Lamp Flicker “Thomas D, Brosnan BE CEng FIEL ‘An Roth Society, Engineers Ireland Abstract ‘Volgefluctustin causes lamp flicker. Excessive flicker applied tothe eye and brain can produce a sense of annoyance, The subject has been studied in depth by Union Tnternationale ‘@Electrothermic, (UIE) the Interational Union for Electroheat, in an effort to quantify this psychological phemonenon, culminating in an internationally agreed method of flicker severity ‘measurement, A practical application is used as an example. An industria load is taken which prodhces voltage fluctuations nis process. One numerical example is calelated,t illustrat the Satistica evaluation technique, The relationship between the lamp, eye and bran is examined over the visible frequency spectrum and overtime duration. Flicker attenuation methods in pratical spplcatons are explained. Introduction ‘Voltage fluctuation causes lamp Hicker. Excessive flicker applied tothe eye and brain can produce a sense of perception, or more so of annoyance, The subject has been sted in depth by Union Intemational e'lectothermi (UIE), the International Union for Electrohea, [2,3] nan effort to ‘quantify this psychological phamenon [4], culminating in an agred specification for an internationally acceptable fichermotr [3] As in te field of electromagnetic compatability, national ‘nd international standards [5,5] have been drawn upsetting emission level thresholds fer such load csturbances, Lamp, eye and brain ‘Scientific studies have been cared out in many countries to analyse the psychological phenomenon ‘of amp flicker. The ULE working group (crea 1988) [1,2] had members ftom Belgium, France, Gorman, aly, Japan, Spun, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. They found that human annoyance ‘was related to the intensity of changes in luminance, the frequency spectrum ofthe changes and the time duration, An agrood method of measuring flicker was drawn up inthe form ofa specification {or an intemationa fickermeter [1,3]. Next & method of interpreting te flicker readings ina statistical manner was agreed [2,3], Laboratory tests were used to establish thresholds of perception ‘nd thresholds of anroyence in terms of flickermeter readings [4]. Flicker frequency spectra were generated for test purposes, which varied form pure sinusoidal, to square wave, to random noise mixture, The French developed the concept of the "dose of flicker". Short disturbances tend to be Feguded mentally a transient, while it takes @poriod of time fora sense of annoyance tobe built ‘up. The brain recognises this sense ofrepetitivenes, The dose time chosen was 10-minites Definition of ficker precise definition of lamp ficker can be found inthe IEC technical vocabulary [7] which we ‘quote: “Impression of unsteadiness of visual sensation induced bya ight stimulus whose laminance ‘or spectral distribution factusies with time". The degree of annoyance is quantified with respect © the lamp most widely in use here, namely the coiled cil lament incandescent lamp. The 60 Watt size isthe size most widely in 286. Hanoi [8] record that two groups of Electric Power Companies in Japan, Groups Ind TI, used ‘wo different “permissible limis” for their customers, It was probable but not confirmed tha these corresponded to th two diferent systems at 60 Hiz and the 50 Hz. Furthermore it was noted that the heavier filament wire in 120 Volt lamps damped the effects of voltage fiutuation much better ‘than the lighter filament wire a 230 Volt lamps. The standard chosen among the European electriculitios is based on their most widely used elcti lighting device, 60 Wht, 230 Vol, 5O Hz Dr Manfied Sakulin explored hese differences [9] and developed four companion algorithms for the UTE flckermeter, each fo te used as appropriate for lamps of () 60 Watt, 230 Vo, 501 (1) 6 Watt, 230 Volt, 60 Tz; (i) 60 Watt, 120 Volt, 0 Hz; and 60 Watt, 120 Volt, 60 to match the requirements of esch approprite local