Harmonics Analysis of LV network

Harmonics is a type of distortion that occurs in voltage or current waveform in the power
distribution network. Harmonics are also can be seen as a mathematical way of describing
this type of distortion. It is known that harmonics are a steady state phenomenon and it will
repeat with every 60 Hz/50 Hz cycle. Harmonics should never be confused with other types
of distortion like spikes, dips, impulses or oscillations. (Robert G. Ellis, 2001).
Harmonics are caused by non-linear loads, which is loads that draw non sinusoidal current
from a sinusoidal voltage source. Power electronics are the example of loads that could
introduce harmonics in the power system network. Low voltage consumers for example,
households today, their appliances and devices use power electronics. Smartphones for
example uses DC/DC converter whereas computers, televisions and air-conditioners uses
AC/DC converters. As more household appliances use power electronics in their system,
more harmonics will get into the power system network, which power system network
operators should take note of. An increase of harmonic current level in the network could
decrease the electricity voltage quality of the network. (Bhattacharyya, Cobben, & Kling,
2010). The service lifetime of the network components could also be decreased.
Harmful effects of harmonics can also be categorised into short-term and long-term effects. In
short-term, there will be some failure and malfunction of equipment operation or its operation
quality. Long-term effect is there will be thermal effects.
In the low voltage network, it is found that even harmonics are significantly lower than odd
harmonics, and the effects can be ignored in harmonics analysis. The order of harmonics is
only relevant up to the order of 25th order (Bhattacharyya, Cobben, & Kling, 2010). If the
effects of harmonics were to be simulated, it is best to assume that there is no background
harmonics present in the medium voltage (MV) which could pollute the low voltage(LV)
network. Total harmonics distortion for voltage and current can be calculated with the
following formulas.

40 2 40 2

() = ( ) () = ( )

=2 =2

Where In = current of each order of harmonic

Irms = total rms current
Vn = voltage of each order of harmonic
Vrms = total rms voltage
n = harmonic order
When a device operates in a polluted electrical network, the harmonic current emitted could
have a significant increase. This behaviour becomes worse as the supply voltage increases.
Various case study and simulations can be made to observe harmonics current and voltage
effects in the electrical network. A low, average and high load emits different type of
harmonics current and various appliances used also affects how harmonics current pollutes
the power network. In the conference publication of Harmonic Current Pollution in a Low
Voltage Network by Bhattacharyya, Cobben, & Kling (2010), it is shown that the households
that have power electronics like a solar inverter have a high emission of harmonics currents
of 60% while when compared to a household without one with 30% of emission only.
It also known that when a specific order harmonic current from different devices has opposite
phase angles, attenuation effect will take place and the net harmonic current of that order will
be reduced. However, when there are devices with same phase angles at the similar harmonic
order then the net harmonic current will significantly increase. The net harmonic current will
also become worse if there is already harmonics pollution in the MV background.
(Bhattacharyya, Cobben, & Kling, 2010).
Harmonics emission can be managed by introducing standards that could impose limit of
emissions from devices. Australia for example controls the harmonic voltage distortion
through the AS/NZS 61000.3.6 which is compatible with the IEEE 519 standard (Fuseco ,
2011). The below table shows the details of harmonics order and its recommended
percentage

Since AS/NZS 61000.3.6 follows the approach of IEEE 519 standard, it follows the same
philosophy of shared responsibility which the utility system operators are responsible or
control the voltage quality while the customers are responsible or controls the harmonic
current emissions (Geiger & Halpin, 2011). Using this standard bring some risk as only
harmonic voltages are regulated while harmonic currents depends on the customer. Although
only small harmonic currents produced by the customer, it can produce significant harmonic
voltages which can overshoot the standard limit. Thus, operators will be responsible to the
effect of harmonics for example system resonance.
Operators can combat the harmonics problem cost effectively by using a passive harmonics
filter (Bodnr, Otenov, Regul'a, & Szab, 2014).Other alternative way to reduce
harmonic current emission is for the device manufactures to build components with stricter
specification so that less harmonic current is produced in the network (Bhattacharyya,
Cobben, & Kling, 2010).
However, these methods of prevention are optional as the introduced standards like the IEEE
519 and AS/NZS 61000.3.6 have been proven to be giving good results of these years
(Sumathi, S., Kumar, L. A., Surekha,2016)
References
Associated Power Technologies. (4, 2011). Total Harmonic Distortion and Effects in Electrical Power
Systems. Retrieved from Associated Power Technologies:
http://www.aptsources.com/resources/pdf/Total%20Harmonic%20Distortion.pdf

Bhattacharyya, S., Cobben, J. F., & Kling, W. L. (2010). Harmonic Current Pollution in a Low Voltage
Network. IEEE PES General Meeting (pp. 1-8). IEEE Conference Publications.

Bodnr, R., Otenov, A., Regul'a, M., & Szab, D. (2014). Measurement of harmonics in low-
voltage network on the border between SVK and CZE. Electric Power Engineering (EPE),
Proccedings of the 2014 15th International Scientific Conference (pp. 217-222). IEEE
Conference Publications.

Fuseco . (2011). IEEE 519 and the Australian Standards for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
Retrieved from Fuseco:
http://www.fuseco.com.au/files/IEEE%20519%20and%20the%20Australian%20Standards%2
0for%20Electromagnetic%20Compatibility%20EMC.pdf

Geiger, D. L., & Halpin, S. M. (2011). Managing Harmonic Emissions from Small Low Voltage
Installations. Industrial Technology (ICIT), 2011 IEEE International Conference (pp. 425 - 429).
IEEE Conference Publications.

Robert G. Ellis, P. E. (April, 2001). POWER SYSTEM HARMONICS. Retrieved from Rockwell
Automation:
http://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/wp/mvb-
wp011_-en-p.pdf

Sumathi, S., Kumar, L. A., & P, S. (2016). My library My History Books on Google Play Computational
Intelligence Paradigms for Optimization Problems Using MATLAB/SIMULINK. CRC Press.