CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Quality of Electrical Power Systems" textbook usually introduces the fundamental concepts

and importance of electrical power quality, as well as the issues that can affect it. While the

content can vary slightly depending on the textbook, here are some general topics you might

find covered. Power quality refers to the characteristics of the electrical power supplied by a

power system that enables it to function optimally without causing damage to equipment,

systems, or processes. Power quality is crucial for ensuring that electrical devices operate as

intended and efficiently. Poor quality can lead to system failures, equipment damage, and

operational disruptions.

1.2 BASIC ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS

 Voltage and Current: The relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and power (P)
in an AC system.
 Frequency: The frequency of the alternating current (typically 50 Hz or 60 Hz depending
on the region).
 Waveform Characteristics: Ideal versus non-ideal waveforms, and how deviations like
harmonics, transients, and sags can affect equipment.

1.3 POWER QUALITY ISSUES

 Voltage Sags and Swells: Brief reductions or increases in voltage levels that can harm
sensitive equipment.
 Harmonics: Distortions in the sinusoidal waveform, typically due to non-linear loads like
computers and fluorescent lighting.
 Flicker: Fluctuations in voltage that cause visible changes in light intensity.

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  Transients and Surges: Sudden increases in voltage, often caused by lightning strikes,
switching operations, or other faults.
 Frequency Variations: Deviations in the frequency of the electrical supply that can
affect the operation of motors and other equipment.

1.4 SOURCES OF POWER QUALITY PROBLEMS

 External Sources: Issues originating outside the premises, such as power system faults,
grid failures, or problems caused by other users connected to the same power grid.
 Internal Sources: Problems created by the user's own equipment, such as large motors,
variable speed drives, or UPS systems.

1.5 IMPACT OF POOR POWER QUALITY

 Effects on Equipment: Reduced lifespan, overheating, malfunctions, and even

permanent damage.
 Operational Disruptions: Loss of productivity, malfunctioning control systems, and
downtime.
 Economic Costs: Financial losses due to damaged equipment, repairs, or reduced system
efficiency.

1.6 POWER QUALITY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

 International Standards: Mention of organizations such as the IEEE (Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and IEC (International Electrotechnical
Commission), which provide standards for acceptable levels of power quality.
 National Standards: Specific standards that might apply depending on the country (for
example, the ANSI standard in the United States).

1.7 Methods for Monitoring Power Quality

 Power Quality Meters: Instruments that can measure voltage sags, harmonic distortion,
and other power quality issues.

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  Data Logging and Analysis: Continuous monitoring of the power system to detect
anomalies and take corrective actions.

1.8 STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING POWER QUALITY

 Voltage Regulators: Devices used to maintain constant voltage levels.

 Filters: Harmonic filters to reduce distortions.
 Surge Protection: Equipment to protect against transients and surges.
 Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): Backup power solutions to maintain a stable
power supply during interruptions.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 INTRODUCTION

The quality of an electrical power system refers to the ability of the system to supply stable,
reliable, and clean electrical power. High-quality electrical power is crucial for the smooth
operation of electrical equipment, the safety of power infrastructure, and the efficiency of energy
use. Power quality involves several factors, including voltage stability, frequency control, and
the absence of disturbances such as harmonics, transients, and voltage sags.

1. Key Parameters of Power Quality

 Voltage Stability: Ensures that the voltage levels are within acceptable limits for
equipment to function properly. Voltage levels that are too high or too low can lead to
malfunctioning or even damage to sensitive electrical equipment.
 Frequency Stability: The electrical power system typically operates at a standard
frequency (e.g., 50 Hz or 60 Hz). A stable frequency ensures the proper functioning of
motors and other equipment that depend on a consistent cycle rate.
 Harmonics: Distortions in the normal sinusoidal waveform of electrical current and
voltage. Harmonics can be caused by non-linear loads like computers, fluorescent lights,
and variable-speed drives. They can lead to overheating, equipment malfunction, and
interference with communication systems.
 Voltage Sags and Swells: Voltage sags are temporary drops in voltage, while swells are
brief increases. These disturbances can be caused by faults, lightning strikes, or switching
operations. They can cause malfunction or damage to equipment.
 Flicker: Voltage fluctuations that cause light intensity to vary, often noticed in lighting
systems. Flicker is particularly a concern in residential areas or near industrial sites with
large fluctuating loads.

