Omega-Integrated Solutions Inc.
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Studies & Analysis
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Energy, Water & Waste Audits, Feasibility & Lighting Studies, HVAC & Electrical Analysis (Arc Flash, Short Circuit, Power Factor, Motor Starting, Harmonics, etc).
Omega provides the following Studies and Analysis services
Energy, Water & Waste Audits
An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the outputs. Energy, Water & Waste Audits (EWWA) completed by Omega identifies the building's or plant facility's current use of energy, water and disposed useful waste.
The EWWA will further identify Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy savings opportunities relating to energy, water, and waste reduction that will help the Customer make intelligent energy decisions based on a thorough understanding of the facility's demands, both today and in the future. In addition, the Customer will be provided with relevant information on the impact of new codes and standards currently under development such as new restrictions on CFCs. The energy audit will also prepare the customer to take maximum advantage of new energy supply options available in today's rapidly deregulating environment.
Omega provides the services of three audit programs:
- Preliminary Audit: The preliminary audit alternatively called a simple audit, screening audit or walk-through audit, is the simplest and quickest type of audit. It involves minimal interviews with site operating personnel, a brief review of facility utility bills, identification of waste and other operating data, and a walk-through of the facility to become familiar with the building operation and to identify glaring areas of energy waste or inefficiency.
- General Audit: The general audit alternatively called a mini-audit, site energy audit or complete site energy audit expands on the preliminary audit described above by collecting more detailed information about facility operation and performing a more detailed evaluation of energy conservation and waste recovery measures identified. Utility bills are collected for a 12 to 36 month period to allow the auditor to evaluate the facility's energy & demand rate structures, and energy usage profiles. Additional metering of specific energy-consuming systems is often performed to supplement utility data. In-depth interviews with facility operating personnel are conducted to provide a better understanding of major energy consuming and waste systems as well as insight into variations in daily and annual energy consumption and demand.
- Investment Grade Audit: The investment-grade audit alternatively called a comprehensive audit, detailed audit, maxi audit, or technical analysis audit, expands on the general audit described above by providing a dynamic model of energy use characteristics of both the existing facility and all energy conservation measures identified. The building model is calibrated against actual utility data to provide a realistic baseline against which to compute operating savings for proposed measures. Extensive attention is given to understanding not only the operating characteristics of all energy consuming systems, but also situations that cause load profile variations on both an annual and daily basis. Existing utility data is supplemented with sub-metering of major energy consuming systems and monitoring of system operating characteristics. In most corporate settings, upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure must compete with non-energy related investments for capital funding. Both energy and non-energy investments are rated on a single set of financial criteria that generally stress the expected return on investment (ROI). The projected operating savings from the implementation of energy projects must be developed such that they provide a high level of confidence. In fact, investors often demand guaranteed savings.
In addition, during each EWWA audit, Omega will provide value added information relating to the efficient use of water as well as identify available Renewable Energy (Sun, Wind, Biomass, etc.) or Alternative Energy (Solid Waste, Liquid Waste, Heat Recovery, etc) producing resources.
Feasibility Studies
A feasibility study is an evaluation of a proposal designed to determine the difficulty in carrying out a designated task. Generally, a feasibility study precedes technical development and project implementation. In other words, a feasibility study is an evaluation or analysis of the potential impact of a proposed project.
A feasibility study is an important phase in the development of business related services. The need for evaluation is great especially in large high-risk development projects. A feasibility study focuses in the study of the challenges, technical problems and solution models of information service realization, analyses the potential solutions to the problems against the requirements, evaluates their ability to meet the goals and describes & rationalizes the recommended solution.
Omega typically provides feasibility studies in the following major areas:
- Renewable Energy: Small Wind Turbine Wind to Electricity Plants (<100kW), Biomass to Electricity Plants and Photo-Voltaic Solar to Electricity Plants.
- Alternative Energy: Municipal Solid Waste to Electricity Plants, Liquid Waste to Electricity Plants and Biodiesel to Electric Generator Plants.
Electrical Analysis
Electrical Plants, Transmission Lines, Distribution Systems & Facilities require a reliable, steady and well-maintained electrical power system. Electrical failures/faults including as power outages & single phasing, caused by poorly designed systems can have catastrophic consequences which include extensive downtime of operations, equipment damage and related repairs.
Omega offers the following electrical analysis services using eTap Analysis & Simulation Software:
- Arc Flash Hazard Analysis: Arc Flash is a result of a rapid release of energy due to an arcing fault between two or more energized conductors. There is massive energy released due to a short circuit fault that rapidly vaporize the metal conductors involved, blasts molten metal and expanding plasma outward with extreme force. An Arc Flash hazard exists whenever personnel are servicing electrical equipment while its still in its energized state. Companies are required to make Arc Flash Hazard an integral part of an ongoing documented safety program.
- Short Circuit Analysis: A short circuit is an abnormal low-resistance connection between two nodes of an electrical circuit that are meant to be at different voltages. This results in an excessive electric current (overcurrent) limited only by the resistance of the rest of the network and potentially causes circuit damage, overheating, fire or explosion. A short circuit analysis will help in the selection of the appropriate protective devices needed in the system.
- Power Flow Analysis: In power engineering, the power flow study (also known as load-flow study) is an important tool involving numerical analysis applied to a power system. The great importance of power flow or load-flow studies is in the planning the future expansion of power systems as well as in determining the best operation of existing systems.
