The following checklist identifies situations where an engineering study is probably required.
Mandatory Power Quality Analysis is required unders following Conditions:
- capacitors are being added for the first time
- capacitors are currently installed and additional capacitors are being added
- capacitors are currently installed and problems are being encountered.
- If capacitors being added to a system where 20% of the connected load is harmonic sources?
- If there been unexplained operations of fuses or other protective devices
- If the measured RMS capacitor currents 135% (or greater) of rated current
- If there been any failures of capacitors currently installed at the facility
- If there been any instances of swelling or unusual noises on capacitors currently installed at the facility
- If there been unexplained failures or misoperations of sensitive equipment?
- If there been an unusual number of motor and failures or unexplained motor failures?
- Has the utility imposed harmonic limits?
- Is a plant expansion currently being planned that might include additional harmonic sources?
- Is there on-site generation that will provide power to a significant number of harmonic sources?
Good power quality is extremely important in “high-tech” facilities such as manufacturing plants, data centres, hospitals, and, as well as in “low-tech” facilities such as government buildings and commercial enterprises with limited tolerance for electrical disturbances. See the Below Article
