Power Quality: Internet Resources

Parviz Doulai, March 1997
http://www.uow.edu.au/pwrsysed/parvizd.html

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Preamble

Power quality is a growing concern for a wide range of customers. Industrial customers experience interruptions in important processes during momentary voltage sags associated with remote faults on the utility system. Commercial customers are applying high efficiency lighting and electronic office equipment, resulting in higher harmonic levels in the buildings. Even residential customers are concerned about surge protection for sensitive electronics in the home and the impact of momentary interruptions on their electronic equipment.

The following list outlines some major regional and global resources available on power quality issues, techniques and equipment. These include available World Wide Web (WWW) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites, listservers and discussion groups.

Home Pages

Electrotek Home Page
(http://www.electrotek.com/)
Electrotek Concepts, Inc., is an engineering services company that was organized in 1984 for the purpose of solving utility and industrial customer power system problems. Today, Electrotek works with an international group of clients and associates, including electric utilities, consultants, equipment vendors, research organizations, and government agencies.

Electrotek is probably known for its expertise in the power quality field more than anything else. As a major contractor for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Electrotek has done much of the original work in a large body of the recent published work investigating and quantifying power quality. Electrotek is involved in various organizations including the IEEE, CIGRE, CIRED, and the IEC that are quantifying the effects of and developing standards for power quality related phenomena.

PQ Network
(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/)
The PQ Network is provided as a service to the Power Quality community to assist in the exchange of information about power quality. The PQ Network is operated by Electrotek Concepts, Inc. This server provides access to an on-line power quality tutorial, analytical tools, case study library, measurement data library, newsletter, industry news, and much more. This server has been freely accessible to all who fill out the on-line registration form. This will be changed in future. They will begin to make available their services by paid subscription.

One of the most useful sections on the server will be the vendor information area. This area will contain information on a variety of products and services and will be full text searchable. Also, for those vendors that have their own WWW servers, links to those servers will be provided and organized into an easy to use form.

Con Edison's Power Quality Service Center
(http://www.coned.com/powqual.html)
Con Edison's Power Quality Service Center (CEPQSC) is a resource for customers. It provides training, technical documents and other assistance related to electric and power electronic technologies to large commercial customers, electrical contractors, and architectural and engineering firms. A major objective of the Center is to become the region's premiere power quality and power electronics information source.
Power Quality Assurance On-Line Magazine
(http://www.powerquality.com/)
covers the latest advances in power quality engineering and management.
This site offers a Power Quality Discussion Forum where different topics on power quality are being discussed and recorded. The forum moderator can be reached at moderator@powerquality.com and the URL address of the forum is
(http://powerquality.com/cgi-bin/forum/pqfm/forum.html)
The EPRI Distribution System Power Quality Project
(http://www.electrotek.com/projects/dpq/dpq.htm)
This site provides information on the EPRI's Assessment of Distribution Power Quality project that is the most thorough and recently performed study describing existing power quality levels on utility distribution systems in the United States. The data collection phase of the project involved 300 sites selected for monitoring on twenty-four utilities throughout the United States, and lasted from June 1993 to September 1995. Approximately 50 gigabtyes of power quality data were collected during this time period. The project’s chief goal is to provide a power quality database that will serve as source of benchmarks for EPRI’s concept of combined electric system reliability and power quality indices.
LA:PowerQuality
(http://www.rpi.edu/dept/lrc/answers/LA-PowerQuality.html)
The National Lighting Product Information Program (NLPIP) prepared this issue of Lighting Answers to help lighting specifiers and consumers better understand power quality, so that they can more confidently select energy-efficient lighting products.
Power Quality Solutions
(http://www.erols.com/marcia/)
In today's fast-paced environments, thousands of dollars are spent on state-of-the-art computer-controlled equipment and systems. These systems are often installed in "unfriendly" electrical environments which cause owners, managers and investors a great deal of frustration and disappointment and in many cases, result in a great loss of time and money.
Enhancing the Value of Electricity: EPRI's Power Quality Business Unit
(http://www.epri.com/csg/brochure/pwr.html)
By the year 2000, over half of all electricity produced in the United States will flow through microelectronics and power electronics equipment-equipment. But power disturbances can easily disrupt these sensitive electronic technologies, costing billions of dollars in lost customer productivity.

In today's competitive utility environment, the ability to help customers apply new power electronics-based equipment systems and to ensure compatible power is crucial to building customer loyalty and retaining market share. With that in mind, CSG is currently developing advanced tools and technologies that will enable utilities to address their customers' power quality needs quickly and economically.

Quality Power Systems Inc.
(http://www.qpsi.com/)
This site offers technical information on the following power quality systems; UPS Systems from 600 VA to 1000 kVA, Custom Battery Configurations, Power Conditioning Systems from 250 VA to 500kVA, Power Surge Suppression Systems, Standby Generator Sets, Custom Environmental Electronic Enclosures, and Systems Integration Services
Current Thinking Inc.
(http://www.netaccess.on.ca/~cti/)
This is the home of Current Thinking in power quality, power problem mitigation and electrical network diagnostics. Current Thinking Inc. is the leading analytical, design and reporting company in the field of power quality. In addition they provide custom installation of mitigation equipment. Current Thinking represents Electrotek Ltd., a manufacturer of custom harmonic filters and power factor correction systems.
UtilCorp United
(http://www.utilicorp.com/)
UtiliCorp United is an international energy and services company that provides energy solutions. The company has approximately 1.7 million electric and gas utility customers in eight states, one Canadian province and Australia. It also owns interests in two electric utilities in New Zealand and markets natural gas to wholesale and industrial customers in the United Kingdom through joint ventures with British regional electric companies.
UtilCorp United: EnergyOne Home Page (http://www.utilicorp.com/cgi-bin/cgibuilder.cgi?energyone2.html)
EnergyOne (SM) is a portfolio of high-quality energy products and services from UtiliCorp United. With EnergyOne, UtiliCorp United has become the single source for all energy solutions for homes, businesses and industries across the nation and around the globe.

