Category: Energy

Many areas of Saudi Arabia are not prone to power cuts. That’s true. Infrastructure continues to get better and the grid is robust.

But this is the point–unusual does not mean unimaginable. And when a blackout strikes a hospital, factory, commercial tower or even an up-town shopping mall in Riyadh or Jeddah, seconds stretch. Very long. That is where an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) would come in silently- and rescues the day without anyone paying attention.

What Exactly Is an ATS?

Let me explain it simply. An Automatic Transfer Switch is an intelligent electrical device which will change your power supply between the main utility supply and a backup generating device the second it notices a failure. No manual switching. No scrambling in the dark. Once the grid power is restored, it automatically turns off. It is similar to having a standby driver who is willing to take over the wheel the moment the primary driver loses the control. Smooth. Fast. Controlled. In a plant where power count is in seconds, not in minutes, such speed is not convenient, but essential.

Downtime Isn’t Just Annoying. It’s Expensive.

Consider a production plant in which machines abruptly go dead halfway through their work. Production halts. Materials waste. Deadlines slip. Or imagine a business structure with the lifts breaking down and occupants being deprived of lights and air conditioning. During Saudi summers, air conditioning is not only an inconvenience to lose, it is also a hassle.

Disruption of power may cause:

• Equipment damage
• Data loss
• Revenue loss
• Safety risks
• Tenant dissatisfaction

and reputation loss may be worse than repair expenses.

An ATS minimizes those risks. It maintains operations even in the face of the unforeseen.

How Does an ATS Work?

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The utility voltage is constantly monitored by an ATS.

If it detects:

• Voltage drop
• Complete outage
• Frequency irregularity

It gives a signal to the generator to start. The switch switches the load of the utility to the generator within seconds. When the primary supply has become steady, the ATS switches the power back and closes the generator in a safe manner. It is easy to say–and to do. Behind that simplicity, however, is skillful engineering, due size, and due installation.

Saudi Facilities are presented with Special Demands.

The Saudi Arabian business and industry is expanding at a high rate. There are new industrial areas, megaprojects, commercial complexes, it is an active world.Growth, however, comes with the increased energy demand.

The facilities which will get the most out of ATS systems are:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Data centers
• Manufacturing plants
• Commercial towers
• Hotels and malls
• Cold storage warehouses

You know what?

Even those facilities who believe they do not really need backup are in many cases found regretting that decision once they have experienced their first major outage.

Generator Alone Isn’t Enough

The one most frequently used myth is as follows: we have already had a generator, and we are insured.

Not exactly. In the absence of an ATS, a person will have to manually turn the switching between the main supply and the generator. That delay can take minutes. Sometimes longer.

And during that gap?

Systems shut down. of sensitive equipment that can be affected by power interruptions are VFD-controlled motors, or industrial control panels. That is where an ATS comes in to fill that gap. It integrates automatically with your backup source. In Fanar Automation, it is common to find that the plant has a generator, but there is no transfer system. The difference in operational stability is self-evident as soon as the latter is installed properly.

How to select the Right ATS in Your Organization It is not a One-Size-Fits-All Process.

Not all ATS units are equal. Capacity, type of switching and load category are important.

You’ll need to consider:

• Total load capacity (amps rating)
• Single-phase systems or three-phase systems.
• Open transition switching or closed transition switching.
• Cooperation with distribution boards that are in place.
• Generator compatibility
• Oversizing wastes budget. Undersizing creates risk.

The evaluation of the correct load calculations and system analysis is needed in that balance. It is not a trial and error project. Fanar Automation offers low and medium voltage electrical construction products available in Saudi Arabia as well as professional installation services to guarantee the successful integration into your facility into the existing system.

Installation More Than You Think.

At best, an ATS is as good as it is installed. Nuisance tripping may occur due to improper wiring, improper cable sizing, or poor panel integration, which can result in system failure in case of emergency situation.

This is why the services should be comprehensive:

• Cable Installing Services.
• Electrical Panellations Services.
• VFD Repairs Services

All these contribute to having a stable power ecosystem. Weaknesses could be caused by installing an ATS without updating the electrical panel, when the electric panel is old. All things have to collaborate. System design (in isolation) provides stability.

The reasons as to why Facilities Trust Fanar Automation.

When you share partnership with Fanar automation, you are making a decision based on experience in the real operating conditions of the Saudi.

The company offers:

• The quality of ATS and electrical solutions.
• Commercial and industrial building installation Specialty installation.
• Quick services throughout Saudi Arabia.
• High quality products constructed using quality materials.

In Fanar Automation, quality and stability is all there is. The team has many years of experience in electrical installation, repairs, and upgrading, which is why they are able to offer long-term solutions, as opposed to quick solutions. Equipment is not the only thing required in facilities. They should be assured that the system can perform when required.

Concluding Ideas- Stability Is Smart Business.

An Automatic Transfer Switch is not glamourous. It doesn’t attract attention. The point is, most of the time, you will forget that it is even there. And that’s the point. In case of power failure, your plant will not go down. Lights stay on. Machines keep running. Air conditioners whimper in the background.

