Integrated power quality in distribution equipment

The electricity distribution scenario around the world is undergoing fast change due to the privatisation and deregulation process. The wide spread use of microprocessor-based electronic controllers, sensitive to power quality disturbances, and high level of competition in the energy supply business are promoting higher consciousness of industrial and commercial end users to power quality (PQ) issues and, obviously, its economic value. The PQ can be improved by means of mitigation or prevention. On the other hand, the sensitive equipment is becoming increasingly robust. These are the driving forces for shifting the focus, from expensive power electronic based PQ devices to adequate, low cost, PQ solutions which can be economically justified. A better understanding of PQ problems and their mutual impact on the power system and on the end-users facilities can lead to build and operate a safer, more reliable and, at the end more profitable energy supply system. In this paper, a general description of new functions integrated in the medium voltage switchboard to meet the PQ challenge is provided