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Methods for power quality analysis according to EN 50160

Conference Paper · November 2007

DOI: 10.1109/EPQU.2007.4424171 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 Methods for power quality analysis
according to EN 50160
Aleksandar Nikolic, Dragana Naumovic-Vukovic,
Slobodan Skundric, Dragan Kovacevic
Electrical Measurements Department
Electrical Engineering Institute “Nikola Tesla”
Belgrade, Serbia
anikolic@ieent.org
Abstract— The main aim of the paper is design and
implementation of measuring and information system for
analysis of power quality in compliance with EN 50160 in
different points of power supply network. Designed information
system provides communication between distributed databases
and central information system in using Internet and
GPRS/GSM network.
Keywords-Power quality; Power systems; Power
measurements; Information systems; Standards
I. INTRODUCTION
As a result of liberalization of energy markets, various
qualities of electrical power offered at correspondingly higher
or lower prices would certainly become available in the future.
This necessitates continuous voltage quality monitoring. As a
rule, quality data are acquired, saved to a central database and
managed in a decentralized fashion upon delivery to the
customer. These data substantiate the quality supplied electrical
power and thus serve as a basis for accurate billing.
The following aspects are of special importance with
respect to long-term recording of measured data for voltage
quality from many, widely distributed measuring points:
- All quality relevant parameters must be simultaneously
acquired and recorded over a long period of time in
accordance with a power quality standard EN 50160 [1].
- Adequate synchronization of the points in time at which
recording occurs is required in order to allow for a
comparison of data from different measuring points.
Sponsor: Serbian Ministry of Sciences and Environmental Protection
Vladeta Milenkovic
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
University of Nis
Nis, Serbia
- It must be feasible to utilize common communication
technologies, including wireless transmission, for long
distance data transmission.
- Quantities of data to be transmitted and managed must
be kept as small as possible. For this reason, targeted
preprocessing of measurement data must take place in
the measuring instrument, i.e. prior to transfer to the
system analysis software.
- Periodic querying of recorded data should take place in
an automated fashion.
- It must be possible to export data to other databases.
Application of power electronics devices and other similar
equipment have an influence on power quality of delivered
electrical energy. In order to avoid such disturbances and to
improve the overall energy efficiency, public distribution
systems needs the researches about quality of the power
systems in compliance with the approved standards.
II. POWER QUALITY MONITORING INSTRUMENTS
A. Mobile instruments
Measurements at the various points in the switchgear or
industry needs for mobility. In that case instrument for power
quality monitoring should be compact and small enough for
easy transportation. For such a purposes, Chauvin Arnoux
CA8334 is used, with additional software for data acquisition
and analysis according to EN 50160 [2].

