PAPER Title 1/7 A Concept of Compatibility Level for Voltage Dips and Short Interruptions in LV Power Supply Systems Registration Nº: (Abstract) 295 Company Department of Electrical Power Engineering, FEEC, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic Jaromir Bok Authors of the paper Country Czech Republic e-mail xbokja00@stud.feec.vutbr.cz Jiri Drapela Czech Republic drapela@ieee.org Name Key words Voltage dip, short interruption, compatibility level, immunity curve [Nota: The voltage dips and short interruptions in power supply systems are disturbances affecting operation of all supplied electrical appliances. In consequence of origin, such voltage events are of stochastic character and cannot be fully eliminated, as well as there is practically impossible to ensure unlimited immunity of electrical devices to such disturbances. Nevertheless a complex system providing compatible environment from point of view of the voltage dips and short interruptions has not been designed yet. The current situation in this field presents a large compatibility gap related to missing compatibility concept that should be based on clearly defined compatibility levels for typical electromagnetic environments which still do not exist. The paper is focused on a proposal of the compatibility level concept for voltage dips and short interruptions in low-voltage power supply system. The proposed compatibility levels are determined by the minimum immunity curve and allowed number of events exceeding the curve for each of three basic environments.] PAPER-295-17032010.DOC 1/1 A Concept of Compatibility Level for Voltage Dips and Short Interruptions in LV Power Supply Systems Jaromir Bok1), Jiri Drapela2), BUT, FEEC, Department of Electric Power Engineering, Technicka 8, 61600 Brno. Czech Republic www.feec.vutbr.cz/UEEN, 1) email: xbokja00@stud.feec.vutbr.cz , 2) email: drapela@ieee.org ABSTRACT 2 BASE EMC CONCEPT The voltage dips and short interruptions in power supply systems are disturbances affecting operation of all supplied electrical appliances. In consequence of origin, such voltage events are of stochastic character and cannot be fully eliminated, as well as there is practically impossible to ensure unlimited immunity of electrical devices to such disturbances. Nevertheless a complex system providing compatible environment from point of view of the voltage dips and short interruptions has not been designed yet. The current situation in this field presents a large compatibility gap related to missing compatibility concept that should be based on clearly defined compatibility levels for typical electromagnetic environments which still do not exist. The paper is focused on a proposal of the compatibility level concept for voltage dips and short interruptions in low-voltage power supply system. The proposed compatibility levels are determined by the minimum immunity curve and allowed number of events exceeding the curve for each of three basic electromagnetic environments. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) deals with problems of electric appliances cooperation in the same environment. There are a significant amount of problems with mutual cooperation of many types of appliances. Generally it is possible to say that each electric appliance conform to EMC requirements if it does not affect other appliances operation and it can work continuously in the environment where the disturbance is. In public supply networks there are grate number of various electromagnetic disturbance types, voltage dips and short interruptions are ones of them. The voltage dips and short interruptions may be specified as a low frequency conducted electromagnetic disturbance. The voltage dips and interruptions can be of electric or weather condition causes. Than the voltage dips and short interruptions are assumed to have a stochastic character and cannot be fully eliminated. The appliances response on such voltage event differs in dependence on the appliance type and event parameters. Nevertheless the voltage dips and short interruptions have negative effects to connected appliances operation. There are only three possibilities to reduce negative effect of voltage dips. The first one is the reduction of voltage dips occurrence in public supply networks (eventually reducing of disturbances level); the second one is the increasing of the appliances immunity level and the third one is combination of previous ones. Choosing of the first variant is not a good way, because it requires huge financial investments to improving of power supply stability in the customers’ connection points and as it was mentioned before voltage dips and short interruptions cannot be fully eliminated. Choosing of the second variant is not a good way as well, because it means improving of all appliances immunity levels and this way requires also huge financial investments. Bigger costs to developing and producing of more immune