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Friday, November 4, 2016

Principle and Selection of electrical Chimney

Electrical Chimney is now becoming integral part of every house as houses are shrinking so to get natural ventilation becomes very difficult. Before purchasing chimney lot you have to carry out lot of research on internet so as to get best product as per your requirements. There are so many chimneys available in the market which can be selected as per requirements. It is always useful to look into technical specifications, prices , size etc. as per kitchen requirements. Electrical chimneys are basically forced method of ventilation. All chimneys work on the principle of Updraft.
Principle of Working of Chimney
As Stated earlier that chimney works on the principle of updraft. Updraft is nothing but flow of air from bottom to top.  Pressure difference will created the required updraft. This required pressure difference is created by chimney.  Longer the height or length of pipe in chimney , longer will be the air is forced to travel through it. It must be kept in mind while designing chimney is that , chimney must be sealed from outside along the length of chimney.  When there were breaks along the length of chimney then outside air will comes in and draft will not strong. As said earlier without draft chimney will not work. 
*Image Source- Amazon.in

 

Selection of Electrical Chimney:-
There are following parameters which must be kept in mind while selection of  a Chimney:-
1.       Size of Chimney:-
Chimney size should be more than or equal to size of Gas stove.
2.       Chimney capacity/ Suction of chimney:-
(i)                 If duct length or Distance from chimney to outlet is more than 8 feet than it is recommended to have chimney having Suction more than 1000.
(ii)               If duct length or Distance from chimney to outlet is 5-8 feet than it is recommended to have chimney having Suction 700-1000.
(iii)             If duct length or Distance from chimney to outlet is up-to 5 feet than it is recommended to have chimney having Suction up-to 700.
3.       Cleaning feature:-
There are following of cleaning features available in chimneys:-
(a)    Auto Clean Feature:- Pour water and press auto clean button for cleaning the filter from oil and grease.
(b)   3rd generation auto clean Chimney:- In this feature there is no need of adding water , just press the button and heating element will vaporize oil and grease.
4.       Selection of filter:-
There are following filter available:-
(i)                 Baffle Filter
(ii)               Aluminum Cassette filter

Now how these filters works are explained as below:-
(i)                 Baffle filter
The baffle is flow control panel. Baffle filters are made of Stainless steel.  In This filter there are many curves through which exhaust gases will move. During this movement of smoke, oil and grease particles will remains on filter. As In case of Cassette filters where oil and grease obstruct the path of air movement in these filters there will not be any obstruction  so suction power doesn’t have any effect. These filters requires cleaning after 3-4 weeks.

Advantages of baffle filter
(i)                 These filters requires less cleaning and low maintenance comparison to Cassette filters.
(ii)               These filters have longer life than cassette filters.
(iii)              These filters provide more efficiency to chimney in comparison to cassette filters as air flow isn’t restricted by oil and grease.
Disadvantages of baffle filter
(i)                 As these filters are made from Stainless steel so these filters are heavier than cassette filters so sometimes it may become difficult in detaching baffle filter from chimney
(ii)               These filters are more costlier.

(iii)             Aluminum Cassette filters:-
In these types of filters there are multiple layers of mesh which retain grease, oil particle from smoke and throw out remaining smoke. When these cassette filters block oil and grease than its holes get blocked which results in reduction of suction capacity.  These filters required washing once a week.

Advantages of cassette filter
(a)    Cassette filter are cheaper in comparison to baffle filters.
(b)   Cassette filters are of lightweight so detaching cassette filter from chimney is so easy.
Disadvantages of cassette filter
(a)    These filters required cleaning on regular basis i.e. once a week. If cleaning isn’t done in some cases grease, oil that stick on mesh threads catch fire. 
(b)   Cleaning cassette filter much difficult than baffle filter.
(c)    Cassette filter prevents easy air flow and makes little bit extra noise compare to baffle filter.

Auto clean and oil collector are latest features in chimneys. 
There is lot of smoke generated while cooking different kinds of foods in kitchen. Sometimes when we are frying or cooking some oily food then lot of smoke get generated chimney just sucks that smoke and through it out.

