Power quality in power supply systems of mining and processing enterprises in Russia

This paper investigates the effect of the load factor of frequency converters and thyristor converters on electrical power quality. Recommendations for reducing the influence of higher harmonics and switching overvoltages on the characteristics of electrical power are provided. Higher harmonics were measured by a PKK57 complex device for controlling electrical parameters and a digital oscilloscope of the Tektronix TDS 2024V type. Impulse switching overvoltages were recorded by an active resistance divider of the DNEK-10 type and the above-mentioned oscilloscope. The obtained data were processed by the Loginom 6.4 software and the methods of mathematical statistics. The lower threshold level of the load factor of frequency converters and thyristor converters was set equal to 0.8, at which the sinusoidal distortion of voltage curves correspond to the RF standard of electrical power quality. The suppression degree of higher harmonics from the 5th to 17th frequency by power transformers with a capacity of 250–6,300 kV. A ranged from 95 to 45%. The use of the ‘transformer–converter–electric receiver’ system as applied to the power supply systems of mining and processing enterprises was substantiated. It was shown that electric motors with a capacity of up to 2,500 kW inclusively require protection against switching overvoltages. Conventional RC-absorbers based on RC-circuits connected to the terminals of electric motors are shown to be highly efficient for protecting electric motors against switching overvoltages. Thus, the quality of electrical power in power supply systems of mining and processing enterprises in Russia can be ensured by frequency converters and thyristor converters with a load factor of 0.8 or greater. Provided that the transformer capacity does not exceed 1,000 kV. A, a more efficient and less expensive ‘transformer–converter–electrical receiver’ system is recommended. Effective protection of electric motors of up to 2,500 kW inclusive can be provided using the proposed conventional RC absorber, which maintains the overvoltage rate at a level not exceeding 1.7.

power quality, frequency converters, variable frequency drive, higher harmonics, switching overvoltages, RC snubber