Electrical

Electrical
Engineering
Engineering
Proactive
Proactive
energy
energy
management
management
Real-time
Real-timeonlineonline powerpower quality quality
(PQ) (PQ) features,
features,
together together
with the withuse theofusecloudof cloud 1. It is1.evident
It is evident
that an that
advanced
an advancedsystemsystem
monitoring
monitoring exploits exploits
the internet
the internetas a ascomputing
a computing and and internet internet
technology,
technology, wouldwouldbe much be muchmore more cost-effective
cost-effective
and and
tool, enabling
tool, enabling the inclusion
the inclusion of distant
of distantmake make the PQ the monitoring
PQ monitoring systemsystem a easy a toeasyimplement
to implement than the than conventional
the conventional
sites in
sites
an in energy
an energy
management
management system. system.
powerfulpowerful
tool for toolpredictive
for predictive
maintenance
maintenance system. system.
WhenWhen capabilities
capabilities
are embedded
are embedded
ApartApart
from from managing managing
energy energy
usage,usage,
as applications.
as applications. SeveralSeveral key features
key features and and in the inhardware
the hardware
(ie the(ie meter),
the meter),
it becomes
it becomes
well aswell
monitoring
as monitoring and trending
and trending energy energy
criticalcritical
pointspoints have have to betotaken be takeninto into very very
difficult difficult
to scale to scale
up orupchange or change
consumption,
consumption, it helpsit helps
to proactively
to proactively consideration
consideration to avoid to avoidmajormajor pitfallspitfalls
things,things,
whereas whereas
in an in advanced
an advanced system, system,
identify
identify
PQ conditions
PQ conditions that may thatresult
may result duringduring
software software
development.
development. scalability
scalability
and flexibility
and flexibility of theofsoftware
the software
in electrical
in electrical
failures failures
if uncorrected.
if uncorrected. are muchare much
greater. greater.
Dr HenryDr Henry WongWong Chuen Chuen
Yuen Yuen and and Comparing
Comparing conventional
conventional and advanced
and advanced The The only only apparent apparent disadvantage
disadvantage
Mr Ken Mr Ken Jung Jung present presentthe features
the features systems systems of theof advanced
the advanced systemsystem is theis heavy
the heavy
of an of advanced
an advanced PQ PQ monitoring
monitoring In a In conventional
a conventional PQ PQ monitoring
monitoring communication
communication load that load isthathandled
is handled
by by
system system
developed developed by Quality
by Quality PowerPower software,
software,
multiple multiple
high-end high-end
metersmeters
(each (each the software.
the software.However, However,when when designed
designed
Management
Management Pte Ltd Pte(QPM).
Ltd (QPM). capable capable
of performing
of performing PQ parameter
PQ parameter correctly,
correctly,
this this load load is manageable,
is manageable,
calculations)
calculations)
are used are toused
analyse
to analyse
PQ and PQ and especially
especially
by tapping
by tappinginto the into Ethernet
the Ethernet
as as
Introduction
Introduction diagnosediagnose
PQ problems.
PQ problems. The metersThe meters a communication
a communication channel. channel.
With With
a 49%a 49% failurefailure
rate attributed
rate attributed to measure
to measure the PQ the parameters,
PQ parameters, process process
lack oflackmaintenance
of maintenance (as reported
(as reportedin a in them,
a them,
and communicate
and communicate the information
the information System System
architecture
architecture and algorithms
and algorithms
study study
publishedpublished
on IEEE on IEEE standard standard
493- 493- to a PC to awhich
PC which then displays
then displaysthe results
the results The advanced
The advanced PQ monitoring
PQ monitoring systemsystem
is is
1997 1997
issuedissuedby US-based
by US-based InstituteInstitute
of using
of using a graphic
a graphic
user interface.
user interface.
However, However, made madeup of up twoofpartstwo parts
(Fig 1). (FigThe1).first
The first
Electrical
Electrical
and Electronics
and Electronics Engineers),
Engineers),such asuchsystema system
cannotcannot work work
in a network
in a network part ispart
installed
is installed
at an at on-site
an on-site
mini server
mini server
proactive
proactive
energyenergy management
management is actively
is actively
of simple
of simple
meters. meters.
CostlyCostlymeters, meters,
capable capableand isand responsible
is responsible for data for acquisition.
data acquisition.
encouraged.
encouraged. Further, Further,
insurance insurance
claimsclaimsof performing
of performing calculations,
calculations,
must must be in be The in second
The second
part ispartthe is PQ theanalyser
PQ analyser
whichwhich
data from
data fromthe NFPA the NFPA70B maintenance
70B maintenance place place
beforebefore
the systemthe system
can becan linked
be linked
up up is installed
is installed
at the atcentral
the central
server.server.
