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Hurricane preparedness - Is your MEP GENSET Ready for the next Season?

peapvp

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Hurricane preparedness - Is your MEP GENSET Ready for the next Season?

The Hurricane season will start June 1st of this year and will last until the end of November. The predictions for this year are about 13 to 14 major Tropical Systems of which 3 to 4 could potentially develop into 3 to 5 Category Hurricanes. This season is predicted to be slightly less severe then the 2018 season.

INOVA HIGHTECH Ltd. has become a major integral part in disaster preparedness for several Agencies and Home Owners in the last 6 years, providing our customers with our Auto Start System for MEP Gensets and emergency power system consultation. Many of our systems are currently in use by Police, Fire, EMS Stations, Radio Relay Stations, as well as 911 Call Centers across the nation. Reliably auto starting MEP Generators from 5KW to 100KW, Single Phase 240VAC or 3 Phase 208/230VAC of the 00x and 80x Class, helping to provide mission critical power during emergencies and natural disasters to provide critical services to the general population. Many Home Owners also have chosen our system in conjunction with a MEP Generator to provide for Emergency Power during and after a disaster for their homes and properties to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable. We would like to share our extensive knowledge with you and provide the following important information when contemplating to setup a MEP Genset based emergency power system if you live in a State / County which can be impacted by Hurricanes and Flooding. Tornado's pose a different set of requirements for such a system, please contact us for details ( https://inovahightech.com/store/index.php?route=information/contact )


Considerations for the planning and implementation of a MEP Genset based Emergency Power System for Customers in Hurricane and Flood prone areas.
A MEP Genset based Emergency Power System is divided into two Main Groups:

Group A: Emergency Electrical Power is provided during the actual disaster(Mostly Emergency and First Responder related Facilities, applies to some Private Households)

Group B: Emergency Electrical Power is provided after the actual disaster and all electrical installations have been checked / inspected for damage prior to activating the Emergency Power (Mostly Private Households and Non Service Critical Installations)

Group A: Emergency Electrical Power is provided during the actual disaster
This Group requires extensive planning and preparations. We will discuss those here in form of questions which all have to be answered in order to proceed to the next question.

1. How high (peak) can the to be expect Sturm Surge / Flooding during the disaster develop? As a rule of thumb, you want to add 12" to 24" to the highest history peak from previous disasters. This number is important to answer the next questions.

Answer: Peak Level______________________ Feet

2. Is there any electrical installation in the building which is below this peak line?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is YES, then your in Group B )

3. Is the intended foundation for the MEP Genset planned to be 6" to 12" above this peak level?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your foundation plans or operate as Group B)

4. Is this concrete with rebar foundation secured from washout, sinking, movement and shifting as the result of water and high speed flowing water?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your foundation plans or operate as Group B)

5. Are you planning on using underground saltwater resistant cables/wires between your Genset and Building Power Entrance?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your electrical plans or operate as Group B)

6. Have you planned in for a Manual Emergency Power Disconnect as Building Entrance for the Genset power?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your electrical plans or operate as Group B)

7. Have you planned on heavy custom made sheet metal (12ga minimum Stainless Steel) covers to prevent torrential rains, which can move side ways at speeds up to 200 MpH, to protect the Air Intake, Exhaust System and Control Cabinet and other critical parts of your Genset?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your Genset protection by enclosure plans or operate as Group B)

8. The Genset is to be housed in a Concrete / Concrete Brick Enclosure, is this Enclosure and roof capable of width standing storm gusts up to 200 MpH and side ways moving torrential rains?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your Genset protection by enclosure plans or operate as Group B)

9. Are all Electrical Service Entrances including the Emergency Power Disconnect to the Building are protected from storm gusts up to 200 MpH and side ways moving torrential rains?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your electrical plans or operate as Group B)

10. Can back flowing raw sewage cause a risk to any electrical installations?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is Yes, please revise your electrical sewer back flow stop plans or operate as Group B)

11. Is your Auxiliary Diesel Tank and fuel lines safe and properly protected from the storm surge, side way moving torrential rains and wind gusts?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your Fuel Storage plans or operate as Group B)

12. Is your Diesel Fuel in the Tank safe and properly protected from contamination from the storm surge, side way moving torrential rains and wind gusts?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your Fuel Storage plans or operate as Group B)

13. Is your Diesel Fuel Storage large enough to provide your Genset with enough fuel (GPH) for full load rating for a period of 2 t o 4 weeks without stopping?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your Fuel Storage plans or operate as Group B)

14. Have you planned the entire system with appropriate lightening protection and earth grounding?

Answer: Yes / NO ( If the answer is No, please revise your electrical plans or operate as Group B)

Congratulations, your system is now ready to provide power during the disaster.

If this system is used in conjunction with a Automatic Transfer Panel, then you can expect the following sequence during a Hurricane to take place:

1. When the outer bands of the Hurricane are reaching your Area then you can expect the torrential rains, storm surge and and wind gusts to steadily increase. During this time the Utility Power usually is lost.

2. Your ATS will detect the Utility Power Loss and sent a signal to our Auto Start System in your Genset.

3. Depending on the type of MEP Genset, Emergency Power will be available between 15 seconds to 2 Minutes

4. The ATS has actively disconnected you from the Utility Grid during this time - any thing which happens in the Utility system has no impact on your running system, including lightening strikes. Recommendation: Set your Utility Power Sense to 5 minutes - this will prevent any erratic starting / switching once Utility Power comes back on

5. When the eye of the Hurricane approaches your system the winds and rains are almost coming to a stop. If you want to inspect your Genset during system please adhere to these safety precautions:

A) DO NOT SHUT OFF A RUNNING SYSTEM DURING THIS TIME

B) DO NOT TOUCH ANY DOWNED POWER LINES OR ANY OUT SIDE MOUNTED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD

C) THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO CHECK ON FUEL SUPPLY OR OIL LEVEL - MAINTAIN YOUR SYSTEM TO BE READY FOR WEEKS OF CONTINUES OPERATION - FOLLOW THE MILITARY SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS DILIGENTLY AT ALL TIMES


Tomorrow will post the Questions for Group B

Sincerely

Peter
 
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