By:

Dr. Shazia Hasan

Asst. Professor, EEE Dept
1. Power Quality:
It is any deviation of the voltage or current waveform from its normal sinusoidal wave
shape.

2. Voltage quality:
Deviations of the voltage from a sinusoidal waveform.

3. Current quality:
Deviations of the current from a sinusoidal waveform.

4. Frequency Deviation:
An increase or decrease in the power frequency.

5. Impulsive transient:
A sudden, non power frequency change in the steady state condition of voltage or current
that is unidirectional in polarity.

6. Oscillatory transients:
A sudden, non power frequency change in the steady state condition of voltage or current
that is bidirectional in polarity.
7. DC Offset:
The presence of a DC voltage or current in an AC power system.

8. Noises:
An unwanted electric signal in the power system.

9. Long duration Variation:

A variation of the RMS value of the voltage from nominal voltage for a time greater than 1
min.

10. Short Duration Variation:

A variation of the RMS value of the voltage from nominal voltage for a time less than 1
min.

11. Sag:
A decrease in RMS value of voltage or current for durations of 0.5 cycles to 1 min.

12. Swell:
A Temporary increase in RMS value of voltage or current for durations of 0.5 cycles to 1
min.

13. Under voltage:

10% below the nominal voltage for a period of time greater than 1 min.

14. Over voltage:

10% above the nominal voltage for a period of time greater than 1 min.


15. Voltage fluctuation:
A cyclical variation of the voltage that results in flicker of lightning.

16. Voltage imbalance:

Three phase voltages differ in amplitude.

17. Harmonic:
It is a sinusoidal component of a periodic wave or quantity having a frequency that is an
integral multiple of the fundamental power frequency.

18. Distortion:
Any deviation from the normal sine wave for an AC quantity.

19. Total Harmonic Distortion:

The ratio of the root mean square of the harmonic content to the RMS value of the
fundamental quantity.

20. Interruption:
The complete loss of voltage on one or more phase conductors for a time greater than 1
min.
 Voltage Based power quality problem
◦ Power frequency variation
◦ Voltage swell
◦ Harmonics and inter-harmonics
◦ Voltage Unbalance
◦ Flicker
◦ Voltage sags and momentary interruption
◦ Transient

 Current Based power quality problem

◦ Reactive power compensation
◦ Voltage Regulation
◦ Current Harmonic
◦ Load Unbalance
◦ Neutral Current Compensation
 Transient type of power quality problem
◦ Impulsive or oscillatory Transient
◦ Sag
◦ Swell
◦ Power frequency variation
◦ Short duration voltage variation

 Steady state type of power quality problem

◦ Long duration voltage variation
◦ Waveform distortion
◦ Voltage unbalance
◦ Notch
◦ Flicker
◦ Load current unbalance
◦ Load harmonic current
 (Long-Duration Voltage Variations)
 Under-Voltage
 Over-Voltage
 Short-Duration Voltage Variations
 Dips (Sags) and Swells
 Transients
 Voltage Unbalance
 Waveform Distortion
 Harmonics
 DC offset
 Inter harmonics
 Noise
 It is the sudden change in the steady state operating condition of voltage, current or
both on a power line.

Transients can be classified into two categories:

1. Impulsive transient
2. Oscillatory Transient

 1. Impulsive Transient
An impulsive transient is a sudden non–power frequency change in the steady-state
condition of voltage, current, or both that is unidirectional in polarity (either positive or
negative).

• Impulsive transients are normally characterized by either rise and decay times.
Example , a 1.2 X 50-μs 2000-V Lightning stroke impulsive transient

 Cause :lightning strikes, electrostatic discharge (ESD),

switching inductive loads, or switching in power distribution
system.
 In the case of impulsive transients, its amplitude is the main
cause of problems.
 Impulsive transients can excite the natural frequency of
power system circuits and produce oscillatory transients.
 2. Oscillatory Transient
An oscillatory transient is a sudden, non–power frequency change in
the steady-state condition of voltage, current, or both, that includes
both positive and negative polarity values.

Causes: Due to the switching of power factor correction capacitors.

