Power Conditioning Equipment in a Utility Environment

This paper describes, from one utility´s standpoint, the special problems of electronic power conditioning equipment installed in electrical generating stations and substations. Its purpose is to give the power conditioning equipment designer information on the equipment´s environment, and to assist the utility engineer in preparing his equipment specifications. First, the paper describes the environment in electrical generating stations and substations such as fault-induced transient RFI in the AC input connections, frequency and voltage excursions, and source impedance of the AC bus. Next, output parameters of power conditioning equipment such as equipment-produced EMI, audible noise, regulation, ripple, and alarm/protection circuit parameters are discussed. A sample specification containing all of the parameters discussed in the paper is presented.