standard
standard
issuedissued
by theby US-based
the US-based National National
for PQ formonitoring,
PQ monitoring, making making
the system
the system The advanced The advanced PQ monitoring
PQ monitoring systemsystem
Fire Protection
Fire Protection Association
Association show show that thatless cost-effective.
less cost-effective. taps into
taps theinto meters
the meters via a via MODBus
a MODBus
aboutabout
half the half costthe cost
associatedassociated
with with On the On otherthe other hand,hand,an advanced
an advanced protocolprotocol
to draw to draw out the out raw the data.
raw data.
electrical
electrical
failures failures
could couldbe averted
be averted by by PQ PQ monitoring
monitoring systemsystem employs employs The meters
The meters (also (alsoknownknown as MODBusas MODBus
regularregular
maintenance.
maintenance. This has Thisprovided
has provided sophisticated
sophisticatedsoftware software
to perform
to perform the the serial serial
meters) meters)
are bridgedare bridged to thetoTCP/the TCP/
an impetus
an impetusfor organisations
for organisations to cultivate
to cultivate
necessary
necessary
calculations,
calculations,
tapping tapping
into the into theIP Ethernet
IP Ethernet at theaton-sitethe on-sitemini mini
serverserver
proactive
proactiveenergyenergy managementmanagement as a as metersa meters
only to onlyretrieve
to retrieve
raw PQ rawdata.
PQ Anydata. Any housing housing
the data the data acquisition
acquisition
unit. unit.
priority
priority
in its in customer
its customer
serviceservice
strategy.strategy.type oftypedigital
of digital
electrical
electrical
metermeter can be can beThe dataThe acquisition
data acquisition unit collates
unit collates
PQ PQ
linkedlinked
up to upan advanced
to an advanced system, system,
for PQfor PQ parameters
parameterson a on per-second
a per-second basis, basis,
and and
Advanced
AdvancedPQ monitoring
PQ monitoring system system monitoring. monitoring. send sendthe PQ the parameters
PQ parameters (maximum,
(maximum,
QPM’s QPM’s
advanced advancedonlineonlinereal-timereal-time
PQ PQ The advantages The advantages and disadvantages
and disadvantages minimum minimum and average
and average valuesvaluesonly) only)
to to
monitoring
monitoring systemsystemutilisesutilises
a small a small
set of set of theoftwo the systems
two systems are listed
are listed
in Table in Table the central
the central
server,server,
in 10-minute
in 10-minute blocksblocks
or or
measurements
measurements from fromelectricalelectrical
meters, meters,
to to
predictpredict
powerpower distribution
distribution and critical
and critical Conventional
Conventional System SystemAdvanced AdvancedSystem System
load load
failures.failures.
Current Current measurements
measurements Cost of Cost of meter
meter High High Low Low
are used
are toused trend
to trend
changes changes
in theinload. the load. Price Price
of entireof entire
systemsystem High High Low Low
Information
Information on voltage
on voltage
stability,
stability,
voltage voltage
Ease ofEase of integration
integration into intoMay need May to need to change
change all allEasy Easy
unbalance,
unbalance,and harmonic
and harmonic distortions,
distortions,
is is
existing
existing metermeternetwork network metersmeters
to theto the high-end
high-end
gathered
gathered
to indicate
to indicate
the state the ofstatehealth
of health
type type
of a load
of aandloaddistribution
and distribution system. system.
All theAll the
measurements
measurements can becanacquired
be acquired without without Real-time Real-time
display display With With lag time lag time Instantaneous
Instantaneous
disrupting
disruptingoperations.
operations.
The data The data from from Modularity
Modularity Fixed Fixed
and and
difficult difficult
to to Modular Modular
the electrical
the electrical metersmeters
are digitised
are digitisedand and expand expand
transferred
transferred
to a software,
to a software, for real-time Scalability
for real-time Scalability Fixed Fixed
and not andscalable
not scalableReadily Readily
scalable scalable
analysis.
analysis.
Basically, Basically,
the effect
the effect
of theofentire
the entire Data transfer
Data transfer load load Light Light HeavyHeavy but manageable
but manageable
electrical
electrical
systemsystem (up to(up thetoload)the load)
can becan be Upgrade Upgrade Difficult Difficult Easy Easy
monitored
monitored in this in way.
this way.The advanced
The advanced
Maintenance
Maintenance Difficult Difficult Easy Easy
systemsystem
can also canbealsocustomised
be customised to include
to include
monitoring
monitoring of theofbusbarthe busbar temperature,
temperature,
leakageleakage
current, current,
energyenergy
consumption
consumption per per Table 1:
Table
Comparing
1: Comparingthe advantages
the advantages
and disadvantages
and disadvantages
of a conventional
of a conventionalsystem system
with those
withofthose
an of an
advanced
advanced
system.system.
floor floor
area, area,
carboncarbon footprintfootprint
etc. These
etc. These

