TABLE OF CONTENTS There are four ways to solve and prevent power quality problems:
Design equipment and electrical systems to prevent electrical disturbances from causing equipment or systems to malfunction.
Analyze the symptoms of a power quality problem to determine its cause and solution.
Identify the medium that is transmitting the electrical disturbance and reduce or eliminate the effect of that medium.
Treat the symptoms of the power quality problem by the use of power conditioning equipment. Power conditioning equipment mitigates a power quality problem when it occurs.
This chapter will deal with all four of these approaches to solving and preventing power quality problems.
Manufacturers of sensitive equipment can reduce or eliminate the effects of power quality problems by designing their equipment to be less sensitive to voltage variations. For instance, they can simply adjust an undervoltage relay or add some device, like a capacitor, to provide temporary energy storage when the voltage sags too low. They can alter their equipment to desensitize it to power quality problems. For example, they can design special K-factor transformers that tolerate harmonics or use cables with neutrals large enough to carry triplen harmonics.
It is usually more cost effective to prevent a power quality problem before it occurs. Power quality problem prevention requires purchasers and manufacturers of electrical equipment to be aware of potential power quality problems and how to prevent them. They need to first examine the power quality of the existing power system...