appliances affect their price and interest about these appliances falls down. And as it results from EMC principles it is not possible to manufacture absolutely immune equipment or appliance. The correct way is the third possibility – it is coherence between the first and the second possibilities and it is shown on Figure 1. Keywords: voltage dip, short interruptions, compatibility level, immunity curve 1 INTRODUCTION Electric appliances have declared a specific voltage conditions for their usage in which the manufacturers guarantee their correct function. Especially sinewave supply voltage of rated frequency and RMS value should be ensured. More precisely there is a set of others voltage parameters that should be held on permitted tolerances as well. For example that set of voltage parameters and their allowed deviation limits is given in the standard EN 61000-2-2 [2] for public distribution LV systems If the voltage parameters exceed their permitted tolerances, correct operation of any electric appliances connected to supply network may be endangered. In many cases it results in failure of a production process and resulting economic loss. The structure of the power supply system is very complicated (it contains lots of interconnected elements) and that is why it is not possible to ensure all voltage parameters to be in tolerable limits for all the time. For example, each appliance switching causes the change of network current which creates variable value of voltage drop on the network impedance. 1 than the compatibility level for public supply networks in Class 2. Class 2 – is typical for Points of Common Coupling (PCC) and some factories supply points. In this class there are the most of domestic and office electric appliances. These appliances have no special supply protections. Class 3 – is typical only for Internal Points of Coupling (IPC) in industries. The electromagnetic disturbance level is taken to be much greater than in public supply networks and that is why the immunity level of connected appliances has to be higher than appliances immunity level in Class 2. Compatibility level should be higher in comparison with Class 2. Figure 1 Optimal appliances immunity level in context with dimension of electromagnetic disturbance occurrence [2] 3.1.2 Voltage level The compatibility level should appear from voltage level of power supply. In the supply system there are following voltage levels: low voltage (LV), medium voltage (MV), high voltage (HV) and extra-high voltage (EHV). Of course the compatibility level should be different in various voltage levels of supply systems. As Figure 1 shows the disturbance emissivity level in the supply system and the appliances immunity level can be depicted in principle by two curves, whereas point of curves crossing represents in this case the compatibility level for given disturbance phenomenon and electromagnetic environment. The third possibility ensuring EMC consists in finding of optimal position of both curves (emissivity level curve and immunity level curve) – it means adequate financial investments given onto improving of appliances immunity level as well as onto reducing of disturbance level in supply networks. The compatibility level means the disturbance emissivity level, which would not be exceeded in more than 5% of events for public power supply systems. Appliances immunity level should be equal or better than declared compatibility level [3]. 3.1.3 Immunity curves of electric appliances Compatibility levels should be assessed in terms of electric appliances immunity to voltage dips and short interruptions. In the case of voltage dips and short interruptions the appliances immunity use to be expressed by immunity curves. In the supply system there are many types of electric appliances which more or less depend on the quality of power supply. Especially devices with modern power electronics are the most threatened appliances. The appliances immunity testing is not a simply process; it requires a perfect knowledge of function principles of tested appliance. Therefore its immunity depends on many factors which can be divided to the voltage phenomena, the appliances phenomena and others nonelectric phenomena [6]. The voltage phenomena category contains all voltage parameters before, during and after voltage dip or short interruption, such as RMS voltage value, voltage wave distortion by harmonics, initial voltage phase angle at the dip or interruption beginning, shape of voltage event different from rectangular, etc. The appliances phenomena category contains especially method of appliance connection to supply system, actual appliance process conditions, such as load of tested appliance. The non-electric phenomena category contains all non-electric parameters which can influence some of appliance electric parameters. In this category there is temperature, humidity, air pressure, altitude, vibration presence etc. More information about influence of each voltage, appliances and non-electric parameters to appliances immunity is written in [6][7][8][9]. 