Power Studies Overview
IEEE surveys of electrical system reliability have showed that the utility power supply is the largest single component affecting the reliability of a plant. But most industrial users are not in a position to improve the utility supply and must focus on the internal improvements they can make. Luckily, reliability can be improved simply by analyzing your existing power system.
How is the system supposed to operate? What’s the physical condition of the system? What happens if a fault occurs at various locations? What’s the likelihood of failure and how long will it last? At what duration does a power outage create significant costs? What safety hazards will increase if an electrical fault occurs? Is any equipment vulnerable to voltage fluctuations? A thorough investigation of a facility’s power system will identify components or subsystems that compromise the integrity of the system.
AVO Electrical Engineering Division is a registered engineering firm. We analyze electrical systems to identify equipment applications that create electrical hazards. We identify the hazard levels and reduce the hazards, where possible. Our primary engineering studies include protective device coordination, short circuit analysis, load flow studies, transient motor starting analysis and arc flash hazard analysis.
We have registered Professional Engineers, Electrical Engineers and Engineering technicians at our corporate office in Dallas. Our P.E.’s take care of review and approval on every project. Our E.E’s put the equipment data into engineering software and perform the studies. The Engineering Technicians handle on-site data collection on the electrical equipment.
We work with utilities, industrial and manufacturing plants, government and commercial facilities. In short, we aren’t industry specific and are qualified to analyze electrical systems in any type of facility. We use IEEE standards, the National Electrical Safety Code, and the Ralph Lee papers for engineering calculations.
What our customers are saying...
Dedication to quality
We don’t take short cuts - all electrical equipment down to the machine panel or disconnect is included and is required for accuracy. Ignoring parts of an electrical system to save money reduces the accuracy and effectiveness of the study results. We refuse to use outdated or incomplete data to save a few dollars. So should you.
We use the best engineering software packages available
Try pricing out SKM® Power Tools for Windows® or ETAP. The old saying, “You get what you pay for” definitely applies to engineering software.
We only have experienced engineers perform your study
Specifically, electrical engineers that have experience performing power system studies. And every project is reviewed by Registered Professional Engineers that put their seal of approval on the documents and license on the line.
We stay up to date
We have people on staff directly involved in the development of safety and engineering standards. Dennis K. Neitzel, CPE, our Director Emeritus, has been a Principle Committee Member for the NFPA 70E since 1992. He is also a Working Group Member for IEEE 1584 and several other related standards. Dennis and others we have on staff help us stay up to date with the newest research and impending changes related to power system studies
Respect for our customers
You find a lot of engineering companies out there that are more than willing to tell you what you need. We never assume we know what you need. We are willing to listen and give options on the scope of your project, as long as it doesn’t compromise the accuracy of the study and resulting worker safety.
Skip the sales pitch
We don’t sell equipment. Period. So you never have to worry that we are going to give you study results that may be altered to sell more of Product X. Most recommendations for hazard mitigation will require very little, if any, equipment purchases.
Broad experience
We’ve performed studies in military facilities, industrial complexes, commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities, mines and utility systems. We aren’t tied into a specific industry.
Longevity and stability
This emphasis on electrical safety through engineering is a relatively new thing. When we started the AVO Engineering Division in 2001, we were a pioneer in the industry. But we’ve been in the business of protecting people from electrical hazards since 1963. The resources and expertise to perform these studies doesn’t appear overnight. You can be confident that AVO is no fly by night operation and your data will be safe and secure for years to come.Get our catalog