Electric Power Quality

Ward Jewell
Professor, Electrical Engineering Director, Center for Energy Studies Wichita State University Consulting Electrical Engineer

PS ERC

Hospital CT scanner failures

During a normal half-hour series of scans, a CT scanner records images on a microcomputer that also controls the scanner. As often as twice each day, this hospital's scanner would shut down before a series was complete. The recorded images were lost, and the patient was subjected to a repeat of the entire series. Utility personnel found one cause of the shutdowns to be momentary power outages caused by trees brushing against utility distribution lines. They corrected this by trimming trees. Another cause was then found to be voltage sags that occurred when the hospital's chiller started. An improper setting on the scanner's power control was corrected, and this problem disappeared.

PS ERC

Page 1

MEDIATE !!!
manufacturer

utility

hospital

me
PS ERC

PS ERC

Page 2

Momentary outage when tree limbs contact distribution line

PS ERC

Recloser operates

PS ERC

Page 3

Time
PS ERC

Voltage sags when chiller starts

110 - 112 V

Time
PS ERC

Page 4

... voltage setting should be +10% of supply voltage ...

- CT scanner installation manual

Nominal voltage 120 V: 108 - 132 V

PS ERC

... voltage setting should be +10% of supply voltage ...

- CT scanner installation manual

Nominal voltage 120 V: 108 - 132 V

Measured voltage at installation 126 V: 113 - 139 V

PS ERC

Page 5

Solution:
Trim trees Remove instantaneous recloser trip Reset CT scanner low voltage dropout to 108 V.

PS ERC

Power Line Conditioners

Electric Power CT scanner

Filter
PS ERC

Page 6

Power Line Conditioners

Electric Power Transient voltage surge suppressor Filter
PS ERC

CT scanner

Power Line Conditioners

Electric Power Transient voltage surge suppressor Filter
PS ERC

Voltage Regulator CT scanner

Page 7

Power Line Conditioners

Electric Power Transient voltage surge suppressor Voltage Regulator Uninterruptible Power Supply Filter
PS ERC

CT scanner

Another option: Static transfer switch

Transfers load to another source Electronic switch Fast; user notices no change

PS ERC

Page 8

Our power systems were designed for:

Incandescent Lights

AC Motors
PS ERC

Now the power system serves

High-efficiency lights

Adjustable-speed Motor Drives

PS ERC

Computers

Page 9

Disturbing loads

Adjustable-speed Motor Drives

PS ERC

High-efficiency lights

Sensitive Loads

Computers

Microprocessor-controlled equipment

PS ERC

Page 10

POWER QUALITY
IS

PS ERC

A POWER QUALITY PROBLEM

IS

when something doesn't work because of the electric power supplied to it.

PS ERC

Page 11

Power quality problems

PS ERC

Radio transmitter damage

A commercial FM radio station experienced repeated failure of its transmitter. Utility engineers determined that each failure coincided with switching of capacitors at the distribution substation. Capacitor switching transients were recorded at the radio station service entrance. An electrical snubber was designed to reduce the frequency and damp oscillations in the transmitter. The snubber was installed, and no further rectifier failures occurred.

PS ERC

Page 12

PS ERC

Voltage goes to zero when feeder capacitor is switched on

PS ERC

Page 13

Capacitor switching
Distribution feeder When switch is closed, feeder voltage is zero until capacitor charges. Initial capacitor voltage is zero

PS ERC

Transmitter dc power supply

4H

480 Vac

20 uF

9000 Vdc

PS ERC

Page 14

Diode ratings

Reverse voltage Forward voltage drop Forward current Turn off time: ~0.3 ms

PS ERC

Transmitter dc power supply

Reactance, stray capacitance 4H

480 Vac

20 uF

9000 Vdc

PS ERC

Page 15

Transformer high voltage when capacitor switched

20 kHz ringing

PS ERC

Solution: call someone who knows what to do!!!

Transmitter design engineer recommended RC snubber 4H

480 Vac

20 uF

9000 Vdc

PS ERC

No more failures!

