POWER QUALITY AND FACTS UNIT-3

Q1. What are the sources of transient overvoltage? Explain some with suitable example.
Ans Transient overvoltage refers to a temporary rise in voltage in an electrical circuit, typically
lasting for a very short duration (from microseconds to milliseconds). These overvoltage can
be caused by various factors, which can be broadly categorized into external and internal
sources. Here are some common sources and examples of transient overvoltage:

External Sources:

A lightning strike can cause a sudden and extreme increase in

voltage on power lines. When lightning hits or comes near a power
line, it induces a high voltage transient that can travel through the
1. Lightning Strikes:
electrical grid, damaging equipment and causing power outages.
Lightning arresters and grounding systems are typically used to
mitigate this risk.

Electrostatic discharge occurs when there is a sudden flow of

electricity between two electrically charged objects. This can
Electrostatic Discharge happen, for instance, when a person walking on a carpeted floor
2.
(ESD): builds up a static charge and then touches an electronic device,
causing a transient overvoltage that can damage sensitive
electronic components.

Internal Sources:

Turning on or off large inductive loads, such as motors or transformers,

Switching can generate transients. For instance, when a large motor is suddenly
1.
Operations: turned off, the collapsing magnetic field can induce a high voltage spike
in the circuit, which can lead to overvoltage conditions.

Short circuits or other faults in the power distribution system can cause
sudden changes in current flow, leading to transient overvoltages. For
Faults in the
2. example, a tree branch falling on power lines can create a fault,
Power System:
generating a transient overvoltage that propagates through the electrical
network.

Capacitor banks are used in power systems for power factor correction.
Capacitor Switching these capacitors in or out of the circuit can cause transients.
3.
Switching: When a capacitor bank is suddenly connected to the system, it can create
a high-frequency oscillation that results in a transient overvoltage.

Examples and Mitigation:

When large industrial motors start or stop, they can create voltage spikes.
Motor Start and
1. These spikes can be mitigated using surge protectors or snubber circuits
Stop:
to absorb the energy of the transient.

Switching off a high-wattage lighting system can generate transients.

2. Load Switching: Using soft starters or dimmer switches can help reduce the impact of
these transients.

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Transformer Energizing a transformer can cause inrush currents that lead to transient
3. Energization: overvoltages. Using pre-insertion resistors or controlled switching can
help mitigate these effects.

Mitigation Techniques:

• Surge Protectors: Devices designed to protect electrical equipment from transient

overvoltages by diverting excess voltage away from the protected equipment.
• Grounding and Bonding: Proper grounding can help dissipate overvoltages caused
by lightning and other external sources.
• Snubber Circuits: Used to suppress voltage spikes by absorbing the energy of the
transient.
• Controlled Switching: Techniques used to minimize transients during switching
operations, such as controlled closing and opening of circuit breakers.

Q2. Explain power factor improvement using capacitor switching transient?

Ans Power factor improvement using capacitors involves the use of capacitor banks to counteract
the lagging power factor caused by inductive loads such as motors, transformers, and other
equipment. However, switching capacitors in and out of the circuit can generate transients,
which are sudden and short-duration overvoltages. These transients can affect the power
quality and potentially damage equipment. Here’s an explanation of how power factor
improvement works and the associated switching transients:

Power Factor Improvement:

Power factor (PF) is the ratio of real power (P) used to perform work to
Understanding
1. the apparent power (S) flowing in the circuit. It is a measure of how
Power Factor:
effectively electrical power is being used.

Lagging Power Factor: Inductive loads cause the current to lag behind
the voltage, resulting in a lagging power factor. This is inefficient and
can lead to higher energy consumption and costs.

Role of Capacitors provide leading reactive power (Q) that can counteract the
2.
Capacitors: lagging reactive power caused by inductive loads.

Power Factor Correction: By adding capacitors to the electrical

network, the overall power factor can be improved (i.e., brought closer
to unity, or 1.0), reducing the phase difference between voltage and
current.

Capacitor Switching Transients:

Capacitor Banks: Capacitor banks are switched in and out of the circuit
Switching
1. to provide the necessary reactive power compensation. This can be done
Operations:
manually or automatically based on the load conditions.

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• Voltage Transients: When a capacitor bank is suddenly

connected to the power system, it can create a high-frequency
oscillation between the system inductance and the capacitance.
Transient This oscillation results in a transient overvoltage.
2.
Phenomena: • Current Transients: The inrush current when capacitors are
switched on can be very high due to the sudden change in voltage
across the capacitors. This current can be several times higher
than the normal operating current.

Q3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using capacitor bank in a power system?
And explain with the capacitor switching operation.
Ans Advantages Disadvantages
1. Power Factor Improvement Switching Transients
2. Voltage Regulation Harmonics
3. Reduction in Transmission Losses Maintenance and Reliability
4. Increased System Capacity Overvoltage Issues
5. Cost Savings Space and Installation Costs

Capacitor Switching Operation:

Capacitor switching involves connecting or disconnecting capacitor banks to or from the power
system. The operation can be manual or automatic, depending on the control system in place.
Here's an overview of the switching operation and its impact:

1. Switching On: • Process: When the control system detects a low power factor, it
closes the switch to connect the capacitor bank to the system.
• Impact: The sudden connection can cause an inrush current and
a transient voltage spike. This is due to the initial charging of the
capacitors and the interaction with system inductance.

2. Switching Off: • Process: When the power factor is within acceptable limits or
during low load conditions, the control system opens the switch
to disconnect the capacitor bank.

