Power conditioner
Encyclopedia
A power conditioner is a device intended to improve the quality of the power
that is delivered to electrical load equipment. While there is no official definition of a power conditioner, the term most often refers to a device that acts in one or more ways to deliver a voltage
of the proper level and characteristics to enable load equipment to function properly. In some usages, power conditioner refers to a voltage regulator
with at least one other function to improve power quality (e.g. power factor
correction, noise suppression, transient impulse protection, etc.).
The terms "power conditioning" and "power conditioner" can be misleading, as the word "power" here refers to the electricity
generally rather than the more technical electric power
. Conditioners specifically work to smooth the sinusoidal A.C. wave form and maintain a constant voltage
over varying loads.
Power line conditioners take in power and modify it based on the requirements of the machinery to which they are connected. Voltage spike
s are most common during power storms or other malfunctions in the main power lines. The surge protector stops the flow of electricity from reaching a machine by shutting off the power source.
The term "Power Conditioning" has been difficult to define historically. However, with the advances in power technology and recognition by IEEE, NEMA, and other standards organizations, a new actual engineering definition has now been developed and accepted to provide an accurate depiction of this definition.
"Power Conditioning" is the ability to filter the a.c. line signal provided by the power company.
"Power Regulation" is the ability to take a signal from the local power company, turn it into a d.c. signal that will run an oscillator, which generates a single frequency sine wave, which is determined by your local area needs, is fed to the input stage of power amplifier, and is then output as what is specified as the ideal voltage present at any standard wall outlet.
system, the noise suppression rating listed in the technical specifications of the power conditioner will be very important. This rating is expressed in decibels (db).
The higher the db rating, the better the noise suppression. Good units start at a rating of about 40-60db for noise filtering. If a device does not state the db rating in its specs it may be better to move on to a different model or manufacturer.
The power conditioner will also have a "joule" rating. A joule is a measurement of energy or heat required to sustain one watt for one second, known as a watt second
. Since electrical surges are momentary spikes, the joule rating indicates how much electrical energy the suppressor can absorb at once before becoming damaged itself. The higher the joule rating, the greater the protection.
while others provide protection from half a dozen or more power quality
problems. Units may be small enough to mount on a printed circuit board
or large enough to protect an entire factory. Small power conditioners are rated in volt-ampere
s (V·A) while larger units are rated in kilovolt-amperes (kV·A).
Ideally electric power would be supplied as a sine wave
with the amplitude and frequency given by national standards (in the case of mains) or system specifications (in the case of a power feed not directly attached to the mains) with an impedance
of zero ohms at all frequencies.
No real life power feed will ever meet this ideal. Deviations may include:
Power quality
Power quality is the set of limits of electrical properties that allows electrical systems to function in their intended manner without significant loss of performance or life. The term is used to describe electric power that drives an electrical load and the load's ability to function properly...
that is delivered to electrical load equipment. While there is no official definition of a power conditioner, the term most often refers to a device that acts in one or more ways to deliver a voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
of the proper level and characteristics to enable load equipment to function properly. In some usages, power conditioner refers to a voltage regulator
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator is an electrical regulator designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level. A voltage regulator may be a simple "feed-forward" design or may include negative feedback control loops. It may use an electromechanical mechanism, or electronic components...
with at least one other function to improve power quality (e.g. power factor
Power factor
The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load over the apparent power in the circuit, and is a dimensionless number between 0 and 1 . Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time...
correction, noise suppression, transient impulse protection, etc.).
The terms "power conditioning" and "power conditioner" can be misleading, as the word "power" here refers to the electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
generally rather than the more technical electric power
Electric power
Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations...
. Conditioners specifically work to smooth the sinusoidal A.C. wave form and maintain a constant voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
over varying loads.
Types
An AC power conditioner is the typical power conditioner that provides "clean" AC power to sensitive electrical equipment. Usually this is used for home or office applications and has up to 10 or more receptacles or outlets and commonly provides surge protection as well as noise filtering.Power line conditioners take in power and modify it based on the requirements of the machinery to which they are connected. Voltage spike
Voltage spike
In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short duration electrical transients in voltage , current , or transferred energy in an electrical circuit....
s are most common during power storms or other malfunctions in the main power lines. The surge protector stops the flow of electricity from reaching a machine by shutting off the power source.
The term "Power Conditioning" has been difficult to define historically. However, with the advances in power technology and recognition by IEEE, NEMA, and other standards organizations, a new actual engineering definition has now been developed and accepted to provide an accurate depiction of this definition.
"Power Conditioning" is the ability to filter the a.c. line signal provided by the power company.