Page 16

Metal fabrication plant equipment failures

An industrial plant where sheet metal is fabricated experienced various machinery failures. An initial survey revealed adjustable speed dc motor drives, a common disturbing load, in use in the plant. Power quality measurements confirmed that one of the drives was causing severe "notching," a transient voltage disturbance. This was corrected using series reactors. A grounding error on a transformer was also found and corrected.
PS ERC

Voltage notching

PS ERC

Page 17

DC motor adjustable speed drive

Rectifier switches

DC motor

+ -

AC supply

Two switches closed causes momentary short circuit and notch

PS ERC

Voltage notching
Main Service Panel Winder subpanel 480 V 420 V 380 V DC motor drive Numerically-controlled spring winder Drive subpanel

PS ERC

Page 18

Spring winder counting circuit

+5 Vdc 10 k
up/down disable

DC power supply AC 50/60 Hz

output 1

RESET Pushbutton reset

4-digit counter and processor
count modes output 2

Notch on ac resets counter

PS ERC

Series Reactors
Main Service Panel Winder subpanel 48 V 42 V 38 V Numerically-controlled spring winder
PS ERC

Drive subpanel

REACTOR
480 V DC motor drive

Page 19

Computer Business Equipment Manufacturers Association

The CBEMA curve

PS ERC

Information Technology Industry Council

The ITIC Curve

PS ERC

Page 20

PS ERC

Distorted current waveform to PCs

20 Current

-20 0
PS ERC

4 Radians

Page 21

Fourier series - spectrum of pc current waveform

1 0.8 Relative value 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1
PS ERC

9 11 13 15 Harmonic

17 19

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Harmonic number fundamental
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 PS ERC

Ih I1
1 0.737 0.399 0.115 0.083 0.082 0.029 0.029 0.029 0.012

Ih 2 I1
1 0.543 0.159 0.013 6.88910 -3 6.72410 -3 8.4110 -4 8.4110 -4 8.4110 -4 1.4410 -4

19 h= 2 19 h= 2

Ih 2 = 0.732 I1

Ih 2 = 0.855 I1

THD = 85.5%

Page 22

What causes harmonics?

Saturated transformers Arcs
Arc furnaces, fluorescent lights

Rectifiers
Microprocessors, motor drives,

any electronic load

PS ERC

Three-phase full wave rectifier

+
Va Vb Vc Vdc

PS ERC

Page 23

AC current to 6-pulse battery charger

PS ERC

AC current to 6-pulse battery charger

PS ERC

Page 24

Harmonics cause
Transformers to overheat Transformer secondary voltage distortion Increased power system losses Telephone and wired communication systems

noise Neutral overloads

PS ERC

Other harmonic issues

Watt-hour meters
May read high or low

Protective relays
May not sense RMS values Nuisance trip or fail to trip

Digital clocks
May run fast

PS ERC

Page 25

Solutions
Use full sized or oversized neutral conductors Oversize or harmonic rate transformers Detune system (move capacitors, install reactors) Filter (install passive or active harmonic filters

PS ERC

Power Quality Disturbances

Voltage transients

One time; impulse or oscillatory; shorter than half cycle One time; sag, swell or interruption; longer than half cycle Steady state Steady state; dc offset, harmonics, interharmonics, notching, noise Intermittent Shorter than ten seconds

Voltage variations

Voltage imbalance

Waveform distortion (voltage or current)

