Mapua University

EE 249-Smart Grids

Part III- Introduction to Power Quality

by:
Michael C.Pacis, PhD
 OBJECTIVES
After the discussion, the students will learn
the ff:
a. The power quality problems
b. Types of disturbances
c. Practical solutions to power quality
problems
 What are power interruptions?

- on power critical applications...

means…
• System downtime
• Black screen
+ +
• System lock-up
• Lost or corrupted data
• Keyboard lock-up
• Hardware corruption
 POWER QUALITY PROBLEM

"Any power problem manifested in voltage,

current, or frequency deviation that results in
failure or mis-operation of utility or end-user
equipment."
 POWER QUALITY:
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION

“It´s a long way”

from
power producer
Causes: to end-user
• Transmission line failure
• Flash-over from lightning
• High voltage switches “re-closing”
• Disturbances caused by wind generators
• Cable failures
• Etc……..
Power quality also influenced by...
UPS

Load
Disturbances

Motors
 “The Perfect Wave”
- the optimum power condition...

Constant Clean Power

 Ideal AC Voltage or Current
e = Em sin wt

Em

The waveform is continuous

Conforms to the graphical representation of a sine function as defined in
mathematics, e = Em sin wt
Repeats after every period of t (16.67ms); its frequency, f = 1/t
Its peak Em does not exceed a specified value
 Voltage or Current Deviation

A deviation of the voltage or current from its

ideal shape or waveform may or may not cause
a power quality problem
Electric Network
Fault/s anywhere
in the network
may result to
power
disturbances of
varying magnitude
and duration
depending on the
type and proximity
of fault.
 Types of Power System Disturbances
1. Impulsive Transient
2. Oscillatory Transient
3. Voltage Sag
4. Voltage Swell
5. Over Voltage
6. Voltage Unbalance
7. Voltage Fluctuation
8. Short Duration Interruption
9. Sustained Interruption
10. Harmonics
General Classes of Power Quality
Problems
 Impulsive Transient

A sudden, non-power frequency change of

voltage or current in one direction, the
duration of which is less that half a cycle.

• Lightning
• Electrostatic discharge
• Load switching
 Oscillatory Transient
A sudden, non-power frequency change of
voltage or current that involves two
directions, the duration of which is less than
half a cycle.

• Lightning
• Line/cable switching
• Load switching
• Capacitor switching
• Transformer energization
Oscillatory Transient

Capacitor Switching
 Voltage Sag
A decrease in RMS voltage between 10%
to 90% of the nominal value for duration
from half cycle to 1 minute

1 minute
or less

Starting of electric motors

Switching “on” of large loads
Fault on either distribution, transmission, or generation
systems
 Voltage Sag

PerkinElmer Main - 6/3/2004 14:50:13.142

V RMS AB V RMS BC V RMS CA
460
• Nominal Voltage: 460V
450 • Magnitude: 88.41%
• Duration: 4 cycles
RMS Voltage (V)

440
• Cause: Fault on the
430 adjacent substation

420

410

0.000 0.025 0.050 0.075 0.100 0.125 0.150

Time (s)
EPRI/Electrotek PQView®
 Susceptibility Curve

Information Technology
Industry Council (ITIC)
curve was developed to
accurately reflect the
performance of computer-
type equipment.

It is generally applicable to
other equipment containing
solid-state devices.
 Voltage Swell
An increase in RMS voltage to between
110% and 180% of the nominal value for
durations from half cycle to 1 minute

less than
1 minute

•Switching “off” of large loads

•Switching “on” of capacitor bank
•Remote system faults
•Lightning
 Over Voltage
Increase in the RMS voltage greater than
110% of the nominal voltage for a duration
longer than 1 minute

more than 1 minute

•Inappropriate transformer tap setting

•Load dropping
•Continuously “on” capacitor bank
 Over Voltage

270.00

260.00

250.00
• Nominal Voltage:
230V
VAB • Cause:
Voltage

240.00

230.00
VBC Inappropriate tap
VCA setting
220.00
10%
210.00
-10%

200.00

Date
 Under Voltage
Decrease in the RMS voltage to less than
90% of the nominal voltage for a duration
longer than 1 minute

more than 1 minute

•Inappropriate transformer tap setting

•De-energized capacitor bank
•Over-loaded facilities
 Voltage Variation
Example No. 3.1
A standard 100-watt light bulb requires 120 volts to produce the
designed light output (measured in lumens). If the voltage drops to
108 volts (-10%), the light bulb still works but puts out less lumens
and is dimmer. If the voltage is removed as during a power outage,
the light goes out. Either a low voltage or complete power outage
does not damage the light bulb. If however the voltage rises to 130
volts (+10%), the light bulb will produce more lumens than it was
intended to, causing overheating and stress to the filament wire.
The bulb will fail much sooner than its expected design life

