What is a Power Quality Problem?

What is a Power Quality Problem?

A power quality problem is :

“Any occurrence manifested in voltage, current or

frequency deviations which results in failure or
misoperation of end-use equipment”

Power quality equation:

Electrical Disturbances + Path + Vulnerable Equipment
= Power Quality Problems
 What is a Power Quality Problem?

What is a Power Quality Problem?

Does these voltage waveforms represent PQ
Problems?

Only if they cause equipment to misoperation or fail

 Importance of power Quality

Importance of Power Quality

►Electricity is a product - The characteristics of the product must be defined.

►Equipment is more sensitive - The perceived quality is related to the

impacts on equipment.

►Equipment is interconnected – An impact on one piece of equipment can

impact the whole process.

►Equipment produces more harmonics - As more and more loads use power
electronics, the concerns for harmonics continue to increase.

►The changing utility industry often makes it difficult to identify who is

responsible for power quality.
 Importance of power Quality

Importance of Power Quality

►Power quality problems impact us more often – New equipment:

More efficient, more features, but also more sensitive and probably “always on”

►Emphasis on efficiency:
Increased use of power electronics, 24/7 production streams operating
at 100% capacity, increased use of automation and use of capacitors on
distribution lines to reduces losses

►Increased customer awareness:

Clocks as PQ monitors, “always on equipment”

►Interconnected/interdependent systems:
We are increasingly dependent on computers that may be far away –
Business network and building automation
 Power Quality Definitions

► “Any power problem manifested in voltage, current or frequency

deviations that results in failure or mis-operation of customer operation”

► “Any deviations to the magnitude of frequency of the ideal sinusoidal

voltage waveform can be regarded as power quality disturbances”

► “Power quality is the degree to which both the utilization and delivery
of electric power affects the performances of electrical equipment”
 Standard Defining Power Quality Issues

► Part 1: General (IEC Pub 61000-1)

- fundamental principles, definitions, terminology

► Part 2: Environment (IEC Pub 61000-2)

-description, classification and compatibility levels

► Part 3: Limits (IEC Limits 61000-3)

- emission and immunity limits

-► Part 4: Testing and measurement (IEC Pub 61000-4)

techniques for conducting

► Part 5: Installation and mitigation (IEC Guide 61000-5)

- installation guidelines, mitigation methods and devices
 IEEE Standards and Committees

►IEEE
- IEEE 1159-1995 Power Quality definitions and monitoring
- IEEE Standard coordinating committee 22
- IEEE 519-1992 Harmonics
- IEEE 1250 Voltage Quality Issues
- IEEE 1346 Voltage Sags and Equipment compatibility
- IEEE 1546 Voltage Sag Indices
- IEEE 1409 Custom Power
- IEEE 1100 Emerald Book- Guidelines for Supplying Sensitive Equipment
 Power Quality Variations

► Two major categories of Power Quality Variations

► Steady State Variations
- Voltage Regulation
- Unbalance
- Flicker
- Harmonic Distortion
► Disturbances
- Transients
- Sags/Swells
- Interruptions
 Steady State Power Quality Variations

► Voltage Regulation (Long Duration Variations)

► Unbalance
► Flicker
► Waveform Distortion (Harmonics)
Variations lasting longer than one minute
Statistical characterization
 Sources of Power Quality Problems

► Supply / Utility Side

► End – User Side

► Natural Causes
 Supply / Utility Causes

► Capacitor Switching- Energization of a capacitor bank results in an

immediate drop in system voltage toward zero, followed by fast voltage
recovery or overshoot.

► Circuit Switching- Energizing a circuit (line or cable) can create a

transient over-voltage similar to that generated by capacitor switching

► Transformer Energizing- Energizing devices with magnetic core such as

power transformers will result in inrush current that are rich in harmonic
components. Transformer inrush current typically decays over a period on the
order of one second.
 Customer / End Users causes

► Use of electronic loads that use static power converters which

draw very distorted input current e.g. current harmonics.

► Use of large motors that draw big inrush current during start-up
and causes voltage sag/dip.

► Installation problems due to poor workmanship, as a result of

cost-cutting operation.

► Poor design specifications, poor grounding system and etc.

► Unauthorized changes to original specification or making

extension without notifying local utility.
 Natural Causes

► Fault resulting in over voltages and over currents may occur

in the utility system typically due to lighting, constructions,
accidents, high winds tree or animal innervations.

► Temporary faults may be caused by momentary contact with

tree limbs, lighting flasover and animal contact.