No panic. No scrambling.

The power cuts are not a luxury in the fast-paced commercial and industrial environment of Saudi Arabia, but rather it is the security of operation. In the event that your facility relies on reliable electricity, and most do, implementing an appropriate-designed ATS via a reliable solution provider like the Fanar Automation is a feasible solution to long-term stability.

Introduction: Is Your Facility Electrically safe?

In industrial settings, electrical hazards have continued to be among the major causes of workplace injuries, equipment damages, and expensive downtime. The electrical systems in large plants in Saudi Arabia, whether manufacturing facilities, warehouses, oil and gas field facilities, or commercial complexes, have heavy loads daily.

However, here is the key question: Does your facility keep electrical safety proactively, or does it respond once a failure has already taken place?

Electrical safety in the workplace is not merely a compliance issue, but a matter of life and equipment safety as well as continuity of operations. In this guide, we will identify key electrical repair advice to the industrial plants, effective safety measures, and how such professional services as Fanar Automation can assist companies in Saudi Arabia to have safe and reliable power systems.

The Importance of Electrical Safety in the Industrial Facilities.

Large electrical systems with low and medium voltage are used in industrial facilities. These include:

Distribution boards

Motor control centers (MCCs)

Synchronizing panels

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)..

Heavy machinery relationships.

Lack of maintenance can lead to very high risks:

Electrical fires

Arc flash incidents

Equipment failure

Production downtime

Regulatory penalties

Because of the high temperatures in places such as Saudi Arabia, cables, breakers, and control panels are also further strained by heat. Preventive maintenance does not come on a silver platter-it is not necessary.Why Electrical Safety Is Critical in Industrial Facilities.

Facilities in industries have elaborate low and medium voltage electrical systems. These include:

• Distribution boards
• Motor control centers (MCCs)
• Synchronizing panels
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• Heavy machinery interrelations.

Lack of maintenance exposes the risks which grow out of proportions:

• Electrical fires
• Arc flash incidents
• Equipment failure
• Production downtime
• Regulatory penalties

High temperature conditions such as Saudi Arabia also put strains of cables, breakers, and control panels. Preventive maintenance does not exist as an option.

Hazards of electricity at the workplace.

The initial step toward prevention is the understanding of risks that can be found.

1. Overloaded Circuits

New machines are usually installed in industries without changing electrical panels. The overload of the circuits may lead to overheating and fire.

2. Faulty Cable Installations

The installation of cables improperly results in insulation failure and short circuiting. Periodic check-up is to guarantee cables adhere to industrial expectations.

3. Worn-Out Electrical Panels

Older panels can be equipped with obsolete breakers or components that are corroded, which means that they are prone to failure.

4. Deficiency in Preventive Maintenance.

One of the most widespread and rather expensive mistakes is waiting until equipment reaches a breakdown rather than having routine inspections carried out.

Basic Electrical Maintenance Advice in an Industrial Plant.

At this point we will examine practical electrical safety measures that can be put into practice now.

1. Carry out regular electrical cheques.

Professional inspections should be scheduled at least once or twice in a year. A close examination must cover:

• To identify overheating, a thermal image.
• Ensuring that there are no loose connexons.
• Testing circuit breakers
• Checking the grounding systems.
• Verifying load balance

Active cheques minimise the necessity to spend time on unplanned interruptions and prolong the service of equipment.

2. Adopt Preventive Maintenance Programme.

Preventive maintenance (PM) decreases emergency maintenance and increases safety. Your PM plan should include:

• Cleaning electrical panels
• Securing electrical arrangements.
• Testing protection relays
• Measuring insulation resistance.
• Checking panel ventilation.

Facilities with well-organised maintenance plans have much lower levels of electrical accidents. Fanar Automation has customised preventive maintenance services to meet the industrial safety standards.

3. Modify obsolete Electrical Panels.

Antique panels are not necessarily up to the current load requirements. The indications that a panel replacement is necessary include:

Frequent breaker trips

• Overheating
• Visible corrosion
• Unstable voltage supply.

When the electrical panel is replaced, it is more efficient, safer, and reliable, particularly when an additional facility is added.

4. Make sure that the cables are installed appropriately.

Cable management is not given much attention, yet it is very essential. Key best practices include:

• Using correct cable sizing
• Avoiding sharp bends
• Securing cables properly
• Sealing cables against water and heat.
• Labeling cables clearly

The wrong installation causes the voltage drop and the damage of the insulation. The use of professional cable installation ensures reliability over a long period of time.

5. Prioritize VFD Maintenance

The motors in industries are regulated by Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). Not well maintained VFDs may lead to:

• Motor overheating
• Harmonic distortion
• Unexpected shutdowns
• Routine VFD maintenance entails:
• Cleaning cooling fans
• Input/Output checking.
• Tackling the drive parameters.
• Updating firmware

Fanar Automation provides professional VFD repair services in order to avoid expensive downtimes.

6. Electrical Safety Training of Employees.

The issue of electrical safety is not just an engineering task, but it is the task of everyone. Train employees on:

• Lockout/ Tagout (LOTO) practises.
• Emergency response
• Wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately.
• Safety of electrical equipment.