B. Stationary and combined instruments
For long-term measurements simultaneously at several
connections in the same switchgear, stationary instruments are
more suitable, especially if it could be mounted in the existing
panel. Power quality analysis system presented in the paper
combines both mobility and features of the stationary systems.
It consist of several panel power quality analyzers depending of
the number of channels requested from customer (2, 4 or 8) and
industrial single-board PC all mounted in IP65 protected case
suitable for mounting on the wall and a haft for easy carrying to
another switchgear. Two-channel version is shown in next
figure.
Figure 1. Two-channel measuerement and information system
The basic function of the presented system is continuous
monitoring and recording all relevant parameters of power
quality (phase and line voltages, phase currents, active, reactive
and apparent power, power factor, THD, frequency, voltage
and current unbalance, active and reactive power consumed
from supply network, etc. The smallest period of recording is
1s and customer could adjust this parameter. In the practice we
found that with periods of 10-15s we obtain good results in
monitoring of power consumption regarding to the load
changes.
III. COMMUNICATION AND DATA TRANSFER
Communication between measurement points (instruments)
and supervising system (computers in utility center) is one of
the most important issues, especially when acquired data is
used for decision making and control. Data transfer could be
done in two different ways, by wired systems or wireless.
A. Wired data transfer
Transfer of measured data between instrument and
computer is usually realized via serial interface RS232, or for
industrial sollutions and larger distances (up to 1000m) via
RS485 interface. Nowdays, much more flexible USB serial
interface is widely adopted [3], with higher transfer speeds up
to 4Mbit/s. Some instruments has possibility for direct LAN
connection over ETHERNET, but there is still limitation in the
case were installation of new cables is not possible. There are
also sollutions with memory cards, like SD or CompactFlash
[4]-[5], where measured data recorded in the instrument is
transferred to the memory card as a backup and for further
analysis on the PC.
B. Wireless data transfer
To overcome problem with cable installation and reduce
costs, wireless data transfer is introduced. Several different
aproaches are used, like Bluetooth [6] for small distances
usually between laboratory and office (up to 100m),
GSM/GPRS that uses mobile network infrastructure, Wi-fi
(Wireless LAN) that uses communication between access
points that form wireless network and Radio interface that uses
radio modems for communication. Although Wi-fi interface is
nowadays standard for PC computers especially laptops and
there are now solutions for power quality measurement systems
[7], GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is prevailing as a
standard since it uses existing mobile network (GSM) and
several users could use same resources of the interface since
resources are assigned only at the instants when data is sent.
For GPRS communication between measurement system
and distribution center, Client-Server based configuration
presented in next figure is used [8]. Several Clients send data to
Server for processing and storage in database. GSM/GPRS
module has implemented TCP/IP protocol for Internet
connection. In that case Server could be anywhere where exist
connection to the Internet. Furthermore, if there is Web server
installed on the Server with adequate Internet presentation
(Web page), measurements could be observed from any
computer that has Internet browser installed.
SERVER
INTERNET
Mobile network
CLIENT 1 CLIENT n
GPRS MODEM
Data from
GPRS MODEM
Data from
RS 232 RS 232
Pow er quality
Analyzer
Pow er quality
Analyzer
Request from
Control center
Request from
Control center
Figure 2. GPRS communication interface
C. Software
Analysis of the acquired power quality data is performed by
a software especially developed for that purpose. All
parameters could be analyzed graphicaly or in a data table view
for a selected time range. The following parameters may be
selected and the corresponding ones are presented in the
main/table area of the dialog:
• P (Active Power, Active Power 1, Active Power 2,
Active Power 3),
• Q (Reactive Power, Reactive Power 1, Reactive Power
2, Reactive Power 3),
• S (Complex Power, Complex Power 1, Complex
Power 2, Complex Power 3),
• THDI (THDI1, THDI2, THDI3),
• THDU (THDU1, THDU2, THDU3),
• Cosfi (Cosfi, Cosfi1, Cosfi2, Cosfi3),
Figure 3. Data table view
• U (Phase Voltage 1, Phase Voltage 2, Phase Voltage 3,
Line Voltage 12, Line Voltage 23, Line Voltage 31), Beside these parameters a corresponding sequence number
• If (Current, Current 1, Current 2, Current 3), and the time of measurement is presented in the two most
leftward columns.
• Ai (Ai),
Generate report is a function used for automated report
• Au (Au), generation. The report will be generated in HTML format and
is designed to be imported to MS Word document with the A4
• E (Active Energy, Inductive Reactive Energy, paper size and 2 cm margins settings. Report Header is used for
Capacitive Reactive Energy, Reactive Energy). entering the appropriate data and saving/loading (via Load
Individual voltage and current harmonics are calculated Settings/Save Settings buttons) the same to/from the hard drive
from its rms values. so that it doesn’t needs to be inputted over and over again.
Data could be also exported to ASCII format so that it can The Report is then generated by pressing the Generate
be used and imported by other graph analyzing/display Report button (The user will be prompted to enter the name for
applications. the report via standard Save Dialog). It is desirable to create a
new folder for the reports right under the one where the data is
There are also two additional functions, very useful in stored because the pictures will be generated in separate JPG
practical situations: format files.
• NEG (negate) function is used to invert/negate desired Analysis menu enables the user to initiate a number of
columns from the dataset. This function is usually used different analyses in order to process the acquired data. The
when the current measuring transformers of the Analysis menu is showed in the figure below.
measurement system were incorrectly installed by the
technical staff. In order to make the recorded data
valid, appropriate parameters should be inverted
(depending to the mistakes made on the installation).
When all the needed columns/parameters have been
modified the user should click on the RECALC taster
so that all other parameters that are dependant on the
changed ones could be automatically recalculated.
• SHIFT function is used when a measurement system
real time clock deviation is detected. The appropriate
shifting time is entered in seconds and +/- absolute
format depending on the time shifting direction.
In the following figure one screen from the software is
presented.

