TECHNICAL PAPER
POWER QUALITY BASIC
ENGR. ARSENIO A. ABELLANA-PEE,MScEE
1. Introduction
IEEE 1100 defines power quality as “the degree to which both the utilization and
delivery of electrical power affects the performance of electrical equipment”.Power
quality affects system performance and operating costs.
I had my first experience on the importance of power
quality during a consultancy project with a
European company more than a decade ago.The
European engineer was complaining of poor power
quality that may result in equipment
malfunctioning.The said equipment required a very
tight voltage regulation which the utility cannot
meet.A generator has to be provided to solve the
problem.
Another experience was the improper operation of
delicate testing equipment, of an electronic
manufacturing company,due to transients.A
TVSS(Transient Voltage Surge Suppresor) network
was installed and a significant grounding
improvement using chemical grounding was set-up
to solve the problem.
We experienced a main distribution circuit breaker
overheating and tripping when the current was
below rated value.We had to force air to cool the
contacts using a big industrial fan.We found out later
that harmonics was the culprit and the ammeters
used were incapable to sense true RMS current.
A decade ago the above mentioned scenarios may
seem to be ‘isolated cases’.Nowadays such
problems are common- with the proliferation of
non-linear/electronic loads such as: computers
printers,copiers,fax machines,UPS,electronic control
of equipment,etc.
The following factors determine if you’re likely to
suffer from power quality problems:
* the quality of the utility supplied voltage
* the types of loads in your installation
* the sensitivity of your equipment to various kinds
of disturbances
2. Power Quality Problems
Power quality problems spread throughout the sys-
tem causing shutdowns,greater energy
losses,reduced equipment life;all costing a lot of
money.
Some signs of power quality problems are the
following:
2.1 Nuisance tripping of circuit breakers
Due to limitations of current sensing devices, circuit
breakers may incorrectly sum the current contained
THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER FIRST QUARTER 2009
in the fundamental and various harmonics and so
trip erroneously. Also,leakage currents may reach
thresholds causing residual current devices to trip.
2.2 Computer problems:lock up,damaged,loss of
data
A voltage drop between the equipment and true
earth may be due to earth current from the
equipment. Although small, this noise voltage may
be comparable with the signal voltages, on which
IT equipment operates and creates disturbance.This
kind of disturbance cannot be eliminated
entirely - and consequently reduces data
throughput. As a result, PCs will often slow down
or lock-up, a frequent phenomenon in today’s
offices.
Lightning and switching strikes occuring “close” to
computers and other electronic equipment, may
completely damage the equipment if surge
protection is insufficient.
2.3 Lights flickering
Switching, short-circuits and load changing produce
short duration changes in voltage that can result in
light flicker.Voltage sags, which are the consequence
of large load fluctuation and too low local electrical
system short circuit power, may also cause light
flicker.
2.4 Synchronization problems of processing
equipment and malfunctioning of motors due to
harmonics
Additional zero-crossings within a cycle,caused by
harmonic distortion, of the sine wave; can affect
sensitive measurement equipment. and cause
synchronisation problems of process control
equipment .PLC devices may lock up.
Voltage harmonics cause adverse effects in direct
line-connected induction motors. The 5th harmonic
creates a counter-rotating field which impedes
normal motor rotation. The 7th harmonic creates a
rotating field beyond the motor’s synchronous
speed. The resulting torque pulsing causes wear
and tear on couplings and bearings. Since the speed
is fixed, the energy contained in these harmonics is
dissipated as extra heat, resulting in premature
ageing. Harmonic currents are also induced into the
35
TECHNICAL PAPER
rotor causing further excess heating. The additional
heat reduces the rotor/stator air gap, reducing
efficiency even further.Bottomline,there is a marked
power loss increase.
In extreme cases when the motor is operating in a
high harmonic content environment it may be
damaged because of overheating.
2.5 Noise interference to telecommunication lines
The level of electrical noise may produce
interference signals, which exceed
telecommunication immunity level.This increases
the probability of transmission error rates.
. 3.2 UPS (un-interruptible power supply)
2.6 Transformers and cables overheating
Harmonics produce extra eddy current losses and
skin effect losses due to its higher frequency. These
losses lead to transformers and cables
overheating. Additionally triple n harmonics add up
and flow in neutral conductors and delta windings
of transformers creating additional extra heat.
3. PQ problems’Solutions
The list of possible solutions for power quality
problems is long and non-complete. There is no
single solution to power quality problems. Each
problem type has a range of possible mitigation
approaches applied. In the real world, it is likely
that several problems will co-exist, and the
solutions adopted must be compatible with each
other and with the loads that make up the
installation.
One must beware of the so called wonder
solutions that are sometimes heavily marketed as
curing a particular problem in all circumstances . In
actual practice, such panacea does not exist! The
optimum mix of solutions must be seeked, for the
problems being experienced and expected to arise
in the future in the context of the installation.
Always note that the electrical load is not static.
Differences in equipments’ duty cycles and
variations in working patterns result to a constantly
changing load pattern. A large office building, for
example, may have hundreds of mutations per year
so that the spectrum of aggregate harmonic
currents - in the installation changes constantly.
The harmonic profiles from IT equipment do not
average out but, especially for the third and fifth
harmonics, add up.
Operation of short duty cycle equipment, such as
lifts and metal working equipment causes local
voltage variations to add to those that originate in
the distribution system.
The result is that power quality problems are often
stochastic in nature and require careful monitoring
to define fully.
The cost of power quality problems, in terms of lost
output and disruption varies widely depending on
the type of industry. Unfortunately, for a building
in design stage, the nature and size of the final
load is generally unknown so potential power qual-
ity problems and their costs are difficult to quan-
tify. Building a business case for investment in PQ
36 THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER FIRST QUARTER 2009
solutions can represent quite a challenge. In the
future, engineers will be able to confidently predict
the likely scale of problems and have practical
experience of solving them. By then, perhaps
building owners and operators will have realized
that prevention is always cheaper than cure.
3.1 Surge protection
TVSS which are properly sized and strategically/
correctly placed effectively handles
surges.Grounding improvements have to be done
to ensure efficient bypassing of the surge.
IT or process control equipment usually have some
kind of UPS to ensure voltage stability and quality.
This can range from simple low power units
protecting individual server computers to a large
central unit rated at up to 1 MVA or so. UPS
strategy must be carefully thought out because UPS
energy i is expensive and should be used selec-
tively. The most frugal approach is to use UPS power
only to maintain the server computers, process
control equipment and safety equipment long
enough to allow an orderly shutdown and/or
evacuation - this leaves all the client computers and
auxiliary plant without power. At the other end of
the spectrum, the UPS may be dimensioned to
support virtually the whole operation for the time
required to bring an auxiliary supply on-line. For
most situations, the optimum will lie somewhere
between these two extremes. .
3.3 Back-up generator
Because of the start-up delay, the generator is the
second line of defense against power blackouts.
This device is able to provide power to a large
portion of loads over a longer period of time.
3.4 True RMS measurement
Measuring is knowing. True RMS measured values
can be significantly higher than the incorrect
values measured by average reading meters. To
be completely sure, all measurement instruments
must be true RMS instruments.
3.5 Transformer derating
Transformers are derated for harmonic loads . It
should be noted that the additional heat
generated by harmonics can lead to a significant
decrease in equipment life. Use of a K-rated
transformer, specially designed to cope with
harmonic loads, should be preferred over trans-
former derating because the K-rated transformer is
designed to have lower eddy current losses. A
derated transformer has larger losses - it is simply
oversized so that the resultant heat can dissipate.
On a practical level, it is difficult to maintain the
derating of a transformer over its lifetime - as the
load grows, the derating tends to be overlooked
and the transformer becomes seriously overloaded.
3.6 Motor derating
Voltage unbalance and harmonic voltages result in
additional losses in electric motors, so that the
motor cannot be fully loaded up to its rated power.
NEMA provides some guidance on how to derate
the motor in the presence of harmonic voltages.
High efficiency motors (Eff1-class) not only save
 TECHNICAL PAPER

