Power Quality Improvement Course | IIT Roorkee NPTEL | Prof. Avik Bhattacharya
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 296 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master Power Quality Improvement: An In-Depth Course Guide
In our modern, technology-driven world, the demand for clean, stable, and reliable electrical power has never been higher. However, the proliferation of non-linear loads—from variable speed drives to distributed energy sources—has significantly vulgarized power quality in distribution systems. Issues like voltage sags, swells, and harmonic distortions can lead to equipment malfunction, reduced efficiency, and substantial financial losses. Addressing these challenges is a critical skill for today's power engineers.
This is where a structured, expert-led course becomes invaluable. We are delving into a comprehensive 8-week postgraduate program on Power Quality Improvement Techniques, instructed by Prof. Avik Bhattacharya of IIT Roorkee. This course blends deep academic theory with hard-won industrial experience, offering a complete roadmap for understanding and mitigating power quality issues.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Avik Bhattacharya
Learning from an expert with both industrial and academic pedigree makes all the difference. Prof. Avik Bhattacharya brings a unique and powerful perspective to the subject.
- Current Role: Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee since February 2014.
- Industry Pedigree: Formerly part of the R&D teams at industry giants Danfoss Solar Inverter and ABB, giving him firsthand insight into real-world power electronics challenges.
- Research Authority: Holds over a decade of specialized experience in power quality and has authored multiple IEEE Transactions publications on the subject.
- Teaching Excellence: Has been successfully teaching this very course to UG and PG students at IIT Roorkee for two years, perfecting a pedagogy that seamlessly blends industry applications, research depth, and academic fundamentals.
Why This Course on Power Quality is Essential
The course begins by outlining the core problem: our modern power grid is under stress. The increased integration of renewable distributed sources, adjustable speed drives, and various non-linear loads introduces disturbances that compromise power quality. These manifest as:
- Frequency and voltage variations (sags, swells)
- Waveform distortions (harmonics, inter-harmonics, notching, noise)
The central challenge is mitigating problems arising from both load disturbances and supply disturbances. While passive filters offer an economical solution, the course emphasizes why active power filters are superior in performance and are the preferred choice in modern, complex power systems.
Detailed 8-Week Course Curriculum
The course is meticulously structured to take you from foundational concepts to advanced mitigation strategies.
| Week | Focus Area | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Power Quality Fundamentals | Frequency/voltage variations, waveform distortion types (DC offset, harmonics, notching). |
| Week 2 | Harmonics Standards | Representation of harmonics, measures of distortion, limits per IEEE, IEC, EN standards. |
| Week 3 | Causes of Harmonics | Analysis of harmonics from converters, AC regulators, cycloconverters, arc furnaces, etc. |
| Week 4 | Harmonics Suppression | Multi-pulse converters, passive filter design (single/double tuned, damped filters). |
| Week 5 | PWM Inverter Techniques | Voltage/current sourced active filters, constant & variable tolerance band control. |
| Week 6 | Active Power Filters (APFs) | Compensation principles, classification by objective, configuration, and control. |
| Week 7 | Hybrid Solutions | Principle, analysis, and modeling of Hybrid Shunt Active Power Filters. |
| Week 8 | Unified Power Quality Conditioner | UPQC operation for sag, swell, and flicker control using VSC & CSC configurations. |
Who Should Enroll?
This course is designed for serious students and professionals aiming to specialize in power systems.
- Intended Audience: Final year B.Tech and M.Tech students in Power Electronics & Power Systems, along with practicing Power Electronics Engineers and Experts from industry.
- Prerequisites: A solid foundation in Power Electronics and Control. A related NPTEL course (Advance Power Electronics and Control) is recommended.
- Industry Support: The curriculum is highly relevant for professionals in leading organizations like ABB, GE, Statcon Energeia, CESC, NTPC, NHPC, all state electricity boards, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Essential Reference Books
To complement the video lectures, the course recommends three authoritative texts that are considered bibles in the field:
- Derek A. P., “Power Electronic Converter Harmonics”, IEEE Press
- Singh B., Chandra A., AL-Haddad K., "Power Quality, Problems and Mitigation Techniques", Wiley India
- Arrillaga J. et al., “Power System Harmonic Analysis”, Wiley India
Embark on this eight-week journey to transform your understanding of power quality. Under the guidance of Prof. Avik Bhattacharya, you will gain not just theoretical knowledge but also the practical insight needed to design solutions for the most pressing power quality challenges in today's grid. Enroll to power up your expertise and become a sought-after specialist in this critical field of electrical engineering.
Enroll Now →