Industrial power networks - Introduction

Industrial electricity networks are the natural extension of the Distributor's network, to which they are connected, to ensure the supply of electrical energy to industrial sites.

The means used for each manufacturing process, mainly machines and equipment, constantly ensure the particular functions of each process sequence. Ideally, the process should never be disrupted by the power supply; in fact, production disruption is often caused by an interruption in the power supply, usually due to both internal and external faults, as it is virtually impossible to achieve zero faults in a power supply network.

To fully understand the economic consequences of such interruptions (machine breakdowns, product losses, poor sales, etc.), which are a major concern for manufacturers, it is essential to apply rigorous engineering procedures adapted to each site, depending on the nature and size of the industry, when designing the internal network.

Of course it's necessary! But the means to achieve it is far from simple, given the scope of the field and the variety of processes involved: this design is an "art" that must be applied – in compliance with standards, regulations and the – environment to achieve the technical and economic optimization of this network.

These manufacturing processes are, in each case, the continuous sequence of operations and actions that constitute the way in which a finished product is produced, in sequence, from the transformation of raw materials to the final packaging and storage operations.

The article "Industrial electrical networks" is the subject of two booklets:

D 5 020 Introduction

D 5 022 Engineering

The subjects are not independent of each other.

Readers will need to refer to the other booklet often enough.