- Power Factor Analysis: In an electric power system, a load with a low power factor draws more current than a load with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The higher currents increase the energy lost in the distribution system, and require larger wires and other equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment and wasted energy, electrical utilities will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low power factor. A power factor analysis will identify areas of low power factor and provide the tools for correcting the power factor.
- Motor Starting Analysis: Starting large motors can cause disturbances to the motor and other loads on other buses. In the worst cases the starting motor may stall and be unable to start the driven load. One of the most common side effects of starting large motors is a serious voltage dip on the buses throughout the facility. This voltage dip will cause other motors to slow down. In severe cases other motors may reach the stall point causing a domino effect to the voltage drop. Control relays may not hold and auxiliary equipment may be affected. In addition to these secondary effects the life of all motors on the system may be shortened. A motor starting study is performed to determine the voltages, currents, and starting times involved when starting large motors. Such a study is critical before installing a large motor to make certain that your system can start the motor successfully. It may also be performed anytime a change in the power supply is implemented.
- Relay Coordination Analysis: Short-circuit and protective device calculations are provided for new substations, distribution feeders from existing substations, and where new facilities requiring protective devices are to be installed. To adequately protect the electrical system and devices from short circuit faults, relay coordination calculations are mandatory when relay and circuit breaker trip settings must be determined.
- Harmonic Analysis: Most electrical systems were designed for linear voltage and current waveforms (i.e. nearly sinusoidal), excessive non-linear loads can cause serious problems such as overheating conductors or transformers, capacitor failures, inadvertent circuit breaker tripping, or malfunction of electronic equipment. Nonlinear currents can originate from non-sinusoidal generation of voltage, nonlinear devices used in the transportation of electrical energy (variable frequency drives and uninterruptible power supplies) and nonlinear load devices (switch mode power supplies and fluorescent light ballasts). A harmonic analysis will identify potential problem areas providing the needed data for harmonic correction and the correct sizing of conductors, transformers, etc.
- System Stability Analysis: The electrical system stability analysis allows for the accurate modeling of power system dynamics and transients by simulating system disturbances and other events. Typical transient stability studies include identifying critical fault clearing time, checking generator rotor angle stability, assessing system stability margin, evaluating motor dynamic acceleration and reacceleration impact, preparing and testing load shedding schedule, computing fast bus transfer timing, calibrating and evaluating relay settings and simulating generator start-up.
- Load Shedding Analysis: Load shedding is a special form of dynamic study most frequently associated with electrical systems having in-plant generation. Loss of a major source, usually the utility, can have a severe effect on plant voltage and frequency where rapid corrective action may be required. A load shedding analysis examines different operating scenarios to determine the speed and amount of load to be shed for successful recovery, while keeping critical loads operational throughout a disturbance.
- Flicker Analysis: Since the inception of electric lighting, the dimming and flickering of lights has been a reality for most consumers. In general, the main cause of these effects is switching operations of industrial processes and electrical appliances connected to the supply system. At particular repeat rates, these changing voltage drops can be sufficiently large that people can be affected by a flickering of the electric lighting in the office or in the home. The effects of this can range from minor irritation to a health risk, particularly for those who are prone to epilepsy. A flicker analysis will provide available solutions to a flicker problem which include alterations to operator control, VAr compensation or system configurations
- Reliability Analysis: Reliability is considered one of the most important aspects of operating large industrial and utility electrical networks. The importance of analyzing component failure rates has recently been under consideration, among electric utilities around the world. The quality of supply can considerably be improved, by incorporating reliability considerations in the system design and in the system expansion planning, operation and maintenance. Performing advanced reliability assessment of electrical power systems and thorough distribution reliability analysis for distribution power systems is paramount for estimating overall performance of power systems. Well-designed calculation methods enable engineers to customize the level of system design.
- Surge Protection Analysis: Lightning and circuit switching power surges destroy system equipment. A surge protection analysis is required for the proper sizing of grounded surge suppression systems which offer the best defense against expensive equipment losses.
Lighting Analysis
Adequate interior & exterior lighting levels, color temperature and glare control are required to ensure proper task illumination, sustained comfort levels and to support security. Lighting is available from natural day lighting and artificial electrical lighting. The correct design of any building or grounds takes into consideration both types of lighting and their effects on human beings.
Lighting analysis software helps the designer visualize the final lighting applications on buildings, inside buildings and on building grounds before the construction is complete and will aid in ensuring that all lighting standards and requirements are met at the design stage. This prevents mistakes and virtually eliminates the need for expensive post construction repair solutions. Omega provides lighting analysis services for all of the following:
- Numerical day lighting and artificial lighting analysis on interior or exterior working surface areas.
- Static visual color rendering of day lighting and artificial lighting analysis on interior or exterior working surface areas.
- Dynamic or "walk through" visual color rendering of day lighting and artificial lighting analysis on interior or exterior working surface areas.
HVAC system design and analysis are critical elements of creating the optimal building environment. Most original installations are well designed for the current building function at the time. Over extended periods, equipment deteriorates, correct settings are not maintained and changes in space functionality put additional load on the HVAC system resulting in extra operating & maintenance costs and compromised people comfort leading to lower productivity.
Required changes may include capacity expansion, more efficient equipment installation, new controls installation and revised settings. Accurate analysis and specifications translate into substantial savings and optimal performance for building owners.
Omega provides the following HVAC Analysis services:
- Comprehensive load analysis
- Profiling system performance
- Determining the optimal HVAC components or configurations for a given installation