20 · THE
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May 2010

as desired.
Upon receipt of the information at
the central server, analyses are carried out
by the PQ analyser unit, to characterise
these PQ parameters and to identify PQ
events. Calculations are performed using
various signal processing algorithms.
Trends are analysed statistically and
indices calculated. The information is
then processed as graphical presentations
and PQ summary reports. Clients can
log in to the central server remotely at
any time to access the processed data and
view the PQ history over any period.
For greater flexibility, the system
architecture is also supported by various
libraries of meter register addresses. This
essentially makes it a ‘plug-and-play’
system, suitable for all digital electrical
meters.
The architecture will be further
enhanced with the incorporation of a
wireless device that can be attached to any
existing meter. This enables the wireless
transmission of the data from each meter
to the system, for processing, bypassing
the Ethernet. In essence, it removes the
need for extensive wiring, making it
simpler and cheaper to incorporate a PQ
monitoring system into any network of
meters.
Electrical Engineering
problems, and alert users to potential
issues.
t
The intelligence to evaluate
disturbances in accordance with the
set limits, should be distributed among
the respective components of the PQ
system.
t
All equipment, communication
devices, and software involved in PQ
monitoring, need to be scalable to handle
hundreds of points, whilst still remaining
manageable.
t
Availability of information on the set
limits, for other systems and end-users.
t
Flexibility of the PQ monitoring
system, in order to adapt to user
preferences and the latest standards.
Features of the advanced system
The standard features of the advanced
system can be used as a reference for others
intending to develop a PQ monitoring
system. The advanced system is able to
track the following, in real-time:
t
Energy usage (monitored every
second)
t
Energy cost (based on hourly to
yearly consumption cost)
t
Cost comparison and trending
(includes graphical presentations –
trending from day to year profiles, on
real and reactive power and energy)
t
Voltage regulation and imbalance
t
Frequency
t
Voltage harmonic distortion
t
Current harmonic distortion
t
Max 3 Phase voltage unbalance
t
Max 3 Phase current unbalance
t
Apparent power (kVA)
t
Real power (kW)
t
Reactive power (kVAR)
t
Power factor

PQ monitoring system features

A functional PQ monitoring programme Fig 1: The advanced PQ monitoring system’s data acquisition unit and PQ analyser unit.
should cover the following key areas:
t
High-speed communication with
the internet network, of information
including statistical analyses and
calculations through uninterrupted PQ
measurements. The ability to perform
power quality diagnosis would be a
bonus.
t
Display of real-time PQ information
and results of analyses via the web-
browser. Any authorised personnel
should be able to access data remotely
through a web browser or via any mobile
telecommunication device such as a
mobile phone (Fig 2).
t
Presentation of information in a
user-friendly format. Information such
as the PQ parameters, various types of
electrical costs, the amount of power
usage, consumption patterns etc, should
be included.
t
Proactive identification of conditions Fig 2: PQ monitoring system.
and events that could potentially cause

