Emergency Electrical Power
Emergency electrical power systems are designed to provide power to critical devices and systems when power from the utility company failed. Therefore, to provide the backup, an emergency power system consists of an alternative power source such as fossil fuel generators, solar systems or uninterrupted power systems and a means for distributing the power from that source to critical devices and systems.
However, identification of critical devices and systems to receive emergency power is an important design function for clinical engineering. A comprehensive list of critical devices and systems ranges from life support equipment such as ventilators, and essential utility systems, such as medical air compressors, to safety and emergency systems, such as egress path lighting.
Emergency electrical power supply is an essential component of clinical disaster planning, according to Gary H. Harding, Alice L. Epstein, in clinical engineering book 2004, specific to essential or critical life support equipment in such areas as nursing, pharmacy, blood bank, central suction, central sterile supply, labour/delivery, intensive care units, nursery, cardiac catheterization laboratory, emergency department, radiology, treatment and patient bed space.
Emergency Fossil Fuel Generator.
Most health facilities depend largely on fossil fuel generator to provide alternative power supply during black-out from the utility
Generator is characterised by limitations on fuel availability and delivery, high operation and maintenance cost, and high transfer time of power
However, emergency power supply will comprise emergency outlet identification and testing, length of backup electrical power duration, service to piped medical gas alarms, cardiology alarms, dedicated lines to emergency department (ED), operating room(OR), obstetrical suite (OB), and intensive care unit (ICU), blood storage, central vacuum systems, medical air compressors, and availability of extension cords
It is important to have the current inventory of equipment in the facility, the clinical engineer should also know the levels of equipment that are critical and ready for use in the event of an emergency. Are there alternative means to provide supply beside the traditional fossil fuel generator and the duration of autonomy?
Yes, uninterrupted power system is the most ideal solution for alternative electrical power for Critical equipment which includes but is not limited to:
Anesthesia equipment
Autoclave/sterilizers
Blood bank freezers
Cardiology/respiratory monitors
CT scanners
Defibrillators
Dialysis equipment
EEG monitors
EtO sterilizers
Infant incubators
Infusion pumps and controllers
Laboratory equipment
Laparoscopy equipment
Laryngoscopes with extra batteries
Manual resuscitators
MRI
OR tables
Orthopedic
instruments, such as hand-powered drills and saws
Oxygen concentrators
Plate developers and processors
Portable oxygen
Pulmonary function analyzer
Pulse oximeters
Respirators
Sterilizers
Suction machine/pump
Traction equipment
Ultrasound equipment
Ventilators (adult and pediatric)
X-ray equipment
Uninterrupted Power Supply is a solid-state electronic device that consist of an Inverter, charger and battery bank, the system using the charger stores energy in the battery bank when there is power from the utility and when power from the utility fails, the system converts the stored energy to electrical power using the inverter to supply the critical equipment.
The benefit of UPS over the fosil fuel generator is that it is seamless with zero transfer time to keep the critical equipment working without any disruption
GreenPower will be happy to offer free consultation on how you can implement emergency electrical power for your facilities.
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