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http://ecmweb.com/print/power-quality/effects-extreme-temperatures
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When it comes to uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), most of us picture a sleek unit tucked away in an
environmentally controlled room sitting quietly, ready to protect against any power problems that may come
their way. However, UPS units are also used in a variety of environmentally demanding situations applications
that often require them to operate in a wide temperature range. One example is protecting the unique and harsh
demands of gas and oil fields.
Oil/gas is under great pressure at the well head. To control their flow, a motor-operated valve (MOV) is installed
at the well head and controlled by a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Control of the
MOV is critical, because it must always be secured in a closed position, should the SCADA system detect any
abnormality at the well head. Typically, local electric utility power lines or on-site generators serve these sites.
However, power outages are not uncommon, which could result in the MOV being left in an open state and the
oil flow left uncontrolled. The ramifications of an uncontrolled MOV could range from a costly oil spill cleanup
to total loss of the well. To protect against this problem, a UPS is typically incorporated into the SCADA system
and MOV control.
In addition to MOV control, the SCADA system monitors the well head pressure, controls on-site ground water
and oil separation systems, monitors various containment tank levels, and acquires critical data from various
site sensors. It continuously communicates the site status in real time to a central monitoring location via a
wireless transceiver. A reliable UPS is essential to keeping the SCADA system communicating during a power
outage
07-03-15 5:43 PM
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