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Power Quality

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The portion of products that draw non-linear current from the distribution network is rapidly growing. This growing use of switched mode power supplies and electronic light sources causes a major problem for the power companies, when the actual current consumption of a network heavily overrates the specifications.

This non-linear current consumption can be more than 50% increased compared to normal current consumption!   This can result in the following:

  • Overheating of power transformers in the distribution network
  • Damage to the distribution itself
  • Damage to other products connected to the same distribution (capacitors and refrigerators/freezers are some examples of products influenced by these non-linearities).

Harmonics

  • Non-linear current is caused by the introduction of harmonic portions to manipulate the current waveshape, and causes the product not only to draw 50Hz current, but also 100Hz, 150Hz, 200Hz, etc.
  • Nemko provides accredited measurements of harmonic distortion to national and international manufacturers.

Flicker

  • Flicker and voltage changes caused by switching of inductive loads in the mains network very often gives flicker sensations in domestic lighting. To prevent such flicker, restrictions have been put on the products that are connected to the network.
  • Specific restrictions have been introduced to reduce relative voltage changes and the repetition rate of these changes when motors, heaters and other types of loads are switched in and out of the mains network.
  • Nemko provides accredited measurements of flicker to national and international manufacturers.
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