supply. ‘The UIE flekermeter ‘The international lickermeter a digital signal processor. (The arithmetical details given in App. 1 ae based on those of The Elecriity Council Research Centre, UK, lickermeter) For digitizing purposes, the fictating voltage is sampled at arate 0f300 samples pe second, a prevsion rate of Ssamples per cycle. Fig. | gives a block diagram ofthe UTE fickermeter, showing the relevent famction blocks [3] (based on IEC 868 Fig. I and TEC 1000-4-15 Fig 2). - Book Blocks | [-—) Low-pats Fitter Squaring Demodulator Ens) Block 4 BiokS Pint Pst Squaring Maiplior Statistica Evaluation ‘Time Delay 300m Fig. | Block digram ofthe lickermeter -Fhuotation can be regarded as amplitude modulation superimposed on the $0 He sinusoidal carrier ‘wave (See Fig. 2), somewhat analogous fo amplitude modulation ofthe cartier in AM radio nnison. The medating ig an be recovered bya suring demodulator shownn Fig 230 0 20s each 50 Hz eyele ' Fig. 2 De-modulation ofthe 5¢ Hz carer ‘A low-pass filter is used in Fig. | Block 3 (and Fig. 38) to suppress the direct current component, the 50 Fz and 100 Hz components and the components greater than 30 Hz (invisible tothe eye). ‘The human eye hes a frequency solective behaviour, exhibiting a peak responie at 8.8 Hz and no response above 30 He. Fig. | Block 3 (and Fig. 3b) gives the normalised amplitude response carve ‘of the appropriste weighting fera 10 3 60 ° 00535 «100H 0 88 2 He Fig. 3a Low-pass filter Fig. 3b Human eye response "Te complete the viqual pereepton model (Lamp luminance i proportional tothe square onthe voltage applied), the quadratic nw of the visual amplitude response is represented by a squaring Imuliplier in Fig. 1 Block 4 wile a time constant of 300 ms simulates the memory effet inthe train pereeption [3]. The outpt from Fg.1 Block 4 corresponds tothe instantaneous flick sensition level, Pins, TEC86S provides a suiable transfer function fr this output, assuming that {he enrier suppression fer has negligible influence inside the frequency bandwith associted With licker signals, which s ofthe following type: ¥G) = __toms_ *__1 Se DAs+ WF (esl) (Fah) ‘whore is the Laplace complex variable and values for parameters appropriate othe coiled co incandescent lamp 60 W 230 V 50 Hz ate isted below: k= 174802 D =2ne4.05981 ‘i= 270°9,15494 we 2102.27979 ws= 200122535 = 20219 ‘Appropriate lamp transfer fancons for a wide range of otter lamps have been developed in USA [10 The response characteristics of Fs) above ean be modified to incide different lamp ‘characteristics as follows F(@) ncaa * Ean Fawr) F6) For statistical evaluation purposes in Fig. 1 Block 5, the instantaneous Ricker sensation level is ‘sampled 75 times per second of 45,000 times in each 10-minute period. A namerical example is calculated in App. | t illstatethe technique wed to produce one 10-minute flicker severity value ‘rom the 45,000 measurements. The symbol used to express 10-minute flicker severity is Pst (23) 10", were applied to 100 people, 0 would perceive Micker and 50 ‘would not, People differ signifeanfy in thei reaction to lamp flicker. M. Aoki, Japan, (5) presented some interesting results. He found that even a flicker severity of Pat = 0.5 a few ofthe Inundred already perceived flicker and atthe other end ofthe scale, a a flicker severity ofPst= 2.0 further few ofthe hundred still had no Bicker awareness, ‘The UIE Working Group st the standard long term flicker severity period, Pl, as 2-hous. ‘Accordingly TEC 868 in 1986 eat out the agreed relationship between Pat (10 min) and Pl (2 boss)‘8 follows: “This was in th era before hard disk drives; data storage and data processing wer limited by available computer memory i. As the production sizes of hard disk and RAM were increased, long-term periods of 8 hows, 24 hours and 7 days became realistic, The 7 day period grined favour [6]: it isa good representation ofa weekly unit of industrial prodoction. There ate 1008 periods