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  Transients: Sudden, short-duration variations in voltage or current, often caused by
switching operations, lightning strikes, or faults. These can damage sensitive equipment
if not controlled.

2. Sources of Power Quality Problems

 Load Changes: Rapid or large changes in the load demand can cause fluctuations in
voltage or frequency.
 Equipment Issues: Faults in generators, transformers, or circuit breakers can disrupt
power quality. Additionally, malfunctioning equipment like air conditioners, induction
motors, or variable speed drives can introduce harmonics.
 Transmission and Distribution Network Issues: Problems such as line faults, improper
grounding, or equipment failure within the transmission and distribution networks can
cause voltage instability, transients, or interruptions.
 External Factors: Lightning strikes, electrical storms, or faults in neighboring systems
can lead to disturbances affecting power quality.

3. Power Quality Measurement

Power quality is often measured using specialized instruments known as Power Quality
Analyzers. These devices can assess various parameters such as:

 Voltage magnitude and waveform

 Current harmonics
 Power factor
 Frequency stability
 Transient events
 Total harmonic distortion (THD)
 Flicker indices

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4. Power Quality Standards

Several international standards define acceptable limits for power quality. Some of the key
standards include:

 IEEE 1159: Provides guidelines on power quality characteristics, disturbance

classification, and terminology.
 IEC 61000-4-30: Defines testing and measuring methods for power quality.
 EN 50160: Specifies the voltage characteristics of public electricity supplies in Europe.
 IEEE 519: Defines guidelines for harmonic limits in power systems.

5. Solutions for Power Quality Improvement

There are various solutions to mitigate power quality issues and improve the overall quality of
electrical power:

 Power Conditioning Equipment:

o Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Provides backup power and protects
against voltage sags and swells.
o Voltage Regulators: Maintain voltage within the acceptable range to prevent
voltage dips and spikes.
o Harmonic Filters: Active or passive filters are used to reduce harmonic
distortion.
o Surge Protectors: Protect sensitive equipment from high-voltage transients.

 Load Balancing: Properly balancing the loads across phases can reduce voltage
imbalance, harmonic generation, and overall load fluctuations.
 Power Factor Correction: Capacitors or synchronous condensers are used to improve
power factor and reduce the impact of reactive power on the system.
 Grid Modernization: Enhancing the monitoring, control, and management of the grid
can help detect and mitigate disturbances quickly.
 Distributed Generation: Using distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar
panels, wind turbines, and microgrids can provide localized control over power quality.

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6. Types of Power Quality Disturbances

 Short-Term Disturbances:
o Voltage sags
o Voltage swells
o Transients
o Flicker
 Long-Term Disturbances:
o Voltage dips (brownouts)
o Harmonic distortion
o Frequency instability

7. Power Quality in Different Applications

 Industrial Systems: Industrial equipment, especially large motors and heavy machinery,
can introduce harmonics and cause voltage drops. Industrial systems often require active
filters and voltage regulators to maintain proper power quality.
 Commercial Systems: Businesses with sensitive electronic equipment, such as data
centers, need UPS systems, harmonic filters, and proper grounding to ensure stable power
quality.
 Residential Systems: While less critical than in industrial applications, voltage sags, and
flicker can still cause issues for home appliances and electronics.

