Analysis of power quality based on real data and quality improvement at campus distribution system

In recent years, a lot of equipments have been made using the inverter technology from home electric appliances to office automation apparatuses and industrial equipments with the development of power electronics technology. The voltage distortion of a distribution system has increased due to the harmonic currents generated from these apparatuses, and the increase in harmonics continues to be expected. In addition, the distribution system forms the circuit of harmonic distortion expansion by the prevalence of static capacitor without L for power factor improvement. Moreover, the voltage imbalance occurs by diversification of loads or imbalanced connection of single-phase loads. The deterioration of power quality in the distribution system causes various problems such as the overheating of equipments and malfunction of rotating machines. Since the power quality changes according to air temperature and date, it is desirable to measure the voltages and currents continuously for a long time. In this study, the authors focus attention on the distribution system in the University of Fukui campus, and the authors have measured the voltages and currents in the distribution system for a long period with WAMS (Wide Area Measurement System) using NCT (Network Computing Terminal). Based on the obtained data, the authors analyzed the power quality of the campus distribution system from viewpoints of voltage imbalance, current imbalance, voltage THD (Total Harmonic Distortion), and current THD. Furthermore, the improvement effect of power quality of the campus distribution system by exchange of single-phase load connection is described. © 2009 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.