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11 - Chapter 2 PDF
11 - Chapter 2 PDF
Chapter 2
Power Quality Problems
2.1. Introduction
electrical faults.
factor for competitiveness in every sector. The most critical areas are
A power surge takes place when the voltage is 110% or more above
turned off. Under these conditions, computer systems and other high
lightning strikes, but there can be other causes as well. The effects on
circuit boards.
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2.3.3. Transients
1. Oscillatory.
2. Impulsive.
system faults, and often the result of switching on loads with high
RFI, EMI and other frequency problems can cause equipment to lock-
fault. Short circuit refers to a condition where two "hot" lines are
A short circuit causes very high fault currents to flow through the
wiring and all devices between the point of the short and the incoming
power line. Left unchecked, a short circuit can very quickly lead to
imperative that protective breakers and fuses be of the proper size and
Clearing.
2.3.8. Blackouts
can cause excess wear on certain devices like motors as they will tend
number of factors beyond the end user's control. Electric utilities try
factors like weather, high demand and others can cause the utility
voltage to fall within a ±10% range. Even under ideal conditions, most
customers will see a drop in utility voltage levels over the course of the
or 4 PM.
2.3.10. Harmonic
The UPS does not actually add distortion, but because the UPS
2.3.11. Notching
2.3.12. Swell
banks on.
brief increases in voltage over the same time range. Longer periods of
neutral connection.
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terminals and equipment terminals. Voltage sags can arrive from the
Equipment rides through very brief and deep sags, or longer but
shallower sags. The voltage dip performance varies for different kinds
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assessments of reliability.
and computers. Some of the equipments trip when the RMS voltage
drops below 90% for more than one or two cycles. Voltage sag is not
sags are more than interruptions the total damage due to sags are still
voltage for about two cycles. After these two cycles the voltage comes
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back to the pre-sag voltage. This magnitude and duration are the
Time in cycles
Figure 2.6: A voltage sag due to a short circuit fault
voltage in one phase in time domain.
Most of the voltage sags are due to short circuit faults. Voltage
of the existing monitors obtain the sag magnitude from the Root Mean
Square (RMS) voltages. But this situation may change in the future.
There are several alternative ways of quantifying the voltage level. Two
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frequency) component of the voltage and the peak voltage over each
used to obtain the sag magnitude. But during voltage sag this is often
not the case. Knowing the magnitude and duration of a voltage sag, it
performance.
2.5. Harmonics
linear loads, these waveforms are often distorted. This deviation from
current sine wave does not have distortions and harmonics, and a
distortion, the term Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is used. The term
highly distorted current waveforms also have a very poor power factor;
thus loads use excess power system capacity and cause overloading.
using line-side chokes (reactors) on the drive. The chokes limit the
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rate of rise and the peak value of the line current, reducing the
electric motors, negative sequence harmonics (i.e. 5th, 11th and 17th)
and cause not only overheating but also mechanical oscillations in the
3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, etc.). The troublesome harmonics for single phase
loads are the 3rd and odd multiples of the 3rd harmonics (9th, 15th,
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etc.). These harmonics are called “triplens”. Since the phase ‘A’ triplen
harmonics are in phase with each other, they add on the neutral
are a considerable part of the total load (more than 20%),. Another
with more than 20% current THD. Pulse Width Modulation Adjustable
checks the harmonics but also improves the power factor and saves
The series fault may occur with one or more broken conductors
fuses or circuit breakers which do not open all phases, i.e., one or two
phases of the circuit may open and the other phases may be closed.
frequency and fall in current in the faulted phase. The series faults
fault.
fault and all other faults are unsymmetrical faults. The symmetrical
2.8. Conclusions
line noise, short circuit, black outs, under voltage or brown out,