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 CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY FOR QUALITY ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

3.1. INTRODUCTION

The methodology for assessing and improving the quality of electrical power systems
involves systematic steps for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating power quality issues. This
process typically follows a structured approach, combining measurements, analysis, and
corrective actions. Here's an outline of the methodology for studying and managing power
quality:

1. Identification of Power Quality Issues

 Observation: The first step is recognizing that power quality issues are affecting
operations. This can be prompted by:
o Equipment malfunctions: Overheating, shutdowns, or visible damage to devices
(motors, computers, lighting, etc.).
o Operational disruptions: Downtime, production losses, or poor system
performance.
o Complaints: From staff or customers about flickering lights, electronic
disturbances, or other irregularities.
 Visual Inspections: Sometimes, irregularities like flickering lights or unusual equipment
behavior can indicate power quality issues, prompting further investigation.

2. Power Quality Monitoring and Data Collection

 Installation of Monitoring Equipment:

o Power quality meters (e.g., oscilloscopes, power analyzers) are installed at
strategic points in the electrical system (e.g., incoming supply, distribution panels,
load-side connections) to record and measure:
 Voltage (RMS and peak values)

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  Current
 Frequency
 Harmonic distortion (THD)
 Voltage sags, swells, and transients
 Power factor
o These meters should be capable of logging data over time to detect periodic
disturbances and their patterns.

 Data Logging: Continuous or time-based logging of parameters provides valuable

insights into when and how power quality issues occur. Data can be collected over days,
weeks, or months, depending on the severity and recurrence of issues.

3. Analysis of Power Quality Data

 Waveform Analysis:
o The power quality data is analyzed for the following:
 Voltage sags and swells: Analyzing the frequency, duration, and
magnitude of voltage variations.
 Harmonic Distortion: Identifying the harmonic spectrum and calculating
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). High THD indicates significant
harmonic distortion.
 Transients: Identifying short-duration, high-voltage events that can
damage sensitive equipment.
 Frequency Fluctuations: Monitoring for deviations in the power system’s
nominal frequency (50/60 Hz), which can affect motors and clocks.

 Root Cause Analysis: After collecting data, it's important to trace the root cause of
power quality disturbances:
o External Causes: Grid faults, lightning, power system switching, etc.
o Internal Causes: Non-linear loads (computers, drives), large motor starts, faulty
wiring, etc.

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  Comparison with Standards: Compare the recorded disturbances against power quality
standards like:
o IEEE 519 (for harmonics)
o IEC 61000 (for general power quality issues)
o ANSI standards (for voltage and frequency deviations)

4. Assessment of Impact

 Economic Impact: Calculate the potential or actual economic loss caused by power
quality problems. This includes:
o Equipment repair and replacement costs.
o Costs associated with downtime, production delays, or inefficiencies.
o Increased energy consumption due to harmonic distortion or poor power factor.
 Operational Impact: Assess how power quality issues affect the performance and
reliability of equipment, processes, and systems.
o Damage to sensitive equipment: Computers, PLCs, motors, and other devices
may suffer from voltage sags, transients, or harmonic distortion.
o System performance degradation: Reduced efficiency in electric motors or
disruption in automated processes.
 Human Impact: In cases where power quality affects lighting or heating/cooling
systems, it may also affect human comfort and productivity.

5. Implementation of Mitigation Measures

Based on the identified problems and their impact, appropriate solutions are applied. Common
methods for mitigating power quality issues include:

 For Voltage Sags and Swells:

o Voltage Regulators: Automatic voltage regulators (AVRs) can be used to
maintain consistent voltage levels.
o Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): UPS systems can provide backup
power during voltage dips or complete outages, offering time for equipment
shutdown or continuous operation.
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 o Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVRs): Used to inject voltage to mitigate short-
term sags and swells.

 For Harmonics:
o Passive Harmonic Filters: These filters are designed to block or absorb
harmonics, improving the overall power quality.
o Active Harmonic Filters: These provide real-time harmonic compensation by
injecting counteracting currents to neutralize the harmonic distortions.
o Harmonic Mitigation Transformers: These are used to isolate harmonics and
reduce their propagation in the power system.

 For Transients and Surges:

o Surge Protection Devices (SPDs): These are used to protect sensitive equipment
from high-voltage transients, such as those caused by lightning or switching.

