Power supply quality and harmonic generation in pumping stations for irrigation.

Adequate power supply quality is essential in managing electrical facilities, mainly for those that use electronic systems. Power supply quality is mainly defined by harmonic generation and supply continuity, referring to the number and duration of interruptions and voltage dips. The increase in use of electronic loads is causing an increase in electrical pollution in networks. Thus, it is necessary to adopt basic preventive measures to minimize electrical pollution. Current pumping stations have electronic devices that facilitate management, increasing the efficiency of water and energy usage. Although any electronic device in a pumping station can be affected by low quality of the power supply, the most affected devices are electronic converters (electronic starters and variable speed drives). These devices are also mainly responsible for electrical pollution. In this study, electrical quality parameters in six pumping stations for irrigation located in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) were analyzed. In all Water User Associations (WUAs) analyzed, several amplitude disruptions occurred throughout the irrigation season. Electronic converters produce high harmonic distortion that can cause breakdowns in the electronic circuits of pumping stations. These harmonics produce high levels of electrical pollution that affect the pumping station itself and nearby consumers. The aim of this work was to study power supply quality in irrigation pumping stations and its effect on them, which may explain several problems detected in WUAs.