Effect of power quality on energy consumption for typical loads

Abstract

For years, terms like losses, power quality, power stability, etc. have dominated research in electrical power systems. The stated is owed majorly to the social and financial implications of ignoring these phenomena. Voltage tolerance is a major component of power quality. In any power system, the voltage provided by the utility is given within a tolerance level. As a result of this slight deviation from the rated voltage, loads respond accordingly performing more or less efficiently. These responses pose a financial problem to consumers. Therefore load modeling is heavily concentrated on the effects of electrical loads on the end user and the power system.

This study shows that the voltage "sweet spot" for typical loads is a moving target within +/- 5% of the rated voltage and is heavily dependent on other dynamics and trade offs within the model. By operating at the sweet spot, electricity usage can be optimized thus cutting electricity costs.

In this work, mathematical models of typical loads have been used to observe the various responses these loads exhibit as a result of voltage fluctuations.