HOS-based virtual instrument for power quality assessment

This paper describes a virtual instrument for PQ assessment. Conceived to detect transients, sags and swells, the computational nucleus is based in higher-order statistics, which enhance the statistical characterization of the raw data, with the consequent improvement of the instrument's performance. This measurement application is thought to be used by the plant operator previously trained in PQ analysis. The normal operation limit is previously established on empirical expert knowledge. The instrument also allows online visualization of the statistical parameters (variance, skewness and kurtosis). The repeatability is 85% roughly. Results convey the idea of an easy transferable technology, due to its low cost and optimized computational nucleus.