A multi-channel monitoring system for system-wide power quality measurements

This paper examines the various issues concerning monitoring of electric power quality of a network. It discusses the many underlying objectives and the resultant benefits for undertaking comprehensive power quality monitoring. It describes the various requirements that a monitoring instrument must satisfy in order to achieve these objectives. Various kinds of power quality monitoring equipment are described and their advantages and disadvantages are elaborated. It then describes the design of a unique monitoring system, based on general-purpose data acquisition system and making use of the latest advancements in computer hardware and software technologies. It demonstrates that this system has the potential for use in comprehensive system-wide power quality monitoring.