Now this smoke contains lot of oil which get accumulate inside chimney, so it is required timely cleaning of chimney. Chimney cleaning is quite an effort taking process earlier but with introduction of auto clean features in chimney it hardly takes any effort.

Now chimneys are having oil collector and cleaning button mounted on its display. For auto cleaning just add some water in oil collector part and press auto clean ,now as soon as button pressed auto-cleaning process get started.





Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Cable Tray Designing and Selection

In electrical Systems for laying power cables , cable trays are preferable mode for laying cables over a long distance where digging can’t be feasible or digging cost is very high. Cable trays are also used where space is low. Also cable trays gives aesthetic looks to electrical systems.

There are following recommendations for designing cable trays:-
1.     Always take 10-20% as Spare capacity.
2.     Distances between cables should be from 5 mm to 10 mm.
Now let’s illustrate the same by taking an example:-

Here we will design cable tray for aluminum cables:-
(i)              10 no’s 2.5 mmsq X 4 Core cables
(ii)             25 mmsq X 4 Core 10 no’s cables


Calculation:
For calculations following Table is used:-
Cable Size, weight, Height, Diameter chart

Total Outer Diameter :
Diameter of 2.5 mmSq.mm Cable =No of Cable X Outer Diameter of Each Cable
                                                       =10 X 16 = 160 mm
Similarly for 25 mmsq cables = 25X10 =250 mm

Total Diameter of All Cables laying in Tray = (160+250)mm= 410 mm

Now Weight of Cables will be:
Weight of 2.5 Sq.mm Cables =No of Cable X Weight of Each Cable
  =10 X 0.56= 5.6 Kg/Meter
Similarly for 25 mmsq cable= 10X1.11= 11.1 Kg/ Meter

Total Weight of All Cables laying in Tray = (5.6+11.1) Kg/Meter= 16.7 Kg/ Meter

Width of all Cables:
Total Width of all Cables = (Total Cables X min. Distance between Cable) + Cable Outer Diameter in total
Total Width of all Cables = (20 X 5) + 410 = 510 mm
Now after taking 10% Spare Capacity of Cable Tray
Final Width of all Cables = 1.1X510 =561 mm

Now total area of cables
Total Area of Cable =  width of all Cables X Maximum Height Cable
Total Area of Cable =  561 X 25 =14025 Sq.mm
Taking 10% Spare Capacity of Cable Tray
Final Area of all Cables = 1.1X14025 = 15427.5 mmsq.

Now cable tray selected from above calculations is that either we can install 1 no. 600 mm X 50 mm cable tray having weight carrying capacity of 50 kg/ meter, this cable tray has overall area of 30000 mmsq , Or we can install 300 mm X 50 mmsq 2 no. s cable trays with area = 30000 mmsq.
We can even use single 300 mmsq X 50 mmsq cable tray and placing one cable over another.
Usually perforated cable trays are used in electrical systems.



Friday, October 14, 2016

VoLTE technology in JIO; What is VoLTE?


In recent days JIO has generated lot of buzz which offers free calling for lifetime and free internet up to December. There is also new technology associated with JIO is VoLTE. Mobile phone manufacturers are selling phones with VoLTE enabled technology. Now there is curiosity what is VoLTE? and how it is different?
In this below article we will learn what is VoLTE technology all about?:-
VoLTE:-
There is new technology in field of data services. VoLTE is known as Voice over Long-Term Evolution. It is used for providing a uniform format of voice traffic on LTE and other systems including CSFB (Circuit Switched Fall Back) and SV-LTE(Simultaneous Voice Long term evolution). This technology is used for better voice call quality. VoLTE uses 4G technology and it is based on packet switching on the other hand 2G and 3G networks uses circuit based switch.
Now when we make a call using 2G and 3G then there is bandwidth assigned to that call this will not allow to terminate until call ends. On the other hand in VoLTE voice calls are divided into packets and are sent on whole data pipeline which will then get reconstructed at receiving end. As calling is done over whole data pipeline which means better calling using VoLTE technology.
VoLTE is designed for standardizing the system for transferring Voice traffic over Long term evolution.
LTE was basically an IP cellular system used for carrying data. Operators would be able to carry voice either by reverting to 2G / 3G Systems. Operators can use VoIP in one form or another.
LTE will lead disintegration and mismatch not allowing all phones to communicate with each other which will reduce the voice traffic. SMS services are still widely used, often proving a means of set-up for other applications.
Even though revenue from voice calls and SMS is falling, a format for voice over LTE and messaging, it was as necessary to have a viable and standardized scheme to provide the voice and SMS services to protect this revenue.