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• Impact: The disconnection can also cause transients, though

typically less severe than switching on. Residual charges in the
capacitors can discharge rapidly.

Q4. Explain the phenomena of voltage magnification at customer side due to energizing
capacitor on utility system and discuss the remedy.
Ans When a utility company energizes a capacitor bank in the power system, it can cause a
phenomenon known as voltage magnification at the customer's premises. This phenomenon
occurs primarily due to the interaction between the capacitance of the utility capacitor bank
and the inductance and capacitance of the customer's equipment and wiring.

Mechanism of Voltage Magnification:

o When the utility switches on a capacitor bank, it injects a significant

Capacitor amount of leading reactive power into the system. This sudden
1.
Switching: introduction of capacitive reactance can lead to transient
oscillations.

o If the natural resonant frequency of the customer's load (a

combination of inductive and capacitive elements) matches or is
Resonance close to the frequency of the transient oscillation caused by the
2.
Conditions: capacitor switching, resonance can occur.
o This resonance can amplify the voltage at certain points in the
customer's electrical system.

o The voltage magnification effect happens because the resonant

condition increases the voltage across certain components of the
Voltage customer's system, potentially leading to voltages significantly
3.
Magnification: higher than the nominal supply voltage.
o This effect is particularly pronounced in customers with a high ratio
of capacitive to inductive loads.

Imagine a residential area where homes are equipped with various

inductive loads (motors, transformers) and capacitive loads (power factor
correction capacitors in appliances). When the utility energizes a large
capacitor bank on its side of the system, it can create a transient
Example
oscillation. If the resonance frequency of the combined inductive and
Scenario
capacitive elements within the home matches this oscillation frequency,
it can lead to a voltage magnification effect. This could result in higher-
than-normal voltages at the customer's outlets, potentially damaging
sensitive electronic equipment.

Remedies for Voltage Magnification:

o Installation: Adding detuning reactors (inductors) in series with

Detuning the capacitors in the customer’s premises can shift the resonant
1.
Reactors: frequency, preventing it from matching the frequency of the
transient oscillations caused by the utility capacitor switching.

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o Benefit: Reduces the risk of resonance and subsequent voltage

magnification.

o Installation: Installing SPDs at key points in the customer's

electrical system can help absorb and divert transient
Surge Protection
2. overvoltages, protecting sensitive equipment.
Devices (SPDs):
o Benefit: Provides a safeguard against transient spikes, even if
resonance occurs.

o Utility Action: Utilities can use controlled switching techniques

to minimize the impact of energizing capacitor banks. Controlled
Controlled switching involves synchronizing the switching action to
3.
Switching: specific points in the voltage waveform to reduce transients.
o Benefit: Reduces the initial transient that can lead to resonance
conditions.

o Customer Action: Customers should ensure that any power

Proper Sizing factor correction capacitors they use are appropriately sized and
4. and Placement of placed to avoid contributing to resonance conditions.
Capacitors: o Benefit: Minimizes the risk of creating conditions favourable to
voltage magnification.

o Installation: Adding filter circuits designed to attenuate specific

harmonic frequencies can help mitigate the effects of resonance.
5. Filter Circuits:
o Benefit: Reduces the amplification of specific frequencies that
contribute to voltage magnification.

Q5. Explain the various strategies for utilities to decrease the impact of lighting.
Ans Utilities employ several strategies to mitigate the impact of lightning on power systems to
ensure reliability and protect infrastructure. Here are some key strategies:

Surge arresters (also known as lightning arresters) protect electrical

1. Surge Arresters: equipment by diverting excess voltage away from the system and safely
discharging it into the ground.

a) Station Class Arresters: Used in substations to protect

transformers and switchgear.
b) Intermediate Class Arresters: Used for protection of
Types:
distribution transformers and cables.
c) Distribution Class Arresters: Installed on distribution lines and
equipment to safeguard against lightning surges.

Placed strategically at key points such as substations, transformers, and

Installation:
along transmission and distribution lines.

Shield wires (or overhead ground wires) are installed above power lines
Shield Wires and
2. to intercept lightning strikes, directing the energy safely to the ground
Ground Wires:
through grounding systems.

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• Installed on transmission towers, running parallel to the

Installation: conductors.
• Connected to grounding systems at regular intervals.

Grounding Grounding systems provide a low-resistance path for lightning-induced

3.
Systems: currents to dissipate safely into the earth.

Components: • Ground Rods: Metal rods driven into the ground to provide a
direct path for electrical discharge.
• Ground Grids: Network of interconnected ground rods and
conductors forming a grid to distribute the lightning current over
a larger area.
• Ground Conductors: Wires connecting the system components
to the ground rods or grids.

Smart Grid Integrating smart grid technologies to enhance the grid's responsiveness
4.
Technologies: to lightning and other transient events.

Components: • Automated Switches and Reclosers: Devices that can isolate

faulted sections and restore power automatically after transient
faults caused by lightning.
• Real-Time Monitoring and Control: Systems that provide
real-time data and analytics to detect and respond to lightning-
induced disturbances quickly.

Use of Advanced Employing materials that can withstand high-voltage surges and improve
5.
Materials: the overall resilience of the power system.

Materials: • Composite Insulators: Made of materials like silicone rubber,

offering better performance under lightning conditions
compared to traditional porcelain or glass insulators.
• High-Performance Conductors: Using conductors with higher
thermal and electrical capacity to withstand lightning-induced
surges.

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