Study of power quality using virtual instruments

The goal of this paper is to discuss the design and development of a state-of-the art Computer Based Virtual Engineering Laboratory (CBVEL) to improve the quality of undergraduate engineering technology and science education through Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL). This laboratory is funded by a research and development grant from the United States Department of Defense, and currently being developed. CBVEL will enhance the existing laboratory facilities in engineering technology and sciences, and will allow the students to quickly access hardware and software programs so that they can perform design and analysis of various real world problems. Students will be skilled with hardware and software that is used throughout industry, at other undergraduate institutions, and graduate schools. Object Oriented Programming (Visual Basic), Virtual instrumentation, and Analysis package like Laboratory Virtual Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW), and the required Data Acquisition (DAQ), and Signal Conditioning Interface will be the integral part of each personal computer. This will allow students to study and build complex systems, concentrating on principles. Because of the flexibility of Visual Basic, LabVIEW, and the associated interface, the system will be customized to suit the instructional and research needs of various engineering technology and science programs. This paper will discuss the use of Virtual Instruments in study and analysis of power quality related issues, with special emphasis on Harmonic related topics.