“therefore, we could conclude that as far as a standard light bulb is

concerned, a power quality issue that shortens bulb life is high
voltage. We could also conclude that low voltage or a power outage
would cause the lumen output to vary, which effects the intended
use of the bulb.”
 Voltage Variation
Example No. 3.2
• A CRT or monitor for a personal computer uses a 120 volt AC power
supply to convert the incoming voltage to specific DC voltages required to
run the monitor, these voltages include 5 VDC for logic circuits and high
voltage DC to operate the cathode ray tube (CRT).
• If the incoming voltage drops to 108 volts (-10%), the power supply is
designed to draw more current or amps to maintain the proper internal
voltages needed to operate the monitor. As a result of the higher current
draw, the power supply runs hotter and internal components are stressed
more.
• Although the operator of the monitor does not notice a problem, the long
term effect of running on low voltage is reduced reliability and increased
failures of the monitor. If the power drops below the operating range of
the power supply, the monitor will shut down.
 Voltage Variation
Example No. 3.2 (cont’d)
• If the voltage goes above 132 volts AC (+10%), the power supply will not
be able to regulate the internal voltages and internal components will be
damaged from high voltage

• “ therefore, we conclude that the power quality requirements for the PC

monitor are much higher than for a light bulb. Both high and low voltage
can cause premature failures. The economic issues are much greater for
the PC monitor in both replacement cost and utilization purposes.”
 Voltage Unbalance
Maximum deviation from the average of the
three-phase voltages divided by the average
of the three-phase voltages, usually
expressed in percent

•Unbalanced distribution of single phase loads

•Unstable system neutral
•One-phase out power supply
 Voltage Unbalance
Example 3.3 : given currents at phases A=768A B=841A
C=857A
Compute for the %unbalance of this system
•Solution
Ave. loading for 3 phases = 768+841+857 / 3 = 822A
Deviations from the average:
Dev @ phase A = 768-822 = -54A
Dev @ phase B = 841-822 = 19A
Dev @ phase C = 857-822 = 35A
% Unbalanced @ phase A = -54/822 * 100% = -6.56%
% Unbalanced @ phase B = 19/822 * 100% = 2.31%
% Unbalanced @ phase C = 35/822 * 100% = 4.26%
 Voltage Unbalance
CONCLUSION

The absolute value of the max deviation from the average

is 54A or 6.56% occurring at phase A. Based on theory,
the max deviation is the absolute value of the largest
deviation from the average, since the %unbalanced does
not exceed 10%, rearrangement or shifting of loads is not
necessary at the moment.
 Voltage Unbalance
NEGATIVE PHASE SEQUENCE (EXAMPLE 3.4)

Approximate
Sets of measured line voltage (V)
NPS %
410 415 420 1.5
405 415 425 3
405 415 415 1.5
395 415 435 6

Note: conditions. Keeping the system negative phase sequence voltage within limits
amounts to savings in capital (as otherwise equipment is derated) as well as energy
losses. IS: 325-1996 (clause 4.2) limits Negative Phase Sequence (NPS) of 1.5%
voltage.
 Voltage Unbalance
EXAMPLE 3.5

A 11 kV feeder has unbalance loads on A, B, C, phases as 100

A, 200 A, 150 A respectively. Find saving in losses if load is
balanced. The line conductor resistance is 4 Ω.
Solution
Losses = Ia2R + Ib2R + Ic2R where R is line phase resistance = 4 Ω
Unbalanced load losses = 1002 x 4 + 2002 x 4 + 1502 x 4
= 290000 W
On balancing, load on each phase will be 150 A
Balanced load = 1502 x 4 + 1502 x 4 + 1502 x 4
= 270000W
The loss savings = 290000 – 270000
= 20000 W
 Voltage Fluctuation
Series of random voltage changes, the
magnitude of which is between 90% to
110% of the nominal. This usually results
to light flicker

•Arc furnace
•Intermittent loads
•Motor starting
 Short Duration Interruption

A decrease to 10% or less of the supply

voltage for a period of time not exceeding 1
minute

less than
1 minute

Tripping of circuit breaker

 Sustained Interruption

A decrease to zero of the supply voltage for

a period of time in excess of 1 minute

more than
1 minute

Tripping of circuit breaker

 Harmonics

Sinusoidal voltages or currents having

frequencies that are integral multiple of the
power frequency.

