POWER QUALITY OF SMALL RURAL INDUSTRIES

Successful and economical operation of small rural industries (e.g., g rain, dairy, irrigation, pig, poultry, beef feedlots, etc.) is a funda mental objective of society. However, when the performance and life ex pectancy of industrial electronic and electrical equipment is signific antly affected by power supply anomalies caused by ''polluting'' loads at an industrial site and by utility normal operational activities, t he economic benefits of this technology are quickly eradicated. This p aper will present the results of a detailed power quality survey of 23 small rural industries sponsored by the Canadian Electrical Associati on and provides a knowledge base on rural power quality and the possib le origins of power supply anomalies. This paper will summarize the ma jor power quality problems experienced at the various industrial sites . The results of the survey will provide a basis for mitigating action s by the utilities and their rural industrial customers to design and operate their electrical systems to minimize the effects of power supp ly anomalies.