LIGHTING DESIGN

& APPLICATION

he main objective of this research is to predict by means of computer modelling and

simulations the impact of large number of CFLs on distribution systems.The analysis
uses SuperHarm software to predict the distortion level on a distribution system.

Impact of large numbers of CFLs

on distribution systems
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
provide significant energy saving over
incandescent lighting. As a result CFLs
are being promoted as part of energy
conservation programmes for many
electric utilities [3]. Up until now power
quality issues associated with CFLs have
largely been ignored as the number of
these lamps on the system was small
and the associated impact difficult to
quantify. However, the situation is likely
to change in the near future as large
numbers of CFLs penetrate the market
place and as result harmonic emissions
may have to be limited [1], [2].
Compact fluorescent lights, like all
discharge lights, create harmonics
on the supply system because of the
control systems limiting the plasma (an
electric arc) current, which produces
light. These harmonic currents are then
injected into the distribution system.
Because most electrical systems were
designed for linear voltage and current
waveforms (i.e. nearly sinusoidal),
excessive nonlinear loads can cause
serious problems such as overheating
conductors, transformer and capacitor
failures as well as malfunction of
electronic equipment. The magnitudes
of harmonics generated by the CFLs vary
between manufacturers and between
ranges of lamps from the suppliers [1],
[3], [4].
Methodology
The research methodology applied
was:
l Measure the harmonic contribution
for CFL that are currently being used
by Eskom as part of the Demand
Side Management programme.

by Angula Nashandi and Prof. Gary Atkinson-Hope,

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Develop a representation of this type
of CFL as a non-linear model for
harmonic simulations.
l Investigate the impact of CFLs at the
point of common coupling (PCC)
with different quantities of CFL
loading.
l Results obtained are compared to
the IEEE-519 limits which are shown
in Table 1.
l

Magnitude of an individual harmonic

component as a percentage of the
fundamental is also used as a measure
of harmonic contribution to the total
harmonic distortion. The formula used
for the calculation is as follows [1]:

IEEE 519 limits

PCC voltage

Individual
VHD%

THD%

Below 69 kV

3,0%

5,0%

Table 1: IEEE standard.

A similar equation could also be written

for %IHD.
Experiments

Theory
Harmonics referred to here are the
repetitive electrical disturbances caused
by CFLs. Using the Fourier series, a
distorted periodic wave shape can be
represented by its fundamental and
harmonic [4], [5].

It is also common to use a single

quantity, the total harmonic distortion
(THD) as a measure of the effective value
of harmonic distortion [1].
A similar equation could be written for a
current waveform I(t) and ITHD.
October 2007 - Vector - Page 24

Experiments have been grouped in three

models, single, double and triple model
(Fig.1). A single model contains 12 CFLs
while a double and a triple contains
24 CFLs and 36 CFLs respectively.
Measurements were performed to
identify the harmonic characteristics for
these groups. These characteristics were
then used to derive harmonic injection
characteristics for households and group
of households, including the possible
effect of harmonic cancellation.
However, the harmonic current generated
from CFL groups tends to add up rather
than cancel as shown in Fig. 1. This is
because only the same type of CFL was
used (14 W). The harmonic spectrum
representing the 12 CFL group is given
in Table 2 .

Fig. 2: Measured CFL group current waveform.

Fig. 1: Harmonic levels for the three models.
Harmonic
order

Magnitude
(%)

Angle
(degrees)

3rd

77,2

173

5th

50,1

7th

39,7

-164

9th

32,7

27

11th

19,4

-157

13th

8,2

24

Table 2: Measured harmonic spectrum

for 12 CFL group.

The double and triple models have

similar spectrums. The measurements
show that CFLs have large harmonic
currents.
The harmonic current distortion (%IHD)
for the CFL group measured is of the
order of 116% as shown by waveform
in Fig. 2.
Description of the network
studied
The impact of a large number of CFLs
on a distribution system was observed
by means of computer modeling and
simulations of a three-phase, 33 kV
network. The network supplies mostly
residential customers (BUS4A) and
some commercial customers (BUS5A),
respectively. The simplified one line
diagram of the system studied is provided
in Fig. 3.
Residential area consisted of 360 homes
while the commercial area consisted of
195 factories/offices. Single model was
used for residential lighting while triple
model was used for commercial lighting.
Therefore the total number of lights
installed for residential and commercial
is 4 320 and 7 020 respectively. The
total loading was constrained not
to exceed the 5 MVA rating of the
transformer (T1). The loads have the
following apparent power, S, and power
factor, displacement PF, ratings.
LOAD1 and LOAD3 in the table below
represent when all lights installed are
14 W CFL. The CFLs installed represent
14% of the residential load and 11% of
the commercial load. CFLs are modelled
to inject harmonic currents (Table 2).