► Permanent faults are those which result in repairs,

maintenance or equipment replacement before voltage can
be restored.
 Categories of Power Quality
Categories Typical Duration Typical Voltage Magnitude
►Impulse Transients --- ---
►Oscillatory Transients
i) Low Frequency 0.3 – 50 msec 0 – 4 p.u
ii) Medium Frequency 20 microsec 0 – 8 p.u
iii) High Frequency 5 microsec 0 – 4 p.u
►Short Duration Variations
i) Instantaneous – Sag/Swell 0.5-30 cycles/0.5-30 cycles 0.1-0.9/1.1-1.8 p.u
ii) Momentary – Interruption 0.5-3 cycles-3 secs/ 30 cycles- <0.1 p.u /0.1-0.9 p.u /
/Sag/Swell -3secs/ 30 cycles -3secs 1.1-1.4 p.u
iii) Temporary - Interruption 3 secs- 1 minute/ 3 secs- <0.1 p.u /0.1-0.9 p.u /
/Sag/Swell -1 minute/ 3 secs-1 minute 1.1-1.2 p.u
►Long Duration Variations
i) Interruption, sustained >1 minute 0.0 p.u
ii) Under voltage >1 minute 0.8-0.9 p.u
iii) Overvoltage >1 minute 1.1-1.2 p.u
►Waveform Distortion
i) Harmonics steady state 0-20%
ii) Noise steady state 0-1%
►Voltage Fluctuations intermittent 0.1- 7%
 Power Disturbances

► IEEE Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electrical Power Quality, defines

disturbances as interruptions, sags and swell, long duration variations, impulsive
transients, oscillatory transients, harmonic distortion, voltage fluctuation and noise.

►A. Interruptions
An interruption is defined as the complete loss of supply voltage or load current.

►B. Sags and Swell

Sags and swells are grounded by IEEE 1159 under the general heading of short duration
variations Which are disturbances with duration less than 30 cycles. A sag is defined as a short
duration, temporary voltage drop with duration between 0.5 and 30 cycles and having a typical
,magnitude in the 0.1 to 0.9 per unit range.

A swell is similarly defined as a short duration, temporary voltage rise with duration
between 0.5 and 30 cycles and with typical magnitude between 1.1 and 1.8 per unit.
 Power Disturbances

►C. Long Duration Variations

Long Duration variations can be be either overvoltages or undervoltagees. The key
characteristic for this type of disturbance is that it lasts longer than one minute.

►D. Impulsive Transients

An impulsive transients is a sudden, non-power frequency change in
the steady condition of the voltage, current, or both. Also a key point in recognizing
this of disturbance is its characteristic of being unidirectional in polarity.

►E. Oscillatory Transients

An oscillatory transients is defined as a voltage or current whose instantaneous value
changes polarity rapidly. These transients can be categorised by their frequency as
low frequency ( with components between 5 kHz and 500 kHz and 5 MHz). This
disturbance is also characterised and recognized as having a decaying oscillation.
 Power Disturbances

►F. Harmonic Distortion

Harmonic distortion is observed when the sinusoidal voltages or currents have frequencies
that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency being supplied. This distortion is
continuous and the most common result is wanted heating in the electrical system.

►G. Voltage Fluctuations or Flicker

Voltage fluctuations are defined as a series of random voltage changes, the magnitude of
which does not exceed the voltage range of 0.95 to 1.05 per unit. The changes are the result
of rapidly varying load, the most common example being the use of an arc furnace.

►H. Noise
Noise is considered as unwanted electrical signals that are superimposed upon the power
system voltage or current. This disturbance is continuous and exhibit broad-band
frequency components.
 SAGS

Instantaneous Voltage sag

SAGS

►What : Low voltage condition on

one or more phases

►Why : Starting large loads,

ground faults, utility Momentary Voltage sag
switching, lightning, etc.

►Effect: Hardware damage

 SWELL

SWELL

►What : High voltage condition

on one or more phases

►Why : Rapid load reduction,

utility switching, etc.

►Effect: Hardware damage

 TRANSIENTS

Oscillatory Transients
TRANSIENTS
►What : Transients overvoltage
are non-repetitive,
short duration

►Why : Capacitor switching, Impulsive Transients

PWM type ASDS,
Lightning, etc.

►Effect: Hardware damage

equipment misoperation
 HARMONICS

HARMONICS
►What : Periodic distortion of the
voltage or current
waveform

►Why : Transformers, non-linear

reactors, arc furnaces,
power electronics
equipments, etc.

►Effect: Hardware damage,

equipment misoperation
 NOTCHING

NOTCHING

►What : Unwanted electrical signals

that are superimposed upon
the power system voltage or
current.
►Why : Caused by converter
commutation

►Effect: Hardware damage,

equipment misoperation
 FLICKER

FLICKER
►What : A special concern related
to the response of lighting
and human perception

►Why : Variable loads, arc

furnaces

►Effect: Irritation of human eyes,

reduce life span of
electronics and cathode ray
tube.