LTE Voice Options:-
There are following options for Long term Evolution voicing:-
(i)             CSFB known as Circuit switched Fall back
(ii)            SV-LTE Known as Simultaneous Voice LTE
(iii)           VoLGA known as Voice over LTE via GAN
(iv)          One Voice / later called Voice over LTE, VoLTE
Let’s discuss about these:-
(i)             CSFB:- This service has been standardized under 3GPP Specifications. CSFB uses different types of processes and network elements to enable the circuit to fall back to 2G/3G connection before a circuit switched call is initiated. The description also allows for SMS to be carried as this is important for very many set-up procedures for cellular telecommunications. To achieve this handset uses an interface known as SGs which allows messages to be sent over an LTE channel.
(ii)            SV-LTE:   This service allows packet switched LTE services to run concurrently with a circuit switched voice service. This facility provides the facilities of CSFB at the same time as running a packet switched data service. There is a disadvantage associated with this service is that, it requires two radios to run at the same time within the handset which has a serious impact on battery life.
(iii)           VoLGA:- This service was based on the current 3GPP Generic Access Network (GAN) standard, and the aim was to allow LTE users to obtain a steady set of voice, SMS services as they shift between GSM, UMTS and LTE access networks. For mobile operators, the aim of VoLGA was to provide a low-cost and low-risk approach for bringing their primary revenue generating services onto the new LTE network deployments.
(iv)          VoLTE:   This scheme for providing voice over an LTE system develops IMS The IP Multimedia Subsystem,  IMS is a framework for delivering Internet Protocol. It enables a variety of services to be run flawlessly rather than having several different applications operating simultaneously), which enables it to become part of a rich media solution. It was the option chosen by the GSMA for use on LTE and is the standardized method for providing SMS and voice over LTE.
Voice over LTE
When concept of SMS and voice System over LTE using IMS was introduced than it was opposed by many telecom operators as it was complex system involving IMS. It was observed that it is not only complex but also it is far too expensive and burdensome to introduce and maintain the same.
One Voice profile for Voice over LTE was developed by association between over 40 operators. In 2010 GSMA declared that they were supporting the One Voice solution to provide Voice over LTE. To achieve a workable system, a cut down variant of IMS was used. It was felt that this would be acceptable to operators while still providing the functionality required.
The VoLTE system is based on the IMS MMTel concepts that were previously in existence. It has been specified in the GSMA profile IR 92.
VoLTE IP versions
After update from IPv4 to IPv6 version ,VoLTE devices are needed to operate in dual mode which will cater both IPv4 and IPv6.
One of the issues with voice over IP type calls is the overhead resulting from the IP header. To overcome this issue VoLTE requires that IP header compression is used along with RoHC (Robust Header Compression) protocol for voice data packet headers.



Saturday, September 17, 2016

Methods for reducing Harmonics in System

There are so many methods available by which harmonics can be reduced in system and power quality can be improved. There are following methods of reducing the harmonics in system:-
(i)                  DC choke
(ii)                By reducing harmonics at loads
(iii)               By using filters

Now let’s discuss about them:-
(i)                 DC choke:-

VFD’s are main source of harmonics generation in a plant. DC choke is used in VFD’s to reduce harmonics. DC choking is an inductance in series with semiconductor bridge circuit. DC choke provides reduction in 5th and 7th Harmonics. DC choke is comparable to an equivalent AC-side line reactor, although the %Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is somewhat less.

