Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Counterfeiting Kills

Each year, the counterfeiting of well-known brands and products continues to rise, creating an even more threatening problem. Such well-known counterfeited brands, including consumer safety and critical electrical products, are estimated to be five to seven percent of world trade. The International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) estimates that the counterfeiting of distinguished brands costs industries $600 billion each year worldwide and may result in as many as 750,000 lost jobs every year in the United States.

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News & Trends

Featured

Advanced protection against electromagnetic exposures and electric arc

HAZARDS AROUND While working live in the energized grid, presence of voltage around the workers requires special attention. However, live-line (live working) techniques are widely applied for decades, several accidents in the past prove that the level of safety must be improved to minimize...

Introducing Intelligent Power Today

Welcome to Intelligent Power Today Magazine, our publication that explores and explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of intelligent electrical devices, a collection of complex mechanical devices and sophisticated control systems used in industrial, commercial, and institutional...

State of Industry

Illuminating Decisions: EPRI Lights the Way for Modern Lighting Adoption

Facility managers and operators understand the critical role lighting plays in their daily operations. Accounting for roughly 30% of a commercial building's energy load, lighting significantly impacts energy consumption and associated maintenance costs. However, focusing solely on the...

Electrical Protection

Advancements in Lightning Rod Design: Early Streamer Emission (ESE) Technology

Lightning protection systems have evolved significantly, with Early Streamer Emission (ESE) technology emerging as a groundbreaking advancement in lightning rod design. ESE technology aims to proactively protect structures from lightning strikes by initiating an upward streamer earlier than traditional lightning rods. This article delves into the concept of ESE technology, its potential benefits, limitations, and its impact on modern lightning protection strategies.

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Understanding Early Streamer Emission Technology

ESE lightning rods are designed to preemptively react to the electrostatic conditions that precede a lightning strike, creating an upward leader streamer ahead of natural conditions. This proactive approach increases the probability of capturing the lightning discharge directly, thereby enhancing the protected area's safety.

Mechanism of Action

ESE devices work by detecting the rise in ambient electric field strength as a thunderstorm approaches. Once a certain threshold is reached, the device emits a streamer earlier than...

Electrical Protection Articles

A Closer Look into the True Cost of Replacing Electrical Switchgear

During my switchgear modernization presentations all over the US, I am constantly reminded of the concerns customers face with their aging electrical infrastructure. For the most part, these center around safety, reliability and productivity: Replacements parts are very hard (or impossible) to...

Protecting Industrial Control Circuits

Addressing relay challenges with the modern technology BY MARK STEPHENS & ALDEN WRIGHT, Electric Power Research Institute In 2009, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) began an effort to create improved alternating current (AC) “ice cube” relays that could withstand voltage sags...

Transformer Protection

Overcoming Relay Coordination Challenges

Relay coordination in electrical transformer protection is a critical process that ensures the safety and reliability of the power system. Effective coordination involves configuring multiple protective relays to operate in harmony, such that they correctly identify and isolate faults with minimal...

Overcurrent and Short Circuit Protection

Smart Relays and Intelligent Control

In the realm of electrical protection, the advent of smart relays and intelligent control systems has revolutionized overcurrent and short circuit protection. These advanced technologies enhance the precision, responsiveness, and adaptability of protective systems, significantly improving the...