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Enhancing power quality at Six Flags Magic Mountain with Comsys' Active Harmonic Filters

Six Flags from outside. Main entrance.

Location: Valencia, CA, USA
Industry: Entertainment and Amusement Parks
Timeline: 2023

Background

Six Flags Magic Mountain is a popular amusement park in Valencia, California. With millions of visitors annually, the park operates a wide array of rides, attractions, and facilities that demand reliable and efficient power systems. Recently, the park began experiencing challenges with harmonic distortion in its electrical system, particularly impacting one the rides, "CraZanity."

Crazanity. Power quality in amusement parks.

Challenge

"CraZanity" is one of the world’s tallest pendulum rides, standing at 170 feet (52 meters) and swinging riders at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour (120 km/h). Its rotating arm is powered by DC motors that require clean and stable power for smooth operation. However, the park's electrical system introduced harmonic distortion, leading to excess heat in components and operational inconsistencies. These issues risked shortening the lifespan of critical equipment and reducing the ride's reliability.

As a top attraction drawing visitors from around the world, it was essential to keep CraZanity running reliably. Six Flags needed a power quality solution that could effectively reduce harmonics, meet IEEE 519 standards, and integrate seamlessly into their system without any downtime.

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Solution

Comsys partnered with Six Flags to address these power quality challenges. After analyzing the park’s electrical system and the unique requirements of "CraZanity," Comsys identified the ADF P300 as the optimal solution.

The ADF P300 was installed in a customized enclosure designed to fit seamlessly into the park’s existing electrical setup. Commissioning was successfully completed with remote support from Comsys technicians, minimizing disruptions to park operations and ensuring a quick and efficient implementation.

ADF P300 ensures power quality at six flags

Results

The implementation of Comsys’ active harmonic filter significantly improved power quality for "CraZanity" and other park systems. Harmonic distortion levels were reduced to within IEEE 519 standards, ensuring smooth and reliable ride operation. The park’s maintenance team was trained to monitor the active harmonic filter using an Ethernet connection, enabling ongoing performance tracking and diagnostics.

Key outcomes of the project include:

• Enhanced operational reliability and safety for "CraZanity" and other park systems.

• Reduced risk of equipment wear and failure due to harmonic distortion.

• Compliance with IEEE 519 standards.

• Remote monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities, reducing the need for on-site service visits.

Comsys’ solution continues supporting Six Flags Magic Mountain by ensuring excellent power quality and delivering visitors a safe, enjoyable experience through efficient and reliable electrical operations.

Power Quality enhanced.

The installation of Comsys Active Harmonic Filters has helped us correct harmonic issues and stay in compliance. So far, they have been working great and contributing to the smooth operation of our systems.

Hector Malagon

Electrical Engineer at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Featured product

ADF P300

The ADF P300 is the ideal active filter for small and medium size commercial and industrial loads. It is a powerhouse solution and the best choice for most applications because it is such a general purpose active filter.

  • Dynamic VAR compensation

  • Harmonic elimination

  • Flicker compensation

  • Resonance elimination

  • Load balancing

  • Simple installation

  • Modular and scalable design

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EN Six Flags Magic Mountain