3 COMPATIBILITY LEVEL ASSESSMENT 3.1 Conditions for compatibility level assessment For correct assessment of compatibility level some important conditions must be had in mind. Omission of the under-mentioned conditions negatively affects the application of them with electromagnetic compatibility problems. 3.1.1 Electromagnetic environment The compatibility level nearly relates to type of the electromagnetic environment in which the electric appliances are declared to use. In accordance with [4] there are following three common classes of electromagnetic environments: Class 1 – is typical for appliances which need continual supply. Very sensitive devices, laboratory or emergency equipment, etc. fall into this class. Supply use to be backed up by UPS. Immunity of appliances connected to this class has lower level than immunity of standard used appliances is and that is why the compatibility level should be better 2 3.1.4 Voltage dips and short interruptions occurrence in real supply systems Of course the compatibility level should appear from voltage dips and short interruptions which are assessed in real power supply system. As it was mentioned before, the voltage dips and short interruptions are unpredictable phenomena which are associated with faults, switching operations in supply networks, etc. To reliable assessment of voltage dips and short interruptions occurrence in the real supply system it is possible to use the statistical results from short voltage events monitoring systems installed in recent years. Regarding short voltage events initiation reasons very similar dips and interruptions occurrence is expected in the following years and this process does not cause marked deficiencies. In agreement with [1][2][4][10] and [11] the short voltage events as voltage dips and short interruptions are described by two fundamental parameters – minimal value of residual voltage during dip/interruption 1 and dip duration. Description of voltage dips/interruptions by only these two parameters supposes that all voltage events have a rectangular shape. Many occurred voltage dips in the electric supply system have not strictly rectangular shape, they have other shapes, which are not possible to describe by only these two parameters. In the case of big induction motors starting the originated voltage dips have approximately saw shape. Because voltage event recorders are set to record only residual voltages and event durations (in according with EN standards) this fact brings a lot of inaccuracies into the voltage events classification. To improve voltage events classification, assessment of some coefficients to conversion of real voltage events into basic two-parameter events is necessary to introduce, whereas the converted voltage events should be of the same effect on electric appliances as the original real voltage event. 3.2 Proposed compatibility levels In agreement with above mentioned conditions the following compatibility level for the low-voltage electric power supply system and for single phase voltage events was proposed. Figure 2 shows proposed compatibility level for all three classes of electromagnetic environment together with the immunity curves of many types of electric appliances. Compatibility levels indicate the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable appliances function change whereas the unacceptable function change during immunity tests is mostly defined by function criterion C 2 [10]. The boundary means that appliance work properly or with acceptable function change yet. compatibility level - class 1 compatibility level - class 2 compatibility level - class 3 Voltage V/Vn (%) 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 10 100 1000 10000 Dip duration ∆t (ms) Figure 2 Immunity curves of many types of electric appliances (black lines) measured and declared by many authors [6][7][8] and the proposed compatibility levels for known classes of electromagnetic environment The proposed compatibility levels showed on Figure 2 are expressed by coloured lines which divide the whole area into the particular zones I, II, III, IV (shown on Figure 3). Zone signed I belongs to class 3; zone II belongs to class 2 and zone III belongs to class 1 of electromagnetic environment. Zone IV is unspecified. The immunity levels have been proposed considering the voltage event zones of origin established in section 3.3. In other words the compatibility level for each electromagnetic environment type was created using a starting method where the devices falling into a class are expected to be immune to voltage events of specific parameters range accordant with kind of faults. Each electric appliance should be used in the relevant class of electromagnetic environment which is determined by producers. For example, if the immunity curves of some electric appliance belong into zone III – it should be used only in the class 1 of electromagnetic environment. However the appliance which immunity curves belong into zone II can be used in class 2 or class 1 of el. environment. 