Harmonics, one of the rising PQ issues, in utility and industrial networks have an increasing trend all over the world. This is clearly due to today’s growing complexity and the use of power electronic equipment such as monitoring devices, variable speed drives, converters, logic controllers, etc. that leads to distortion of electrical waveforms in the network. Harmonics is a form of disturbance in electrical networks, which influences and affects the operations of assets like transformers, power cables, switchgears, protective relays, etc. It increases the total current through the asset, causes distortions in voltage waveform, and produce additional losses in feeders.

Further, an electric power system is (mostly) never in equilibrium state for very long time. Frequent occurrences of unwanted situation disturb the equilibrium state and the system is almost in transition between equilibrium or steady state conditions. To maintain the stability of the system, it is essential to control the voltage by reactive power compensation that can have a positive influence on the system during disturbance.

While the key objectives of network planning is to determine the upgrade and expansion requirements of the network to ensure quality of supply, it is also very important to take into consideration as many precautions as necessary to minimize possible harmonic issues. This can be achieved through better planning & designing of grids, effective monitoring and good that at distribution level will attenuate harmonic challenges, thereby balancing quality power supply on continuous basis all the time.

As for industries dependent on electromagnetic loads reactive power demand is a must. However with steady infusion of nonlinear loads and electronic environment challenges of reactive power compensation have assumed new dimension especially in harmonic rich environment. Impact on utility Demand bills and energy loss besides equipment /process failure are too common and must be addressed in right manner.

The focus of the webinar was on reactive power compensation methods/solutions in harmonics rich environment and will bring speakers from Industry, Utility fraternity to share point of views on above issues.