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

1. 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one primary feature of the primary electric power and the at least one secondary feature of the secondary electric power are at least one of voltage and current.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one primary feature is a primary voltage, the method further comprising:

obtaining a spectrum analysis of the primary voltage;

calculating a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the primary voltage; and

alarming, via the controller, when the percentage of power associated to given harmonics is outside a primary voltage harmonic percent value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one primary feature is a primary current, and wherein calculating the zero cross deviation of a primary voltage further comprises obtaining a spectrum analysis of the primary current and calculating a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the primary current.

5. An electrostatic precipitator comprising:

a transformer;

collecting electrodes;

discharge electrodes electrically connected to the transformer;

an electric grid supplying primary electric power to the transformer, and the transformer supplying secondary electric power to the discharge electrodes;

a controller connected to the transformer;

at least one first sensor for measuring, in real time, during operation of the electrostatic precipitator, at least one primary feature of the primary electric power supplied to the transformer to obtain at least a measured primary feature;

at least one second sensor for measuring, in real time, during operation of the electrostatic precipitator at least one secondary feature of the secondary electric power supplied to the discharge electrodes to obtain at least a measured secondary feature;

a control unit for calculating information indicative of power quality based on the measured primary feature and the measured secondary feature;

the control unit operative to calculate, based on the at least one measured feature of the primary electric power, a zero cross deviation of the primary voltage, in units of time, the zero cross deviation indicating disturbances around a zero cross that could affect a performance of the electrostatic precipitator;

the control unit operative to calculate, based on the at least one measured feature of the secondary electric power, at least one of a spectrum analysis of the secondary voltage and a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the secondary voltage, a derivative of the secondary voltage with respect to time and selection of a maximum negative derivative of the secondary voltage, and a spectrum analysis of a secondary current and calculating a percentage of power associated to given harmonics with respect to power associated to all harmonics of the secondary current; and

an interface for providing the information via the controller,

operating the controller to cause the transformer to transmit current pulses to the discharge electrodes based on the information calculated by the control unit.

6. The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 , wherein the control unit is at least one of a part of the controller and is embedded in the controller.

7. The electrostatic precipitator of claim 5 , wherein the interface comprises a monitor, a user interface that generates a report, or systems that generate an alarm.