Power Quality Terms

Active filter: Consists of a number of power electronic devices for eliminating harmonic distortion.
Common mode voltage: The noise voltage that appears equally from current carrying conductor to
ground.
Coupling: A circuit element, or elements, or a network that may be considered common to the input
mesh and the output mesh and through which energy may be transferred from one to another.
Crest factor: A value reported by many power quality monitoring instruments representing the ratio
of the crest value of the measured waveform to the root mean square of the fundamental.
Critical load: Devices and equipment whose failure to operate satisfactorily jeopardizes the health
or safety of personnel, and/or results in loss of function, financial loss, or damage to property
deemed critical by the user
Harmonic (component): Integer multiple of fundamental frequency.
Harmonic content: The quantity obtained by subtracting the fundamental component from an
alternating quantity.
Harmonic distortion: Periodic distortion of the sine wave.
Harmonic filter: On power systems, a device for filtering one or more harmonics from the power
system. Most are passive combinations of inductance, capacitance, and resistance. Newer
technologies include active filters that can also address reactive power needs.
Causes of low power quality
The most common types of Power Quality problems are presented below along with their
description, causes and consequences:

1. Voltage sag (or dip)

2. Very short interruptions
3. Long interruptions
4. Voltage spike
5. Voltage swell
6. Harmonic distortion
7. Voltage fluctuation
8. Noise
9. Voltage Unbalance

Voltage sag (or dip)

Description: A decrease of the normal voltage level between 10% and 90% of the nominal rms
voltage at the power frequency, for durations of 0,5 cycle to 1 minute.
Causes: Faults on the transmission or distribution network (most of the times on parallel feeders).
Faults in consumer’s installation. Connection of heavy loads and start-up of large motors.
Consequences: Malfunction of information technology equipment, namely microprocessor-based
control systems (PCs, PLCs, ASDs, etc) that may lead to a process stoppage. Tripping of
contactors and electromechanical relays. Disconnection and loss of efficiency in electric rotating
machines.

Very short interruptions

description: Total interruption of electrical supply for duration from few milliseconds to one or
two seconds.
Causes: Mainly due to the opening and automatic reclosure of protection devices to decommission
a faulty section of the network. The main fault causes are insulation failure, lightning and insulator
flashover.

Consequences: Tripping of protection devices, loss of information and malfunction of data

processing equipment. Stoppage of sensitive equipment, such as ASDs, PCs, PLCs, if they’re not
prepared to deal with this situation.

Long interruptions

Description: Total interruption of electrical supply for duration greater than 1 to 2 seconds

Causes: Equipment failure in the power system network, storms and objects (trees, cars, etc)
striking lines or poles, fire, human error, bad coordination or failure of protection devices.

Consequences: Stoppage of all equipment.

Voltage spike
Description: Very fast variation of the voltage value for durations from a several microseconds to
few milliseconds. These variations may reach thousands of volts, even in low voltage.

Causes: Lightning, switching of lines or power factor correction capacitors, disconnection of

heavy loads.

Consequences: Destruction of components (particularly electronic components) and of insulation

materials, data processing errors or data loss, electromagnetic interference.

Voltage swell

Description: Momentary increase of the voltage, at the power frequency, outside the normal
tolerances, with duration of more than one cycle and typically less than a few seconds.

Causes: Start/stop of heavy loads, badly dimensioned power sources, badly regulated transformers
(mainly during off-peak hours).

Consequences: Data loss, flickering of lighting and screens, stoppage or damage of sensitive
equipment, if the voltage values are too high.

Harmonic distortion
Description: Voltage or current waveforms assume non-sinusoidal shape. The waveform
corresponds to the sum of different sine-waves with different magnitude and phase, having
frequencies that are multiples of power-system frequency.

Causes: Classic sources: electric machines working above the knee of the magnetization curve
(magnetic saturation), arc furnaces, welding machines, rectifiers, and DC brush motors.

Voltage fluctuation

Description: Oscillation of voltage value, amplitude modulated by a signal with frequency of 0 to

30 Hz.
Causes: Arc furnaces, frequent start/stop of electric motors (for instance elevators), oscillating
loads.
Consequences: Most consequences are common to undervoltages. The most perceptible
consequence is the flickering of lighting and screens, giving the impression of unsteadiness of
visual perception.

Noise

Description: Superimposing of high frequency signals on the waveform of the power-system

frequency.
Causes: Electromagnetic interferences provoked by Hertzian waves such as microwaves,
television diffusion, and radiation due to welding machines, arc furnaces, and electronic
equipment. Improper grounding may also be a cause.
Consequences: Disturbances on sensitive electronic equipment, usually not destructive. May
cause data loss and data processing errors.