LOAD1 and LOAD2 represent residential

loads while LOAD3, LOAD4 and DRIVE1
represent commercial loads. LOAD1
and LOAD3 represent lighting load for
residential and commercial respectively.
Other loads included computers, TV
sets, refrigerators, resistive heating,
motors and stoves. For commercial
loads it was assumed that there are
factories installed with drives that also
inject harmonics into the systems. The
drives are modelled to inject an ideal
harmonic spectrum.
The following assumptions were made:
l A balanced three phase system was
assumed that means all three phases
were equally loaded with single
phase loads.
l Simulation was conducted using
single phase representation, thus
results were obtained from the
representation of one phase,
assuming the same results for the
other two phases.
Case studies
Four case studies were conducted with
different CFL group loadings, to analyse
their impact on a distribution system.
Case study 1 (CS1)
This is the worst-case scenario in terms
of lighting and other load demands. The
total load is assumed to be at full load.
Lighting loads installed is assumed to
be 60 W incandescent bulbs for both
residential and commercial buildings.
This can be during high lighting demand
in the night when all lights are ON.
Case study 2 (CS2)
Case study 1 is repeated, this time all
the incandescent bulbs are replaced with
14 W CFLs and all are ON.
Case study 3 (CS3)
A diversity factor of 0,6 is widely used [1]

Fig. 3: Single line diagram for

the network studied.

therefore, for this case study all lighting

and other loads for both residential
and commercial are reduced to 60%
of full load. This case was selected to
represent realistic conditions. A reactor
is added in series with the capacitor as
a harmonic filter to reduce the %VTHD
which is 14,0% to 5,74517%.
Case study 4 (CS4)
For this case study it is assumed that
only 60% residential CFLs and 10% of
commercial CFLs are ON. Other loads
are assumed to be at 10% of full load.
This case study represents nighttime
around 20h00.
Results
To comply with the IEEE 519, harmonic
penetration results were obtained at the
point of common coupling (BUS3).
Harmonic impedance scan was
conducted in CS3 at Bus PCC as shown
in Fig. 4.
From the scan results, resonance occurs
close to the 5th harmonic order.
Analysis
The total harmonic distortion results are
displayed in Fig. 5.
To evaluate the impact of CFLs penetration
on a distribution system, CS1 and CS2
are compared. CS1 is a base case
condition representing distortion levels
due to existing load characteristics. It
is found that promotions of CFLs
Harmonic
order

Magnitude
(%)

Angle
(deg)

Name

Apparent
power (kVA)

Power
factor

3rd

33,3

5th

20

LOAD1

21,804

0,9

7th

14,28

LOAD2

132

0,85

9th

11,11

LOAD3

35,432

0,9

11th

9,09

LOAD4

187,2

0,85

13th

7,69

DRIVE1 +CAP

108

0,97

Table 3: Load data.

October 2007 - Vector - Page 25

Table 4: Drive 1 - Harmonic current

spectrum.

Index

CS1

CS2

CS3

CS4
6319,7

V1

6167,17

6175,42

6246,39

%V3

0,99255

0,83815

2,96818 0,26067

%V5

0,97265

1,69527

4,14631 0,49566

%V7

0,95647

2,22744

0,9488

%V9

0,93897

0,52756

1,89477 0,33273

%V11

0,91936

2,0427

1,06091 0,49496

%V13

0,89785

0,85566

1,17857 0,08985

%VTHD

2,31928

3,70419

5,74517 0,99681

VRMS

6168,83

6179,65

6275,29

0,56234

6081,7

Table 5: Harmonic penetration results at PCC.

Future research should be done with

an industrial distribution network.
Acknowledgement
This paper was presented at the
recent 2007 ICUE Conference in
Cape Town, and is republished with
permission.
References
[1] Theodore, W.: Electrical Machines,
Drives and Power Systems, 4th Edition,
Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 2000, pp.
809-821.
[2] Emmanuel E, Gentile T J, Pileggi D J,
Gulachenski E M, Root C E: The Effect
of Modern Compact Fluorescent Lights
on Voltage Distortion, Presented at the
IEEE/PES 1992 Summer Power Meeting,
Seattle, WA, July, 1992.
[3] Dwyer, R, Khan, A K, McGranaghan,
M, Tang L, McCluskey, R K, Sung,
R, Houy, T: Evaluation of Harmonic
Impact from Compact Fluorescent
Lights on Distribution Systems, IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 10,
No. 4, November 1995.

Fig. 4: Impedance scan at PCC for

case study 3.

Fig. 5: VTHD comparison at PCC.

installation in CS2 result in an increase

of 1,38% voltage distortion, which is a
significant change. The results obtained
exceed the specified IEEE-519 limits
in CS3. The VTHD obtained in this case
was 5,74519%. Although the capacitor
improves the power factor, it causes
harmonic resonance. Therefore the
mitigation solution is included in CS3 by
tuning a passive filter to 5,7th harmonic.
They are used for shunting harmonic
currents in a power system.
Conclusions
From the results obtained it can be
concluded that the distortion level that
can be expected depends on the type of
CFL used and the distribution parameter.
The currents distortion for the CFL used
is very high, that even when CFL is
10% of the total load, can result in an
unacceptable voltage distortion at the
point of common coupling.
The use of CFL with highly distorted
current should be discouraged and
those with low distorted current should
be encouraged.
October 2007 - Vector - Page 26

[4] Henderson, R: Harmonics of Compact

Fluorescent Lamps in the Home, Domestic
Use of Electrical Energy Conference,
1999
[5] IEEE Std. 519-1992, IEEE recommended
practices and requirements for harmonic
control in electrical power systems, IEEE
std.519-1992, IEEE, Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers, USA, April 12,
1993.
[6] Sawiki, J and Galewsi, M, Economical
definition of distortion power, Proceeding
of the spring seminar on Nonsinusoidal
Systems, Zielona Gora University, Poland,
1999, pp. 31.
[7] Porges, F, The Design of Electrical Services
for Buildings, 3rd Edition, Chapman and
Hall Ltd, New York, 1989, pp. 84-86.
[8] SuperHarm Electrotek Concepts, Users
Guide, Version 4.3.0, USA, October,
2004, pp. 1.0-4.35.

Contact Angula Nashandi,

CPUT, gnashandi@webmail.co.za;
Gary Atkinson-Hope,
atkinsonhopeg@cput.ac.za D