News agency to use
high-tech generator

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

The Hawaii Newspaper Agency next month will hook up a new generator system to eliminate the temporary loss of electricity that can happen between the time the power fails and the backup system takes over.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said installation of the Roesel Motor-Generator will mark the first large-scale use of the technology in Hawaii.

The generator deals with power glitches such as voltage dips that occur when large electric motors are brought on line. Electric motors require a high current to start up -- typically six to 10 times the current needed to maintain full operation.

In the early 1980s, the Precise Power Corp. of Bradenton, Fla. -- with support from the Electric Power Research Institute -- developed the technology.

"It's been used on Kauai for five years by MIT Lincoln Laboratories, which does radar research for the military but that's on a smaller scale," said William Denham, Heco's senior customer technology applications engineer.

Denham said the invention by John Roesel is much better than standard power systems that rely on batteries. Voltage sags and power interruptions drain power out of batteries and eventually they can fail.

The Roesel Motor-Generator uses a rotor that stores enough energy to ride through 99 percent of all power problems, according to the Precise Power Corp.

Denham said a 15-second "ride through" provides ample time to bring an alternative source of power on line after the main power source fails.

The total cost of the system at the Hawaii Newspaper Agency is $134,900 but Heco is paying a subsidy so the cost to HNA is $121,000, Denham said. (HNA provides business and production services for Honolulu's two separately owned daily newspapers, the Star-Bulletin and the Advertiser.)

Bill Bogert, HNA's vice president for production, said the Roesel system improves reliability in getting the newspaper out on time.

"When you have a stormy or windy day, the batteries can get hit 10 or 15 times a day," Bogert said. "And you only have a total battery time of 20 or 25 minutes."

HNA will continue to use the batteries as backup to the Roesel system, but later could replace the batteries with a backup generator, Denham said. The Roesel systems normally are tied to backup generators used by many large commercial and industrial buildings, Denham said.

The technology will be explained in detail to Heco's commercial and industrial customers at its energy expo Thursday and Friday at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel.

Fifteen workshops are scheduled. Registration begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Cost is $75. For more information call 543-4751. An energy management workshop for small and medium-sized businesses will be held on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $30.