1 Residual voltage during the short voltage interruption should be zero. In many occasions the voltage limit for short interruption recording use to be upper than zero, it use to be 1% (5%, 10%) of reference voltage Vn [11]. It is caused by two different definitions of voltage interruption. From point of view of electromagnetic compatibility standards series [1][2][4][10] the short interruption is the short duration voltage dip to zero value. Because it is very difficult to measure values about zero the analyzers are mostly set to limit 1% (5%, 10%) of Vn. From physical point of view the interruption is disconnection of electric circuit so there is no voltage on the load. The conflict between these two definitions of short voltage interruptions causes a different interpretation of the same phenomenon by many authors and affects the reproducibility of their results. 2 The function criterion C is defined as a momentary loss or change of function or technical parameters where human operator intervention is required for nominal state recovery. 3 Likewise appliance with immunity curves falling into zone I can be used in all of three classes of el. environment. The immunity curves of no appliance should belong into zone IV. 100 Zone of acceptable voltage tolerances 90 IV 80 Voltage V/Vn (%) have the information about their origin saved in their parameters and it is possible to subsequently specify voltage dip origin with relatively great accuracy. Of course that voltage dips and short interruptions (generally voltage events) are described only by value of residual voltage and dip duration but both parameters change along the voltage dip/short interruption origin. In accordance with the previous text it is possible to determine several zones which characterize various origins of voltage dips and short interruptions. Dip origins separation is depicted on Figure 5 and individual zones are described in Table 1. 70 60 50 40 III 30 20 II I 10 0 0,01 0,1 1 10 Dip duration ∆t (s) 100 1000 Figure 3 Compatibility levels proposed for all three types of electromagnetic environments 100 90 Voltage V/Vn (%) 80 As it is obvious the proposed compatibility levels on Figure 3 for all three classes of electromagnetic environment hardly increase to 90 percents of nominal voltage in the time of 60 seconds of dipduration. There is a simple explanation for it. In the point of electric appliances view the voltage dip with 60 seconds duration is considered as a permanent voltage decrease in which the all electric appliances should be work continually. The value of 90 percent of nominal voltage is the minimal allowed permanent voltage value in the electric power supply system. In other words the voltage value 90% of V n should guarantee the failure-free work of all connected electric appliances. In case of need to imply heat or other effects of voltage dips with longer durations into compatibility levels it was proposed the second variant of compatibility levels – it is shown on Figure 4. In the 10 second point of dip duration the compatibility levels for all three classes of electromagnetic environments hardly increase – to 70% of V n for class 3, to 80% of V n for class 2 and class 1 of elmag. environment. 100 Voltage V/Vn (%) 50 40 III I II 10 0 0,01 0,1 1 10 Dip duration ∆t (s) 100 M R 60 40 P L S 30 20 0,1 1 10 100 1000 Table 1 Description of voltage dips and short interruptions zones of origins Zone Dip / interruption cause Zone of voltage dips caused by start of Z large loads Long-duration voltage dips usually caused N by unbalanced loads (single phase loads in three-phase supply system) Voltage dips usually caused by insuffiR cient dimensioning of grid elements or by improper setting of voltage regulators Voltage dips in the point of supply netP work between generator and point of short circuit occurrence Voltage dips between fault and power O generation relate to fault tripping with short time delay of auto-reclosing The same as zone O with middle time M delay of auto-reclosing The same as zone O with long time delay L of (auto) reclosing S Non-specific dip reasons Short-duration voltage interruptions behind a fault in direction from power genT eration related to short circuits tripping with short time delay of auto-reclosing The same as zone T with middle time U delay of auto-reclosing The same as zone T with long time delay V of (auto) reclosing Long duration voltage interruptions in the W point of supply network behind short 60 20 O NL NR T U Dip duration ∆t (s) V W Figure 5 Areas of voltage dip and short interruption origins along with voltage events recorded in real supply network during one year period 70 30 ZM 50 0 0,01 IV 80 ZO 10 Zone of acceptable voltage tolerances 90 ZP 