Harmonics investigation in a steel factory

For many years, the reliable distribution of electric power has been plagued by common problems such as interruptions, voltage sags and swells, as well as voltage flicker, and transients. The impact of these problems has gotten worse in recent years due to the nature of the loads that are served by the power system. Increased use of automated, computer controlled processes means that industrial energy customers are often adversely impacted by disturbances that originate on the transmission or distribution system. Customers that formerly had little or no difficulties with the quality of their electric supply are now experiencing costly disruption of critical manufacturing processes due to voltage disturbances. These process disruptions result in millions of dollars of lost production, scrapped product and clean-up each year. The paper presents the different power quality problems encountered by some of the plants of this industrial city, from which data was measured and recorded. Solutions exercised by such companies to solve such problems are mentioned. The paper suggests and recommends solutions to increase savings and reduce power quality problems and therefore plant productivity.