A site characterization index for continuous power-quality monitoring based on higher-order statistics

Abstract

The current high penetration rate of distributed energy resources in the smart grid has set up a challenge for energy management and consequently for the supply monitoring and assessment of power quality. Currently, new types of electrical disturbances have appeared, usually multiple, due to the uncontrolled connection of non-linear loads that damage sensitive electronic equipment. For this reason, continuous monitoring is the most effective way to characterize the power system behaviour in order to be able to improve determining the origin of the fault and to have weight bearing to claim damages. Likewise, more holistic indicators that would compute the different network states and deal with big data management in terms of compression and scalability of the measurements are needed. In this context, this article presents a statistical characterization in order to monitor in continuous the voltage supply in a consumer network node through a voltage quality index based on higher-order statistics. The results allow us to conclude that higher-order statistics are capable of establishing a continuous, reliable performance that characterizes the deviations of the voltage supply waveform in an average consumer installation. The method could lead to more feasible solutions for power quality surveillance in the smart grid.