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER May 2010 · 21

Electrical
Electrical
Engineering
Engineering
An important
An important
featurefeature
of the advanced
of the advanced
systemsystem
is the default
is the default
settingsetting
of limitsof limits
(Fig (Fig
3), to 3),
alerttousers
alert sousersthatsothey
thatcan theyadopt
can adopt
corrective
corrective
actions.actions.
The limitsThe limits
proposed proposed
by thebyadvanced
the advanced systemsystem conform conform
with with
IEEE IEEE
519 and 519areand recommended
are recommended to the to the
user asuser
an initial
as an initial
setting.setting.
Such limits
Such limits
are are
set wellsetbelow
well below
the point the ofpoint
failure.
of failure.
Once Once
historical
historical
data are data available,
are available,
these limits
these limits
may be maytightened
be tightened or loosened
or loosenedby theby the
user, asuser,
appropriate.
as appropriate.
New information
New information tabs can tabsalsocan be also be
added added
and couldand couldincorporate
incorporate
electrical
electrical
drawings,
drawings,
reports, reports,
maintenance
maintenanceschedule,schedule,
contracts,
contracts,
contactcontact
list, standard
list, standard
operating
operating
procedures
procedureson power on powerfailure,failure,
invoices,invoices,
quotations,
quotations,
and purchase
and purchase orders.orders.
OtherOther optionaloptionalfeatures features
of the of the
Fig 3: PQ
Fig summary
3: PQ summary
report. report.
advanced
advanced
systemsystem
include: include:
t
Alert
t
feature
Alert feature
(for monitoring
(for monitoring systemsystem
faults,faults,
overvoltage,
overvoltage,
overcurrent
overcurrent
etc) etc)
t
Temperature
t
Temperature and humidity
and humidity
monitoring
monitoring
t
Leakage
t
Leakagecurrentcurrent
monitoring
monitoring
t
Monitoring
t
Monitoring of energy of energy
consumption
consumption
per floor
perarea
floor area
t
Monitoring
t
Monitoring of COof 2
and
COcarbon
2
and carbon
footprint
footprint
t
Waveform
t
Waveform monitoringmonitoring
t
E-billing
t
E-billing
Some Some examples examples of how of how these these
parameters
parameters
may be may displayed
be displayed
on screenon screen
are presented
are presented
in Figsin4 Figsto 8.4 to 8.
With Withsuch features
such features incorporated
incorporatedin in
a PQ amonitoring
PQ monitoring system,system,
organisations
organisations Fig 4:voltage
Fig 4: Phase Phase voltage
unbalance unbalance profile
profile in in a 3-phase
a 3-phase system. system. Significant
Significant phase voltage
phase voltage differences
differences point point
to aindefect
to a defect in or
a load a load or a problem.
a system system problem. If not rectified,
If not rectified, it can
it can lead to lead
poor to poor equipment
equipment performance
performance
wouldwould be better
be better positionedpositioned
to take to take
or premature
or premature failure
failure due due to mechanical
to mechanical stress instress in motors.
motors. This canThis canfrom
arise ariseabnormally
from abnormally high motor
high motor
immediate
immediateactionsactions
to avert to downtime,
avert downtime, currentscurrents
and lowand low output.
torque torque output.
reducereduce
wastage, wastage,
minimise minimisecosts, costs,
and and
reallocate
reallocate
resources.
resources.

Conclusion
Conclusion
The current
The current
trendstrends
in PQinmonitoring
PQ monitoring
focus focus
on providing
on providing
web-based
web-based
access access
to to
a real-time
a real-time
powerpowerqualityquality
monitoring
monitoring
system.system.
Expanded
Expanded
use of use
TCP/IP
of TCP/IP
networking
networking
will will
aid in aid providing
in providing access access
to to
information
information
from remote
from remote
facilities.
facilities.
This This
will enable
will enable
a multinational
a multinational
company company
to to
leverage
leverage
on cross-border
on cross-borderengineering
engineering
resources
resources
and facilitate
and facilitate
corporate
corporate
energyenergy
management.
management.
The trends
The trends
point towards
point towards
a systema system
in in
the future,
the future,
that isthat
ableistoable
perform
to perform
powerpower Fig 5:voltage
Fig 5: Phase Phase voltage percentage
percentage total harmonics
total harmonics distortion
distortion profile. profile. Distortion
Distortion can resultcanwhen
resultloads
whenareloads are
added oradded or removed
removed from thefrom the system.
system. It is practice
It is a good a good practice
to checktothe
check the harmonics
harmonics regularlyregularly
as it canascause
it can cause
qualityquality
diagnosis
diagnosis
whilst whilst
possessing
possessing
heating,heating, and the
and reduce reduce themotor
life of life ofwindings
motor windings and transformers.
and transformers. It can
It can also alsoinresult
result in excessive
excessive neutral neutral
fault location
fault location
and disturbance
and disturbance
analysisanalysis
current,current, increased
increased probability
probability of voltageof voltage
sags, andsags, and reduced
reduced transformer
transformer efficiency.
efficiency.
capabilities.
capabilities.