Figure 4. Analysis menu

Although software provides a lot of different analysis, for

EN 50160 standard Analysis of voltage quality is of interest.
This analysis dialog has three tabs: Power Cuts and Voltage
Change Range, Voltage outside margins, Harmonic Contents
and Asymmetry.
 Power Cuts and Voltage Change Range enables the user to and presents the user with the moments when these values are
monitor the behavior of all three voltage phases (selectable via bigger then specified ones (and the duration of these events).
drop down combo-box). This table consists of the following Total and percentage time of values outside the specified is
information: presented at the bottom of the dialog (next figure).
• Number (event sequence number)
• Event (event that occurred/ power on)
• Time (time of the event)
• Duration (duration until the next event)
• Voltage Min (voltage minimum at the period between
2 events)
• Voltage Avg (voltage average at the period between 2
events)
• Voltage Max (voltage maximum at the period between
2 events)
• Event (event that occurred/ power off)
• Time (time of the event)
Figure 5. Harmonics content and asimetry table view
• Duration (duration until the next event)
Voltage outside margins lets the user check if the range of IV. IMPLEMENTATION – CASE STUDY
voltage is outside the regular/standard one (different standards
for different countries). The input parameters are: phase Case study is performed at Thermal Power Plant Kostolac
voltage signal (selectable via drop down combo-box), Nominal A at switchgear that supplies the electrostatic precipitator [8].
Value (nominal voltage value for the specific country), Upper This load is quite nonlinear, since supply for electrostatic
Margin (allowed voltage maximum (+ %) specified by the precipitator is provided by voltage controller with anti-parallel
country regulations), Lower Margin (allowed voltage minimum connected thyristors.
(- %) specified by the country regulations). Measured frequency was between accepted range (49.92Hz
The analysis is performed by pressing the Analysis button. – 50.05Hz):
The results of the analysis are the following:
• Index (number of event in sequence)
• Event (event which happened/ upper margin/ lower
margin overflow)
• Time (time moment when the event happened)
• Duration (duration of the event)
• Outside of Defined Margin (total and percentage time
of voltages outside the defined margins)
• Above Upper Margin (total and percentage time of Figure 6. Supply frequency
voltages above defined upper margin)
Supply voltage was stable and in the permissive range of
• Below Lower Margin (total and percentage time of ±10% (minimal value is 393,5V and maximal is 397,2V):
voltages below the defined lower margin)
Harmonic Contents and Asymmetry tab enables the user to
monitor the behavior of the following:
• THD U Phase 1 (Harmonic Analysis),
• THD U Phase 2 (Harmonic Analysis),
• THD U Phase 3 (Harmonic Analysis),
• Au (Voltage Asymmetry Analysis),
 TABLE I. HIGH-ORDER HARMONICS OF SUPPLY VOLTAGE
Harmonic order Permissive values Measured values [%]
per EN 50160 [%]
3 5 0.6
5 6 2.3
7 5 0.8
9 1.5 0.3
11 3.5 0.7
13 3 0.3
15 0.5 0.4
Figure 7. Line voltages during test 17 2 0.2
19 1.5 0.4
Total harmonic distortion (THD) factor of voltage was in 21 0.5 0.1
accepted limits (<8% per EN50160), and its average value is 23 1.5 0.2
about 2,5%. Total harmonic distortion (THD) factor of current 25 1.5 0.2
was increased (>12%) due to the rectifier, and its average value
was about 18% (next figure): Since these measurements are performed for the
precipitator manufacturer under guarantee inspection, the most
THDI_L1 THDI_L2
interesting values were harmonics and consumed power.
During 6 hour test, the consumed energy was 3MWh and
active, reactive and apparent power is shown in Fig. 10:
Apparent power

THDI_L3
THDU Reactive power

Active power
Figure 8. Voltage and current THD factor

Differences between the THD for the phase currents are due
to the additional monophase devices connected to the same
supply transformer where rectifier is connected.
In the next figure voltage waveform is presented:
Figure 9. Voltage waveform
The corresponding harmonic content compared to the
permissive values from EN 50160 is given in the next table.
Figure 10. Active, reactive and apparent power of the supply under test
V. CONCLUSIONS
Methodology based on power quality analysis according to
approved standard EN 50160 is presented in the paper.
Although mobile power quality analizers are widely accepted, a
new solution with combined multi-channel device is presented.
Software for analysis of the acquired data has some advantages
that gives possibility to the utility power centers for making
decisions regarding both quality of the supplied power and the
maintenance of the distribution network.
The results of the performed power quality analysis in one
power plant shows possibilities for immidiately action after
some of power quality degradation. It’s relied on distributed
measuring system that could be easily adopted due to the
mobility of the developed instruments and wireless
communication network.
 [6] L.Ferrigno, A.Petrosanto, A.Celano, “Enhancement of a bluetooth-based
REFERENCES instrument wireless interface,” in Proceedings of XVII IMEKO World
Congress, Dubrovnik, Croatia, June 2003, pp. 581–585.
[7] Bodo’s Power Systems Magazine, “First wireless electrical sub-metering
[1] EN 50160:2000, Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public components,” December 2006
distribution systems
[8] A.Nikolic, I.Stevanovic, “Electrostatic precipitator influence on supply
[2] Chauvin Arnoux, C.A. 8334 User Guide, France, 2005 network in different regimes”, in Proceedings of 51st ETRAN
[3] Fluke, Product Catalogue10808-eng, Netherlands, 2004 Conference, Herceg Novi, Montenegro, 2007
[4] Hioki Corporation, Product Catalogue 3169E4-37M-03P, Japan, 2003
[5] Iskra MIS d.d., Product Catalogue, Slovenia, 2006

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