Power Controllers deliver clean, efficient power.

Press Release Summary:



Operating on real-time basis, 3DFS(TM) Power Controllers not only correct less than ideal power factors, but also remove all noise and transient disturbances in power supply. Units deliver power with THD under 0.1% and efficiency in excess of 98% design target. In addition to providing audit trails of power savings for federal and state energy credit programs, controllers can be networked to accommodate smart grid functions.



Original Press Release:



A New Era of Clean Efficient Power



Black Velvet Solar of Pittsboro, NC announced successful demonstration of its 3DFS(TM) Power Controller that is designed to deliver power that is more than 100X cleaner than electricity provided by the public grid, while delivering power savings on the order of 25 to 40%. Unlike competing products the 3DFS(TM) Power Controllers operate on a real-time basis, not only correcting less than ideal power factors but also removing all noise and transient disturbances in the power supply. The 3DFS(TM) Power Controllers also provide audit trails of power savings for federal and state energy credit programs and can be networked to accommodate smart grid functions.

The quality of electricity drawn from the public grid is surprising poor due to both less than ideal power factors as well as distortions, i.e. noise. The US Department of Energy estimates that 70% of the electric motors in the US operate on less than an ideal power factor. 3DFS(TM) estimates that the typical home operates at a power factor worse than 0.7. In addition the total harmonic distortion ("THD") of the electricity typically supplied by the public grid is approximately 10 to 20%, versus a clean power threshold of 6.0%. The 3DFS(TM) Power Controllers deliver power with a THD under 0.1%. Despite the decrease in efficiency caused by distortions in the power supply (as best measured by THD), almost no utility regulators across the world set targets for THD in the power supply. The new standard in clean power set by 3DFS(TM) allows for electronics to operate much more effectively as well as waste less power.

The example below shows the correction of a standard 300W computer power supply. Computer power supplies are one of the few regulated power supplies in the US today. The THD before power conditioning by the 3DFS(TM) Power Controller averages 15 to 19%. After conditioning the THD is well below 0.1%. The efficiency of the 3DFS(TM) Power Controller is in excess of the 98% design target. Note that the initial correction occurs within one sine wave.

Similarly power factors are largely ignored in the residential electricity market where utilities in the absence of smart meters do not measure and bill homeowners for power factors under the ideal 1.0. Nonetheless such low power factors require the power companies to reserve additional generating capacity to deliver the required amount of power. By contrast commercial and industrial customers are billed at higher rates for low power factors.

3DFS(TM) estimates that approximately 1 trillion kWh (or $100+ billion) annually could be saved by a total adoption of its power controllers across the US with a payback of approximately one year. This power savings is the equivalent of 1,000 typical coal fired power generating plants. In addition delivering clean power to equipment, such as motors and compressors, will at least double the service life of such equipment.

3DFS(TM) also plans to introduce a Microgrid Controller adaptation of its 3DFS(TM) Power Controllers in early 2011. The Microgrid Controllers will bring greatly enhanced fuel efficiency and service lives to the 1+ trillion watts of generators in the DoD inventory. In addition to its economic impact, this increase in efficiency will also reduce casualties incurred in theater, since the DoD estimates that 60 to 80% of casualties are related to fuel resupply convoys.

3DFS(TM) is a dba of Black Velvet Solar, Inc.

For further information please visit 3dfs.com

Contact: Dan Lynch
(888) 564-7773

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