Realization and testing of PC-based power quality signal generator

The paper elaborates the design and evaluation aspects of power quality signal generator. The system is capable of reproducing the power quality (PQ) disturbances in accordance with European standard EN50160. The signal generator is divided in two functional parts: LabVIEW virtual instrumentation software, and hardware electronics for signal generation (data acquisition card and signal amplifier). By using the developed signal generator, a number of experimental test signals with various PQ disturbances typical for real power distribution systems are presented. The pQ analyzer Fluke 435 is used as the reference instrument suitable for measurement of PQ parameters from signal generator output. This paper summarizes the software architecture of the PQ generator, and some experimental results obtained with the reference instrument.