Analisys of Complex Hospital Electrical Systems

Pietro Antonio Scarpino, Francesco Grasso

Dept. of Information Engineering - DINFO
Università di Firenze
Firenze, Italy
[email protected]; [email protected]

Abstract—The construction of a large hospital complex power system designs as they vary per engineering consultant,
requires a careful analysis of electrical loads so as to ensure but are some of the most commonly seen in hospitals [11]. These
reliability and availability of the service even under critical designs generally meet the most stringent requirements for
conditions. In addition, power systems, especially complex hospital providing continuity of electrical service of essential electrical
electrical systems, have numerous nonlinear loads, which system, as hospitals. A single medium-voltage substation with
significantly inflict power quality (PQ) problems and the purity of one point of supply from the network operator and one or more
the waveform of supplies is lost. Voltage sag and swell can cause distribution transformers for supply of the low-voltage loads is
sensitive equipment to fail, shutdown and create a large current not sufficient in large infrastructure projects. Instead, an internal,
unbalance. These effects can incur a lot of expensive from the
separately operated medium-voltage system with several
customer and cause equipment damage. So, in order to provide
uninterrupted power to the hospital services and prevent
substations is required, because the high load concentrations in
equipment damage with varying voltage level and frequency, the different areas or also the distribution of loads over large areas,
correct distribution of active and reactive powers must be well- such as hospitals [12].
know. For this purpose, load flow analysis on medium and low In this paper, an approach method to the design of hospital
voltage networks allows to determine the voltage profiles in all electrical systems is presented. Starting from the classification
buses of the system and consequently the active and reactive power of electrical loads, from the topological network definition and
flows and the short-circuit currents in the various branches.
load flow calculations [6], [13]–[16], the correct distribution of
This paper presents an approach method to the design of
active and reactive powers and a real balance in terms of
hospital electrical systems starting from the classification of investment and operating costs is ensured. For this purpose, load
electrical loads, from the topological network definition and load flow analysis on medium and low voltage networks allows to
flow calculations in order to ensure the correct distribution of determine the voltage profiles in all buses of the system and
active and reactive powers and a real balance in terms of consequently the active and reactive power flows and the short-
investment and operating costs. Significant variations in voltage circuit currents in the various branches. Significant variations in
beyond the limits are due to large reactive power flows and voltage beyond the limits are due to large reactive power flows
harmonics on the network, which can cause, in addition to and harmonics on the network, which can cause, in addition to
considerable energy losses, the loss of voltage. Highly unbalanced considerable energy losses, the loss of voltage. Highly
electrical loads due to the use of recurrently intermittent unbalanced electrical loads due to the use of recurrently
electromedical equipment can cause unpredictable behaviors in intermittent electromedical equipment can cause unpredictable
the network, increasing the risk of damage to the most sensitive behaviors in the network, increasing the risk of damage to the
equipment and unplanned and unforeseen interruptions. This most sensitive equipment and unplanned and unforeseen
paper will be very useful for engineers, technicians and designers interruptions. This paper will be very useful for engineers,
because it can be a tool for setting up a good electrical design technicians and designers because it can be a tool for setting up
project. a good electrical design project.
Keywords—load flow; active power; hospital electrical systems;
electrical design; power quality. II. CLASSIFICATION OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENTS
The first phase consists in defining and classifying hospital
I. INTRODUCTION utilities into two large groups, each of which will contain
Determining the power system configuration that will homogeneous subgroups for the type of power demand. There
service healthcare facility is most important. The electrical are several different load configurations that can be found in
system serving a hospital complex must meet high criteria of healthcare facilities [11]. A first subdivision could be the
reliability, efficiency and safety in order to ensure low pollution, following:
proper implementation and maintenance costs and energy- • MEDICAL UTILITIES
efficient consumption [1]–[5]. Unfortunately, we must observe • Operational blocks, intensive and sub-intensive
that the cost of building the structure or its renovating condition therapies;
and sacrifice the reliability and the energy efficiency of the • Cardiology, UTIC, Rehabilitation, Angiography;
system is increasing frequently, with more difficult to maintain • Specialist departments (large burns, plastic surgery,
sustained time-consuming costs. In order to obtain high
neurology, gynecology, pediatrics, nephrology, stroke
characteristics from the power system, it is sufficient to adopt
units, etc ...);
some simple designs tips that require minimal engineering effort
to get out of conventional schemes [6]–[10]. • Hospital Departments, Day Hospital, Medical
Outpatients;
There are several different power system configurations that • Clinical analysis laboratories (withdrawals, dialysis, etc);
can be found in healthcare facilities. They do not represent all
 Fig. 1 - Single-line wiring diagrams

