1. Mike Thornton National Sales Manager
Power Quality
According to the US National Academy of Engineering, the “vast networks of electrification” that now cover the surface of our Planet are the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century. As the world’s largest supplier to the power transmission industry, ABB Power Technology Products have played a fundamental role in this achievement.
In the 21st century, Power Technology Products are ready to play just as important a role. We live in a networked world, linked together by information networks. Electrical energy is still the most important pillar of modern society, because the information networks cannot function without electricity. The networking of our world has brought with it three main consequences for the power market:
Deregulation, provoking competition so that
prices drop
new technologies are implemented for environmentally friendly solutions
the power grid becomes more reliable, cost-efficient and in many cases invisible
Electricity demand increases
Speed of information transfer also increases
Rising up to our 21st century role of empowering a networked world, we at ABB Power Technology Products are meeting the challenges that these changes are bringing with them with a steady commitment to you, our customer.
Mike Thornton
National Sales Manager

2. Poor Power Quality: What is it TO YOU?
Any event related to the electrical network that makes you lose money…
- Power supply failures E.g. Breakers tripping, fuses blowing
- Equipment failure, malfunctioning and lifetime reduction
E.g. - Equipment overheating (transformers, motors, …)
- Damage to sensitive equipment (PCs, UPS-systems, Drives)
- Capacitor problems
- Electronic communication interference
- System losses
- Utility regulations G5/4 and penalties
- Personnel issues (illness, work efficiency, …)

3. Where do harmonics come from?
All non-linear loads create harmonics
A load which draws a non-sinusoidal (distorted) current, when a pure sinusoidal voltage is applied, is a non-linear load
‘Sinusoidal’ supply voltage
Non-linear load
Harmonics = the distorted waveform – the 50Hz/60Hz part in the waveform

4. Non-linear loads are everywhere
Where to find non-linear loads?
Non-linear loads are everywhere
and in ever increasing number!
Industrial loads (mainly 3-wire systems)
AC and DC drives, UPS-systems, …
=> Harmonics between phases, imbalance, sometimes reactive power
Commercial loads (mainly 4-wire systems)
All office equipment such as computers, fluorescent lighting, photo copiers, fax-machines, …
=> Harmonics in neutral and between phases, imbalance, sometimes reactive power
are connected between line & neutral generating 3rd harmonic in the neutral conductor
Some loads are unbalanced

5. The best solution to harmonic problems
Active harmonic filters
Filtering principle: cancellation of harmonics by equal and opposite harmonic generation by an active filter device
Waveforms
CLEAN
FEEDER
CURRENT
LOAD
CURRENT
ACTIVE FILTER
CURRENT = +
Harmonics

6. Cable car application Problem:
Utility uses ripple control signals at 1050 Hz and 1600 Hz - High frequency components present on the public network

7. Initial line current without ABB active filter
Cable car application
Solution: ABB active filter
Initial line current without ABB active filter
-800
-700
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
-100
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
Current [A]
Time [ms]
FILTER OFF - [09/12/97] 50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Current [Arms]
Harmonics
FILTER OFF - [09/12/97]

8. Filtered line current with ABB active filter
Cable car application
Solution: ABB active filter
Filtered line current with ABB active filter
-800
-700
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
-100
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
Current [A]
Time [ms]
FILTER RUNNING - [09/12/97] 50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Harmonics
FILTER RUNNING - [09/12/97]
Current [Arms]

9. Neutral protection overload
Ith (L): 100ARMS
N: 65-80% * Ith MV LV
PQFT
L1 (R)
L2 (Y)
L3 (B) N
NL Loads:
- Fluor. light - PCs - ...

10. Neutral protection overload
H3 in neutral with and without filter Without filter: IH3  150 ARMS With filter: IH3  0 ARMS
I [100 A/div]
Without filter
I [100 A/div]
With filter
Time [10 ms/div]

11. THE solution to poor power quality
ABB premium class Active Filters:
PQFI
PQFK
PQFM

12. Power Quality Solutions
Power Factor Correction
Passive Harmonic Filters
Active Harmonic Filters
Flicker – Dynamic Compensation

13. A global leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact