A power quality monitoring system: a case study in DSP-based solutions for electric power industry

The purpose of this study is to develop and implement a power quality monitoring system that will enable power quality engineers to conduct diagnostic testing in the field. The study is limited to the implementation of hardware and software required to process the analog signals received. A real-time monitoring system that can be used to perform automated power quality testing is described. The system is centered on a digital signal processor (DSP) interfaced to a personal computer (PC). The test signal is input to the system through the A/D board. The signal is analyzed in real-time in the DSP, and the results are transferred to the PC through the communication interface. The PC presents the results and interacts with the user. This system can be used to perform onsite power quality studies.