System analysis of technical solutions for stabilisation of electric drives in milk production under conditions of energy instability

Abstract

This study is an analysis of technical solutions to ensure the reliable operation of electric drives in dairy production under conditions of unstable power supply. The methodology involved the use of system analysis methods, the evaluation of technical solutions through the analysis of their characteristics and theoretical data processing to model the power supply system of a dairy plant. The study found that power supply instability, including voltage sags, pulse surges, phase failure and frequency deviations, reduces the productivity of the dairy plant. Modelling the power supply system using a generalised functional model helped to identify critical points, such as external grid instability and voltage asymmetry, which have the greatest impact on equipment operation. The assessment of power quality parameters revealed that voltage variations between phases (0.22–0.24 kV) often exceed the normal limit (0.23 kV), the zero-sequence unbalance factor reaches 3.0% (exceeding the 2% limit) and the sinusoidal distortion factor is 0.8–1.6%, with peaks for the second and fourth harmonics (0.74–0.80%). The analysis also revealed that pumps and coolers are the most sensitive to voltage sags, while milking machines are the most sensitive to frequency instability. The implementation of technical solutions such as uninterruptible power supplies, inverters, automatic backup power switches and voltage filters can reduce downtime by 50–90%, save energy by 10–25%, reduce harmonic distortion to < 5% and extend motor life by 20–30%. Integration of electric drives with automated control systems provides real-time monitoring, automatic control and alarms, minimising downtime and increasing process reliability. The practical significance of the results is to create a basis for increasing the efficiency and stability of the dairy industry, which contributes to the smooth functioning of production, reducing operating costs and ensuring high-quality products.