Carlton Court Hospital part of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

About Carlton Court Hospital

Carlton Court Hospital is part of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, serving the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft areas, with a mix of elderly and adult inpatient and outpatient services, as well as Team base for the community mental health nurses. A new Adult facility completed in 2005 already contains some green credentials such as photovoltaic and solar panels, and rain water harvesting. As part of the Trust’s continued commitment to carbon reduction, a powerPerfector unit was commissioned in May 09, the installation led to an 11.6% saving in kWh and CO₂. This case study outlines how these savings were demonstrated using half hourly consumption data from the site's fiscal meter.

How powerPerfector were able to help Carlton Court Hospital

After receiving the annual electricity consumption details for Carlton Court Hospital, it was possible to give a provisional quote for the powerPerfector units and to outline the potential for energy savings. A voltage logger was then sent for one week, which recorded the voltage level in the building by connecting it to a regular mains socket. It was found that the average voltage at the Hospital supply was 243 volts (V), 13V higher than the nominal supply in the UK. After a survey of the site by a powerPerfector Approved Contractor, the installation took place. Analysis following the installation showed that the reduction in average reduction in kWh consumption attributable to the powerPerfector installation was 11.6%, equating to annual carbon dioxide emissions saving of 63,016kg¹.

Getting the source right

powerPerfector is the world’s only Voltage Power Optimiser, giving energy, carbon and cost savings by efficiently optimising a site’s supply voltage. By optimising the voltage, electrical equipment runs more efficiently and consumes less energy. The declared electricity supply in the United Kingdom is now, as a result of European  Harmonisation, 230V with a tolerance of +10% to 10%. This means that effective voltage can be anywhere between 207V and 253V depending on local conditions. Most electrical equipment manufactured for Europe and the UK is rated at 220V and operates more efficiently at this level. Forcing appliances to operate at a higher voltage in the UK (242V is the average supply level) leads to significantly higher energy consumption, increased heat losses and a reduced life span. As a result of equipment specification and the range of voltage supply, there is an opportunity to achieve cost savings by optimising voltage at source and at the same time improve the operation and lifespan of a site’s electrical infrastructure. It is estimated that 90% of sites in the UK are operating at too high a voltage and could therefore benefit from installing a powerPerfector.

¹ Based on the latest kgCO₂/kWh conversion factor of 0.53702

Voltage Power Optimisation. The less obvious benefits

Reduced maintenance, longer life

All electrical equipment has an optimum voltage at which it works best. A powerPerfected supply delivers that optimum and reduces the strain on your electrical equipment, leaving it to work more reliably and for longer.

Better quality power supply

Some things you may have accepted for years as product faults can turn out to be caused by a poor quality power supply. For instance, the life of incandescent light bulbs is almost doubled when the supply voltage is optimised. Now imagine that in relation to an IT network or an expensive piece of manufacturing equipment.

Missing the penalty kick

Power factor penalty charges – which are now uncapped in the UK – can be avoided if your power factor is above 0.95. If your power factor is at around 0.9 at the moment, powerPerfector could remove your exposure to these charges by improving the electrical efficiency of your site
Lower harmonic distortion and reduced neutral currents
powerPerfectors are able to filter harmonics on the mains incomer. Harmonic distortion is on the increase and can lead to random failures of electronic equipment – particularly computers.

Protection

Common transients – very brief spikes in voltage from the grid – are eliminated by powerPerfector. Transients at this level can cause catastrophic damage to equipment, but smaller, more common transient events will also shorten the life expectancy of electrical equipment over time. The looming energy gap means that the risk of transients is increased – Carlton Court Hospital is now protected.