Power Quality and EMC

Description of research

Power Quality (PQ) is considered as a quality of supply, and research in this area is focused towards the quality at the point of interface (POI) considered from the grid. The supply of power and its deviations are described by the power supply standards, as is shown in Figure 1. Among others, the deviations include sags, surges, dips, transients, total harmonic distortion (THD) and flicker.

At the other side of the POI, an user (appliance) is connected. The user has to fulfill the IEC EMC standards describing the user immunity and emission parameters, as is shown in Figure 1. In complex systems the user does not meet the standards. They are in development phase and specific EMC measures have to be included, not to fulfill (IEC) EMC standards but just for proper functioning of the product.

At the POI, there is a mismatch between standards for supply voltage and IEC standards for installations and devices. The problem in real life is that the POI is the end point of the energy supplier, but the starting point for the electrical engineer.

Grid operators and installation engineers are used to design the power distribution network using current consumption as reference. This is not valid anymore, especially not in modern grids, installations, buildings and platforms with a variety of consumers. Besides consumption, also local power generation or dispersed generation (PV, Wind, uCHP) takes place.

The products are used in different kind of environments, such as production plants, large buildings, isolated platforms (ships, automotive) and the residential environment. The characteristics of the power supply significantly depend on the environment. Product design engineers have to include the actual behavior of the power supply, also during abnormal situations.

The models used in the traditional power system analysis methods do not capture interference effects. Figure 2 gives an illustration of these effects. Transients due to switching in the local PDUN (power distribution user network) and synchronous switching loads can propagate to electronic equipment, resulting in disturbed electronics. Furthermore, electronics are disturbed by the interference from inverters, regenerative power converters and UPS.

We propose a new modeling approach and analysis method for better voltage disturbance evaluation. We will address the steady state case as well as transient case for grid as well installations. The objective of this project is to find a (system engineering) methodology which will enable power distribution network designers and product designers to prevent interference, to define proper cost-effective (EMC) measures, and to guarantee a minimum quality of supply to all users. This methodology will be based on physical models.

A tool based on the resulting methodology will be made available to Dutch companies. Furthermore, the research has to contribute to the European discussions among suppliers, manufacturers and regulators about the quality of the supply voltage.

Advisor(s)

Prof. Dr. Frank Leferink

Duration

01-04-2009 - 31-03-2013

Project

Power Quality and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)

Funding institution

SenterNovem (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs)

Strategic Research Orientation

DSN - Dependable Systems and Networks

Links to relevant web pages:

http://www.ewi.utwente.nl/te/projects/electromagnetic%20compatibility/power%20quality/index.html

http://www.ewi.utwente.nl/te/people/phd%20students/timens/index.html

Pictures

Figure 1

Figure 2

Roelof Bernardus Timens

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Home CTIT symposium 2013 About CTIT News NIRICT Research Meet the PhDs Working at CTIT Internal Information Conferences Open Calls (updated May 3, 2013) Library and Videos Knowledge Transfer Links Sitemap Search	Power Quality and EMC Description of research Power Quality (PQ) is considered as a quality of supply, and research in this area is focused towards the quality at the point of interface (POI) considered from the grid. The supply of power and its deviations are described by the power supply standards, as is shown in Figure 1. Among others, the deviations include sags, surges, dips, transients, total harmonic distortion (THD) and flicker. At the other side of the POI, an user (appliance) is connected. The user has to fulfill the IEC EMC standards describing the user immunity and emission parameters, as is shown in Figure 1. In complex systems the user does not meet the standards. They are in development phase and specific EMC measures have to be included, not to fulfill (IEC) EMC standards but just for proper functioning of the product. At the POI, there is a mismatch between standards for supply voltage and IEC standards for installations and devices. The problem in real life is that the POI is the end point of the energy supplier, but the starting point for the electrical engineer. Grid operators and installation engineers are used to design the power distribution network using current consumption as reference. This is not valid anymore, especially not in modern grids, installations, buildings and platforms with a variety of consumers. Besides consumption, also local power generation or dispersed generation (PV, Wind, uCHP) takes place. The products are used in different kind of environments, such as production plants, large buildings, isolated platforms (ships, automotive) and the residential environment. The characteristics of the power supply significantly depend on the environment. Product design engineers have to include the actual behavior of the power supply, also during abnormal situations. The models used in the traditional power system analysis methods do not capture interference effects. Figure 2 gives an illustration of these effects. Transients due to switching in the local PDUN (power distribution user network) and synchronous switching loads can propagate to electronic equipment, resulting in disturbed electronics. Furthermore, electronics are disturbed by the interference from inverters, regenerative power converters and UPS. We propose a new modeling approach and analysis method for better voltage disturbance evaluation. We will address the steady state case as well as transient case for grid as well installations. The objective of this project is to find a (system engineering) methodology which will enable power distribution network designers and product designers to prevent interference, to define proper cost-effective (EMC) measures, and to guarantee a minimum quality of supply to all users. This methodology will be based on physical models. A tool based on the resulting methodology will be made available to Dutch companies. Furthermore, the research has to contribute to the European discussions among suppliers, manufacturers and regulators about the quality of the supply voltage. Advisor(s) Prof. Dr. Frank Leferink Duration 01-04-2009 - 31-03-2013 Project Power Quality and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Funding institution SenterNovem (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs) Strategic Research Orientation DSN - Dependable Systems and Networks Links to relevant web pages: http://www.ewi.utwente.nl/te/projects/electromagnetic%20compatibility/power%20quality/index.html http://www.ewi.utwente.nl/te/people/phd%20students/timens/index.html Pictures Figure 1 Figure 2