POWER QUALITY MONITORING

Growing service quality expectations and reduced possibilities for grid enforcements make
advanced distribution automation (ADA) an increasingly necessary development for network
operators and the next large step in the evolution of the smart grid for power systems. The
management of the distribution system is mainly based on the information collected from the
power flows by an integrated monitoring system. This enables real- time monitoring of grid
conditions for the power system operators. It also enables automatic reconfiguration of the
network to optimize the power delivery efficiency and to reduce the extent and duration of
interruptions. The basic part of the monitoring system infrastructure is based on sensors,
transducers, Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) and (revenue) meters collecting information
throughout the distribution system. A number of network operators have already proposed that
the smart grid of the future should include:
• Network monitoring to improve reliability.
• Equipment monitoring to improve maintenance.
• Product (power) monitoring to improve PQ.
In order to achieve these goals, the actual distribution system infrastructure (especially meters
and remotely controlled IEDs) should be used to gather as much information as possible related
to network, equipment and product (i.e. power quality and reliability) to improve the overall
performance of distribution system. Among the most important ADA operating systems, that a
smart grid will include, it can be mentioned:
• Volt & var control (VVC).
• Fault location (FL).
• Network reconfiguration or self-healing.
Network operators with an ambitious energy efficiency program have focused on two targets:
• Capacitor banks installation.
• Voltage control.
There is also another important goal: to reduce the duration of interruptions. To answer to these
challenges, pilot projects are being conducted on conservation voltage reduction and fault
location based on power quality related measurements provided by IEDs and revenue meters.
The VVC system requires a permanent monitoring of the voltage magnitude (averaged over 1 to
5 min) at the end of the distribution feeder and the installation of switched capacitor banks.
Besides that, the monitoring allows the detection of power quality disturbances such as long
duration under voltages and over-voltages, and voltage and current unbalance. Basically, the
voltage regulation system at the substation is replaced with an intelligent system that uses
network measurements to maintain a voltage magnitude for all customers within the acceptable
upper and lower limits. The VVC system also analyzes the reactive-power requirements of the
network and orders the switching of capacitor banks when required. An important goal is to
prevent potential power quality problems due to the switching operations of capacitor banks
(with rating up to 1.2 MVAR). Another goal was to evaluate the joint impact of the VVC system
and voltage dips occurring on the grid. The results of the study indicate that the impact can be
quantified by two effects:
• Increasing number of shallow voltage dips is expected. Voltage reduction from 2 to 4% is
obtained due to VVC system. Added to this is the voltage drop due to the fault: drops of 6 to
10% (not counted as dips) become drops of 10 to 12% (which are counted as dips).
• Equipment malfunctioning or tripping, the joint contribution of the VVC system and the
disturbance brings the residual voltage level below a critical threshold, around 70% of the
nominal voltage for many devices. Fault location is based either on a voltage drop, fault location
technique that uses waveforms from distributed power quality measurements along the feeder, or
on a fault current technique based on the measurement of the fault current at the substation.
According to the average error in locating the fault with the first technique was less than 2%, in
terms of the average main feeder length. An accurate fault-location technique results in a
significant reduction in the duration of (especially) the longer interruptions. The information
collected by the fault location system can also be used for calculating dip related statistics and
help to better understand the grid behavior. The third application, network reconfiguration or
self-healing, is based either on local intelligence (belonging to major distribution equipment
controllers) or on decisions taken at the power system control centre, which remotely controls
and operates the equipment used for network reconfiguration (re-closers and switches). The
impact of these applications on the distribution network and its customers is continuously under
evaluation. The infrastructure belonging to ADA systems can be shared by a power-quality
monitoring system capable of real time monitoring. Depending on the type of ADA application
or system, the monitoring can be done either at low-voltage or at medium-voltage level. In the
first case monitoring devices may belong to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and in
the second case they may belong to the distribution major equipment itself (i.e. controllers). The
smart grid will allow a continuous power-quality monitoring that will not improve directly the
voltage quality but will detect quality
problems helping to mitigate them.

Figure 2: Components of a wide area PQ monitoring system

EMC AND VOLTAGE QUALITY IN SMART GRID

EMC – Electromagnetic Compatibility

The physical characteristic of Smart Grids technologies with an increased incorporation of

potentially sensitive electronics has naturally implications with respect to Electromagnetic
Compatibility – EMC. The satisfactory function of electrical and electronic equipment with
respect to electromagnetic disturbances is the aim of EMC. The IEC – International Electro-
technical Commission defines Electromagnetic Compatibility as “the ability of an equipment or
system to function satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without introducing
intolerable electromagnetic disturbances to anything in that environment”. In the European
Union EMC Directive “equipment and system” of IEC corresponds to the EU term equipment,
where equipment is subdivided into apparatus and fixed installation. Electromagnetic
disturbances may be radiated or conducted and electrical/electronic equipment may potentially
be sensitive to any or to both of these types of disturbances. Disturbances are in turn subdivided
into a number of low and high frequency phenomena, where IEC defines low frequency up to
and including 9 kHz.

Relation between Voltage Quality and EMC

Both IEC and EU define EMC to cover electromagnetic phenomena from zero hertz.
Furthermore the IEC defines the following principal electromagnetic conducted phenomena:
Conducted low-frequency phenomena:
• Harmonics, inter-harmonics.
• Signals superimposed on power lines.
• Voltage fluctuations.
• Voltage dips and interruptions.
• Voltage unbalance.
• Power frequency variations.
• Induced low frequency voltages.
• DC component in AC networks.
Conducted high-frequency phenomenon:
• Induced voltages or currents.
• Unidirectional transients.
• Oscillatory transients.

