Others Waveform Distortion

G1: DC OFFSET

G2 Interharmonic

G3: Notching

Others PQ Disturbances

G4: Electrical Transient

G2: Voltage Unbalanced

G3: Long Duration Variation

Frequency Variation

Sources

Effects and Solution

Definition

Effects

Primarily caused by three-phase rectifiers or converters that generate continuous DC current

Causes

presence of a DC current and/or voltage component in an AC system

Effects in alternating networks

Operation of rectifiers and other electronic switching devices

Geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) causing GICs geomagnetically induced currents

generation of even harmonics in addition to odd harmonics

additional heating in appliances which may lead to a decrease of the lifetime of transformers and rotating machines and electromagnetic devices

electrolytic erosion of grounding electrodes and other connectors.

half-cycle saturation of transformer core

Recurring/periodic power quality disturbance due to the normal operation of power electronic devices (i.e. rectifier), when current is commutated from one phase to another.

G1: Voltage Fluctuation and Flicker

Parameters

Plt is a measure of long-term flicker severity obtained for a two-hour period

Pst is a measure of short-term flicker severity obtained for a 10 minutes interval

Source

Effect

G4 : Noise

Definiition

Mitigation

Causes

Solution

Unwanted electrical signal present in power system having broadband spectrum content lower than 200kHz superimposed with the power system voltage or current

Happen when the current
commutates from one phase to another

Isolation of the critical and sensitive equipment from the source of the power quality problem

  • Filters
  • Line conditioners
  • Dedicated lines or transformers
  • Arc furnace
  • Faulty connection
  • Power electronic devices
  • Corona
  • Improper grounding

Effects

Create problems in operation of electronic devices

Static frequency converters

Cyclo-converter

Rolling mill drives

Main winders

Electric arc furnaces

Large motors

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Introduction of harmonic and non-harmonic frequencies

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What is Electrical Transient

May overload the electromagnetic interference filters and other similar high-frequency sensitive capacitive circuits

Sustained interruption

Suppression of DC currents

use a relatively large air gap between core and tank

Under voltages

Introduction

Over voltages

Electrical Transients are power quality disturbances that involves destructive high magnitudes of current and voltages or even both which only exist in very short duration for less than 50 nanoseconds to as long as 50 ms.

Definition: The root-mean-square (RMS) value deviations at power frequencies for longer than one (1) minute.

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Sources of Transient

Switching Activities

Tap Changing on Transformers

Capacitor bank switching

Opening and closing

Lighting Strides

Re-closing operations

Loose of connections in Distribution system that result in arcing, Accidents, human error, animal and bad weather

Impulse, Oscillatory

Type of Transient

causes and effect

causes

erratic operations of emergency generators or unstable power frequency sources

single generator or an inverter system not connected to the utility grid

effects

confuse logic systems and affect the operating speed of rotating machinery

it causes large power failure in the utility side

power frequency monitoring

the frequency of supply is to be maintained 1.5% of 50/60 except for momentary fluctuations

mitigation

Generation must be matched with loading and losses : :

mix of reserve generation and uninterruptible loads alleviate excursions

active power reduction depending on frequency

due to rectifiers and geomagnetically induced currents

  1. Voltage Fluctuations : systematic variations of the voltage waveform envelope, or a series of random voltage changes


  2. Flickers : the variation in the light output of various lighting sources

flicker is derived from the impact of voltage fluctuation on lighting intensity due to large loads that have rapidly changing active and reactive power demand

Equipment or devices that exhibit continuous, rapid load current variations

Loose connections

Small power loads

Capacitor banks

connected in parallel with inductive loads in order to compensate for the power factor of the installation

produces a voltage step proportional to the reactive power capacity of the capacitor bank and inversely proportional to the short-circuit capacity of the point of connection

Light Sources

Flicker affects our brain reaction and impairs vision, leading to discomfort and deterioration in work quality

Electrical Machines

Flicker can affect the production environment by causing personnel fatigue and lower work concentration levels

Synchronous Motors and Generators

Increase in losses

Premature wear of rotors

Changes in torque and power

Hunting

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Other devices could malfunction and have reduced efficiency

Computerized or automatic machines to produce defective parts

Unwanted triggering of UPS units to switch to battery

Security system malfunction

Testing equipment to give inaccurate data

Nuisance tripping due to misoperation of relays and contactors

Inconsistency of motor speed

Induction Motors

cause changes in torque and slip and affect the production process

result to excessive vibration, reducing mechanical strength and shortening the motor service life

Electro-heat Equipment

have lower operational efficiency

Electrolyzers

can reduce both the useful life and the operational efficiency of an electrolyzer equipment

elements of the high-current supply line can become significantly degraded, thereby increasing maintenance and/or repair costs

Static Rectifiers

a decrease in power factor and the generation of non-characteristic harmonics and interharmonics

commutation failure and damage to system components.

