Electrical
By Staff -- Plant Engineering, 11/1/2003
Study targets UPS products
A multivolume study, titled "The 2002 Power Protection Market Intelligence Program: Vols. I-III," concludes that the market for uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) under 5 kVA is poised for extensive transition during the next 5 yr. The analysis, conducted by Venture Development Corp. (VDC), also predicts that global consumption of battery-powered UPSs of all ranges will grow 2.95% through 2006. Within the North American under-5-kVA market, growth will be driven by user requirements for improved battery performance and increased applications. The study also found that users do not have strong preferences toward specific brands.
The report includes forecasts by product categories, major applications, major industries, country, channels of distribution, and product features.
EPRI report forecasts future for electric power
Electricity Sector Framework for the Future, a report published by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), examines the current challenges facing the electricity sector in the U.S. and outlines a framework for action to help guide future economic, regulatory, and technical direction.
The report was developed under the direction of the EPRI Board of Directors using input from a broad cross section of stakeholders, including utilities, federal and state regulators, industry and business, consumer groups, labor unions, and environmentalists.
The report says that technology will enable a transformation that involves stabilizing electricity markets, providing for the public good, protecting the environment, educating and empowering consumers, and unleashing technical innovation.
To access the two-volume report, visit epri.com/corporate/esff/viewpdfs.asp
When the lights went out...
The massive blackout on the U.S. electric grid that occurred August 14, 2003, was captured in real time by the I-Grid, a nationwide power grid monitoring system devised by SoftSwitching Technologies, Middleton, WI. Near-simultaneous events were recorded in New York and Michigan at approximately 4:10 p.m. EDT. The blackout then spread across the northeastern U.S., with the monitor recording more than 200 events in the first 2 min.
The monitor is a web-based distributed power quality and reliability monitoring and notification system. It uses ultra-low-cost power monitoring sensors to capture and transmit power data through the Internet to a central server for display on the I-Grid website, as well as send event notification to monitor owners.
To monitor the grid, go to igrid.com. Registration is required, but free. Map and event log can be monitored at this site.
