Power Quality

Training Courses

Utility Package

LPQIVES is co-financed by:

LPQIVES is a programme of:

LPQI is part of:

www.lpqi.org
 Module 10

Utility Package

1 INTRODUCTION
The aim of this module is to provide the user detailed overview of the aspects of power quality that
imply interaction with the utility. First an introduction to power quality will be given. Next the
following subjects will be discussed: frequency variations, voltage changes, quality of supply in the
electricity market, demand-side management (DSM), contracts for electricity supply, tariffs and
power quality and rational use of energy (RUE).

1.1 General aims

This module’s general aim is to provide the attendants the basic knowledge about the interaction
between the utility and its costumers: the consumers of electrical energy. This interaction can be
electrical, it can be by means of communication or by contracts.
The aim is achieved through 9 didactic sections, as follows:
− Section 1: Introduction to power quality
− Section 2: Frequency variations and control (part 1)
− Section 3: Frequency variations and control (part 2)
− Section 4: Voltage changes and control (part 1)
− Section 5: Voltage changes and control (part 2)
− Section 6: Quality of supply in the electricity market
− Section 7: Demand-side management
− Section 8: Contracts for electricity supply
− Section 9: Tariffs and power quality
− Section 10: Rational use of energy

1.2 Target groups

This module’s target group includes: designers, experts, installers, others, users, utility, and all
those who wish to expand their knowledge in utility-related aspects of power quality.

2 SPECIFIC AIMS AND TOPICS

The pathway of learning consists of a 2 days course, subdivided in sections (with different
duration), with these contents and related aims.

1st day
Contents Technical aspects of power quality: introduction, frequency variations, voltage
changes.
Aims The aim of the lessons of the first day is to discuss technical aspects of the
interaction between utilities and their customers. After a general introduction to
power quality, frequency variations and voltage changes in the supply network
are discussed.
2nd day
Contents Quality of supply in the electricity market, demand-side management, tariffs and
power quality, rational use of energy.
Aims On the second day, the subjects are less technical; more economic and market-
related.

Below there’s a detailed overview of the course contents.

www.lpqi.org
1
2.1 Pathway of learning flow chart

Time progression
(hours)

www.lpqi.org
2
3 COURSE DETAILED PROGRAM
General notes:
− each day there will be one coffee break (30 mins) which will divide the lesson in two parts no
longer than 2,5 hours;
− at the beginning of the course the lecturer will explain course aims and at the end he will verify
their fulfilment through a knowledge test;
− the course will be divided in theoretical and practical sections;
− at the end of the lessons, a user satisfaction survey will help the lecturer in monitoring the course
quality.

First day:

30 mins Participants registration and course introduction

60 mins Section 1: Introduction to power quality

− Utility-related aspects of power quality
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 2: Frequency variations and control (part 1)

− Basic terms and definitions
− Standards and regulations
− Tolerable frequency deviations for electrical loads
− Principles of frequency and power control in power systems (primary,
secondary and tertiary control, load shedding)
Modality: Lesson

30 mins Coffe break

45 mins Section 3: Frequency variations and control (part 2)

− Testing the quality of generation control (primary, secondary and tertiary)
− Controllability of the frequency
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 4: Voltage changes and control (part 1)

− Basic terms and definitions
− Standards and regulations
− Sources of disturbances (e.g. faults in power system, large load changes,
switching)
− Effects of disturbances
Modality: Lesson

45 mins Section 5: Voltage changes and control (part 2)

− Mitigation methods
− Voltage stability
− Voltage control (evaluation and optimisation of node voltages)
− measurement methods and devices
Modality: Lesson

Second day:

60 mins Section 6: Quality of supply in the electricity market

− Contracts for reliable, qualitative power supply

www.lpqi.org
3
 − Who is responsible for PQ, who has to invest: the supplier, the grid operator,
the customer?
− Is PQ affected by new market situations (liberalisation)?
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 7: Demand-side management (DSM)

− Goal of DSM: shifting and levelling consumption
− Tariffs: day/night, peak/off-peak, real-time prices, payments for consumption
reductions,…
− Utility signals
− Intelligent loads, responding to (real-time) economic signals
Modality: Lesson

30 mins Coffe break

60 mins Section 8: Contracts for electricity supply

− Contract types
− Consumption restrictions
− Load-shedding contracts
− Variable price
− Pre-pay contracts
− …
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 9: Tariffs and power quality

− Contracts and tariffs for reliable, qualitative power supply
− Reactive-power pricing
− Allowed emission levels
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 10: Rational use of energy (RUE)

− Methods and techniques
− Energy efficiency
− Demand-side management
− Efficient electricity production (renewables, CHP, distributed generation)
− Efficient loads: lighting, drives, heating, stand-by losses, buildings
− Impact on power quality
− Case studies
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Final discussion; end of the course; user’s questionnaire; knowledge test;
Confirmations of attendance

4 TEACHING METHODS
Teaching methods are summarized in three main moments:
− knowledge transfer (Lesson)
topics exposure by the lecturer with the help of slides and eventually other electronic tools
(animations, data sheets, didactic movies…);
− deepening/learning verification (Discussion)
general discussion stimulated by the lecturer (also during the lesson) to verify knowledge
transfer and to eventually deepen particular topics;
− practical training (and eventually laboratory activities)
group work (~ 6 persons/group) for topics deepening, practical problems solution and case
studies overview under the supervision of the lecturer.
www.lpqi.org
4
During all the sections, the lecturer will always attend, with teaching and/or activity coordination
duty.

5 DIDACTIC MATERIAL AND TOOLS

The didactic tools which will be used by the lecturers will be:
− Blackboard
− Video-projector
− Notebook
− Microphone

The lecture room will be suitable to allow the use of all the above listed didactic tools and to enable
group work for the addendants.

Each user will receive, during the registration, a folder containing:

− course program;
− lecture notes containing all or part of the lecture slides.

Some additional electronic tools will be available also in electronic format at: http://www.leonardo-
energy.org/drupal/ .

The folder will also include a user satisfaction questionnaire and a knowledge test (which will be
both filled and submitted at the end of the course).

6 EXISTING KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

The user’s existing knowledge should include:

Level
Topic
Basic Medium High
Mathematical analysis •
Statistic •
Electrical circuits •
Power systems •
Power quality •

7 ACQUIRED COURSE KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

The knowledge acquired during the course should be sufficient for:
− power quality, frequency and voltage variations, control;
− quality of supply in the electricity market;
− demand-side management;
− contracts for electricity supply, tariffs e power quality;
− Rational use of energy (RUE).

www.lpqi.org
5