Massive Power System Failures

Scenario‐based impact analysis of a power outage on healthcare facilities in Germany

“…For US hospitals requirements for emergency power testing and maintenance are set by NFPA 70, 99 and 110 as well as by standards of accreditation organisations like JCAHO (Stymiest, 2009;Vangerud, 2003). However, Stewart and Stewart (2006)…”

“…Another problem is that for example elevators, heating and cooling systems, computer routers as well as radio repeaters for communication but also sometimes important medical equipment were not on the circuits supplied with emergency power or emergency power simply failed (Klein et al, 2005;Chaffee, 2005;Brown, 2004;Eachempati et al, 2004;Wideman, 2004;Hargrove et al, 2002;Milsten, 2000). As emergency power testing is performed in general during night or early morning to minimise possibly adverse effects like equipment failure (Stymiest, 2009), these issues remain often undetected as well as insufficient capacity of emergency power, either planned or as a result of risen demand in recent decades and years (Stewart and Stewart, 2006;Eachempati et al, 2004). Sometimes services which are not related to medical care but nevertheless essential for the proper functioning of a hospital like sterilisation, laundry and kitchen and having a high energy demand are not connected to emergency power.…”

“…(5) distribution lines; and (6) transformers down to household voltage (Stewart and Stewart, 2006) or if supply does not meet demand.…”

“…Smart grids with decentralised power production forming virtual power plants and advanced demand side management may increase the complexity in future even further. However, natural hazards like ice storms, hurricanes, high winds, lightning, extreme heat, floods, earthquakes, solar activity and volcanic ash but also sabotage, military and terrorist attacks may disrupt also the most secure system (Stewart and Stewart, 2006;Farrell et al, 2004;Mili and Qiu, 2004). If power supply does not meet demand, for example during extremely hot periods when demand peaks due to air conditioning and power plants have to shut down because of a lack of cooling water, demand may be reduced artificially by rolling blackouts, i.e.…”

“…Rolling blackouts are typical for some countries but were also used during California's electricity crisis in the 2000s and as rolling brownouts in the aftermath of a power blackout in Ontario, Canada (Austin et al, 2007). Whereas, most power outages are restricted to a few hours, repair and replacement of power system components may take days or weeks (Stewart and Stewart, 2006) or in case of high-voltage transformers even more than a year as these are often customised products produced abroad, for example in China or India (Farrell et al, 2004).…”