Power quality: problems, protection and solutions

Power Quality (PQ) is the set of limits of electrical properties that allows electrical systems to function in their intended manner without significant loss of performance or life. The term is used to describe electric power that drives an electrical load and the load's ability to function properly with that electric power. Without the proper power, an electrical device (or load) may malfunction, fail prematurely or not operate at all.

Earlier, the main concern of consumers of electricity was the reliability of supply, which is nothing but the continuity of electric supply. However, these days it is not only reliability, the consumer wants; quality of power too is very important to them.

In this paper various PQ Problems, their probable causes and need of protection are presented, then finally some solutions are discussed in short to mitigate PQ Problems.