Dear colleagues, I have been asked whether there is any potential electromagnetic interference (EMI) issue with placing an electrical substation (with step down transformers) near a medical facility where the substation may be metres from x-ray equipment and potentially other medical devices. The substation is literally on the other side of a wall. It has been pointed out to me that it will all depend on the electrical loads and the resultant currents, the size of the transformers and the produced EMI. I am told that most electronic and computer equipment utilise switch mode power supplies that inject 'hash' on the 240 V lines and produce significant phase shifts, but no-one is willing to state that the resultant EMI will not have an impact on the image quality of ultrasound and mammography units or other medical devices.
Do you have any experience with the placement of an electrical substation in relation to a medical facility and, if so, are there any concerns? My initial impression is that if the substation is designed to Australian Standards (I am not familiar with them) and meet the EMR environmental requirements, then it is likely to be OK. If in doubt, then put in a Faraday cage. Is this too cautious or justified? Cheers, Sean Sean Geoghegan Chief Medical Physicist Medical Physics and Medical Technology Systems Phone: 6244 2256 | Mobile: 0409 244 982 | Fax: 6244 3819 | Email: sean.geoghe...@act.gov.au<mailto:sean.geoghe...@act.gov.au> [act-health-logo.png] Business & Infrastructure ─ committed to timely, responsive and client-focused services Care Excellence Collaboration Integrity ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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