Voltage Unbalance

Description: A voltage variation in a three-phase system in which the three voltage magnitudes or
the phase-angle differences between them are not equal.

Causes: Large single-phase loads (induction furnaces, traction loads), incorrect distribution of all
single-phase loads by the three phases of the system (this may be also due to a fault).

Consequences: Unbalanced systems imply the existence of a negative sequence that is harmful to
all three- phase loads. The most affected loads are three-phase induction machines.

Equipment to solve Power Quality problems

Manufacturers have developed a range of equipment to help consulting engineers and facility
personnel address specific power-quality issues. In some cases, the options are pretty cut and dried,
while situations may require a bit more thought.

 Transients. Transient voltage surge suppressors are the best option for protecting against
transients in a power system.
 Voltage sags and interruptions. The best choice here depends on extent of any interruption.
Uninterruptible power supplies and other energy-storage options could do well with shorter-term
sags or interruptions, but back-up generators or self-generation equipment is needed when longer
 outages are encountered. Other solutions could include static transfer switches and dynamic
voltage restorers with energy storage. Schneider Electric’s MGE Galaxy 5000 series.
 Harmonics. Active filters are the recommended solution for harmonic mitigation, thanks to their
flexibility and high correction performance. Alternative approaches could involve passive filters,
multi-pulse arrangement transformers or harmonic correction at the equipment level (for
example, by integrating harmonic filtering into variable speed drives). The AccuSine power-
correction system from Schneider Electric offers a complete harmonic-filtering solution.
 Power factor. Reducing power factor requires producing reactive energy as close as possible to
connected loads. Installing capacitors on the network, such as Schneider Electric’s VarSet LV
capacitor banks, is the easiest and most common way to achieve this goal.

What Is Undervoltage? How Can I Protect My Equipment?

undervoltage occurs when the average voltage of a three-phase power system drops below intended
levels, and is sometimes referred to as a brown-out. Electromechanical devices, including three
phase motors and pumps, are designed to be operated at very specific voltage levels. If these devices
are allowed to operate at reduced voltage levels they will draw higher currents. The increase in
current causes increased heat in the winding and coils of the equipment damaging the critical
insulation protecting them. Operating in Under voltage conditions can drastically reduce the life of
the electromechanical equipment and lead to premature failure.

Undervoltage conditions are usually be caused by undersized or overloaded utility and facility
transformers. During peak demand periods and/or when the utility is experiencing problems, the
demand for power exceeds the capability of the transformer and as a result the voltage drops. These
conditions can occur without warning and provide no obvious indications. To protect motors and
equipment, use a three-phase monitor relay, also known as a phase failure relay, as a cost-effective
solution to prevent costly damage from under voltage.

A three-phase monitor relay, with undervoltage protection, cans shutdown equipment when
undervoltage occurs preventing damage. A clear indication of the fault present is provided by these
relays for rapid troubleshooting and reduced downtime.
 Three-phase motors and other equipment are commonly used in a variety of industries:

 HVAC
 Mining
 Pumping
 Elevator
 Crane
 Lift
 Generator
 Irrigation
 Petro-Chem
 Wastewater
 Industrial Machinery
 And more
Macromatic offers three-phase monitor relays (phase failure relays) specifically engineered for detecting
undervoltage issues. Learn more about protecting equipment and preventing expensive repairs with
Macromatic's Three-Phase Monitor Relays.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in

the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an
electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.[1] The
disturbance may degrade the performance of the circuit or even stop it from functioning. In the case
of a data path, these effects can range from an increase in error rate to a total loss of the data. [2] Both
man-made and natural sources generate changing electrical currents and voltages that can cause
EMI: ignition systems, cellular network of mobile phones, lightning, solar flares,
and auroras (northern/southern lights). EMI frequently affects AM radios. It can also affect mobile
phones, FM radios, and televisions, as well as observations for radio astronomy and atmospheric
science.

Electromagnetic interference can be categorized as follows:

 Narrowband EMI or RFI interference typically emanates from intended transmissions, such
as radio and TV stations or mobile phones.
 Broadband EMI or RFI interference is unintentional radiation from sources such
as electric power transmission lines.[4][5][6]

Conducted electromagnetic interference is caused by the physical contact of the

conductors as opposed to radiated EMI, which is caused by induction (without physical
contact of the conductors). Electromagnetic disturbances in the EM field of a conductor
will no longer be confined to the surface of the conductor and will radiate away from it.
This persists in all conductors and mutual inductance between two radiated
electromagnetic fields will result in EMI.