Software

A wide variety of software is available to help support the power quality engineer. These tools include software products for analysing measurement data, simulation programs for harmonic and transient analysis, and more traditional steady state 50 Hz.

News Group and More

Electric Power Industry News
An information service from Individual, Inc.
Newsgroup: misc.industry.utilities.electric
Via gopher for those without access to a news reader
Newsgroup: sci.engr.electric
Newsgroup: sci.engr.electric.power
Newsgroup: sci.engr.electric.power.quality

PQ Chattm

PQ Chattm is a system for providing an on-line forum for the discussion of various power quality related topics.

PQWebtm

PQWebtm is Electrotek's comprehensive software solution to providing WWW access to power quality databases. Databases supported include the entire family of Electrotek power quality databases including PQView 1.x. Also supported is direct access to BMI 8010/8020 PQNode PASS Databases. Try the following link for an example of these systems.
http://www.electrotek.com/pqweb/

On Line Analytical Tools

This allows the user to select one of several on-line tools available. The tools operate by providing the user with a one-line-diagram and a form to fill out system information. When the user submits the form,the server runs the selected tool and displays the result in graphical and/or tabular format as an on-line document.
  • Filter Design (http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com//pqnet/main/tools/filter/filter.htm)
  • IEEE 519 Analysis(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/pqnet/main/tools/ieee519.htm)
  • Frequency Scan(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/pqnet/main/tools/freqscan.htm)
  • Transformer Derating(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/pqnet/main/tools/derate.htm)
  • Capacitor Switching(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/pqnet/main/tools/capswit.htm)
  • Query PQNode Database(http://www.pqnet.electrotek.com/pqnet/main/tools/pqnode/pqnode.htm)

    • Industry Web Sites

    1. Atlas Energy Systems
      With over 70 years of industry experience, the Marine Division of Atlas Energy Systems is one of the oldest and most respected names in the manufacture, repair and supply of marine electric generator sets.
    2. AutoCap Solutions Inc.
      Automatic battery management systems that ensure your backup batteries are in peak operating condition, when you need them.
    3. Dranetz Technologies Inc.
      For over thirty years, Dranetz Technologies has led the way in the design and manufacture of precision electrical test instruments.
    4. Explorer Technology Group Inc.
      ETG is dedicated to providing our customers with the "product of choice" whenever they desire to automate their data collection tasks on industrial batteries. Please visit our web site for detailed information on our entire product line, including our line of DATALOGGING HYDROMETERS and VOLTMETERS. You can also download FREE copies of our demonstration and production SOFTWARE.
    5. International Computer Power
      A world leader in the design, application and manufacture of high-performance AC power converters, rotary ups, the patented kinetic battery, and power conditioners for the full spectrum of industrial, commercial, medical, aerospace and maritime voltage and frequency conversion, power conditioning and UPS applications.
    6. On-line Power
      On-line Power is the world's largest manufacturer of medical power products and tap-switching regulators and their product line also features uninterruptible power systems (ups) and power conditioners.
    7. Power & Ground Systems Corporation
      Patented "Ground Conditioning" Products and Technology to Prevent Electrical Transients from Entering through the Ground.
    8. PowerCET Corporation
      Since its founding, PowerCET Corporation has focused on the improvement of the productivity and reliability of electronic equipment and systems through comprehensive consulting, education and training programs for client companies.
    9. Static Power Conversion Services, Inc.
      Your Single Point Source for Power Quality Excellence! Since 1982, SPCS has been providing customers with the very finest in computer power protection services and products. We pride ourselves on our thoroughness, craftsmanship, and customer responsiveness. As your single point source, SPCS can provide the full range of Power Quality products and services.
    10. Woodhyrst, Inc
      Providing quality power with uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems, surge suppressors (TVSS), power conditioners, stand-by generators, humidifiers, & all types of batteries.

    Miscellaneous

    Kansas State University Power Quality Page
    http://www.eece.ksu.edu/~starret/581/topic.F95/quality.html
    Power Electronics - Home Page
    Westinghouse Science & Technology Center
    http://www.stc.westinghouse.com/EISD/pe/pe_hp.htm
    PTI Home Page
    http://www.albany.net:80/~dmills/pti.html
    American Power Conference
    http://www.ece.iit.edu/~apc/apc.html
    Asea Boveri Brown
    http://www,abb.com
    General Electric
    http://www.ge.com/
    American Power Conversion
    http://www.apcc.com/
    General Electric Power Systems
    http://www.ge.com/geps/index.html
    EPRI Home Page
    http://www.epri.com
    EPRI FTP Server
    ftp://ftp.epri.com/
    PECO Energy
    http://www.libertynet.org/peco/business/commercial.html
    Electric Power Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    http://www.eng.rpi.edu/dept/epe/WWW/index.html
    EMF Links
    (http://infoventures.com/)
    IVI Online provides information about health issues and challenges including electric and magnetic fields (EMF).

    Integral Energy Power Quality Centre

    This page lives at the University of Wollongong Web Server (http://www.uow.edu.au/pwrsysed/pqc/).

    The purpose of this home page is two fold.

    To meet both objectives, the homepage accommodates not only relevant information (local, regional and global) and pointers to other relevant sites but also provides information, codes, micros and other data on computer simulation programs that are used for power quality investigations.

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