Power quality analysis: case study with welding equipment

Abstract

Power quality is a set of voltage, current and frequency parameters, which are established in laws and standards, and must be complied with by distribution companies and equipment suppliers. Historically, welding machines have always been known as power quality “villains”, due to voltage sags and very low power factors. Currently, new “inverter” type machines have become popular. However, its use introduces other problems into the electrical grid, such as the various harmonics in the power system. This work details the use of three different machines, and measures their parameters using energy analyzer equipment, thus detailing the different effects and results of welding machines on the energy quality of an electrical network.