energy , but they are also more robust against

some of the problems mentioned earlier. Using more
and better materials, they run cooler and are bet-
ter suited to handle the extra heat generated due
to harmonics or inrush currents at start-up after a
voltage dip.

3.7. Dedicated circuit

Loads that are sensitive to harmonic pollution
should be served by dedicated circuits. Heavy loads
should also have their own circuits, in order not to
affect other loads during start-up.
3.8. Multiple cables for harmonic loads
Apart from the additional heat generated by
neutral currents, the effective cross-section of the
cable is reduced because of skin effect. Using larger
diameter cables is hardly a solution, since the
current will continue to be displaced towards the
periphery of the conductor. Hence,
one should use multiple cables, appropriately
disposed to maintain balance.
3.9. Active Harmonic filters
A best practice solution but expensive. However,
they are extremely flexible and adaptable
and especially useful when dealing with a
changing harmonic culture.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ENGR.ARSENIO A. ABELLANA is a Senior
Member of IIEE.He was the IIEE Region VII
Regional Governor early 2007.
He obtained his BSEE and BSME degrees from
the Cebu Institute of Technology;and his MScEE
from UP Diliman.He completed a graduate course
in Advanced Power Systems from the Penn-
sylvania State University,USA.He placed 5th in
the Asst.EE board examination and 4th in the Pro-
fessional EE board .He is the 2001 CIT Outstand-
ing Alumnus in the field of Research.
He has over 30 years experience in the academe
and in industry occupying senior engineering man-
agement positions.

3.10.TN-S rewiring Currently he is a freelance energy management/

TN-C systems, with the so-called PEN-conductor, conservation consultant.
have become the exception, where, in some
countries,they used to be the rule. In the email address:nonet_aaa@yahoo,com
standards committees, the PEN-conductor is now
considered as a special case. For IT-intensive
buildings, TN-C is no longer allowed. From an EMC
viewpoint, TN-S systems are superior. References:

Conclusion
With the rising cost of energy,it is imperative to
minimize losses attributable to poor power quality. 1.Schneider Electric: Module on Power
At present, most energy-intensive sites suffer to a Management
certain degree from poor power quality,while most
sites have already adopted some solutions. This is 2.European Copper Institute:Power Quality
typically the purchase of a UPS, back-up generator, Self-Assesment Guide,May 2002
adoption of true-RMS measurement and comple-
mented with some of the other solutions, such as
TVSS, TN-S rewiring, active harmonic filters, etc.It
is unlikely that a single solution will be effective.
Careful design of a solutions mix, tailored to the
PQ problems experienced, and based on a detailed
understanding of the causes of the PQ problems,
is needed.

congratulations to the winners of

Research Design Contest

1st Place Technological University of the Philippines—Manila

2nd Place Polytechnic University of the Philippines—Manila
3rd Place Pamantasan Lungsod ng Manila

---from the The Electrical Engineer Staff

THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER FIRST QUARTER 2009 37