of| [minutes in a 7-day week; there would be one short-term flicker severity measurement, Pst, or each 10-minate period. Ina ficker monitoring tes, flicker severity a a particular Ieation would be measured over a 7-day period. An acceptable ficker severity level would be seat, say,Pst= 1.0 (epending on the associated network). The flicker monitoring fest would establish how often the ‘Acceptable ficker severity level was achieved over the T-day period. “Acceplabe level achieved” ‘could be expressed a follows: Acceptable level achieved % = The numberof short-term measurements of Pst C T Fixed Electric Are Capacitor Tormace ig. 8a Fixed spacitor Itreduces the voltage dip while starting; tuo reduces the metered reactive power (ifn MVAr ‘meters installed), The arrangement is suitable for smaller equipment. “The switched eapacitor method is more refined (Fig. 80). Reactive power is monitored and when extras needed the capacitor is switched in and when no longer required switched out. A benk ofswitched capacitors, in parallel can give & more sofisticated response by switching in one, some, oF all the capacitor, as needed. The arrangement is suitable for intermediate sized equipment — => lt NW + Switched Blectie Are Capacitor Fumace Fig. 8b Switched capacitor In the case of largescale equipment flicker compensator is used to attenate lamp flicker. The flicker compensator consist of fixed capacitor, (FC), with a thyristor controlled reactor, (TCR), ‘Aflicker compensators shown in Fig. 8. It shove a capacitor constantly providing $O MVAr and ‘a reactor constantly absorbing 50 MVAr; the remainder output to the furnace is 0 MVA. pair of thyristors (one for positive halfcyele; one forthe negative haf is fited to the reactor, 7 gaa =f 7 LH Fixed ‘Thyristor lecric Are Capacitor Covrtled Furnace Reactor (TCR) Fig, Be Flicker Compensator ‘he thyristor remains closed, or non-conducting, until its gate is triggered to open. It remains open, ‘or conducting, until the current declines to zero. The thyristor is tiggered so the reactor absorbs, say, 40 MVAE. The capacitor proves 30 MVAr, the reactor absorbs 40 MVAr, thus the furmice receives the surplus 10 MVA The trigger to the thyristor gate (ig. 9) canbe controlled to open ‘and make the reactor absorb SOMVAr, oF 40, 30, 20, 10, or 5 (operation below $ MVAr creates a furthar sot of problems), ths providing a remainder output tothe furnace of any value between 0 and 45 MVAz LS Gate: Open Closed Open ‘Closed Fig. 9 Thyristor Gate Control‘When the farnace reactive power is continuously monitored the exact reminder can be provided Continuously fon the fiche: anpensator. The appropriate tiggor plo is given to the fet thyristor (of the pai) after the dart of each positive hal eyele; an appropriate trigger pulse is giv to the second thyristor (ofthe pit) after the start of each negative half cycle. This arrangement is fescrbed os a Thyristor Controlled Renetor (TCR). The complete arrangement is called & Flicker Compensator. Conclusion “The more the reactive power is provided locally, the less is require tobe draw from the regional supply station. ‘he less curren, I whichis drava through the transmission network impedance the Testis the voltdrop (remember Vax 2), theless is the recurring vol-rop, theless i the voltage fluctuation, and consequently, theless i the lam licker. 1the lamp flicker ean be reduced below the threshold of annoyance, even below the threshold of perception, the licker problem ean be reduced and solved,“Appendix 1 Calculation ofa 10-minute Flicker Severity Value, Pst (numerical example) “This consats of consecutive measurements of flicker severity made over a continious period of 10 ‘ites duration, Flicker leve is measured 75 times per second, or 45,000 times in the 10-minute period. These are compressed into 200 registers or levels ~ just ike pigeonholes. (Ses table of "licker Severity Vues sesigned tothe Register Love! Numbers” in Ap. .) The contents