• Radiodiagnostics, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, hospital complex, with the number and extension of the halls that
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, computerized compose it and with the availability of services. A nearly
axial tomography, etc. constant value is the percentage ratio between the whole
• Emergency and emergency relief. absorbed electric power (𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ) and the whole installed electric
• Lifts. power (𝑃𝑃𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 ). In peak hours, from 5am to 3pm on non-holidays,
we have:
• SERVICE UTILITIES
• medical gas center; Pabs.
η peak % = ⋅100 = 20% (1)
• thermal conditioning and air treatment plants; Pinst .
• pneumatic and vacuum pumping stations;
• warehouse and workshop; In periods of lesser activity, we have:
• biological and sewage services;
• Chemist; P
ηless % = abs. ⋅100 =(5 ÷ 9)%. (2)
• technical and administrative offices Pinst .
• specialized departments (large burns, plastic surgery,
neurology, gynecology, pediatrics, nephrology, etc ...); From an electrical point of view, energy consumption is higher
• hospital wards, day hospital, medical clinics; in the summer due mainly to cold generation for the air
• Clinical analysis laboratories (withdrawals, dialysis, etc conditioning system.
...);
• Fire extinguishers and elevators. III. HOSPITAL ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Electricity supply by the Network Operator usually occurs at
Considering the parameters and magnitudes of the system, medium voltage (MV). A complex hospital system is equipped
medical utilities and essential services differ from most of the with MV/lv transformation cabins connected to each other via
general services in order to demand higher reliability and an internal MV network. The MV link line can be arranged with
continuity of service, both in normal and emergency situations. a radial or open loop system. In each derived cabin, the medium
voltage electrical panels are equally arranged in the in-out
In this sense, the power system must be subdivided into two configuration. The busbars of these frames are connected to the
distinct subsystems, except for the possibility of local transformer feeders with the general disconnector and the MV
conjunctions to be implemented in special cases. shutters of the individual transformers. Both essential users and
One of the parameter to be monitored is the electrical power normal users are powered by every cabin. The complexity of the
(active power) demanded by the network operator, which hospital electrical system therefore suggests the application of
obviously varies with the architectural dimensions of the rigorous methods of analysis typical of HV electrical networks
 P b0, Q b0 P a3, Q a3 P a2, Q a2 P a1, Q a1 Now, it is possible to calculate the powers actually taken by the
P an, Q an P b3, Q b3 Pb2, Q b2
load n. 2, depending on voltage V2:

V0 R LNn+jX LNn R LN3+jX LN3 R LN2+jXLN2 R LN1+jX LN1 V1 = P (V2 ) ;

P2 ' f= Q2 ' f Q (V2 ) (6)

I0 I3 I2 I1 and, if load n. 2 is linear, we obtain:

P n, Q n P 3, Q 3 P 2, Q 2 P 1, Q 1
2 2
 V2   V2 
N0 =P2 ' P=
2  ; Q2 ' Q2   (7)
 Vn   Vn 
Finally, we calculate the powers upstream of load n. 2:
Fig. 2 – Layout of power of loads.
Pb 2 + P2 ';
Pa 2 = Qb 2 + Q2 ';
Qa 2 = (8)

as may be the methods of AC load current. The results obtained Now it is possible to calculate the currents and, subsequently,
can give us important information regarding the management the voltages on the loads. The procedure is repeated for all users
and maintenance of the system. upstream of n. 2, to determine the voltage profile of the entire
network and finally the voltage V0,Calc of the supply busbar,
A typical network architecture is shown in Fig. 1, to which
which in general is different from the assigned value V0,Fix. The
the proposed analysis method [13] is based on the load flow
analysis by applying the Boucherot theorem. The method solution in function of V0,Fix or any other desired value, it’s
assumes the knowledge of the electrical loads in terms of active calculated by an iterative procedure by imposing this constraint
and reactive power in the network load nodes referring to the between the terminal load voltage and the supply busbar:
rated voltage Vn.
In practice, each power busbar, both for horizontal tunnels in
j
(
V1( ) =V0, Fix − V0,Calc − V1(
j −1)
) (9)