These occur when you turn off an inductive or capacitive load, such
as a motor or capacitor Bank.
Potential effects: Loss or corruption of data, possible damage, system
tripping.
Root-mean square (rms) voltage or current
deviations at power frequencies from their
nominal values for longer than 1 min.

• Over voltage
• Under Voltage
• Sustained Interruption
An overvoltage is an increase in the rms ac
voltage greater than 110 percent at the power
frequency for a duration longer than 1 min.

 Cause: Over voltages are usually the result of load

switching off
 Effects: Over voltage can cause motor to go into
saturation, breaker to trip, excessive energy use
 An under voltage is a decrease in the rms ac
voltage to less than 90 % at the power
frequency for a duration longer than 1 min.
 Typical value between 80-90%

 Causes: A load switching on or a capacitor

bank switching off can cause an under
voltage
 Effects: Motor over heating
 When the supply voltage has been zero for a
 period of time in excess of 1 min, the long-duration
voltage variation is considered a sustained
interruption.

 Voltage interruptions longer than 1 min are often

permanent and require human intervention to repair
the system for restoration.
 Causes: Equipment failure in power system network,
storm or objects striking lines or poles(tree, cars), fire
, Human error or failure of protective devices

 Effects: Stoppages of all equipment

 Interruption--a complete loss of voltage
 Sags (dips)--temporary voltage drops
 Swells--voltage rises
Interruption: is defined as a reduction in line-voltage or current to less than 10% of the
nominal, not exceeding 60 seconds in length.

The most common causes:

Power system faults, opening and automatic reclosure of protection devices, or circuit
breaker tripping, insulation faliure.
 Momentary 30 cycles – 3 seconds
 Temporary 3 seconds – 1 minute
 Sustained > 1 minute

Potential effects: loss of data, system damage and /or shutdown, tripping
of protective devices, stoppage of sensitive equipment like ASDs , PCs,PLCs
A brief decrease in the rms line voltage of 10 to 90% of nominal line
voltage.
The most Common causes: Faults on transmission or distribution
network, the starting of large motors and/or the -initial starting of
large loads (air conditioning systems),.

 Instantaneous 0.5 – 30 cycles

 Momentary 30 cycles – 3 seconds
 Temporary 3 seconds – 1 minute
Potential effects: System halts, loss of data, system damage and
/or shutdown, malfunction of micro coprocessor based
controllers (PCs,PLCs,ASDs etc)
A swell is a brief increase in rms line-voltage of 110 to 180%
of nominal line voltage.
causes: Start/ stop of a large load.
 Instantaneous 0.5 – 30 cycles
 Momentary 30 cycles – 3 seconds
 Temporary 3 seconds – 1 minute

Potential effects: Nuisance tripping, flickering of lights or

screens equipment damage/reduced life
 Causes: Large single phase loads on a three-phase circuit( induction furnaces), incorrect
distribution of loads by three-phase system
 Effects: Unbalance voltage can cause heating effect in transformers and neutral lines.
 A steady-state deviation from an ideal sine
wave of power frequency principally
characterized by the spectral content of the
deviation.
 DC offset
 Harmonics
 Inter harmonics
 Noise
 The presence of a dc voltage or current in an
ac power system is termed dc offset.
 Effects: It may saturate the transformer core
causing additional heating and loss of
transformer life.

DC Offset
 Harmonics are sinusoidal voltages or currents having frequencies
that are integer multiples of the frequency at which the supply
system is designed to operate.

 Cause: Harmonic distortion originates in the non-linear

characteristics of devices and non-linear loads on the power system.
 Effects: Neutral wires to over heat, Motors to overheat, Transformers
to overheat, Electronic Failures
  Anything that draws current in a nonlinear
manner
Non-linear loads create harmonic currents in addition to the fundamental frequency. The current waveform gets
distorted leading to distortion of the voltage waveform. Under these conditions, the voltage waveform is no longer
proportional to the current. The fundamental component is not a distortion component. So the total distortion is the
square root of the sum of the squares of all harmonic components and is expressed as a percentage of the fundamental
component and is called total harmonic distortion. The voltage distortion is the highest at the loads, since full system
impedance terminates at that point.

