News

Harmonic Distortion is a Global Issue Solved by Mirus International

BRAMPTON, Ontario – March 13, 2012 – One year can make a world of difference in the global economy, according to Tony Hoevenaars, president and chief executive officer of Brampton-based Mirus International Inc. Tony realized that he had to focus on targeted marketing initiatives to increase company awareness and gain new customers - beyond Canadian shores.

Mirus manufactures a comprehensive line of sophisticated power distribution systems designed to keep electronic equipment running smoothly and efficiently, solving complex harmonic distortion challenges. The company's products can be found in offshore oil and gas platforms, large data processing centres, municipal waste treatment plants, commercial HVAC systems and many other installations.

"Harmonic distortion is definitely a global issue and there are all kinds of different markets for our products," says Hoevenaars. "We tried to do our marketing internally for a long time, but we're spread thin, pressed for time, and we're engineers. We speak in engineering terms."

The March / April issue of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ 20/20 Magazine focuses on global expansion, featuring how Mirus is working with an outsourced marketing firm to market the company globally. The article describes the challenges that Mirus faced in gaining traction in the global arena and the results the company is now achieving. The article provides insight on marketing considerations for Canadian exporters. Read More

To learn more about Mirus International and its line of power quality improvement products – harmonic filters, data center solutions, generator solutions and transformers visit www.mirusinternational.com.

CONTACT :
Tony Hoevenaars, President and CEO
1-888-866-4787
mirus@mirusinternational.com / www.mirus.ca/2015/

Mirus’ SOLV™ Saved SkyVenture Montreal Time and Money on their Harmonic Solution

Brampton, ON – December 1, 2011 – The Owners of SkyVenture, an indoor free-fall simulator, were building a new dedicated facility for its first Canadian location in Montreal. The SkyVenture simulator is a large-scale wind-tunnel that requires the use of four (4) 350HP Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs) to run blowers that generate a powerful 175km per hour airstream. As part of the new building approval process, the Consulting Engineer had to submit a Load Profile to Hydro Quebec; in this case an analysis showing that the harmonics generated by the VFDs would be properly treated. Mirus International Inc., the world’s foremost authority on harmonics mitigation, was called upon by the Consulting Engineer working on the SkyVenture building to provide an analysis tool and harmonic solution to meet the IEEE Standard 519 recommendations for harmonic distortion limits.

“SkyVenture Montreal had a need for power quality analysis software, particularly, the ability to accurately calculate and determine power system harmonic distortion when using Adjustable Speed Drives, and SOLV™ was able to fill that gap. With built-in IEEE Std 519 harmonic limits this is a valuable tool for any consulting engineer or power quality professional,” says Tony Hoevenaars, President and CEO, Mirus International, “The superior harmonics analysis tool provides users with additional tools that will improve their ability to calculate current and voltage distortion for their unique applications.”

The SkyVenture challenge: Using SOLV™, Mirus’ exclusive harmonics analysis software, the Consulting Engineer ran a simulation by inputting information on the VFDs and the harmonic solution they were intending to use – the drive manufacturers’ basic treatment of harmonics – a 3% line reactor. The result of the simulation: voltage distortion at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) was 8.2%, well above IEEE Standard 519 harmonic limits, and current distortion exceeded the Utility requirements.

The SkyVenture solution: The Consulting Engineer ran a new simulation using Mirus’ SOLV™, this time with two (2) 700HP Lineators ™ as the harmonic solution – each Lineator powering two (2) 350HP VFDs. Using the Lineators, harmonic distortion decreased dramatically and met IEEE Standard 519 limits, in addition, offered greater efficiency resulting in a shorter payback period. Hydro Quebec responded quickly to the analysis provided with an approval to proceed and complete the hook-up of the building.

SOLV™ provided the proof – SkyVenture was able to accurately and quickly perform simulations that calculated current and voltage distortion levels – saving them time and money. Download your free copy of SOLV, Mirus’ proprietary and complimentary harmonics analysis software.

“Before SOLV™, awareness of Harmonic issues would often come when it was too late: when improperly treated harmonic distortion was effecting operations. Now with SOLV™, we can simulate scenarios at the design and planning stage using actual site data for existing facilities, or by using known design parameters in new construction.” says Tony Ballard, Director of Business Development, Power-Quality Concepts Inc.
Read the full SkyVenture Montreal Case Study. To learn more about Mirus International and its line of power quality improvement products – harmonic filters, data center solutions, generator solutions and transformers visit www.mirusinternational.com.