the technical tunnel and for vertical pathways in the pipeline, can In addition to the voltage profile at the nodes of the network,
be seen as a power line powered by an end with loads that can this process also provides the load flow and network losses.
be applied to all known methods for network analysis in addition If the network is completely linear, the voltage profile can
to the load flow method with the use of the Boucherot theorem. also be calculated by multiplying the values obtained from the
first calculation for the V0, Fix V0,Calc .
IV. LOAD FLOW METHOD APPLICATION
Actual desing softwares are sufficient to perform the
Starting from the classification of electrical loads it’s calculations described. The presented method is easily
possible to derive an approach method to the design of hospital extensible to three-phase, neutral and neutral loads with
electrical systems. In order to ensure the correct distribution of balanced and unbalanced loads.
active and reactive powers and a real balance in terms of
investment and operating costs the topological network V. APPLICATION EXAMPLE
definition and load flow calculations are considered.
The radial architecture of a complex hospital electrical power
For the calculation, we make the following assumptions: system is generally carried out with main upright electrical lines
made of cable or electrified busbars from which the electrical
• fix the voltage at the node of the power supply bar: V0,Fix;
loads of floor or department are distributed. Each of this mail
• Vn is the nominal voltage of the loads and of the grid; lines can be seen as a constant section electric power line that is
powered by one side and with electrical loads that in terms of
• the voltage amplitude on the last load is V1 = Vn and the active and reactive power absorption. This configuration is
phase angle φa1 =0, then V1 = 1 p.u.;
valid both for power users under normal power section and for
• the line parameters RLNi and XLNi are constant; power users under a essential power section with generator
power supply or absolute continuity through static or rotary
• the relationship that links the power of the loads to the systems. For systems of this type, the method outlined in [13]
supply voltage is known and is equal to: provides significant results for the proper dimensioning of lines
and for Power Quality.
= P (V ) ;
Pi f= Qi f Q (V ) . (3) As an application example, Fig. 3 shows a simplification of a
upright main power line representing several floor units present
Referring to Fig. 2 and starting from the powers Pa1 and Qa1 on 8 levels and Table I shows the active and reactive power
upstream of the last load, equal to its rated powers P1n and Q1n, values and the voltage module in p.u. referring to the respective
it’s possible to calculate the downstream powers of the load n. 2, base power values of apparent power 𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏 =100 kVA and voltage
which is immediately previous: 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 = 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 = 400 V.
On the sixth floor (terrace) there are conditioning groups, while
the lower floors from 5th to 1st are departments and hospital
Pa1 + RLN 1 I b21 ;
Pb 2 = Qa1 + X LN 1 I b21 ;
Qb 2 = (4) stays and from floor 0 to floor -1 are clinics and laboratories.
The simplified example clearly does not identify the whole
where Ia1=Ib2 = I1. Then it’s possible to determine the voltage of floor.
the user n. 2:

Pb 2  Q 
V2 = cos  arctan  b 2   (5)
Ib2 
  Pb 2 
 TABLE I. ACTIVE POWER, REACTIVE POWER AND VOLTAGES IN P.U.

Busbar “Sezione Normale” 1250 A 𝑺𝑺𝑭𝑭 = 𝑺𝑺𝑵𝑵

n. L to Node Rated Rated Voltage Actual
Floor
N.(n-1) P (p.u.) Q (p.u.) (p.u.) P (p.u.)
1 6° 45 2,200 0,780 1,007 2,212

2 5° 40 0,700 0,240 1,0 0,708

3 4° 35 0,800 0,320 1,009 0,812

4 3° 30 0,800 0,280 1,015 0,823

5 2° 25 0,700 0,240 1,012 0,740

6 1° 20 0,600 0,170 1,012 0,618

7 0 15 0,800 0,180 1,015 0,825

8 -1 10 0,500 0,210 1,018 0,533

Total Values 7,100 2,180 7,271

Total Loss Active Power = +0,198 Load Power excess
p.u. +0,171p.u.
(Plosses =1,41 % Ptot.) (Plosses =0,98 % Ptot.)

VI. CONCLUSION
The calculation method proposed in this paper provides the Fig. 3 -Main distribution in hospital departments
values of many important power network parameters, in addition
to the voltages profile comparable to the results obtained with phase unbalanced distribution power flow solutions with
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