Smart construction thanks to efficient power supply
Can I rely on the installed power supply, or have there been recent outages that were bad for business? Is the type of my supply the most cost-effective solution or are there alternatives that will save money? How will my requirements change in the years ahead? These are examples of the kinds of questions asked by many operators of industrial facilities in the face of growing requirements.
Without power there is no business. This statement holds true for all sectors, whether in the manufacturing or the process industry. Heavy industry is no exception — in fact, it requires tremendously high volumes of energy for activities such as processing chemicals or smelting steel. “As a result, energy costs in the steel processing, oil and gas, and basic chemical industries account for a significantly higher share of the overall costs. In the energy-intensive mining sector, complex operating conditions also need to be taken into account,” explains Dr. Alexander Rentschler, head of Product Lifecycle Management at Siemens Transmission Solutions. “As a result of the large distances to a well-developed infrastructure and the climate extremes that often prevail in these areas, the highest level of reliability in the power supply is required — which high-voltage solutions offer.”
Efficient power transmission
In heavy industry, an efficient power supply is thus one of the most important factors when it comes to remaining competitive. Here, too, high voltage offers the right approach. “Direct current transmission can be used to efficiently transmit power over long distances. This means that plants that are far removed from the grid can be connected not only reliably, but also cost-effectively,” explains Dr. Rentschler. “Direct current transmission technology is generally suitable for all applications where power producers are located far from consumers. Staying with the area of heavy industry, the best example of this are mines, or the back-up supply for industrial parks. This technology also supplies the basis for state-of-the-art grids by efficiently connecting distant energy production centers, such as oil and gas platforms via high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission .” As a pioneer in the field of direct current technology, Siemens Transmission Solutions also offers a power transmission solution in the medium power range (medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) transmission).
An additional benefit of direct current transmission can be found, in particular, in countries with a poor grid infrastructure. This approach provides for a more reliable connection to the high-voltage grid because it simply bypasses local networks, which are often more prone to failure — in other words, it taps into the power directly at the source. This feature opens up yet another benefit, as Dr. Alexander Rentschler explains: “Any place where high availability must be ensured through a redundant power supply — this applies not only to heavy industry, but also to data centers, for instance — must have a second connection to the high-voltage grid in addition to the supply through the regional grid.”
Alternatively to DC transmission, Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)increase the reliability of AC grids and reduce power delivery costs. They improve transmission quality and efficiency of power transmission by supplying inductive or reactive power to the grid. The Industrial SVC is usually put near high and rapidly varying loads, such as arc furnaces, where they can smooth flicker voltage.
Grid connection for any situation
High-voltage substations are used to connect energy-intensive facilities to the grid. Products such as e-houses or mobile substations offer alternative solutions that are ideally suited for time-critical projects as well as for distant operating locations where the installation of a conventional substation would be difficult.
The innovative high-voltage solutions, combined with Siemens Transmission Solutions’ years of implementation experience, offer a solution for a reliable power supply even when large volumes of energy are involved.
Learn more about integrated power supply solutions for industries, buildings, and infrastructure facilities in our blogs about the automotive,chemical industry, building technology, microgrids, andcybersecuritysectors.
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