 For Flicker:
o Load Balancing: Ensuring that large loads (such as motors or arc furnaces) are
balanced to avoid voltage fluctuations.
o Dimming Control Systems: These are used to reduce flicker in lighting systems.

 For Frequency Variations:

o Frequency Regulators: Install systems to control the frequency in the event of
grid fluctuations, though this is generally a more complex and less common
solution for most users.

 Improvement of Power Factor:

o Power Factor Correction (PFC) Devices: Capacitors, synchronous condensers,
or automatic PFC systems are used to correct poor power factor, reducing losses
and improving system efficiency.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

A brief description of the project background can be given as follows.

Lion Brewery Ceylon Ltd., one of the brewery manufacturing companies has faced a severe

problem at their factory premises located at Biyagama. That is, their power factor correction

capacitor banks had burst, once they were replaced after few weeks they were burst again giving

rise to a situation to remove the capacitor bank form the distribution system. Total load of the

factory is around 1000kW with a peak load of around 1600kW.

Around 50% of the peak comprised with Variable Speed Drives (VSD), which vary the supply

frequency between 50 ~ 1 Hz.

On the request of the company the Demand Side Management Branch of the Ceylon Electricity

Board had carried out a system monitoring. From that, they Objective of the project was to carry

out a complete system monitoring and find out the causes/reasons for capacitor bursting,

harmonics and propose possible solutions to these problems. Further we have simulated a model

in the laboratory and designed the filters in a small scale. This can be extended to address the

problem in the factory after more careful and in depth analysis.

2. Power System Harmonics

2.1 What are Harmonics

Harmonics are currents or voltages with frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental

power frequency (50Hz). Harmonics are created by non-linear loads that draw current in abrupt

pulses rather than in a smooth sinusoidal manner.

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 Figure 1a Figure 1b

Figure 1 : Fundamental and waveforms containing harmonics

(a) Normal fundamental 50Hz Waveform.
(b) Waveform containing the fundamental plus third and fifth harmonics.
Power system voltage and currents are sinusoidal waves (See Figure 1a) Harmonics are

sinusoidal

2.2 Harmonic Sources

Harmonics are generated in power systems by:

• Arcing Devices - Equipment that creates arcs as part of normal operation, such as electric arc
welders.

• Magnetic Circuits - Magnetic devices such as transformers, produce distorted wave shapes
when they are operated in their nonlinear regions.
• Power Electronics - The switching of such devices as Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs)
and thyristors produce electrical wave shapes that are not sinusoidal in nature.
2.3 Consequences of Harmonics

• Excessive Equipment Heating - Increased heating is the result of increased copper and iron
losses due to the increased frequencies present. Equipment ratings must take the presence of
harmonics into account. For example, the International Regulations requires that the size of
neutrals be increased in circuits that serve loads that contain significant harmonics. The larger
neutral is required to carry the added high frequency currents.

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• Electrical Interference - Interference may take the form of loss of data, communication
interference, or mis operation. Many electronic devices count on regular sinusoidal voltage
waves for detection of peaks and/or zero crossings used in timing circuits.
• Over voltage - An over voltage is a voltage above the normal rated or maximum operating
voltage of a device or circuit. Harmonic over voltages are caused by local circuit resonant
conditions that can overstress equipment insulation. One most common form is the tuning of a
circuit due to the addition of a capacitor. If such a harmonic resonance occurs capacitor banks
can even be exploited.

The following equation can be used to determine if the system is tuned to a power system’s

characteristic harmonic:

3. Analysis of the Distribution System & Identification of Measuring Points

In order to analyse the distribution system, data were recorded using ‘Data Loggers’ and a

‘Network Analyser’. These equipment were provided by the Demand Side Management Branch

(DSMB) of the CEB. Data recoding was carried out for four days.

Load points to which the data recording equipment are to be connected were decided by

analysing the distribution system. There are mainly five feeders coming from the main bus bar,

which comprised with variable speed drives. Data Loggers were connected to the load ends of

each of those feeders. Network Analyser was connected to the main bus bar.