70 1000 Figure 4 Other variant of proposed compatibility levels 3.3 Zones of voltage dips and short interruptions origins As it was mentioned in Chapter 2, voltage dips and short interruptions can be initiated by lots of different reasons which occur in public supply networks. During a lot of studies about short voltage events in the public supply systems and their origins it was detected that all voltage dips and short interruptions 4 nally adopted for events occurrences restrictions, if ever, in the following there is a proposal for the events limitation sorting. The project of restriction of voltage events frequency occurrences and its implementation into EMC standards results from the proposed zones of voltage dips and short interruptions origins. Each zone is divided into several other subzones which also correspond with proposed compatibility levels (shown on Figure 7). The each subzone is signed by a unique code whose explanation is showed in detail on Figure 8. Figure 8 shows that each subzone has assigned a maximal limit of occurred voltage events in two time frames – in time one year and in time a week (optionally a day), whereas both limits have to be observed together. One-day time limit was chosen to restrict the voltage dips and short interruptions which originate in sequence with short time intervals. In most cases these sequences of voltage dips do not evoke the appliances failures due to appliances inability to properly work during longtime or deep voltage dips. The sequences of voltage dips affect all connected appliances especially by extreme heat stress. circuit in the generator point of view. Network services operating start by handle switching. Causes Z and P combination Causes Z and O combination Causes Z and M combination Causes N and L combination Causes N and R combination ZP ZO ZM NL NR Dip origin zones correspond with proposed compatibility levels as it is shown on Figure 6. 100 90 Voltage V/Vn (%) 80 ZP ZO ZM NL P O M L R NR 70 60 50 40 S 30 20 10 0 0,01 0,1 1 10 100 1000 T U Dip duration ∆t (s) V W Figure 6 Zones of voltage dips and short interruptions origins and theirs relationship to proposed compatibility levels 3.4 Restrictions of voltage events frequency occurrences In accordance with European EMC standards [1][2][4][10][11] the voltage dips and short interruptions have two basic parameters for their description – residual voltage during dip and dip duration. In addition to both parameters voltage dips and interruptions may have many other parameters, which improve voltage events description; the frequency of their occurrence is one of the most important. The frequency of voltage dip (interruption) occurrence indicates the number of voltage dips and interruptions which occur in specified time period. The standard time period for classification of dips frequency occurrence is one year. Currently this parameter has only information character and it is used only to statistical purposes. In the general point of view, the compatibility level represents for given type of disturbance and compatibility environment the minimum immunity level of appliances and maximal disturbance level in the environment. Generally accepted allowed interference is in 5% of cases or for %5 of time for public distribution power systems. On the basis of this prime rule ensuring EMC with respect to economical optimization, there is permissible that just 5% of all recorded voltage dips and short interruptions can exceed relevant compatibility level, can be under the compatibility level curve, respectively. Nevertheless such voltage events are extraordinary type of disturbance phenomenon and the described method for voltage dips/interruptions restrictions can not be obviously used because of consequent immoderate massive investments. Whatever method will be fi- 100 90 Voltage V/Vn (%) 80 70 60 X_ZM_1 (r,d) X_ZP_2(r,d) X_ZO_2(r,d) X_ZM_2 (r,d) X_ZP_1(r,d) X_ZO_1(r,d) X_ZM_3(r,d) X_ZM_4(r,d) X_P_1(r,d) X_O_1(r,d) X_M_1 (r,d) X_M_4(r,d) X_P_2(r,d) X_O_2(r,d) X_M_2 (r,d) X_M_5(r,d) X_P_3(r,d) X_O_3(r,d) X_M_3 (r,d) X_M_6(r,d) X_NL_1(r,d) X_NR_1 (r,d) X_S_1 X_L_1(r,d) (r,d) X_R_1(r,d) X_S_5(r,d) X_R_2 (r,d) X_S_9 (r,d) X_S_2 (r,d) X_S_6(r,d) X_S_10 (r,d) X_L_3(r,d) X_S_3 (r,d) X_S_7(r,d) X_S_11 (r,d) X_L_4(r,d) X_S_4 (r,d) X_S_8(r,d) X_S_12 (r,d) X_L_2(r,d) 50 40 30 20 10 X_T_1(r,d) 0 X_P_4(r,d) 0,05 0,01 0,1 0,3 X_U_1 (r,d) X_U_2(r,d) 1 X_V_1(r,d) 10 60 Dip duration ∆t (s) X_W_1 (r,d) 100 180 X_W_2(r,d) 1000 X_W_3 (r,d) 3600 10000 Figure 7 The general concept of compatibility levels for all three electromagnetic environments types together with frequency of voltage dips and short interruptions occurrences restrictions Figure 8 Detail of unique code for each subzone Figure 7 and Figure 8 also show that restriction limits of voltage events occurrences will not be identical in the all three classes of electromagnetic environments. For each class of electromagnetic environment (and corresponding compatibility level) there are relevant only restrictions in subzones under the compatibility level curve. Nevertheless measuring and recording of voltage events in subzones above the compatibility level curve is recommended. 