Experimental set-up to study power quality in single-phase split-phase distribution systems

Abstract

Power Quality (PQ) has been an important topic since the creation of distribution systems. The deployment of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) provided an important tool to measure the PQ of the electric power in the consumption points. One of the smallest secondary distribution systems in terms of power consumption is the single-phase split-phase system (120 V/240 V) that countries such as the United States, Canada, and some countries of central and south America have. Due to its size, this secondary distribution system is more prone to PQ issues. To that end, an experimental set-up was built by the authors so the distribution system from the Low Voltage (LV) transformer to the final appliances of the different houses was emulated. The aim is to capture the currents and voltages observed by the smart meter located at the entrance of the house and look for the different responses. A combination of real and dummy loads was installed in the set-up, so real noise could also be simulated. The set-up was totally automated by an industrial controller and relays, and it produced a very detailed dataset that could be used for multiple purposes.