"Power Regulation" is the ability to take a signal from the local power company, turn it into a d.c. signal that will run an oscillator, which generates a single frequency sine wave, which is determined by your local area needs, is fed to the input stage of power amplifier, and is then output as what is specified as the ideal voltage present at any standard wall outlet.
Design
A good quality power conditioner is designed with internal filter banks to isolate the individual power outlets or receptacles on the power conditioner. This eliminates interference or "cross-talk" between components. If the application will be a home theaterHome theater
A home theater or home theatre is a theater built in a home, designed to mimic commercial theater performance and feeling, more commonly known as a home cinema...
system, the noise suppression rating listed in the technical specifications of the power conditioner will be very important. This rating is expressed in decibels (db).
The higher the db rating, the better the noise suppression. Good units start at a rating of about 40-60db for noise filtering. If a device does not state the db rating in its specs it may be better to move on to a different model or manufacturer.
The power conditioner will also have a "joule" rating. A joule is a measurement of energy or heat required to sustain one watt for one second, known as a watt second
Watt second
A watt-second is a derived unit of energy equivalent to the joule. The watt-second is the energy equivalent to the power of one watt sustained for one second...
. Since electrical surges are momentary spikes, the joule rating indicates how much electrical energy the suppressor can absorb at once before becoming damaged itself. The higher the joule rating, the greater the protection.
Usages
Power conditioners can vary greatly in specific functionality and size, with both parameters generally determined by the application. Some power conditioners provide only minimal voltage regulationVoltage regulation
In electrical engineering, particularly power engineering, voltage regulation is the ability of a system to provide near constant voltage over a wide range of load conditions.-Electrical power systems:...
while others provide protection from half a dozen or more power quality
Power quality
Power quality is the set of limits of electrical properties that allows electrical systems to function in their intended manner without significant loss of performance or life. The term is used to describe electric power that drives an electrical load and the load's ability to function properly...
problems. Units may be small enough to mount on a printed circuit board
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
or large enough to protect an entire factory. Small power conditioners are rated in volt-ampere
Volt-ampere
A volt-ampere is the unit used for the apparent power in an electrical circuit, equal to the product of root-mean-square voltage and RMS current. In direct current circuits, this product is equal to the real power in watts...
s (V·A) while larger units are rated in kilovolt-amperes (kV·A).
Ideally electric power would be supplied as a sine wave
Sine wave
The sine wave or sinusoid is a mathematical function that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation. It occurs often in pure mathematics, as well as physics, signal processing, electrical engineering and many other fields...
with the amplitude and frequency given by national standards (in the case of mains) or system specifications (in the case of a power feed not directly attached to the mains) with an impedance
Impedance
Impedance may refer to:*Electrical impedance, the ratio of the voltage phasor to the electric current phasor, a measure of the opposition to time-varying electric current in an electric circuit**Characteristic impedance of a transmission line...
of zero ohms at all frequencies.
No real life power feed will ever meet this ideal. Deviations may include:
- Variations in the peak or RMS voltage are both important to different types of equipment.
- When the RMS voltage exceeds the nominal voltage by 10 to 80% for 0.5 cycle to 1 minute, the event is called a "swell".
- A "dip" (in British English) or a "sag" (in American English - the two terms are equivalent) is the opposite situation: the RMS voltage is below the nominal voltage by 10 to 90% for 0.5 cycle to 1 minute.
- Random or repetitive variations in the RMS voltage between 90 and 110% of nominal can produce a phenomenon known as "flicker" in lighting equipment. Flicker is the impression of unsteadiness of visual sensation induced by a light stimulus on the human eye. A precise definition of such a voltage fluctuations that produce flicker have been subject to ongoing debate in more than one scientific community for many years.
- Abrupt, very brief increases in voltage, called "spikes", "impulses", or "surges", generally caused by large inductive loads being turned off, or more severely by lightning.
- "Undervoltage" occurs when the nominal voltage drops below 90% for more than 1 minute. The term "brownout" in common usage has no formal definition but is commonly used to describe a reduction in system voltage by the utility or system operator to decrease demand or to increase system operating margins.
- "OvervoltageOvervoltageWhen the voltage in a circuit or part of it is raised above its upper design limit, this is known as overvoltage. The conditions may be hazardous...
" occurs when the nominal voltage rises above 110% for more than 1 minute. - Variations in the frequency
- Variations in the wave shape - usually described as harmonics
- Nonzero low-frequency impedance (when a load draws more power, the voltage drops)
- Nonzero high-frequency impedance (when a load demands a large amount of current, then stops demanding it suddenly, there will be a dip or spike in the voltage due to the inductances in the power supply line)