Static power converters used for

• Switched Mode Power Supplies

• Un interrupted power supply
• Variable Speed Drives
Voltage distortion is the result of distorted currents passing
through the linear, series impedance of the power delivery
system,
 A wave of any shape and amplitude can be
created by some combination of sine waves of
various amplitudes and frequencies

 No Longer Sine Wave

 Apparent Power (S)
 S=VrmsX Irms

Vrms = 𝑣 I
1 1
 = 𝐼
2 1 , ms 2 1

Root-mean-square (RMS) value of a non sinusoidal waveform,

using Fourier series

1 2 1
 𝑣𝑟𝑚𝑠 = σℎ𝑚𝑎𝑥
ℎ=1 ( 𝑣ℎ ) = 𝑣12 + 𝑣22 + 𝑣32 … …
2 2
0
 Average power( Active power)
If v(t) and i(t) contains harmonics
 Harmonic distortion levels are described by quantity, the total
harmonic distortion (THD), as a measure of the effective value
of harmonic distortion.
 THD can be calculated for either current or voltage.
 It is defined as the ratio of total harmonics in rms to the value
at fundamental rms frequency component in %

𝑉ℎ𝑟𝑚𝑠
=
𝑉1𝑟𝑚𝑠

𝐼ℎ𝑟𝑚𝑠
=
𝐼1𝑟𝑚𝑠
 THD can be misleading when analyzing current
harmonics.
 THD can be referenced to the amplitude of the
fundamental.
 The voltage fundamental value is always present in
non-faulted conditions.
 Not necessarily true for current.
 The current amplitude will fluctuate with the loads
impedance.
 As loads turn off, the fundamental current amplitude
decreases.
 If the current being drawn by the load is low (near
zero) then the THD value will appear to be very high.
 If the total harmonic current is 0.2A
 and the fundamental current being drawn by the load
is 200A
 THD will equal 3.16%
 THD = √(0.2/200) x 100 = 3.16%
 If the fundamental current being drawn by the load
then drops to 200mA then the THD will equal 100%
 THD = √(0.2/0.200) x 100 = 100%

 This is deceiving because the current THD level

appears to be high, but this is only because there is
little to no current being draw (no significant threat
to the system).
 IEEE 519-1992 establish recommended
guidelines for harmonic voltages on the utility
distribution system as well as harmonic
currents within the industrial distribution
system
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Short Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Instantaneous Sag 0.5 – 30 cycles
Momentary Sag 30 cycles – 3
sec
Temporary Sag 3 sec – 1 min
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Short Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Instantaneous Sag 0.5 – 30 cycles
Momentary Sag 30 cycles – 3
sec.
Temporary Sag 3 sec – 1 min.
Instantaneous Swell 0.5 – 30 cycles
Momentary Swell 30 cycles – 3
sec.
Temporary Swell 3 sec – 1 min.
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Short Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Instantaneous Sag 0.5 – 30 cycles
Momentary Sag 30 cycles – 3
sec.
Temporary Sag 3 sec – 1 min.
Instantaneous Swell 0.5 – 30 cycles
Momentary Swell 30 cycles – 3
sec.
Temporary Swell 3 sec – 1 min.
Momentary Interruptions 0.5 – 30 cycles
Temporary Interruptions 30 cycles – 3
sec.
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Long Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Sustained interruptions > 1 min
Under voltages > 1 min
Over voltages > 1 min
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Long Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Sustained interruptions > 1 min
Under voltages > 1 min
Over voltages > 1 min
Voltage imbalance Steady state
Waveform Distortion
 IEEE Categories
Std 1159-1995
Long Duration Typical
Variations Duration
Sustained interruptions > 1 min
Under voltages > 1 min
Over voltages > 1 min
Voltage imbalance Steady state
Waveform Distortion
DC offset Steady state
Harmonics Steady state
Inter harmonics Steady state

For Electric Utilities Control of Voltage and Prevention of Outages is Power

Quality
 Symmetrical component analysis is effectively
used to evaluate an unbalanced system.
 The three sequence networks are known as
the – positive sequence
 – negative sequence
 – zero sequence