Tim Driscoll

The lighting revolution: If we were experts before, we're novices now

Electrical lighting has seen many advancements since Edison first patented his version of the incandescent lamp. From those early days, lighting technology eventually changed with the introduction of Mercury Vapor, Fluorescent, Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps. While each of these new light sources offered tremendous benefits over the incandescent lamp, their acceptance and any further advancement happened over a number of decades. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a method of general lighting entered the market in the early 2000s. They were expensive and not very energy efficient. Within a few years, these lighting LEDs had improved dramatically. By 2006 they became trendy for residential and commercial applications, crossing over into the roadway lighting market a couple of years later. By 2010 they had become very “popular” as an industrial light source. In 2011 LEDs became mainstream and more affordable. Moving forward, LEDs are poised to dominate. Over the next decade, it is expected LEDs will render most other light sources obsolete. The dilemma is that just about every evaluation method used for the past 140 years for every other light source, cannot be applied directly to LED light sources. This paper will examine the LED revolution and what you need to know to survive.

Application considerations for class-1 div-2 inverter-fed motors

Application considerations for fixed-speed motors utilized in hazardous locations are not new to the electrical community and have been discussed previously and are relatively well known in the petroleum industry. Documented guidelines for these applications are currently established, are primarily centered on motor-temperature-rise limitations and the use of nonsparking fans in class-1 division-2/zone-2 locations. However, there are additional considerations when motors and their associated loads are on inverter supply. Items such as the effect on motor temperature rise when operating at reduced speeds for units without independently powered blowers, the effect of nonsinusoidal supply at the motor terminals on motor temperature rise as well as rotor voltage related phenomenon are relevant items. This paper identifies and provides guidelines particular to inverter-fed applications for class-1 division-2 installations.

Harmonic torque considerations of applying a 6000 HP induction motor and drive to a high speed compressor

This paper discusses the causes and effects of torsional harmonics in adjustable frequency induction motor drives, describes some electrical and mechanical methods used to mitigate potentially harmful effects, describes methods of predicting torsional harmonic levels, describes methods of measurement of torsional harmonics, and compares the measured and predicted levels for a particular 6000-HP centrifugal compressor application at the Shell Hamburg Gas Plant, Alabama, using a PWM CSI induction motor drive.

Application considerations for class 1 div 2 inverter-fed motors

Application considerations for fixed-speed motors utilized in hazardous locations are not new to the electrical community and have been discussed previously and are relatively well known in the petroleum industry. Documented guidelines for these applications are currently established, are primarily centered on motor-temperature-rise limitations and the use of nonsparking fans in class-1 division-2/zone-2 locations. However, there are additional considerations when motors and their associated loads are on inverter supply. Items such as the effect on motor temperature rise when operating at reduced speeds for units without independently powered blowers, the effect of nonsinusoidal supply at the motor terminals on motor temperature rise as well as rotor voltage related phenomenon are relevant items. This paper identifies and provides guidelines particular to inverter-fed applications for class-1 division-2 installations.

Industrial Lighting Safety, Can You See the Problem?

This paper demonstrates that an improved understanding of the industrial lighting environment, and the tasks that workers have to perform in these environments, may improve safety and health performance. It shows how occupational health & safety and the Illumination Engineering Society (IES) safe lighting conditions and standards are often misinterpreted or ignored and the effects this may have. The paper describes how industrial lighting systems are designed and built and maintained. Statistical data from actual work sites are discussed to illustrate the issues associated with poor lighting. Safety issues with regard to maintaining lighting systems are also explored. A case study involving many of the above elements are outlined. Conclusions and recommendations are presented to further the understanding of industrial lighting and safety

Integrating global hazardous location methodologies and technologies in a large capital project

The paper describes how North American and European installation methods and equipment certified to North American and European based standards were blended on a large capital project to achieve enhanced safety while at the same time seeing significant capital and installation cost reductions. The Zone area classification system was used. This enabled the use of equipment certified to either Zone or Division hazardous location standards. Working with the local regulatory authority, traditional mindsets were challenged to enable the use of practices proven in various installation codes, with the fundamental principle of achieving equal or better safety compared to the existing code. The major areas that are discussed are: re-certifying Division type equipment to IEC standards; using European installation concepts for North American certified cables; challenging specific Canadian Electrical Code rules; and costs savings over traditional approaches are quantified.

Safety standards - Integrating global hazardous location methodologies and technologies in a large capital project - Global standards improve safety and save money

B Y R O B R O B E R T O N , M A R T Y C O L E , T I M D R I S C O L L , G E O R G E M O R L I D G E , & K E N M A R T I N LOBAL TRADE HAS CREATED THE NEED FOR INDUSTRY to become more competitive in the global economy. Technology is changing at an exponential rate. These economic pressures have caused industry to re-evaluate every aspect of how they operate in order to become more effective. This includes reviewing and improving on how electrical installations are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained without compromising safety. A myriad of organizations around the world develop electrical wiring codes or practices and product standards. Despite differences in their focus, albeit regional, national, or international, the underlying objective of all of these organizations is to ensure electrical safety and to protect property. Economic unions, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Union (EU), have forced harmonization of codes and standards to simplify trade between member nations. In some cases, the process may not be complete or may include national deviations. Despite this move towards harmoG

Can you see the problem

This paper investigates the lighting systems performance in occupational safety. Industrial safety experts continually strive to improve their site safety records with countless initiatives, all driven by a desire to improve worker safety.

The Use of Combustible Gas Detection in Hazardous Locations: Additional Safety Precautions Around Flammable Gas or Vapors

This article explores the use of combustible gas detection as a means of supplementary protection in hazardous locations. The use of combustible gas detection in the context of a hazardous-area classification design is reviewed, and its use as a means to interlock ignitioncapable equipment is discussed. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and North American codes, standards, and recommended practices are referenced. Case examples are provided to illustrate the use of concepts presented.

The use of combustible gas detection in hazardous locations

This document explores the use of combustible gas detection as a means of supplementary protection in hazardous locations. The use of combustible gas detection in the context of a hazardous area classification design is reviewed and its use as a means to interlock ignition capable equipment is discussed. IEC and North American codes, standards and recommended practices are referenced. A case example is provided to illustrate the use of concepts presented.