An Optimization Algorithm for Voltage Flicker Analysis

Maintenance of power quality standards is a critical issue in the electrical distribution networks today. Proper quality can be maintained only by continuously monitoring and analyzing the signals of interest so as to identify the sources of distortion. This paper presents an algorithm for analysis of voltage flickers in power signals, a common phenomenon in most of the networks involving heavy loads. The low frequency component responsible for modulating the power signal is extracted using an optimization algorithm. Further the algorithm separately identifies the signals affecting the fundamental component and the harmonics present in the power signal.