacitor
bank and active harmonic filter as an integrated solution. The Hybrid Filter utilizes the
capacitor steps for capacitive power needs and Active Filter for harmonic mitigation. The
major benefits of SHF are protection of hospital equipment against impact of harmonics
and substantial saving in Electricity charges by reducing active and reactive charges and
removing penalty charges for low Power factor

4. Uninterrupted Power Quality (UPQ)

In the medical environment, levels of safety and continuity of supply needs to be higher
than the standard levels used in most other facilities. The IEC 60346-710 classifies medical
locations as Groups 0,1 & 2 depending on applied parts ( a piece of electrical equipment
that is brought in to physical contact with the patient.) Group 2 Medical location are
where applied parts are intended to be used in applications such as intracardiac
procedures, operating theatres and vital treatment where discontinuity (failure) of the
supply can cause danger to life.

In order to ensure continuity of supply in medical locations, secure power supplies are
classified on the basis of change over time of emergency power from less than 0.5sec to
a maximum of 15 sec based on the services rendered at these locations. The UPS systems
are installed to ensure seamless transfer of power to medical equipment during such
changeover.

While Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems ensure critical loads have continuous
and quality power, it can be accomplished only by proper selection, installation, and
maintenance. Further the UPS limits short circuit power to downstream loads ,hence
provisions for effective protection coordination schemes to protect the UPS and critical
loads is an equally important aspect for all these systems.

The Uninterrupted Power Quality (UPQ) solution combines the functionalities and
benefits of double conversion UPS with power quality improvement, power and voltage
conditioning. The UPQ can be provided with energy storage technologies such as super
capacitors, lithium-titanate and Lithium-ion batteries with maximum life time of 15 years
and cycle life of over 500,000 cycles.

The UPQ can provide the highest resilience required for medical equipment against
harmonics, Inter harmonics, notching, short and long duration voltage variations (sags,
swells, under voltage, over voltage and interruptions), impulsive and oscillatory
transients, voltage unbalance, flicker, power frequency variations and lagging or leading
power factor correction.

Unlike UPS, the UPQ does not affect the short circuit levels. Therefore the fuse operations
are guaranteed with simplified protection system design. The other advantages of UPQ
are high efficiency (above 99%), low loses, small footprint and DOL Motor starting
Capability. The UPQ can also provide redundancy with dual arrangement of static switches
and common invertor and energy storage compared to using several UPS systems.