Power Quality

The growing use of electronic loads in industrial and commercial networks has substantially increased concerns about power quality. Throughout the world, the leading utilities are reviewing their policies concerning damage or economic impact caused by power quality problems, revising the planning and operation standard practices and investigating new avenues for providing enhanced types of service to their customers.

The need for well established power quality standards that would allow power utilities and manufacturers to coordinate development and guarantee of equipment electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is imperative. An extensive Power Quality Survey, which has gained international recognition, provides utilities with the most advanced tools and knowledge to address the EMC problems. The objective of this Interest Group is to build on CEATI’s established excellence in the field of power quality. Identification of new business opportunities, such as offering different levels of electricity supply quality with differentiated rates, is only one example of the practical application of this research. The information and experience sharing gained from the program also provides the technical back-up knowledge required

Topics and Issues:

• System Disturbances Baseline
• Mitigation at System Level
• Equipment Characterization
• Mitigation at Equipment Level

Current Projects

• Characterizing the Power Quality Phenomena Caused by Distributed GenerationTo address this industry-wide lack of measured PQ data related to DG installations, Kinectrics proposes a project to collect field-recorded power quality measurements from a sampling of existing DG projects. These measurements will be analyzed to create a characterization of the impacts DGs can have on different power quality phenomena, such as flicker, harmonics, sags/swells, etc. This characterization will provide concrete data that will be invaluable in creating industry and utility specifications and standards and will form the basis of future discussions between utilities, DG proponents, and equipment vendors. Without this real-world data, DG interconnection standards and assessments will continue to rely on theoretical and simulated predictions of the impact of DGs on power quality that may not completely reflect the true impact of DG on power quality.
• Understanding Distribution System Losses Caused by Harmonic Emissions and Their True Economic Impact on Distribution System OperationThe objective of this project is to investigate the effects of harmonics on critical distribution system components such as transformers, cables and capacitors, and based on the findings, to establish indices to quantify the effects so that utility engineers can perform quantitative assessment on the condition of a component. A service transformer is used here as an example to illustrate this objective.
• Understanding and Avoiding Distribution Power Lines Electrical Noise Transfer to Communication CircuitsThe first objective of this project is to analyze, describe and discuss the interference between power lines and communication circuits. A second objective is to propose mitigating solutions for those cases where the interference levels exceed acceptable limits. Interference between circuits is the result of the simultaneous presence of three components: a source, a path, and a receptor. For this study, the source is the electromagnetic emission produced by the power line (noise) and the reception is the communication circuits. The coupling path may be under the form of conduction, induction or radiation, depending on the connection between the two interfering circuits and on the noise characteristics.
• Effective Collection and Management of PQ Data for Analysis and Detection of Incipient Distribution System Faults or Equipment Problems and Identification of their LocationUnderstanding the distribution system voltage and current waveforms tell-tale signs of problems on various distribution system components and automated notification of their occurrences and likely locations will enable utility engineers to make proactive decisions for resolving such issues before they cause damage to those components. This would not only result in significant savings, but also reduce the frequency and severity of electricity supply disruptions to customers. Eventual distribution system-wide deployment of such an early warning system would become an important component of the future intelligent grid, enabling automatic system reconfiguration to by-pass or isolate the defective parts of distribution system and allowing arranging for timely repairs on preventive basis. Experience with such system operations will also provide utilities with a well-documented basis for developing and implementing better design practices and provisions for intelligent grid self-healing configurations.
• Single-phase Tripping and Lock-out on Three-phase Distribution CircuitsThe principal objective of this project is to investigate the technical, operational and customer service issues associated with the implementation of single phase tripping and single phase lockout on three phase distribution circuits. A second objective will be to provide a guide for utilities to successfully implement the single phase tripping/reclosing on their system as means of improving service quality and reliability.
• A Guide to Successful Accommodation of Mass Penetration of High-inrush Current Devices on Distribution NetworkThe project will develop an encyclopedia of load types with high current inrush electrical characteristics, some of which can vary depending on the load's design standards. Following that, simplified spreadsheet-based models will be used to quantify possible impacts on the distribution system for different load mixes and quantities. The same models will be used to evaluate distribution system design and operating variations on the load equipment. Finally, all project results will be synthesized into a final report, serving as a guide to utilities for serving loads that draw high-inrush currents.
• Power Quality Impact of Electric and Hybrid VehicleThe objective of this project is to address this situation by compiling a survey document on exactly what has been done, what is happening now and what shall be of real concern to utilities.
• Power quality problems caused by anti-islanding protectionThe objective of this project consists of three aspects: 1) establish a method to analyze the voltage depression (VD) and related problems caused by the DG anti-islanding protection, 2) determine the nature and extent of the problems and 3) identify possible solutions to the problems.
• Energy Savings from Optimized Applications of Power Factor Correction Capacitors (PFC)The project objective is to help utilities provide good information to their customers on power factor correction capacitor (PFC) applications. This will be done through surveys and literature review, and summarized in a report on best practices. Software tools and examples will be provided to illustrate energy savings and other benefits of PFCs in different situations. The tools will also highlight poor application practices that produce little or no benefit.
• Development of a Flicker Evaluation ProgramThe project objective is to develop a program which can be used to evaluate flicker using the methods in IEEE Standard 61000-4-15.
  
  The program will contain a GUI which can be used to draw a circuit, enter simplified lumped parameter elements selected from libraries, add flicker producing loads, and calculate the Pst value at any or all nodes in the circuit. A drag and drop or click and select method of placing models in the GUI will be used with an automatic connectivity or drawing of lines between models for connectivity used.
• Power quality impact from mass penetration of energy efficient and consumer electronic devices, Phase BThe overall objective of this project is to provide technical information, study results and solution options for project sponsors to develop a proactive strategy to deal with the potential problems brought by the modern nonlinear residential loads.
• Harmonic distortion level evolution at residential PCC in North AmericaThis project aims to document the distortion levels originated from residential sectors not yet controlled by emission standard.

Recently Completed Projects