How can Power Quality affect the facility electrical distribution system?
The facility electrical distribution system has more influence on the quality of power than any other single factor — and it is an area that can be positively impacted by good electrical facility design, installation and maintenance. Those facilities with protective maintenance programs have fewer power quality problems than their counterparts without such programs. Monitoring may provide advance warning of capacity or general power-related problems before they affect building operations. In addition, monitoring helps in planning for new equipment and in rapidly identifying the source of problems. The facility electrical distribution system has several components, each one capable of affecting power quality. Transformers are used to “step up” and “step down” voltage to meet load requirements. The introduction of nonsinusoidal loads that draw their energy in short, current pulses every half cycle. These return currents are rich in odd harmonics, especially third-order, and can cause ove
