Facilitating real-time power quality management through harmonics study

Manav Energy is constantly innovating its products and services to reduce environmental impact while maintaining safety and comfort.

Explaining the significance of harmonics study, in interaction with EPR Magazine, Raja K, Designation – Manager Design & Consulting, Manav Energy, says, “Before beginning the filter design process, it is critical to understand the equipment location, operating constraints, switching operation rates, and environmental data, harmonic measurements, or manufacture harmonic characteristics”.

India currently has 114.07 GW of RE capacity. What steps are being taken to expand capacity using renewable energy sources?

The Indian government is attempting to improve renewable energy market conditions by introducing comprehensive programmes for developing the renewable energy industry and markets, including technology (R&D, demonstration projects, and commercialisation), supportive infrastructure, financing mechanisms, and the use of market-based instruments such as renewable portfolio standards. Financial incentives such as grants, loans, rebates, and tax credits are provided in some states to encourage renewable energy development. By 2030, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will install 500GW of non-fossil energy capacity. A well-planned road map is created with a vision to achieve India’s clean energy goals. Renewable sources of energy are expected to replace fossil fuels by 2050. Government support, people’s cooperation, and improved economic conditions have made the sector appealing.

How is deploying renewable energy technologies assisting you in providing significant products and services to improve renewable energy operations?

The government would play a beneficial role in promoting renewable energy technologies by initiating surveys and studies to establish their potential in urban and rural areas. Knowledge of renewable energy technol ogies should be strengthened by establishing education and training programs. Energy research, development, and demonstration projects would be encouraged to improve information and raise public awareness. Manav Energy is technologically innovating its services and products, aiming at reducing environmental impact while ensuring safety and comfort. We have also developed our services to support future strategies and help deliver more effectively.

What are the limitations of analysing system operations and studying power equipment harmonics?

The limitations are the number of monitoring points and the price in terms of equipment and installation efforts. The influence of measurement uncertainty and sensitivity is also considered the limiting factor. An additional restriction is monitoring the number of channels per measurement device. However, disturbance levels at non-monitored locations often need to be estimated to characterise the propagation of harmonic phenomena, which requires modelling based on limited measurements and network parameters.

What kind of analysis do you provide for real-time circuit management and power quality maintenance?

Power quality recording capabilities and analysis can help industrial facilities develop real-time circuit management through effective power quality maintenance programs. The program would intend to remotely retrieve and automatically compile indices to provide reporting based on threshold events and provide histogram trending to determine operational limits. The power quality maintenance program approach records the historical trend data, analyses the results, and checks the compliance of power quality limits mentioned in various standards.

How do you evaluate the design requirements for harmonic filters, surge suppressors, and snubbers to improve the effectiveness of power systems?

Information about the power system, including environmental data, is required to design a harmonic filter. Power system information includes characteristics, such as the nominal line-to-line voltage, standard equipment BIL for the system voltage level, fundamental frequency, system configuration, and impedance of system components. A clear understanding of equipment location (i.e., indoor or outdoor), operating constraints, current equipment duty-cycle, switching operation rates, environmental data (such as ambient temperature and wind loading), harmonic measurements, or manufacturer harmonic characteristics is essential to consider before starting the filter design process. The surge suppressor design will depend on the system’s type or categories and the assessment of the risk of lightning strikes and discharge capacities. The design of the snubber begins with a choice of rising time at maximum inductor current and supply voltage or peak voltage. Also, the reverse recovery time, current rating of the semiconductor, and the optimum value of the current and damping factors are essential parameters.