Voltage fluctuations

Frequency variations

PS ERC

Page 26

Power Quality References

IEEE Recommended Practice for Powering and Grounding Sensitive Electronic Equipment, IEEE Emerald Book (IEEE Std. 1100-1992), IEEE, 345 E. 47th St., New York, NY, 10017-2394, 1992. Guideline on Electrical Power for ADP Installations, Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 94 (FIPS PUB 94), NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia, 22161. The IAEI Soares Book on Grounding, 4th Edition, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, 930 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, Illinois, 60068, 1991. Jerry C. Whitaker, AC Power Systems Handbook, CRC Press, 2000 Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, 1991. Power Quality Assurance Magazine, Intertec International, 2472 Eastman Ave., Bldgs. 33 and 34, Ventura, California, 93003-5792. Roger R. Block, The "Grounds" for Lightning and EMP Protection, Second Edition, Polyphaser Corporation, 1993. Agricultural Wiring Handbook, National Food and Energy Council, 409 Vandiver West, Suite 202, Columbia, Missouri, 65202, 1990. Power Line Interference, A Practical Handbook, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 1800 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 98501, 1992. Recommended Practice for Establishing Transformer Capability When Supplying Nonsinusoidal Load Currents (ANSI/IEEE C57.110-1986), IEEE, 345 E. 47th St., New York, NY, 10017-2394, 1988. IEEE Recommended Practice for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems (IEEE 519), IEEE, 345 E. 47th St., New York, NY, 10017-2394, 1992. National Electrical Code 1993 (ANSI/NFPA 70), NFPA, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts, 02269, 1992. National Electrical Safety Code 1990 (ANSI C2-1990), IEEE, 345 E. 47th St., New York, NY, 10017-2394, 1989. The Dranetz Field Handbook for Power Quality Analysis, Dranetz Technologies Inc., 1000 New Durham Road, Edison, New Jersey, 08818, 1991. Alexander McEachern, Handbook of Power Signatures, Basic Measuring Instruments, 335 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California, 94404, 1989.

PSERC

www.psserc.wisc.edu

engr.wichita.edu/ces/

Site Surveys
PS ERC

Power quality is suspected when:

Lights flicker or Someone else cant figure out whats wrong

?? ?

PS ERC

Page 1

Talk to everyone
Repair personnel Users Electrician

Workers

Plant Engineers Field Engineers

Technicians

Maintenance personnel

PS ERC

Acknowledge frustration!!!!!
Failure to resolve problems after many attempts Wasted time Reduced productivity

PS ERC

Page 2

Determine exactly what is wrong

Whats not working?

Whats it doing?
PS ERC

When does it happen?

Time of day? How often? When did it start?

Time of week, month, year?

PS ERC

Page 3

What changed before the problem started?

Changes to electric power system? New equipment? Equipment relocated?

PS ERC

Have user keep a log

Date Time Equipment Problem Observations, notes

Compare with utility operation and service logs

PS ERC

Page 4

Walk through the facility

List disturbing loads List susceptible loads Talk with people as you go

PS ERC

Inspect feeder
Trim trees Check recorders for activity Transformers Capacitors Fuses Connections

PS ERC

Page 5

Get wiring diagrams

Rooftop HVAC Unit Elevators

Transformer 45 kVA Main Panel Transformer 75 kVA

Office Equipment

Office Equipment

Office Equipment

Exterior Lighting

Interior Lighting

Heating

Identify connections among disturbing and affected loads

PS ERC

Inspect and repair facility wiring and grounding

National Electrical Code

Correct safety problems first

Powering and Grounding Sensitive Electronic Equipment (IEEE 1100, the Emerald Book)
Use Figure 6-1 forms
PS ERC

Page 6

Replace equipment with duplicate if possible

If replacement works, the problem isnt power quality.

PS ERC

Ask for help from equipment design engineer

Describe problem first by phone then fax or e-mail

PS ERC

Page 7

Most problems will be solved by now.

PS ERC

Still no solution?
Measure power quality
Digital multimeter (true rms reading) Wiring and grounding survey equipment Oscilloscope Power quality monitor Field strength meter Spectrum analyzer

PS ERC

Page 8

Power quality analysis technique

Begin at affected equipment Move away from affected equipment to locate source Measure at service entrance to determine if source is inside facility Measure on transformer primary (distribution feeder) to determine if utility or another customer is source Connect monitor to phone line for long-term remote operation if no disturbance is detected
PS ERC

Simulate if necessary

Actual

Simulated

n n PS ERC

Duplicate disturbance and effects to verify cause Safely test various solutions before implementing

Page 9

Specify solution
Do not allow a vendor to specify equipment (you may get something you dont need) Instead: Specify the equipment needed, then request quotes from several vendors
PS ERC

Summary
Mediate - people will be frustrated Talk to the people using the equipment Fix NEC problems - power quality will improve Call equipment designers for help Specify the needed solution

PS ERC

Page 10