(ii)               By reducing Harmonics levels at Loads and Source:-

In electrical Transmission and distribution system there are lot of equipment’s connected in distribution so there will be harmonics getting in system . So it will become even more important to minimize the harmonics.



If there are harmonics get generated in plant i.e. at source end then it is always best to counter these harmonics at source end. As stated earlier in a plant source of harmonics are VFD’s so harmonics can be reduced installing a Delta-Star Transformer in parallel with Delta- Delta Transformer. This is done to convert two synchronized 6-Pulse VFD’s to a 12-Pulse application. This is done as to reduce 5th and 7th harmonics as there will phase shift of 30 degree in 12 pulse applications instead to 60 degree in 6-pulse application. Delta connected Transformer block the zero sequence harmonics so triple Harmonics are eliminated.
(iii)             By using filters:-
Filters are used to minimize the harmonics levels in distribution systems.  These are used in Plants also. There are following types of filters.

(a)    Passive
(b)   Active
Now let’s discuss about these 2 types of filters

(a)   Passive filters:-
 These types of filters are generally inductors and capacitors. These filters are used to block Harmonics. These are even used to shunt the Harmonics to ground. For a particular type particular application these filters are designed accordingly.

We know that as frequency increase impedance of an inductor increases on the other hand impedance of capacitor deceases with increased frequency.

There are some disadvantages associated with these filters are that these become ineffective if harmonics changes due to variation in loads.

In AC drives usually line reactors and Transformers are used to reduce the harmonics. If DC bus choke is not used then inductor of suitable capacity is used to reduce harmonics level to significant levels.
Thus passive filter may contains series/ Shunt capacitor/ Inductor network and a series inductor or Transformer. Usually now days in electrical system passive filters are integral part of drive system.
(b)   Active filters:-
Unlike passive filters in which harmnocis are blocked or shunted away , active filters are used to condition the power lines and also known as power line conditioners. In active filters these are condition monitors which sense the harmonic currents electronically and generate the counter waveform corresponding to harmonic current generated. So by this way harmonics currents are cancelled out.

Active filters are used to reduce the harmonics levels as per limited specified by IEEE. So by using these filters power factor of system get improved.

Working of Active filters:-
Active filters are installed in parallel to the loads so as to offset the generated harmonics. In electrical systems Current Transducers are used to provide the control logic according to current waveform to counter harmonics. In Three phase system 2 Current transducers are sufficient for these filters working.

Active filters remove the fundamental frequency from this waveform. The resulting waveform after removal of fundamental frequency is inverted and used to direct the firing of the IGBTs. This inverted waveform is injected back into the ac line.

This will leads to cancellation of cancellation of current Harmonics in electrical systems.

As we know that voltage harmonics are due to current harmonics so since we have redcued current harmonics voltage harmonics are also get reduced.

There are following components of Active filters:-
(a)    Power semiconductors
(b)   DC link capacitors and Bus Bars
(c)    Fuses.

Power semiconductor consists of IGBT pulse width modulation (PWM) at an appropriate switching speed. An internal filter in active filters blocks this frequency from entering the ac lines and decouples the active harmonic filter from the rest of the system so no harmful interaction occurs.
In active filters Rated output current= square root of the sum of the squares of the harmonic and reactive currents at the bus.

If total harmonics > Rating of an active harmonic filter, then additional units can be installed in parallel.

For knowing what are Harmonics and effects on Electrical Systems:-
http://electrialstandards.blogspot.com/2016/09/methods-for-reducing-harmonics-in-system.html



Friday, September 9, 2016

Harmonics and its effects on electrical systems

Harmonics in electrical systems:-
Before discussing about consequences of Harmonics you must know what are harmonics:-

