Impact of Harmonic Currents of Nonlinear Loads on Power Quality of a Low Voltage Network–Review and Case Study

Abstract

The paper presents a power-quality analysis in the utility low-voltage network focusing on harmonic currents’ pollution. Usually, to forecast the modern electrical and electronic devices’ contribution to increasing the current total harmonic distortion factor (THDI) and exceeding the regulation limit, analyses based on tests and models of individual devices are conducted. In this article, a composite approach was applied. The performance of harmonic currents produced by sets of devices commonly used in commercial and residential facilities’ nonlinear loads was investigated. The measurements were conducted with the class A PQ analyzer (FLUKE 435) and dedicated to the specialized PC software. The experimental tests show that the harmonic currents produced by multiple types of nonlinear loads tend to reduce the current total harmonic distortion factor (THDI). The changes of harmonic content caused by summation and/or cancellation effects in total current drawn from the grid by nonlinear loads should be a key factor in harmonic currents’ pollution study. Proper forecasting of the level of harmonic currents injected into the utility grid helps to maintain the quality of electricity at an appropriate level and reduce active power losses, which have a direct impact on the price of electricity generation.