{"id":16604,"date":"2025-08-15T15:43:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T15:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/?post_type=case_study&#038;p=16604"},"modified":"2025-11-03T17:25:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:25:52","slug":"stabilizing-power-quality-for-a-national-science-labs-cutting-edge-operations","status":"publish","type":"case_study","link":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/case-study\/stabilizing-power-quality-for-a-national-science-labs-cutting-edge-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Stabilizing Power Quality for a National Science Lab\u2019s Cutting-Edge Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#f0f5f7\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Project Summary<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list numbered-list\">\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>Challenge: <\/strong>System instability under new and complex load conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>Project Type: <\/strong>Power quality engineering services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>Diagnostic Tools: <\/strong>Short circuit analysis, power factor study, voltage transient simulation, motor start analysis, STATCOM sizing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A U.S. Department of Energy laboratory was preparing for system upgrades that would introduce new loads and changes to their power network. Renowned for advancing scientific tools and out-of-this-world innovation, the lab\u2019s research operations depended on precise and stable power. In the face of new load scenarios, the lab needed to ensure their power quality would remain uncompromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their key concerns included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"font-400\"><strong>Avoiding system instability<\/strong> or resonance issues introduced by new network configurations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-400\"><strong>Maintaining power factor<\/strong> of .98 for compliance with utility standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-400\"><strong>Ensuring safe operation<\/strong> across all scenarios, including motor starting and generator power<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The complexity of the project \u2014 and the impact it would have on the lab\u2019s functionality \u2014&nbsp;required specialized power quality expertise. Powerside\u2019s Engineering Services team was brought on for that specific purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With decades of dedicated power quality knowledge, our Engineering Services team worked as a true design partner, focusing exclusively on electricity to guide the lab\u2019s engineers through a comprehensive evaluation process of their system upgrades. The assessment spanned the following areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group multiline-list--pl-4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Short Circuit Analysis<\/strong>: Powerside analyzed short-circuit current levels at every breaker location under various network configurations. We then compared results with breaker withstand ratings to identify potential risks and whether limiting measures were needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Power Factor Compliance: <\/strong>With a utility requirement of .98 power factor, Powerside evaluated current and forecasted performance, identifying optimal locations for new correction equipment and recommending modifications to existing capacitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Voltage Stability &amp; Motor Starting:<\/strong> We conducted simulations to ensure the main and substation buses remained above 95% voltage during transients. A special study addressed the voltage dip and recovery during large motor starts in the lab\u2019s anticipated new plant \u2014&nbsp;proposing a STATCOM solution for fast, stable voltage support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Generator Mode Transients:<\/strong> Transient analysis revealed stable damping while grid-tied, but increased risk during generator mode. To mitigate, Powerside proposed zero-voltage capacitor switching and STATCOM support.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Powerside\u2019s study yielded a clear mitigation plan: three detuned capacitor banks (11 MVar total) to meet power factor requirements, an 8 MVar STATCOM for motor start voltage support and zero-voltage switching to minimize generator-mode transients. Short-circuit risks were identified and addressed, and all findings were delivered in a concise report to guide the lab\u2019s system changes safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the Powerside Engineering Team\u2019s custom approach and singular focus on power quality, we helped the lab move forward confidently, knowing their network expansion would not compromise their mission-critical operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ensure the safety and efficiency of your power distribution system. See how Powerside\u2019s Engineering Services can plug into your project for a more successful outcome today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-63375db1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/powerside.com\/services\/power-quality-engineering-services\/\">Explore Power Quality Engineering Services<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16624,"template":"","categories":[109,108,115,119,121],"class_list":["post-16604","case_study","type-case_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-industrial","category-industries","category-power-issues","category-power-quality-analysis-improvement","category-products-software"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_study\/16604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case_study"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}