ofeach register i the mimber of reedings or times at which that level of licker occured in the 10-minute period. Selected mukipointexalition percentile values are chosen statistically in a standardised ‘way to represent the flickr probability distribution as shown inthe flickermeter printout below. INCREMENTAL FLICKER PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION Boom 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 09 0 0 09 09 9 0 0 0 3 5 10 5 13 15 2 53 16 135 178 240 351 453° 606 719-870 974 1049 1158 1173 1160 1180 1098 1075 1072 1088 961 968 986 929 899 838, B55 861 959 928 904 926 899 899 904 961 1000 931 829 764 BOT 720 729 665 681 660 T2669 661 G48 662 568 524 498415, 393 276219 12 Wt 97 75-4836 2 10 sooccocccen SS TopFLICKER SEVERITY VALLES ASSIGNED TO THE REGISTER LEVEL NUMBERS. (Values as assigned by The Ebctrcity Council Research Centre, UK, to thei lickermeter) Register Flicker Regier Level No, Severity Lev:lNo. Severity Level No. 132 131 130 129 128 a7 126 109 107 106 tos 104 103 101 100 100.000 ‘93.260 86974 S113 75.646 70548 65.793 61359 57223 53366 49710 46415 43287 40370 37.649 35.1 32745, 30538 28480 26,560 24.770 23.101 21544 20092 18738 7475 16297 151199 wai74 219 328 11497 to7a2 10.000 Flicker Register 9 98 2 96 95 BHUSPeBeaR Seeeesse 10.000 9.326 8.697 Bult 1368 1054 6579 6.135 572 5336 4977 4641 4328 4037 3.764 asi 3274 3053 2a3 2.656 2am 2310 254 2.009 1873 LT 11629 1319 vai7 1321 1232 cia Lon 1.000 Picker Register Flicker Severity LevelNo. Severity 66 6 64 6 a ot 60 9 38 37 56 55 54 3 52 3 50 0 48 a7 46 45 a “a 2 41 40 1.000 0.932 0.869 ost 0.736 0.705 0.687 0613 os 0.533 0497 0.464 0.432 0.403 0376 0351 0327 0305 0.284 0.265 0.287 0231 ots 0.200 0.187 01m 0162 Os oust 0.132 0.123 ois 0.107 0.100 2 cr 3 0.100 0.093 0.086 081 0.075 0.070 0.065 061 0.057 0.053 0.089 0.086 0.083 0.040 0.037 0.035 0.032 0.030 0.008 0.026 0.008 0.023 oat 0.020 0018 0.017 0.016 015 oo 0013 0012 ou 0107 oo10MULTIPOINT EVALUATION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE REGISTERS Register Level Number on 97 96 95 94 93 2 91 90 9 88 87 86 85 4 8 8 a 0 7 n n % 6 % B n n 0 6 68 6 66 65 64 6 a o 60 50 58 37 56 55 Number of Readings at cach Level wt 197 219 216 393 45 498, 568 648 70 61 669 m2 660 at 665 no no 807 164 829 931 1000 961 908 399 899 926 Cumalative ‘Number of Readings 5 30 32 a8 133 208 305 26 588 ms 1004 1280 1673 2088 2586 3110 3678 4340 4988 5708 669 7038 730 Ba10 9091 9756 Loags: 11205 1012 12776 13605, 11836 13536 16497 7401 18300 19199 20125 21029 ‘Multipoint Evalvation Percentiles Pmax 1 PLO 50 P1380 Plo, 4500 licker Severity Level £10 542 3m 22 LgeMULTIPOINT EVALUATION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE REGISTERS (contd) Rogister Number of Cumolative ‘Moltipoint licker Level Readings at Nomber oF Evaluation Severity ‘Number each Level Readings orcentilos Level s4 928 21957 33 959 2916 50, 22500 08 3 Bot 27 st 855 24632 50 838 25470 ° 399 26269 8 99 208 a1 986 2084 46 968 29252 45 961 30213 “4 1088 31301 48 107, 32373 a 1075, 33408, 4 1098 Basa, 40 1180) 35726 30 1160) 36886 38 un 38059 37 1158 30217 36 1049 40226 35 974 41240 4 70 ano 3 n9 “0829 32 60s ana3s 3 453, 45838 30 351 439 29 240 a7 8 178 44657 n 135 4792 6 16 4868 25 3 442i 4 28 44949 2 1s 44964 2 B om 2 5 age 20 10 4992 19 5 aa997 18 3 45000 Pmin 45000 0.035 fa 0CALCULATION REFINEMENTS to cater for measurements of flicker couse by load isturbances having unusual daty cycles [14 Mutton PosITION AVERAGE REFINED EVALUATION FROM TOP ‘VALUE CALCULATION PERCENTILE OF TABLE FLICKER LEVEL PO.I% 4“ Pol 542 Pom 315) PLO 450) 3 Pio an PLS 15) r2m% 990) P3.% 1350) 13 PB, 282 m% 800 P6 % 2700) P8% 3600) PION 4500) Ws Po 1.82 P36 5850) Pim 1650) 30% 13500) 50% 72500) 13= P50 043 Pa0% 000) ‘The selected multipoint evaluation percentile points are a good representation of the nonlinear CPF (Cumulative probability inctica) curve, Calculation of ficker severity level atthe selected ‘moltpoint evaluation percents requies a controlled process of interpolation, averaging and ‘curve-smoothing between relevant register levels, STATISTICS POSITION FROM FLICKER TOP OF TABLE LEVEL PMAX TOP 370 Pou 01%. sa Plo U% B71 P30 3% 282 Pio. 1% a2 P50. 