Design and implementation of a cost‐effective practical single‐phase power quality analyzer using pyboard microcontroller and python‐to‐python interface

Abstract

Abstract This work presents the design, development, and performance evaluation of a cost‐effective and practical single‐phase power quality analyzer (SPPQA) using Pyboard microcontroller and Python‐to‐Python interface. The SPPQA offers comprehensive measurements, including voltage/current harmonics up to the seventh order, frequency, voltage and current root mean square values, total power, active/reactive power, power factor, voltage and current crest factor, as well as voltage/current total harmonic distortion. To ensure the accuracy of the SPPQA, a testing procedure was conducted using a test bench equipped with a non‐linear load and a 220‐V power source operating at a frequency of 50 Hz. The obtained results, such as VTHD and ITHD, are compared with measurements obtained from classical approaches and devices, validating the authenticity and reliability of the SPPQA's performance. The SPPQA demonstrates considerable accuracy and reliability in its measurements, establishing it as an efficient and practical tool for power quality assessment. The ability to measure the seven harmonics of voltage and current, alongside other critical parameters, positions the SPPQA as a practical asset in the academic, industrial, and commercial sectors. The affordability and practicality of the SPPQA make it practical in both academic research and practical scenarios. Utilizers can gain deeper information into power quality through its measurements and harmonics analysis, while also enhancing industrial processes and ensuring a reliable power supply in commercial settings.

Keywords

• computing and software
• electrical engineering computing
• harmonic analysis
• harmonic distortion
• non‐linear dynamics
• non‐linear systems