Electricity and Control June 2024

Managing power quality at a new level

Although we generally expect uninterrupted and stable electricity access, this is not always the case. For the efficient distribution of electricity to consumers, the power quality of the network is a crucial factor in ensuring a reliable power supply. Low voltage harmonic filters address power quality issues by mitigating harmonic distortions, compensating for reactive pow er, and stabilising voltage levels. They are key in improving reli ability, efficiency, and productivity as well as reducing downtime and costs in industrial, commercial, or residential applications. The impact of poor power quality Power quality issues often arise from compatibility problems between the electrical grid and a constantly changing array of electronic devices and equipment. The increasing prevalence of electronic devices, from LED lamps to personal computers, so phisticated equipment and industrial machinery, has heightened susceptibility to power disruptions. Poor power quality can have many consequences, which may include damage to electrical installations, unexpected produc tion downtime, inefficient production processes, and high energy consumption due to system losses. The financial implications are significant, hindering peak performance and restricting assets from meeting their full potential. Calculating the economic effects of poor power quality can be challenging, but the consequences are clear. For instance, a power quality disruption during production in the food and beverage industry could result in thousands of spoiled products. In other cases, the malfunctioning of electrical or electronic equipment due to power quality problems can pose significant health and safety risks. Recognising these consequences underscores the need for specific action to improve and safeguard power quality. An innovative filtering solution For decades, passive filter technology has been the preferred solution to address power quality issues. This technology employs capacitors and inductors to filter out unwanted harmonics and electrical noise at a pre-defined frequency, providing a cost-effective solution. However, passive filtering has limitations in cancelling varying harmonics over the load range and may be less suitable for changing operating conditions. In contrast, active filter technology, pioneered by Hitachi Energy (formerly the Power Grids division at ABB) in the 1990s, actively eliminates harmonics and electrical noise in real time at nearly any frequency using electronic components, resulting in a cleaner, more stable, and safer power supply. PQactiF is the latest technological development from Hitachi Energy. It is a low voltage active harmonic filter that raises the bar for power quality. Building on the best digital technology available, PQactiF uses sophisticated algorithms to analyse and eliminate electrical disturbances, leading to greater accuracy and efficiency in power quality management. In a single device it offers harmonic filtering and compensates for low power factor and load imbalance. This innovative solution, providing compactness, modularity, flexibility, and scalability, is suitable for residential, commercial, and critical industrial applications. □

JUNE 2024 Electricity + Control

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