CONTACT :
Tony Hoevenaars, President and CEO
1-888-866-4787
mirus@mirusinternational.com
www.mirus.ca/2015/

IEEE Award Winning Paper co-authored by Mirus International

Brampton, ON – September 20, 2011 – Mirus International’s President and CEO, Tony Hoevenaars, has been honoured for his contribution to the IEEE Paper, Design Considerations When Applying Various ASD Topologies to Meet Harmonic Compliance along with three co-authors. The paper was selected as the 3rd Place Prize Paper from the 2010 IEEE IAS Petroleum and Chemical Industry Technical Conference in San Antonio. The highly regarded award is in recognition of the authors’ dedication and contribution to the electrical engineering profession.

“It is an honour to be recognized by the IEEE community and to be a part of the collaborative team that was responsible for developing the paper,” says Tony Hoevenaars. “As a long-standing member and contributor to IEEE, conducting research and publishing papers demonstrates mine and the company’s commitment to ensure the IEEE community shares its collective knowledge for the benefit of the membership and the industries we serve.”

The goal of the Award-winning paper was to solve the challenge many electrical engineers have when attempting to limit the harmonic distortion produced by Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs). Manufacturers have introduced several methods of both passive and active harmonic mitigation and users of ASDs who are faced with the various options often find it difficult to select the most appropriate one for their particular application.

To solve this challenge, Tony and the team used computer simulation and laboratory measurements and as highlighted in the paper, they analyzed the most common passive solutions for low voltage (LV) applications which include ac line reactors or dc link chokes, phase shifting to produce multi-pulse ASDs and inline passive harmonic filters.

The computer simulation program used in this research was Mirus International’s own SOLV™, the company’s proprietary and complimentary harmonics analysis software. SOLV is a powerful simulation program that will calculate current and voltage distortion levels by simulating the Mirus Lineator™ and Adjustable Speed Drive (ASDs) based on your load requirements. By simply entering some basic information about your source and ASD system, Mirus’ SOLV will help you find the right solution for your application. Download your free copy of SOLV today.

Download the IEEE prize-paper. To learn more about Mirus International and its line of power quality improvement products – harmonic filters, data center solutions, generator solutions and transformers visit www.mirusinternational.com.

Prize paper co-authors:

M. Fahrney, Benshaw Advanced Controls and Drives

M. James, P.E., EDG Consulting Engineers

M. McGraw, NSOEM Inc.

CONTACT :
Tony Hoevenaars, President and CEO
1-888-866-4787
mirus@mirusinternational.com
www.mirus.ca/2015/

Prevent Generator Neutral Circulating Current with Mirus International’s GENLINK™ DPNL

Brampton, ON – August 11, 2011 – Mirus International, a designer and developer of world class power quality improvement products is pleased to introduce GENLINK™ DPNL (Dissimilar Pitch Neutral Limiter). Mirus’ GENLINK™ DPNL is a multiple winding reactor which is installed in the common neutral of paralleled sources.

“When paralleling equipment such as generators or other distributed generation sources to each other or the utility supply, it’s critical that voltages produced by this equipment match as closely as possible,” says Tony Hoevenaars, President, Mirus International. “To properly match voltages the RMS values need to be similar as well as the instantaneous values which are determined by the voltage waveshapes. If not properly matched, circulating neutral currents can result.”

When paralleling generators with different pitch configurations, instantaneous voltages often do not match because the voltage waveshapes are somewhat different. This can also be true when alternative energy sources (such as solar or wind) are paralleled with the Utility. In these circumstances, neutral circulating currents will appear which are predominantly triple frequency. If left untreated, these currents can cause equipment to overheat and false tripping of overcurrent protection equipment.

Mirus’ GENLINK™ DPNL, once installed in the common neutral between dissimilar generators or the generator and Utility supply, will add impedance to block the flow of circulating currents with minimal impedance to the flow of fault current.

“The GENLINK™ DPNL is just one of many power quality improvement products developed by Mirus,” adds Hoevenaars. “Engineered and manufactured to treat challenging harmonic applications, our products provide solutions to companies who can’t afford downtime, risk equipment failure or distortion of any kind on the electrical distribution system,” says Hoevenaars.

To learn more about GENLINK DPNL, download Mirus’ white paper, Preventing Neutral Circulating Currents when Paralleling Generators and the product brochure. For information on other power quality products offered by Mirus, visit www.mirusinternational.com.

CONTACT :
Tony Hoevenaars, President and CEO
1-888-866-4787
mirus@mirusinternational.com
www.mirus.ca/2015/