It characterizes an unusual case that falls between harmonics and transients.

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The depth of the notch at any point in the system is influenced by:

Source inductance

The isolating inductance between the rectifier/converter

The point being examined

These frequencies are in the radio frequency range, that cause negative operational effects, such as signal interference introduced into logic and communication circuits

The width of the notch is the commutation angle

Definition by IEEE 1159: The decrease in the voltage supply level to zero for more than one (1) minute

They are measured and described by their duration since the voltage magnitude is always less than 10% of nominal

Outage does not refer to a specific phenomenon, but rather to the state of a system component that has failed to function.

Permanent in nature and require manual intervention for restoration.

They are specific power system phenomena and have no relation to the usage of the term "outage"

Interruption has no relation to reliability or other continuity of service statistics

Caused by permanent faults due to storms, trees striking lines or poles, utility or customer equipment failure in the power system or miscoordination of protection devices

Magnitude:

Short Interruption - Less than 0.10 per unit

Sustained interruption – 0.0 pu

Duration:

Short Interruption - ½ cycle to 1 minute

Sustained interruption - More than 1 minute

Ways to prevent interruptions:

Reduce incidents of system faults (i.e. arrester installation, feeder inspections, tree trimming and animal guards)

Limit the number of affected customers interrupted (i.e. single-phase reclosers and/or extra downstream reclosers)

Fast reclosing (i.e. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), Back-up generator or Self-generation)

Definition

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Due to heavily loaded circuits that lead to considerable voltage drop, switching on a large load or group of loads, or a capacitor bank switching off.

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Expose electrical devices to problems such as:

overheating

malfunction

premature failure and shut down, especially for motors

Common symptoms of under-voltage

motors run hotter than normal and fail prematurely

dim incandescent lighting and batteries fail to recharge properly

Ways to solve the under-voltage problems:

Reducing the system impedance

Improving the voltage profile

Reducing the line current

Definition

According to IEEE as an increase in the AC voltage (RMS), typically to 110% - 120% of nominal, at the power frequency for duration longer than 1 minute

According to IEC 60071-1, overvoltage is any voltage between one phase conductor and earth or between phase conductors having a peak value exceeding the corresponding peak of the highest voltage for equipment

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Classification

Internal origin – produced from phenomena related to system operation and in general due to abrupt variations of system conditions

External origin – due to atmospheric electricity

General causes:

switching off a large load

capacitor switching

dropping of load

mis-setting of voltage taps on transformers

The importance of temporary over-voltages

For surge arrester selection

For the design of both the internal insulation of equipment and the external insulation

Mitigation steps

Adjusting transformers to the correct tap setting

Manually or automatically switching off excess capacitor banks during light load or off peak hours

IEEE 1159: The decrease in the AC voltage (RMS), typically to 80% - 90% of nominal, at the power frequency for a period of time greater than 1 minute

DEFINITION

INTERHARMONIC: Waveform components that are at frequencies that are not an integer multiple of the supply frequency.

SUBHARMONIC: Interharmonics that are below the supply frequency

SOURCE OF HARMONIC

Electric arc furnaces

Arc welding machine

Power supply to traction system

Power electronic converter

When the end‐use of the electricity requires an AC voltage at a frequency other than at the network (fundamental) frequency (e.g. VSD and Cycloconverter)

When the PWM converters on the network side has no synchronism with the network frequency (the harmonics of the modulation frequency will be interharmonics)

Switched mode power supply for rectification

Induction motors

Ripple control

Automatic meter reading (AMR)

TYPICAL SPECTRUM OF INDUCTION FURNACE CURRENT

spectrum of induction furnance current

MAIN EFFECT

Light flicker.

Unwanted currents in the supply network generating additional energy losses.

Disturbed operation of electronic equipment

Acoustic noise and vibrations

Temperature increase and unwanted torques in induction motors

Interference causing mal-operation of equipment

Effect of Transient

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Unusual equipment damage due to insulation failures or flash-over

Damage to electronic components

Total failure, lockup or misoperation of computers or micro-processor based equipment.