Design considerations for operating industrial plants from weak utility supply systems: a problematic case study

The recent trend of industrial plants locating in rural areas for economic reasons has brought about a large number of power quality related problems. A specific case study regarding a process industry creating voltage flicker problems for other energy users in a small rural community is presented in this paper. “Before and after” measurements, analytical studies, mitigation alternatives and the final outcome of this case are given. The paper is intended to provide insight into potential electrical problems for industrial power engineers so that the socioeconomic consequences of the situation described here can be avoided in the future. As is shown, careful attention to system design issues can help avoid these types of problems