POWER QUALITY

INTRODUCTION

Collected by
Dr. M.M.M. Elshahat
•
 Power system constraints

• Random external factors

- Weather
- Human activities
- Animals
• Increasing share of non-linear loads
• Increasing demand for high PQ (power quality)
 What is Power Quality?
The answer depends on who you ask.
• Utilities:
Reliability of the system
(interruption and availability
related: the amount of time end users
are totally without power)
(archaic concept)
– SAIFI – system average
interruption frequency index
(number of interruptions per
customer)
– ASAI – average system
availability index per annum,
e.g., 8700 hours of available
service (8700/8760) = 99.32%
• Equipment manufacturers and end
users:
– “Compatibility” 􀃆
Work successfully within a given
operating environment:
– Are the power system
characteristics compatible with my
loads?
– Characteristics of the power
supply system that enable the
equipment to work properly
 Main PQ (Power Quality) problems
• Voltage sags (dips( )‫)انحدار الجهد‬
• Micro-interruptions
• Long interruptions
• Voltage spikes )‫(الجهود اإلبراية‬
• Voltage swells )‫(انتفاخ الجهد‬
• Voltage fluctuations )‫(تقلب وارتعاش الجهد‬
• Voltage unbalance
• Noise
• Harmonic distortion
 Voltage Sags (dips)
A decrease of the normal voltage level between 10 and 90% of the nominal
rms voltage at the power frequency, for durations of 0.5 cycle to 1 minute

Causes:
• Faults on the transmission or distribution network.
• Faults in consumer’s installation.
• Connection of heavy loads and start-up of large motors.
Consequences:
• Malfunction )‫ (عطل‬of microprocessor-based
control systems (PCs, PLCs, ASDs[Adjustable speed drive] , etc)
that may lead to a process stoppage.
• Tripping of contactors and electromechanical relays.
•Disconnection and loss of efficiency in
electric rotating machines.
Micro-Interruptions (Momentry outage)
Total interruption of electrical supply for duration from few
milliseconds
Causes:
• Opening and automatic reclosure of protection devices.
• Insulation failure, lightning and insulator flashover.

Consequences:
•Tripping of protection devices.
• information Loss and malfunction of data processing
equipment.
• Stopping sensitive equipment (such as ASDs, PCs, PLCs).
 Long Interruptions
Total interruption of electrical supply for Duration
greater than 1 to 2 seconds.

Causes:
• Equipment failure.
• Storms and objects (trees, cars) striking lines.
• Human error, bad coordination or failure of
protection devices.
Consequences:
• Stopping all equipment.
 Voltage Spikes
Very fast variation of the voltage value for durations from
a several microseconds to few milliseconds.
Causes:
• Lightning.
• Switching of lines or
Power factor correction capacitors.
• Disconnection of heavy loads.
Consequences:
• Destruction of components and insulation materials.
• Data processing errors or data
loss.
• Electromagnetic interference.
 Voltage Swells
Momentary increase of the voltage, at the
power frequency, outside the normal
tolerances, with duration of more than one
cycle and typically less than a few seconds.
Causes:
• disconnection of heavy loads.
• Poorly regulated transformers.
Consequences:
• Flickering of lighting and screens.
• stopping sensitive equipment.
 Voltage fluctuation
Oscillation of voltage value, amplitude
modulated by a signal with low frequency.
Causes:
•Arc furnaces.
• Oscillating loads.
• Frequent start/stop of motors.
Consequences:
• under voltages.
• Flickering of lighting and
screens.
 Voltage Unbalance
A voltage variation in a three-phase system in
which the three voltage magnitudes or the phase-
angle differences between them are not equal.
Causes:
•Large single-phase loads
(induction furnaces, traction loads).
• Incorrect distribution of loads.
Consequences:
• The most affected loads are three phase
induction machines.
• Increase of losses.
 Noise
Superimposing ‫ تركيب‬of high frequency signals
on the waveform of the power-system
frequency.
Causes:
• Electromagnetic interferences.
• Improper grounding.
Consequences:
• Disturbances of electronic equipment.
• data loss and data processing errors.
 Harmonic Distortion
Voltage or current waveforms assume non-sinusoidal shape.

The waveform corresponds to the sum of different sine-waves

with different magnitude and phase, having frequencies that
are multiples of power-system frequency.
 Harmonic Distortion
Sources of harmonic distortion (1)

Switched mode power supply

Fluorescent lighting
 Harmonic Distortion
Sources of harmonic distortion (2)

3-phase rectifier

Adjustable speed drive (ASD)

 Harmonic Distortion
Consequences of harmonic distortion (1)
• Conductor overheating (skin effect end proximity effect)

Neutral overloading (triplen harmonics)

 Harmonic Distortion
Consequences of harmonic distortion (2)
• Increased probability of occurrence of
resonance.
• Nuisance tripping of thermal protections.
• Electromagnetic interference.
• Increase in the losses.
• Loss of efficiency in electric machines (e.g. 5th
harmonic).
Consequences of harmonic distortion (summary)
 REFERENCES
1) “ Power Distribution Elements “ Volume I , Asser A. Zaky.

2) “ Electrical Power Distribution System Engineering “ T.

Gonen, 2008.

3)’‘ ‫ كاميليا يوسف ”‘ اضطرابات جودة التغذية الكهربائية‬/‫د‬

4) “‫ كاميليا يوسف” التوافقيات‬/‫د‬

 QUESTIONS
• 1) Define power quality ?
• 2) What are the commonly used terms that
describe the parameters of electrical power
that describe or measure power quality?
• 3) What are harmonics?
• 4) How do harmonics affect the electrical
system?
• 5) How do harmonics affect the load?
 (Contd.)
• With a waveform sketch , explain the terms:
Voltage sag.
Voltage swells.
Harmonics.
Momentary outage.
Long Interruptions.
Voltage Spikes.
Voltage fluctuation.
Noise.
Voltage Unbalance.
 (Contd.)

Mention the harmonic sources from commercial loads?

Single phase loads such as Switch mode power supplies, fluorescent

lighting and UPS systems
Three phase loads such as high voltage AC drives system

Mention the harmonic sources from industrial loads ?

Three phase converter with Adjustable speed drives (DC drives and AC
drives)
Arcing Devices (Arc furnaces, welders, Discharge lamps etc.)
some devices (transformer, electromagnetic devices etc. with steel core)
1. Define power quality .
Power quality has been defined as the
parameters of the voltage that affect the
customers supersensitive equipment.

1. What are the commonly used terms that

describe the parameters of electrical
power that describe or measure power
quality.
Sag, swell, interruption,
transients, harmonics, waveform distortion,
over voltages, under voltages, voltage
imbalance, power frequency variations, etc.