In defense, aerospace, and industrial environments, reliable power is mission-critical. The systems you design and support—ranging from advanced communications equipment to shipboard electronics—depend on stable, efficient power delivery to function as intended. One key measure of that reliability is “power quality.”
Power quality is a measure of how well the electricity delivered to electrical equipment matches the desired characteristics for voltage, frequency, and waveform. When power quality meets regulation standards, equipment runs smoothly, efficiently, and predictably. When it doesn’t meet standards, there’s stress on equipment, efficiency declines, more electrical noise is generated, and the risk of critical failures increases.
For electrical engineers, understanding power quality isn’t just academic; it’s directly related to your design choices and the system performance you deliver. This post provides a primer on power quality.
Poor power quality creates the following kinds of performance risks:
On the other hand, systems designed for high power quality run cooler, last longer, and require less maintenance—making them more cost-effective solutions.
A key element of power quality is “Power Factor” (PF), which measures how effectively incoming AC power is converted into real power, or energy that can perform real work. Ideally, a system has a PF close to 1.0, meaning nearly all the supplied power is converted to output power and reflected back by reactive elements in the system.
When PF is poor, systems draw more reactive power resulting in more apparent power (kVA) than necessary, forcing upstream generators and distribution networks to be oversized. For military or aerospace programs, this translates into heavier equipment, larger footprints, and higher costs.
And keep in mind that the two contributors to PF that matter most are 1) Power Factor Displacement from inductive or capacitive loads (like motors or solenoids), and 2) Power Factor Distortion from nonlinear loads (like AC switch-mode power supplies). Both can degrade power quality, increase harmonics, and reduce the overall efficiency of the system.
Another critical measure of Power Quality is Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), a measure of how much extra noise your signal has relative to its fundamental frequency. In short, high THD can lead to overheated motor windings, reduced component reliability, increased harmonics, and a higher likelihood of system faults or premature failures.
As an example of how critical it is to minimize harmonics, standards like MIL-STD-1399 (shipboard power) limit THD to as low as 3% for certain equipment classes. So, controlling THD is critical!
Power factor and THD don’t just exist on paper—they directly influence the performance of your power supply designs. A high PF and low THD lead to:
For engineers, this means power quality is not just about compliance, it’s about designing systems that are leaner, longer-lasting, and that perform better.
At Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT), we know power quality isn’t optional—it’s central to mission success. That’s why all our AC-DC converters come with integrated Power Factor Correction (PFC). Our approach to power quality includes:
With over 40 years in the industry, our team has seen and solved virtually every power quality challenge engineers face. So this combination of experience and innovation is why ACT is trusted by defense and aerospace leaders.
Power quality is more than a technical specification. It’s the foundation of reliable, efficient, and mission-ready systems. For electrical engineers, understanding power quality means you can design with confidence, minimize risks, and maximize performance. At ACT, we’re your partner in power. We’ve built our reputation on delivering high-quality, standards-compliant power supplies that meet the most demanding power quality requirements.
While many contractors offer power solutions, ACT stands apart for our proven expertise. Specifically, our decades of experience designing mission-critical, military-grade power supplies. At ACT, we use the most advanced methods with both analog and digital PFC, ensuring tailored solutions for your needs. Our team can meet the most challenging, program-specific requirements that our competitors often cannot.
If power quality is critical to your project (and it is), ACT offers both the technology and the partnership to deliver results you can count on. Whether you’re designing for air, ground, or sea applications, our solutions give you the assurance that your systems will perform as expected today and throughout their lifecycle. Advanced Conversion Technology is here to ensure your systems always have the power quality they need for the highest performance.