50% 04s PMIN BOTTOM 0.035[mn accordance with IEC Publication 868, Addendum, [3] the Flicker Severity forthe 10 minute petiod, Pst, canbe calculated fom the selected multipoint evaluation percentiles, PO.1, P10, P3.0, P10, and P50 using the Apprwed Frnpiical Fora Pst = ¥ O0ST4POT + 00525 PI,0 +0.0657 P30 +O28PIO, +008 50. V O3T4E 4B) + O0525K3.71) + 0.06872. 82) = 0.28(1 82) 0.08(0.43) = Won S018 F018 FOSII6 + 0.RA = a Pat = 10sReferences a a a “1 (5 to m 8 o 10) my (2) 03) ny 05) ‘UIE Report “UIE Flicermeter - Funetional and Design Specifications" 1983 lay the Intentional Loin foe Flacto-Heat (UIE) Disturbances Study Commitee, Flicker Measuring Metiods Working Group, ‘UIE Report “Flicker Measurement and Evaluation” 1986 by the Interational Union for Eleeto-Heat (UIE) Disturbances Study Committee, Flicker Measuring Metiods Working Group. IEC Publication 868 with Addendum Flickermetor ~ Functional Design and Specifications and TEC Publication 1000-4-15 which updates and supersedes TEC 868, "An assessment of Power System Voltage Disturbances in Terms of Lamp Flicker Perception bby W.B. Jervis, Cental Blctriity Generationg Board, UK. IEE International Conference on Sources and Eiects of Power System Disturbances, London, 1982. “Standard method for measurement of voltage fluctuations” ‘by M, Aoki, The Kanssi Electric Power Co. Inc, Osaka, Japan, ‘9, Inierational Congres, UIE9, Cannes, France, 1980. (CENELEC Technical Committe, Task Force Report CLO-BTTF 68-6 “Voltage Characteristics of Eloctrcity supplied by Public Distribution Systems”, (leading to fiture European Norm or Standard) TEC Publication $0: 1990 — International Technical Vocabulary, Chapter 161 lectromagnetic Compatbility(IEV 161-08-13) “Present state and future of the methods fr estimating lamp flicker caused by arc firnaces” bby Yukio Hamaoki, Chabu Electric Power Co., Nagoya, Japan, 9%, International Congres, UIE9, Cannes, France, 1980. “UIEMEC Flicker Standard for use in North America: Measuring Techniques and Practice Applications” by M. Sikulin snd TS, Key, Proceedings of PQA97, 1997, Columbus OH “Voltage and Lamp Hicker Issues: Should tho [EEE adopt the IEC approach?” by S, Mark Halpin - Misippy State University, Starkville, MS, Roger Bergeron - Hydro (Quelec, Varennes (Quebec), Canada, Tom Blooming - Cooper Power Systems, Franksville, ‘Wi, Reuben F. Burch - Alabama Power Company, Birmingham, AL, Lary E. Conrad, (Cait, TF on Light Flicke) - Cinergy Corporation, Plainfield, IN, Thomas 8. Key (Secretary, TF on Light Flicker) - EPRI Power Electronic Applications Center, Knoxville, TIN, Proceedings of PGA97, 1997, Columbus, OH. “Design and Use ofe Digital Meter for monitoring System Voltage Flicker and Harmonics” bby PH, Ashmole System Technical Branch CEGB, UK snd G. Cornfield ECRC, UK. TEE Toternational Confrence on Sources and Pets of Power System Disturbances, London, 1982 IBC Publication $553, Pant3 “Disturbances in Supply Systems caused by Household Appliances and Similiar Bletrcal Equipment", Part 3: Vokage Fluctuations. Engineering Recommerdation P28 “Planning Finite for Vege Fhictwations caused by Indutil, Commercial and Domestic Bquipment in the United Kingdon” by the Electricity Counc, Engineering Consultancy Management Group, September 1989, “Flicker severity measurements onan electric are furnace during switched changes ina transmission network" by ED. Brosnan and M.A. Murray, Electricity Supply Board, ireland, 5, Intemational Conference on Harmonies and Quality of Power, PQA9S, New York, 1995, “Evaluating licker severity Pst caused by load disturbances having unusual duty cycles” by PH. Ashmole and W.B. Jervis, UK, UIE Disturbances Working Group Flicker measuring methods Task Force, 1936