Voltage Quality can be seen as an umbrella for deviations from ideal voltage conditions at a site
in a network. This is equivalent to electromagnetic disturbances of the voltage at the site. Only in
case of no disturbances, the Voltage Quality is perfect. Electromagnetic disturbances are defined
as electromagnetic phenomenon that may degrade the performance of equipment. Adequate
Voltage Quality contributes to the satisfactory function of electrical and electronic equipment in
terms of EMC.E.M. disturbances as imperfect Voltage Quality at a site in a network can be
regarded as electromagnetic emission from the network. According to the EMC, Directive
network is equipment. This is in line with the original name of IEC Technical Committee (TC)
77 which was “EMC between electrical equipment including networks”; now simply EMC. The
technical function of an electrical network is electromagnetic energy transfer with adequate
Voltage Quality at its sites, i.e. at PCC. Similarly, immunity of an electrical network can be seen
as the ability to absorb disturbing emissions such as distorted current with adequate Voltage
Quality while transferring energy, i.e. with satisfactory function, e.g. low order harmonics and
voltage fluctuations, network strength is relevant for network immunity. Geo-magnetically
induced current caused by space weather is another example of electromagnetic immunity
relevant to an electric grid to keep its function satisfactory. The importance of Voltage Quality to
achieve EMC is clearly stated in a report from CEER – Council of European Energy Regulators.
“Due to the nature of electricity, voltage quality is affected by all the parties connected to the
power system. When voltage quality is too poor, a key question is whether the disturbance (e.g. a
harmonic disturbance) from a customer’s installation in to the power system is too big or
whether the power system (the short circuit power) at the point of connection is too weak. The
aim should be to have an electromagnetic environment, where electrical equipment and systems
function satisfactorily without introducing in tolerable electromagnetic disturbances to other
equipment. This situation is referred to as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).”

ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY IN POWER SYSTEMS

A Power System is exemplified in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Power system made-up of fixed installation

Applying the concept of fixed installation, there is principally no difference between electrical
networks or connected equipment in terms of electromagnetic disturbances. Both networks and
connected equipment can emit electromagnetic disturbances and immunity is similarly relevant
in this context. A network may well be connected to other network(s) which may emit
disturbances or be affected by disturbances in terms of imperfect Voltage Quality. Lack of
immunity can also degrade the very basic function of the grid of energy transfer. One such case
is where energy transfer is interrupted due to interference caused by geo-magnetically induced
currents. Disturbances can propagate from a network to connected equipment or vice versa as
presented in Figure. Disturbances may also propagate between networks as illustrated in Figure
and emission from a network may be seen as a cumulative effect of emissions from a large
number of connected equipment in terms of imperfect Voltage Quality at a specific site.
 Figure : Propagation of an electromagnet disturbance between the network and equipment
connected on the network

Figure: Propagation of an electromagnet disturbance between networks

TOWARDS CONVERGENCE OF POWER QUALITY AND EMC

As expressed in 1990s, 10 national committees of IEC initiated standardization actions in the
direction towards convergence of Power Quality and EMC. The fruits of their efforts are the
EMC standard on Power Quality measurements, from where Power Quality principally can be
seen as Voltage Quality and Current Quality. The innovative and sensible approach of the EMC
Directive, in which electrical networks are considered, equipment is a basis for a holistic and
fruitful application of EMC within power systems

SMART GRID, EMC AND POWER QUALITY

EMC including Power Quality is one of several components needed to realize Smart Grid, which
is illustrated in Figure.
It is desirable to consider EMC including Power Quality a prerequisite for power systems, i.e.
being a fundamental technical requirement prior to any market regulations etc. As a
consequence, the regulatory system for parties responsible for electrical networks should be
designed accordingly. As for electrical safety, EMC should be a minimum performance level to
be considered in the design of power systems. Network regulatory systems should consequently
make it possible to pass on costs for EMC including Power Quality to users of networks as is
done for electrical safety.

PROPOSAL ON ACTIONS WITHIN STANDARDIZATION

The following actions of the standardization communities are suggested to support EMC
including Power Quality for Smart Grid:
1. Standardize electromagnetic compatibility levels for disturbances in terms of Voltage Quality
for all standard voltage levels of public electrical power networks. This means extending the IEC
61000-2- series to convergence of voltage levels from 230 V up to the highest transmission
voltages of public national electrical networks.
2. Standardize how to define planning levels, i.e. limits of electromagnetic disturbances in terms
of Voltage Quality at sites in electrical networks, based on compatibility levels.
3. Standardize how to apportion available immunity of electrical networks in order to meet
planning levels, i.e. explain how to fairly allocate the ability of networks to absorb distorting
current emissions among present and possibly forthcoming connected equipment at sites in
networks. Connected equipment may well be on other network(s).
4. Produce a technical document facilitating the work of network operators to fulfill the EU EMC
Directive requirements on protection requirements with respect to emission and immunity of
networks being fixed installations.

CONCLUSION
Smart Grid can enable more renewable and efficient use of electricity. Smart Grid is expected to
boost an increased use of electronically based equipment in the electrical power system. To
realize Smart Grid the following issues are important to consider:
1. EMC is essential for a robust Smart Grid; both with respect to radiated and to conducted
disturbances.
2. Power Quality is a means to achieve EMC between the Smart Grid and connected equipment.
3. Electrical networks including Smart Grids are equipments.
4. Protection requirements, i.e. on emission and immunity, are valid also for electrical networks.
5. Protection requirements on networks and connected equipment should be economically fairly
balanced.
6. The standardization community is recommended to develop a complete set of standards for
EMC in power systems including Power Quality.
7. With a view of EMC as a technical issue where cost optimization to a large extent is made in
the standardization community, regulatory frameworks should be designed without links to
market mechanisms, i.e. similar to handling of electrical safety.