5 In some countries the voltage interruptions with duration time more than 180s are assessed by a special legislation (National directives, laws, etc.). In such case the corresponding limit should not be applied. Nevertheless the recording of these interruptions is recommended again (especially for statistical purposes). [4] EN 61000-2-4 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Environment. Compatibility levels in industrial plants for low-frequency conducted disturbance. [5] Djokic, S., Milanovic, J.V.: Sensitivity of Electrical Equipment to Voltage Sags and Short Interruptions. Recommendation for Testing. Electrical Power Quality and Utilization Journal, Vol. XI, No. 1, 2005, p.17-32. [6] Bok, J., Drápela, J., Šlezingr, J., Pithart, J.: Light Sources Immunity to Short Voltage Dips and Interruptions. In Proceedings of 20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution. Prague, Czech Republic, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-84919-126-5. [7] Drápela, J., Bok, J., Toman, P.: Personal Computers Immunity to Short Voltage Dips and Interruptions. In Proceedings of 13th International Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power. University of Wollongong, Australia, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4244-1770-41-6. [8] Stephens, M., McGranaghan, M., Bollen, M.: Evaluating voltage dip imunity of industrial equipment. Semi F47 – Voltage Sag Immunity Testing, EPRI PEAC, Power Quality Solutions. [9] EN 61000-4-11 ed.2 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Testing and measurement techniques – Voltage dips, short interruptions, and voltage variations immunity tests. [10] EN 61000-2-8:2000 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Section 8: Voltage dips and short interruptions on public electric power supply systems with statistical measurement result. 4 CONCLUSION The voltage dips and short interruptions can not be totally eliminated in power systems as well as it is not possible to ensure unlimited appliances immunity to such disturbance phenomenon. Moreover the disturbance level is generally higher than a possible immunity of appliances. In spite of evident incompatibility a simple method for preliminary estimation of the compatibility level for voltage dips and interruptions in low-voltage public distribution systems was proposed. Thus a needful interconnection of the electrical appliances immunity testing and the voltage events measurement was realized and related deficiencies were discussed. Then a compatibility levels were introduced on the basis of chosen appliances immunity curves and of voltage dips and interruptions origins analysis. The fundamental premises about the electromagnetic compatibility coordination are presented simultaneously. The paper just gives a proposal of a possible approach to solve one of many electromagnetic compatibility problems in electric supply systems. Proposed compatibility levels and related requirements on appliances immunity and voltage dips and interruptions occurrence restrictions should not be strictly observed. One of the aims of this paper is to refer necessity of well-judged determination of the compatibility levels. BIOGRAPHIES Jiri Drapela received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electrical Power Engineering from Brno University of Technology in 1999 and 2006, respectively. He is currently an associate professor at the same university. His main research interests are power quality and low-frequency conducted disturbances, especially immunity, emission of electrical appliances and power quality measurement techniques. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This paper contains the results of research funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under project No. MSM0021630516. Jaromír Bok received the M.Sc. in 2007 at Brno University of Technology at the Department of Electrical Power Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication and currently is the PhD student at the same university. He deals with power quality and low-frequency disturbances in public supply networks and with appliances immunity to short voltage events. REFERENCES [1] EN 50160 Voltage characteristics of public distribution systems. [2] EN 61000-2-2 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Part2-2: Environment. Compatibility levels for low-frequency conducted disturbances and signalling in public low-voltage power supply systems. [3] IEC 1000-2-1 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Part 2: Environment. Section 1: Description of the environment – Electromagnetic environment for low frequency conducted disturbances and signalling in public power supply systems. 6