Recoded data, which was logged using the Data Loggers and the Network Analyser, were

analysed with the help of following software.

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 ̇ Energy Logger (Elog) 99b
̇ Power Vision 1.1

Following figures (Figure 2 - 5) refers to few samples which give the voltage & current profiles

of the measuring points from which the data was recorded.

Figure 2: Voltage & Current waveforms obtained from a feeder connected to a VSD load

Figure 3: Voltage & Current spectrum obtained from a

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feeder connected to the VSD load Phase Voltage/Current data rms voltage :

223.3V rms current : 22.99A Voltage THD : 2.0%

Current THD : 47.8%

Passive filters for harmonic reduction provide low

impedance paths for the current harmonics. The current
harmonics flow into the shunt filters instead of back to the
supply. A typical shunt passive filter and the resulting
equivalent impedance seen from the load are shown in
Figure 6. The passive filter consists of series LC filters
tuned for specific harmonics in combination with a general
high pass filter used to eliminate the rest of the higher
order current harmonics.

Figure 5: Voltage & Current spectrum obtained from

the Main Bus bar
Phase Voltage/Current data
rms voltage: 229.9V
rms current: 641.13A
Voltage THD : 2.3%
Current THD : 6.1%

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By analysing the recorded data we found that load taken form the feeder VSD-3 contains a

significant amount of current harmonics.

As an example if the 5th harmonic of the current waveform is considered; Fundamental rms

current : 20.79 A rms of 5th harmonic : 7.07 A as a % of fundamental :

34.15%

If the main bus bar-1 is considered 5th harmonic of the current waveform;

Fundamental rms current : 635.63

A
th
rms of 5 harmonic : 30.51A
as a % of fundamental : 4.80%

4. Elimination of Harmonics

Current harmonics are often treated as a local problem at least for one feeder in the distribution

network. The impedance of the distribution network dampens the harmonic propagation.

Therefore, harmonic filtering should be performed nearby the source of the current harmonics for

the best results. If this is done, other equipment will be unaffected by the harmonic producing

load. Harmonic filtering or compensation is accomplished by the use of passive filters (PF),

active filters (AF).

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5. Possible Solutions

5.1 Passive Filters: Typical passive filter for reduction of current harmonics and the equivalent

impedance seen from the load. The performance of a Load

passive filter is strongly dependent on the
e
system impedance at the harmonic
g
frequencies.
er
The system impedance depends on the
Diode Brid

pp
distribution network configuration and the loads. Therefore, design of passive filters involves
Cho
thorough system analysis in order to obtain adequate filtering performance of the filter. In order

to simulate the real situation a three phase diode converter followed by a dc load was used as the

load with three single phase transformers. Resistors were used to represent the line impedance.

Voltage control of the load was achieved by the having a chopper circuit in series with the dc

load. Passive filters were constructed for 3 rd , 5th & 7th harmonic components separately. For

simplicity filters were designed only for one phase. A high pass filter was used to eliminate the

higher order harmonic components.

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 Filters

Spectrum
Analyser
Basic circuit diagram of the simulation

rd th th

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 CONCLUSION

By analyzing the logged data of the distribution system it was found that there are significant

amount of current and voltage harmonics in the load side and hence in the supply side. 5 th and 7th

harmonics are most severe harmonic components in the load current. Development of passive

filters with simulated model revealed that there would be several practical issues to be addressed

when developing such a filter system in large scale or even in small scale.

Proposed solutions are submitted to the factory management of the Lion Brewery Ceylon Ltd for

their consideration and the prototype would be extended to a real passive filter system for the

factory in the future if necessary.

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 REFERENCES

1. Dr. Sarath Perera, Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, Austrailia.

2. Power Electronic Converter Harmonics
by Derek A. Paice
3. Electric Power Quality Control Techniques by Wilson E.Kazibwe & Musoke H.
Sendaula
4. http://www.elec.uow.edu.au

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