POWER QUALITY

Traditionally, the power system was simple and unidirectional; the flow of electricity (power) used to be from source (generator) to sink (load) only. Power was generated in bulk using conventional resources and then transmitted, distributed and consumed by end users as load. Availability of power had more concern than the quality and therefore the target used to be ¿to keep the lights On¿, without taking reliability and quality of power into account. Now the scenario is gradually changing.Loads at consumer end have also changed their characteristics. Most of the electronic devices being used by the consumers are sensitive and non-linear loads. Cumulatively all such changes in power system have affected quality of the power supply. At the same time consumers¿ awareness, requirement and aspirations for quality power in terms of continuity, sinusoidal shape and specified limits etc. are increasing. Hence, Power Quality has now become one of the major concerns for power system stakeholders