Power Quality problems in hospital: a case study

The S. Giovanni-Addolorata (SGAH) general hospital in Roma during last summer has experienced a significant number of power disturbance events which resulted in expensive failures of electronics incorporated by both several technical systems and critical diagnostic equipment. A power quality investigation has been then started to identify causes and possible remedies since the interruption of computer and diagnostic equipment were of particular concern. The present paper reports the main stages of the power quality investigation jointly with some first results obtained from the technical-economical evaluations performed.