Virtual Instrument for Power Quality Measurement

Power Quality analysis largely depends on the measurement of signal's true power factor and total harmonic distortion. Conventional analysis of loads is unable to justify the characterization of non-linear loads as it does not examine the distortion power and true power factor. With the increasing energy demand and contemplating its sustainable use, energy efficient non-linear loads are now replacing their well-established linear counterparts due to which our distribution network is now transitioning into a non-linear network from a linear network. This paper describes a data acquisition as well as processing technique using NI cDAQ-9178 chassis as well as NI 9225 voltage module (sensor) and NI 9227 current module (sensor). The non- Iinear loads are evaluated by measurements as two-port networks and various powers associated with the load are determined according to the new IEEE-1459 standards and guidelines. Also a G-code for a virtual instrument for analyzing various single phase loads had been developed and calculations for CFL, LED, Laptop and Desktop are presented by the authors in LabVIEW graphical programming environment. In this way we introduce a robust, portable and flexible system for power monitoring and processing.