Workers are supposed to know how to identify the early warning signs like the odd smell, sparks or buzzing.

7. Install Proper Grounding and Protection Systems.

Grounding helps to safeguard the equipment and personnel against the electrical fault. Make sure that your facility has:

• Proper earthing systems
• Surge protection devices
• Arc flash protection
• Remaining current devices (RCDs)

Even slight faults will develop to dangerous threats without proper grounding.

 

The Professional Electrical Service Providers.

In-house teams have the responsibility of regular inspections but, due to the complexity of the modern electrical systems, specialist professional skills are required.

Why collaborate with Fanar Automation?

• Specialisation Low and medium voltage.
• Quality materials, which are safe.
• Express services all over Saudi Arabia.
• Tailor made industrial interventions.
• Expert knowledge of panel and cable systems.

Fanar Automation offers stability, safety and reliability in commercial and industrial customers over the long term.

 

 

 

Energy Efficiency in the Industry: the Bottom-line is the way renewal of your VFDs will save you money of operation.

Energy is not only a utility in the contemporary industrial world, but it is among the largest overheads in the balance sheet. With the consideration of industrial facilities in Saudi Arabia, in which the Saudi Vision 2030 devotes a major priority to the sustainability of the power consumption and the efficiency of the industrial processes, determining the ways to optimize the power consumption becomes an obligation, but not a choice. Even though the motor control system in use by some of the plants is years old and drives in the older generation, the recent change of equipment using the new modern VFD technology has seen saving of up to 50 percent of the energy consumed in specific applications.

The Giant Cost of Industrial Wastiness of Energy.

Electric motors are the workhorse of the industry, and they operate anything it can such as massive cooling fans, water pumps, conveyor belts, compressors, etc. The systems powered by electric electric motors constitute nearly 70 percent of all of the electrical energy consumed in the industrial sector.

The problem? A large percentage of these motors are set at a constant speed regardless of what the actual demand of process is. It is the opposite of braking your car and putting your car on the gas pedal. This kind of energy saving method burns giant power sources of heat and friction.

Speed Control The art of VFDs to revolutionize efficiency.

The motor brain is known as Variable frequency drive (VFD). Variation of frequency and voltage to the electric motor varies its speed and torque at an astronomical precision by varying the frequency in minute steps.

The Affinity Laws: Little Scratchers in Big Dividends.

The Affinity Laws refer to the relationships between speed to power consumption in centrifugal processes in pumps and fans. These legislations stipulate that the power consumption is proportional to the cube of the speed of the motor.

To explain this, as you reduce the speed of a fan by a measly 20 percent of the power required is cut nearly by half. It is this kind of accelerated development of the relationship that will give upgrades of VFD a payback in a few months as opposed to many years.

4 Large Methods s minimise Operation costs.How modernized VFD

Eradication of Inrush Current (Soft Starting)

Once a motor has been started across the line (Direct-On-Line) it can draw 6 to 10 times the full-load current. This rush current causes massive spikes in power demand which leads to higher utility peak demand charges. Soft start is now used in the VFDs as a smooth way of putting the motor to speed and out of these costly spikes.

Optimized Power Factor

A motor of low power factor can be a fairly old one or it can be a poorly adjusted system; in other words, it may be drawing more current than it can put into service. Poor power factor in utilities is often subject to fines. It is preferable to change to current VFDs your distance to the simplest VFDs so that you give up these penalties and have an efficient electrical infrastructure.

Reduced Mechanical Wear and tear.

Not only energy is being cut down. VFDs also put less stress on belts, gears and bearings since it does not have the violent jerk of a full speed start. Maintenance costs are also reduced and high equipment lifespan is achieved.

Complex Process Robotization.

The IoT and sensor technologies are also implemented in the modern drives. They can automatically control speed based on real time pressure and flow or temperature feedbacks in such a way that the motor requires no more effort than is required at the point.

Why Now? Towards “Green Industry” in Saudi Arabia.

The government has introduced more difficult standards of energy audits and efficiency as the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia continues to expand at a very rapid pace. One of the straight forward ways to achieve both the local energy standards and international standards ISO 50001 energy management is to modernize your VFD fleet.

Fan v. Damper Control Case Study

Method Efficiency Energy Waste Mechanical Stress.

Damper Control(Old) Low High (Heat/Vibration) High. Personal VFD (Upgrade) Very High Negligible Low.

Preparation to Automate your Facility with Fanar. The issue of upgrading does not just lie in the procurement of a new box, but with the search of a solution in respect to your specific infrastructure. Our methodology that we apply at Fanar Automation is highly precise so that we can be able to guarantee the highest ROI:

• Energy Audit We will have an indication on how to invigorate consumption at your current motor and find low riding fruit to save.
• System Integration We ensure that the new VFDs would be fully compatible with your existing PLCs and SCADA systems.
• Saudi-Standard Compliance all are in compliance of SASO and local safety.
• Professional Commissioning Not just factory settings, but the most efficient settings, have been made possible by the drive parameters.