Fundamentals of Electric Power Quality

S. Santoso, The University of Texas at Austin

Introduction to Electric Power Quality

 Concept of electric power quality
 Common definition of power quality
 Root cause of PQ problems: current and impedance
 Power quality in utility distribution systems
 Cost of PQ disturbances
 Grid 2030 Vision for PQ

References:
1. S. Santoso, Fundamentals of Electric Power Quality, Winter 2010.
2. R. C Dugan, M. F. McGranaghan, S. Santoso, W. Beaty,
Electrical Power Systems Quality, McGraw Hill 2012.
 Concept of Power Quality and Reliability

Recloser
R
Transmission
system
115 kV/13.8 kV Sensitive
load

Consider a situation: A thunderstorm occurs, tree branches come in contact

with line conductors causing a short circuit fault. Overcurrent protective devices
such as the substation circuit breaker or midline recloser responds to clear the
short-circuit condition. Since the fault is close to the recloser, let’s assume the
recloser trips. As a result, customers downline from the recloser experience a
momentary interruption. As soon as the short-circuit condition clears and the
recloser recloses, power returns to normal.

Fundamentals of Electric Power Quality (S. Santoso) Page - 2

 Concept of Power Quality

From the reliability perspective, the utility power system performs its purpose
successfully as designed. The recloser is capable of clearing the short-circuit
condition, and as a result nothing fails and no customer is interrupted.

Reliability
• Capability of a system to perform its purpose adequately at designed levels within its
operating environment for a specified period of time.
• It is measured in terms of probability that the system will perform successfully without
failure: probability of survival.

SAIFI – System average interruption frequency index (number of interruptions on the utility
system): SAIFI = 1
ASAI – Average system availability index per year. Example: 8759 hours of available
service in a year,
ASAI = (8759/8760) = 99.99% or colloquially having a reliability of four nines.

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 Concept of Power Quality and Reliability
Power Quality
** How well equipment or customer loads perform their functions in the electrical
environment provided by a utility power system.

** It is defined in terms of electromagnetic compatibility:

Capability of a device or equipment to perform its purpose adequately in the presence of

electrical noise (immunity) and without introducing intolerable electromagnetic disturbances
to the environment in which the system operates (emission).

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 Common Definitions of Power Quality
• Definitions of power quality are found in technical standards
developed by IEEE and IEC
– IEEE Std 1100-2005 and IEEE Std 1159-2009
• “the concept of powering and grounding of electronic
equipment in a manner that is suitable to the operation of the
equipment and compatible with the premise wiring system
and other connected equipment”
– IEC 61000-1-1
• “the ability of an equipment or system to function
satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without
introducing intolerable electromagnetic disturbances to
anything in that environment”

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 Root Causes of Power Quality Disturbances
Mismatch,
Incompatible
Load’s Utility Supply
Electrical Electrical
Requirements Characteristics

Demand a near perfect

sinusoidal voltage
waveform

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 Root causes: Current and Impedance
• Equipment failures or misoperations are caused by significant
deviations in the voltage waveshape
• Voltage is influenced by the current flowing through the system
impedance
– When the waveshape of current passing through the impedance
deviates significantly, the voltage waveshape will be impacted.

Utility Customer

Fundamentals of Electric Power Quality (S. Santoso) Page - 7

 Root causes: Current and Impedance

voltage drop V1 (t )  I1Z s sin(1t  1 )

perfect
voltage waveshape
Utility Customer
Bus
i (t )  I1 sin(1t )

Vload (t )  Vs  I1 Z s sin( 1t  1 )

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 Root causes: Current and Impedance
V1  I1Z s sin(1t  1 )
voltage drops {V n


I n sin( n1t   n )( R  jnX )

perfect n 3, 5, 7 ,...

voltage waveshape
Utility Customer
Bus

i (t )  I1 sin(1t )  I n
n 3, 5, 7 ,...
sin( n1t )

  
Vload  Vs  I1 Z s sin( 1t  1 )    I n sin( n1t   n )( R  jnX ) 
 n  3, 5, 7 ,... 

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 PQ in Distribution Systems
PQ disturbances Central
generating station
generally take place in 18 - 24 kV
distribution systems rather
than in transmission Transmission system
230 - 765 kV
systems
• Electrically weaker, Tie-line to
other power
larger impedance systems

• More equipment and

customers
115 kV Subtransmission system

Large industrial
loads

Distribution system
13.8 kV

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 Solving Power Quality Problems
• Current:
– Harmonic currents: blocking or prevent excessive harmonic
currents from entering the power system.
– Short-circuit currents: clear or interrupt short-circuit currents as
rapidly as possible.
– Lightning: blocking lightning impulse currents from entering the
power system.
• Impedance:
– Reduce line impedances and avoid resonance condition.

Got ideal solutions to all PQ problems ?

Technologies to get rid of offending currents

Technologies to get rid of system impedances

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 Cost of PQ Disturbances:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 2004

Momentary:
Understanding the Cost of Power Interruptions to U.S. 30 cycles - 3 seconds
Electricity Consumers, Ernest Orlando Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, 9/2004

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 Cost of PQ Disturbances: EPRI/CEIDS 2001

• Power outages (momentary

and sustained interruptions):
– $104 billion to $164 billion
a year
• Power quality phenomena:
(transients, sags, harmonics)
– $15 billion to $24 billion

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 Grid 2030 Vision
• Grid 2030:
– Abundant, affordable
– Clean, efficient, reliable
– Anytime anywhere

Source: “Grid 2030” – a national vision for electricity’s second 100

years

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 Grid 2030 Vision for PQ

Source: “Grid 2030” – a national vision for electricity’s second 100 years
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