Schneider Electric ASCO User Manual

Fundamentals of Load Banks

Schneider Learning Series – ASCO Offer

6thOctober 2020

Course Code: CEU 301 CEU Value: 0.1 CEU

Learning Objectives

What is a Load Bank?

Why do you need a Load Bank?

Basic types of Load Banks

How to Recognize a Load Bank

Load Bank Applications

Load Bank Control Platforms

Load Bank Markets

Load Bank Safety

This webinar will be recorded and made available through our website.

Please use the “Questions” feature to ask

technical questions.

Speaker

David Jesberger

Senior Field Sales Engineer of Load Banks

David started his career as a design engineering for a defense contractor in the Naval Nuclear program. He worked in a laboratory environment testing power equipment. He transitioned into a sales engineering role for a load bank manufacturer where he helped design and engineer solutions for customers.

In his current role he serves as product manager for ASCO load banks. He works with customers to understand market needs and leads product innovation. He leads new product development projects and serves as the product champion for the controls platform for load banks. David also has broad experience providing detailed load bank technology training to customers across various industries and end markets.

David holds a BS in Computer Hardware Engineering from Penn State University.

What is a Load Bank?

A load bank provides an electrical load on a power source.

Load banks typically use resistive

load elements. Common examples of simple

“load banks” are:

1. Toasters

2. Light Bulbs

3. Hair Dryers

What is a Load Bank?

Modern industrial load banks utilize a fan, and use the corresponding airflow to cool the resistive elements.

Modern units also have individual load steps which allow for precise and repeatable loading.

Properly rated load contactors with branch

fuse protection are used to apply and remove load steps.

What is a Load Bank?

Typical one line of a load bank in a emergency backup power application

Why do you need a Load Bank?

Resistive Load Bank testing affects all main components of genset.

Radiator & Cooling System Exhaust System Control Panel

Circuit Breaker

Diesel Engine

Alternator

Why do you need a Load Bank?

A load bank test will affect the following systems on a genset:

• Wet stacking is an industry term for the

accumulation of unburned fuel in the

exhaust system of a diesel engine.

• Wet stacking commonly occurs when engines are under loaded.

• Wet stacking commonly occurs when

engines do not reach their operating

temperature.

• If uncorrected, wet stacking can reduce engine output and efficiency and result in premature failure.

• In general, operating a diesel generator

between 30-50% of the nameplate rating allows the engine to reach its recommended operating temperature and burn off any fuel deposits.

Why do you need a Load Bank? Wet Stacking

Using a Load Bank on a diesel generator set helps the engine run at proper temperatures. This prevents fuel build up and

promotes cleaner emissions.

Load Banks test power sources so they run efficiently. This

efficiency helps with lower emissions and to reduce energy

waste. Load Banks can also test other power sources to help

determine if their carbon footprint is as small as it can be.

Load Banks help ensure the proper running of emergency

backup power equipment in the event of power outages.

Why do you need a Load Bank? Emissions

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a United States trade association, albeit with some international

members, that creates and maintains private, copyrighted standards and codes for usage and adoption by local

governments. NFPA 99 - Healthcare Facilities Code - Healthcare facilities must exercise Emergency and Standby Power Systems

under load and operating temperature conditions for at least 30 minutes at intervals of not more than 30 days

NFPA 110 - Standard for Emergency Generator Systems - Monthly testing is performed on generators whose failure

could result in injury or death. If a generator fails a monthly test, it should be tested annually for two continuous hours using a load bank. Under the continuous test, the generator should be operated at 25 percent of the nameplate kilowatt rating for 30 minutes, at 50 percent of the kilowatt rating for 30 minutes and at 75 percent of the kilowatt rating for 60 minutes.

Why do you need a Load Bank? NFPA Code Compliance

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a regionally adoptable standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States.

NEC Article 700 - Emergency Systems – Emergency systems are required to receive an operating permit as determined by the local code enforcement authority. This requirement is a lifeline for occupants, ensuring that lighting and life safety loads take priority over other building loads. Should the main electrical power supply fail, backup emergency power for life

safety systems must be available within 10 seconds.

NEC Article 701 - Legally Required Standby Systems – It requires standby power to be available to legally required systems within 60 seconds of power loss. While NEC 700 is designed to ensure that people can exit a building, NEC 701 responds to the needs of firefighters and other personnel responding to an emergency.

NEC Article 702 - Optional Standby Systems – This applies to situations where standby generators are optional. In

these cases, the systems may be put in place to protect against economic loss or business interruptions. For instance, data centers may elect to install backup power because an outage could result in large revenue losses.

NEC Article 708 - Critical Operations Power Systems – This article was developed following the 9/11 World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Rita disasters in the United States. It requires a commissioning plan for on-site backup generation, baseline testing, and periodic witness testing, as well as a documented preventive maintenance program, written test records, and a method for testing all critical power systems for maximum anticipated load conditions.

Why do you need a Load Bank? NEC Code Compliance

The Joint Commission is a United States based nonprofit organization that accredits more than 21,000 US healthcare organizations and programs. Their standards for emergency power testing are summarized in the table below.

Why do you need a Load Bank? Joint Commission Accreditation

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