As electronic power converters are increasing in prevalence on the grid, especially EV chargers, photovoltaic inverters, variable frequency drives, and LED lighting systems, a new power quality issue is arising…
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Power Theory in Multiphase Distorted Systems
Introduction “Geometric Foundations of Power Theory for Multiphase AC systems in the Frequency Domain” is a great research article written by Francisco Montoya and others and it clearly explains a…
Power Analysis with Distorted Waveforms
Many power quality engineers are familiar with the concepts related to the power triangle such as real power, reactive power, apparent power and power factor. The construction of the power…
Analysis of Capacitor Bank Operation in Waveform Files
Electric utilities use capacitor banks to control power factor and regulate voltage on distribution systems. This paper describes a three-part method to recognize capacitor bank switch events within a power…
Phasor Decomposition via Symmetrical Components in Three Phase Systems
Introduction When three phase systems are perfectly balanced sinusoidal waveforms, where the B and C phases are exact replicas of the A phase sine wave, but delayed by 120 and…
Interharmonics and RMS Variation
Interharmonics occur when a signal is present in a power system where the frequency is not an integer multiple of the 60 Hz line frequency. These can be generated from…
Fourier Transform Intuition
Harmonic Analysis is a fundamental part of any power quality investigation. A good amount of information can be gained about a power signal by looking in the frequency domain at…
An Analysis of Loose Neutral Conditions
A loose neutral condition occurs when the neutral conductor between the line transformer secondary and the meter base breaks connection or corrodes to a point of very high impedance. Unlike…
Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonics
Abstract A VFD, or Variable Frequency Drive, is a device which takes in a 3 phase AC signal and outputs a somewhat arbitrary waveform using pulse width modulation. This is…
IEEE 1250 Overview: An Introduction to Power Quality
Whether you are new to the study of power quality, or an experienced PQ pro looking for a quick reference, IEEE Standard 1250 is the place to start. IEEE 1250…