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Facilities Prelim > Electricity > Flashcards

Electricity Flashcards

1
Q

Why is electricity important?

A

Essential service
Most widely used energy source in hotels (usually)
Highest cost in Utilities Department P&L
Maintaining it properly is critical to the safety of the building and its occupants

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2
Q

Electromagnetism

A

The force that causes interaction between electronically charged particles
-spinning of turbine creates an electrical current

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3
Q

Direct Current

A

Flows in one direction, so electricity flows constantly in that direction
ex. batteries and solar cells
Advantages: excellent control, very powerful for certain applications (ex. high-speed elevators)
Disadvantages: not easy to “transform” to different voltage levels, costly to transport, not what goes through power lines

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4
Q

Alternating Current

A

Flows in 2 directions
ex. travels through wire feeds
Advantages: easily “transforms” to very high voltages and back down to lower voltages
Disadvantages: can lead to low “power factors”
Most commonly supplied electricity
3 Phases (brings more power than one phase to a circuit)

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5
Q

Single Phase

A

Smaller power requirements
-lighting
-small equipment

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6
Q

Three Phases

A

Larger power requirements
-most kitchen equipment
-most large mechanical equipment (boilers, pumps, HVAC, chillers)
-large photo copiers

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7
Q

Volts =

A

Pressure – Electric Potential (gets the electricity Flowing)

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8
Q

Amps =

A

Flow (current)

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9
Q

Watts =

A

Power (power of light bulb)
Volts * Amps

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10
Q

Frequency

A

Hertz (Hz, cycles/sec)

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11
Q

Power Factor =

A

How efficiently equipment/building uses power

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12
Q

Wash Factor

A

Never 100% efficient, 90-95% efficiency is good

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13
Q

Electrical Distribution System Components

A

Service Utility
Transmission Lines
Transformers (substations and sometimes in buildings)
Electrical panel or distribution (switch) panels
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Circuit to power source

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14
Q

Transformers

A

Step-up/down power between switch and wherever the power is going to be used
Must be cooled
-oil or dry/air cooled

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15
Q

Distribution panels/switches

A

Allocate power into different lots of power

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16
Q

Utility riser

A

Bringing power up/down building
-specific areas/closets -> circuits

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17
Q

Panel distribution

A

Separate out individual circuits
ex. one for each guestroom, one for each guest bathroom, one for each guest corridor
-within the panel, there is access to the circuit/fuse breaker

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18
Q

Electrical panels must have the following features:

A
  1. Enclosed in small, dry rooms or closets
  2. Locks
  3. Self-closing doors
    -for safety reasons, each circuit has its own fuse/circuit breaker
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19
Q

Electrical Circuit or Fuse Breakers

A

Control/prevent too much electrical flow through a circuit
Should be labelled so users know where the circuits are in the building
Difference between fuse and circuit breakers: how they reset

20
Q

Reset circuit breaker

A

Toggle switch

21
Q

Reset fuse breaker

A

Replace the blown fuse part

22
Q

Electricity flows in a

A

Circuit
-provides electricity to power source
-based on 20 amps (flow) to a 120V outlet

23
Q

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFI/GFCI)

A

Minimize risk of electrocution
Designed to trip when it senses an imbalance in electrical flow
Sees that power is not flowing from the active outlet to the ground
It trips before the circuit is overloaded (in less than a second)
-seen in kitchens/bathrooms
-avoid dangerous flow of electricity through water

24
Q

Reading Dials

A

Round down, measures electrical consumption

25
Consumed Energy (kwh)
Consumption, delivery, energy charge
26
Demand (kw)
Peak usage during billing cycle (15-30 mins)
27
Power Factor
Efficiency
28
On Peak/Off Peak
6am/6pm, when most things are turned on
29
Surcharges
Fuel cost surcharge, other taxes & surcharges, service charge
30
Electric Bill
Always review and check the electric bill for errors Maintenance staff should take metre readings too Pay attention to Watts
31
Peak Shaving
Targets loads during your 15-30 mins peak intervals, also selling power back to the grid -know your own utility company's peak hours -control through EMS (emergency management system, remotely manages equipment) during peak times -run your emergency generator during peak times -aimed at lowering demand
32
Load shedding
Throughout billing period -equipment based, devices on AHUs, hot water heaters (HWH) -aimed at consumption
33
Electricity Deregulation
Electricity supply used to be a monopoly Deregulation has provided multiple options Differs state-by-state Hotels need to research rates/terms and negotiate favourable rate agreements Ownership groups and management companies may negotiate favourable portfolio rates using volume leverage
34
Grounding
Connecting the electrical riser to a grounding block or using a lightning rod connected to a wire/system that runs to the ground
35
Emergency Generator
Emergency transfer switch, have own independent fuel source (gas, diesel, propane, etc.) -connected to the main switch -mainly found in places that have blackouts -runs on fuel -will automatically turn on if lack of electricity is sensed
36
Emergency Power Required for:
1. fire life safety system 2. safe egress: exit signs/stairwells/corridor 3. at least 1 elevator -needs to have lighting to guide people outside in case of an emergency
37
What else should emergency power power?
1. telephone system 2. network system 3. F&B: freezers, etc 4. security system 5. locking system -back-up battery -> all need to be connected to an emergency generator
38
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Provide "clean power" to sensitive equipment -no surges, lags, "noise" Provide power in an uninterrupted flow, for a specified time period during power outages
39
Conduit
Protector/carrier of the electricity wires that connects the source to the user
40
J-Box
Junction box -conduit connects to j-box
41
Maintenance
Infrared scans Clean & tighten connections Check that functioning within the right range -amps, volts, temperature, loads between the three phases in relative balance -electrical multi-metre -transformers should remain cool Use safety equipment, lockout/tagout procedures (only one key for each lock) Avoid water Staff knowledge of breaker locations
42
Energy Management Services
Check your bill, track your usage, understand your rates Consider sub-metering different areas of the hotel so you can track and control usage
43
Sustainability
Establish an energy baseline, demand-side management audit, measure and track consumption (daily & monthly), sub-metering, high-efficiency equipment, variable speed drives on motors (slows down/speeds up motor depending on machinery capacity need -> saves electricity)
44
Green Electricity Sources
Solar panels Wind turbines Hydro Other Purchase green electricity
45
Electrical Maintenance Equipment
Multimeters Wall receptacle analyzers Rubber boots and gloves Insulated ladders Hydrometers Infrared (IR) scanning guns

Facilities Prelim (4 decks)

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