Abstract
Motivated by the effects of deregulation over power quality and the subsequent need of new types of measurements, this paper assesses different implementations of an estimate for the spectral kurtosis, considered as a low-level harmonic detection. Performance of a processor-based system is compared with a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based solution, in order to evaluate the accuracy of this processing function for implementation in autonomous measurement equipment. The fourth-order spectrum, with applications in different fields, needs advanced digital signal processing, making it necessary to compare implementation alternatives. In order to obtain reproducible results, the implementations have been developed using common design and programming tools. Several characteristics of the implementations are compared, showing that the increasing complexity and reduced cost of the current FPGA models make the implementation of complex mathematical functions feasible. We show that FPGAs improve the processing capability of the best processor using an operating frequency 33 times lower. This fact strongly supports its implementation in hand-held instruments.
Highlights
During the last fifteen years, we have been progressing to a large deployment of power electronics with the goal of conducting non-linear loads in a frame of distributed energy resources at generation, transmission, and distribution stages
This fact, along with utilities deregulation, elicits the need for a new concept of power quality (PQ) that should affect standards and measurement equipment aligned with an effective operation system [1,2]
There is a special need for PQ monitoring analysis techniques that account for new Energies 2019, 12, 914; doi:10.3390/en12050914
Summary
During the last fifteen years, we have been progressing to a large deployment of power electronics with the goal of conducting non-linear loads in a frame of distributed energy resources at generation, transmission, and distribution stages. This fact, along with utilities deregulation, elicits the need for a new concept of power quality (PQ) that should affect standards and measurement equipment aligned with an effective operation system [1,2]. Energies 2019, 12, 914 disturbance assessment techniques These detect the presence of anomalous power, and allow adopting protection measures, which eventually enable the correct on/off load or mitigation strategies. The focus of new class C instruments is on the quasi steady condition, on waveform distortion (e.g., harmonic, inter-harmonic) [2,3,4]
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