22 · THE
22 ·SINGAPORE
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 Electrical
Electrical
Engineering
Engineering
References
References
PARTPARTFOURFOURof a predictive
of a predictive
maintenance
maintenance
series:series:
Applying
Applyingpowerpower qualityquality
measurements
measurements
to predictive
to predictive
maintenance.
maintenance.
Available
Available
http://www.newark.com/pdfs/
http://www.newark.com/pdfs/
techarticles/fluke/APQMTPM.pdf
techarticles/fluke/APQMTPM.pdf

Modbus-IDA.
Modbus-IDA. ModbusModbusApplication
Application
Protocol
Protocol
Specification
Specification
V1 1a,V1June
1a, 2004.
June 2004.
Available
Available
at http://www.modbus.org
at http://www.modbus.org

BadrulBadrul
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Fig 6: The
Fig 6:
energy
The energy
and demand
and demand
profile.profile.
The dailyThebreakdown
daily breakdown
energy energy
demanddemand
load profile
load profile
for 7 days
for 7is days Mark
is Mark
McGranaghan,
McGranaghan,
‘Trends‘Trends
in Power
in Power
displayed.
displayed.
There are
There
various
are various
physicalphysical
and behavioural
and behavioural
factors factors
that determine
that determine
an energy
an energy
demanddemand
load load
Quality
Quality
Monitoring’,
Monitoring’,
IEEE IEEEPowerPower
profile.profile.
Monitoring
Monitoring
of this profile
of this profile
serves toserves
facilitate
to facilitate
the design
the of
design
conservation
of conservation
measures
measures
and optimal
and optimal
energy energy
allocation.
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Jos Arrillaga,
Math Math
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H J Bollen,
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Fig 7:
Fig 7: The Thetophase
phase phasetovoltage
phase voltage
profile.profile. Based
Based on on the monitored,
the profile profile monitored, information
information can be can be gathered
gathered
on whether
on whether voltagevoltage
changeschanges are within
are within set limits.
set limits. VoltageVoltage canbethen
can then be regulated
regulated either
either up up or down,
or down, to to
Gregory
Gregory
B Rauch,
B Rauch,
D Daniel
D Daniel
Sabin Sabin
et al, et al,
bring itbring
withinit within the limits.
the limits.
‘Implementing
‘Implementing
System-wide
System-wide
PowerPower
Quality
Quality
Monitoring
Monitoring
Plans’,Plans’,
in Proc
in 1996
Proc 1996
IEEE IEEE
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Engineering
Engineering
SocietySociety
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ChristopherJ Melhorn,
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and and
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[Quality
[Quality
Power Power
Management
Management Pte Ltd Pte Ltd
(QPM) (QPM)
provides
provides
integrated
integrated
solutions
solutions
for for
electrical
electrical
power power
qualityquality
needs. needs.
The company’s
The company’s
customer
customer
base includes
base includes
local, local,
regional,
regional,
and and
multinational
multinational
organisations,
organisations,
including
including
high- high-
tech industries,
tech industries,
the owners
the owners
and managers
and managers
of of
commercial
commercial
and residential
and residential
buildings,
buildings,
as wellas well
Fig 8:
Fig 8: The redThe redcurrent
phase phase current total harmonic
total harmonic distortion
distortion histogram.
histogram. This histogram
This histogram displaysdisplays the 7-day
the 7-day as government
as government
bodies.bodies.
QPM QPM has developed
has developed
currentcurrent total harmonic
total harmonic distortion
distortion measurements
measurements with statistics
with statistics for the for
redthe red or
phase phase or thephases
the other other phases
iQpm,iQpm,
an advanced
an advanced
PQ monitoring
PQ monitoring
system,system,
selected.selected.
which which
is nowisbeing
now commercialised].
being commercialised].

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May 2010
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23 · 23