Power Quality waveform recognition using Google Image Search Engine (iPQ-Google)

Power quality diagnostics is an important tool for keeping the performance of electric smart grids within the criteria of proper operation. Signal processing is widely used for identifying the deviations and generating event flags. The availability of the Google Image Search Engine tool led the authors to use it for identifying power quality events by recognizing the waveforms when comparing with a data bank of previously recorded and posted on the internet and properly identified signals. Some initial attempts showed great potential and the authors started by creating a specific folder where the Google Image Search Engine could investigate and recognize a particular waveform. This paper presents the concept and the initial steps for using this powerful tool, here named iPQ-Google, and which has the possibility to help utilities, customers and researchers to investigate and easily find, compare and diagnose possible PQ waveform deviations saved on the internet.