Harmonics are electric current and voltages that causes power quality problems. These are generated due to electronic equipment’s which draws non linear loads with abrupt pulses. These pulses causes distorted current and voltages causes of which will be discussed in this article.
Harmonics are classified according of level of harmonics these are multiple of frequencies such as
2nd level, 3rd level, 4th level, and upto 11th levels
Where 2nd level means Harmonics with frequency of 100 HZ
3rd level means Harmonics with frequency level of 150 HZ
And similar for other levels
Now 2nd level, 5th level, 8th level, and 11th level will have –ve sequence of currents
3rd level, 6th level and 9th level will have zero sequence of currents
4th level, 7th level, 10th levels will have +ve sequence of currents

Harmonics are now integral part of electricity. Harmonics is also known as pollution in electricity. Now days while power availability is not a big concern so intention now shifts towards quality of electiricity.
There is an increase in harmonics levels in electricity there are following few reasons for harmonics in electricity:-
1.       Increase in non-linear loads such as power electronics equipment’s. Such as VFD, SMPS etc where power is chopped and used as per requirements at low or other frequencies.

2.       There are various other devices which leads to Harmonics in electrical systems such as :-
(a)    Arcing devices
(b)   Ferromagnetic devices
(c)    Appliances
(d)   Electronic switching power converters
There will be following effects due to harmonics in electrical systems:-
(a)    Overheating of electrical equipment’s as more eddy currents are produced due to these harmonic levels.
(b)   Due to overheating and other losses this will leads to reduction in life of equipment
(c)    These harmonics will leads to premature failure of equipment’s
(d)   Harmonics will leads to malfunctioning of equipment’s
(e)   Harmonics will leads to more losses in systems
(f)     Harmonics will leads to interference in communication signals
(g)    Harmonics will leads to Nuisance tripping of circuit breaker and blowing off the fuses.
(h)   Harmonics will leads to more vibrations in motor and other equipment’s.
(i)      This will leads to flickering of computers.
There are so many effects of Harmonics on various equipments
When there are harmonics in systems than we can’t be able to get 1 Power factor as there are so many reactive powers associated with these harmonics which will not get compensated using capacitor banks. Even when we try to compensate the same by installation of more and more capacitors then we lose a hafety amount on installation of capacitors and also this will leads to higher losses due to capacitor banks.

Earlier we known that Power factor=  Voltage X Current X Power factor
                                                                         Voltage X Current

Now days due to these Harmonics there are Distortion power factors which will be calculated as below:-
Distortion power factor due to Harmonics


Where THDi Stands for Total harmonics distortion in currents
And THDv Stands for Total Harmonics distortion in voltage.

Now Total Power factor is given as = Power factor X Distortion power factor

As Distortion power factor will never will be unity so Total power factor of system will never will be unity.
                               
There are following effects of harmonics on Transformers and Motors:-
1.       There will be more eddy current loses in Transformers.
2.       Harmonics will leads to more losses due to skin effect.
3.       Harmonics will leads to overheating of coils and that will cause premature failure of Transformers
4.       Harmonics will leads to more Hysteresis and eddy current losses in motors as Hysteresis losses are directly proportional to frequency and eddy current losses are directly proportional to square of frequency.
5.       There will be more winding eddy current losses, High frequency Rotor and stator losses, and tooth pulsations in motors due to harmonics

6.       More harmonics will be leads to more I2R losses in both Transformers and motors
7.       There will be increased over temperature due to these losses and leads to premature failure
There are following effects of harmonics on Cables and Capacitors:-

1.       There will be Higher Proximity effects and Skin effects in cables
2.       There will be additional losses in cables
3.       These will cause additional overheating of cables
4.       This will decrease insulation level of cables
5.       Harmonics will cause increased Resistance
6.       Harmonics will cause derating of cables
7.       Harmonics will leads to higher neutral currents in cables and leads to unbalanced loads on cables.
8.       Harmonics will leads to resonance with 7th Harmonics in capacitor banks which will leads to lower capacitive reactance.
9.       Harmonics will leads to more electricity bill due to increased losses due to harmonics.
10. Harmonics will leads to more KVA demand as stated earlier due to increased losses.

For reducing harmonics visit link:-
http://electrialstandards.blogspot.com/2016/09/methods-for-reducing-harmonics-in-system.html