Method for monitoring the signal quality of an electrostatic precipitator and electrostatic precipitator

A method for monitoring power quality of an electrostatic precipitator that is equipped with collecting electrodes and discharge electrodes, said method comprising:

• electrically connecting the discharge electrodes to a transformer;
• connecting the transformer to a controller;
• supplying the transformer with primary electric power from an electric grid;
• supplying secondary electric power from the transformer to the discharge electrodes;
• measuring, with at least one first sensor, at least one primary feature of the primary electric power supplied to the transformer in real time during operation of the electrostatic precipitator to obtain at least a measured primary feature;
• measuring, with at least one second sensor, at least one secondary feature of the secondary electric power supplied to the collecting electrodes and discharge electrodes in real time during operation of the electrostatic precipitator to obtain at least a measured secondary feature;
• calculating a zero cross deviation of a primary voltage, in units of time, based on the at least one measured primary feature of the primary electric power, the zero cross deviation indicating disturbances around a zero cross that could affect a performance of the electrostatic precipitator;
• providing, via the controller, when the zero cross deviation is over a zero cross deviation time value;
• obtaining a spectrum analysis of a secondary voltage of the transformer;
• and
• calculating, using the obtained spectrum analysis of the secondary voltage, a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the secondary voltage, by at least one of
• calculating a derivative of the secondary voltage with respect to time and selecting a maximum negative derivative of the secondary voltage to determine whether the secondary voltage can be used for sparks detection, and
• obtaining a spectrum analysis of a secondary current of the transformer and calculating a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the secondary current;
• alarming, via the controller, when at least one of the calculated derivative is outside a derivative value, and the percentage of power associated to given harmonics is outside a secondary current harmonic percent value;
• determining information indicative of the power quality using the measured primary feature and the measured secondary feature;
• operating the controller to cause the transformer to transmit current pulses to the discharge electrodes based on the determined power quality information;
• and
• providing the information via the controller, at least one of displaying the determined power quality information on a monitor, generating a report including the determined power quality information, and activating an alarm, when the determined power quality information is outside a predetermined range of values.