Electrical maintenance problems in continuous process plants

FROM THE STANDPOINT of the electrical engineer, a continuous process may be defined as one requiring a continuous supply of electric energy to prevent excessive spoilage of the product. Even though individual production components may be shut down in sequence for routine maintenance, the over-all process usually requires that electric power be available at all times, year in and year out. Also, the small relative load required for each component usually prohibits sufficient segregation of electric circuits to permit simultaneous maintenance of the major electric equipment supplying that component. Consequently, the importance of providing reserve distribution facilities to permit adequate maintenance and repair of all electric apparatus becomes a major problem in design whenever such processes are involved. To provide such facilities at a minimum cost is a real problem and one to constantly test the mettle of the electrical engineer.