•Non-linear loads
•Arch furnaces
•Unloaded transformers and motors
•Large power converters
 Power Quality Standards

• Philippine Distribution Code (PDC)

• Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers
(IEEE)
• American National Standards Institute
(ANSI)
• International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC)
 Power Quality Standards

•Voltage Variation Limit ±10% of nominal

•Voltage Unbalance Limit =<2.5%

•Voltage THD =<5.0%

•Short Term Flicker Severity <=1.0

•Long Term Flicker Severity <=0.8

 Power Quality Standards
Current Total Demand Distortion (TDD)

Reference:
– IEEE Std. 519-1992
Power Quality Problem
Solutions
 Transient Over-voltages
• Utility Lightning Protection
– Surge Arresters
– Overhead Shielding Wires

• End User Protection

– Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS)
– Choke Coils
– System Grounding
– Uninterruptible Power Supply
– Motor Generator Set

TVSS- a protective device for limiting transient voltages by diverting or limiting

surge current
TVSS
 Choke Coils

Choke Coils – an inductor used to block higher frequency AC in an electrical circuit

 Voltage Sags and Swells

Threshold Setting Adjustment

Motor Generator Set (M-G set)
Constant Voltage Transformer (CVT)
Static Voltage Regulator
Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR)
DVR – primary use of DVR is to minimize the voltage sags on lines that cater
sensitive equipments and sensitive loads.
Static Voltage Regulator- such type of regulator is called static voltage regulator.
Their circuit consists apparatus like transformers, capacitors, resistors, transistors,
magnetic amplifiers, etc. Such type of regulators do not have friction and wear loss
 Voltage Sags and Swells

Distribution Static Compensator

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Thyristor-Switched Capacitor Bank
Static Transfer Switch
 Motor-Generator Set

– provides electrical isolation

– 100,000 hrs operation before major overhaul
– tolerant to heat, dust, moisture, and other
environmental conditions
– low efficiency, 85% typical
 Motor-Generator Set

INDUCTION OR FLYWHEEL FOR

GENERATOR
SYNCHRONOUS MECHANICAL
MOTOR ENERGY STORAGE
 CVT

– relatively maintenance free

– no moving parts
– provides electrical isolation
– not effective for voltage sags below 50%
– Low efficiency
– Uses a ferroresonant effect which is an
oscillatory interchange of energy between a
capacitor and inductor.
 Static Voltage Regulator

– 4 msec voltage regulation typical

– 90% of nominal output voltage with 55% of
nominal input voltage
– Has a booster transformer, regulator
transformer and an electronic switching system
and a control system.
Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR)

– Designed to mitigate sags with magnitude 50%

of nominal for a duration of aprox 30 cycles
– ¼ cycle response time
 Distribution Static Compensator

Distribution Static Compensator

– Shunt connected alternating
synchronous voltage source
– Fast active power compensation
Distribution Static Compensator
 UPS
– back up time of up to 15 minutes
– easy to install
– efficiency of 80% to 95% depending on design

RECTIFIER /
LINE INVERTER LOAD
CHARGER

MANUAL
BYPASS
BATTERY
SWITCH
BANK
Thyristor-Switched Capacitor Bank

Thyristor-Switched Capacitor Bank

– Microprocessor controlled, thyristor-switched
shunt capacitor bank
– Maximum response time of 1 cycle
– Compensation every ½ cycle is achievable
 Static Transfer Switch

– Quarter of a cycle switching speed

– Requires double feed from two substations
– 100 to 3000 A, 3.3 to 35 kV standard sizes
 Sustained Power Interruption

• Preventive Maintenance
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
• Back-Up Generator
 Short Duration Interruption

v Motor Generator Set

v Dynamic Voltage Restorer
v Static VAR Compensator with Solid-State Breaker
and Storage
v Static Transfer Switch
v Uniterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
 Over-voltage / Under-voltage

 Transformer Tap Adjustment

 Constant Voltage Transformer (CVT)
 Distribution Voltage Regulator
 Motor-Generator Set
 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
 Voltage-Controlled Capacitor Bank
 On-Load-Tap Changer
Distribution Voltage Regulator
 Voltage Unbalance

• Re-distribution of Single-Phase Loads

• Tightening of Loose Connections
• System Neutral Integrity
 Voltage Fluctuation

• Static VAR Compensator

• Thryristor-Switched Capacitor Bank
 Harmonic Distortion

• Choke Coils
• Harmonic Filter
• Switched L-R-C Bank
• Static VAR Compensator
Low Voltage Harmonic Filter
High Voltage Harmonic Filter
 What is the best solution?

• Determine cost of losses due to power

disturbance
• Enumerate possible solutions
• Quantify the benefits of each solution
• Compare costs
• Implementation
 Think about it….

Even without buying PQ conditioning

equipment we may already be paying
for it from costs associated with
current problems that the equipment
is dealing with.