A Proposed Harmonic Monitoring System for Large Power Users Considering Harmonic Limits

Rosalia Sinvula, Khaled Mohamed Abo-Al-Ez and Mohamed Tariq Kahn
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Rosalia Sinvula: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Khaled Mohamed Abo-Al-Ez: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Mohamed Tariq Kahn: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535, South Africa

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: Most power utilities within Southern Africa are faced with the challenges of harmonic distortion due to the high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) and the use of electronic devices. There is an excessive total harmonic distortion (THD) measured at the point of common coupling (PCC). In this paper, a proposed harmonic monitoring system for large power users (LPUs) is developed. This proposed system considers harmonic limits of the individual and THD of the customers allowed injecting into the network, which should be part of the contractual electricity supply agreement (ESA). Hence, it will enable the monitoring of harmonic distortion to be smooth by determining whether the customer has passed or failed compliance for individual harmonic order and the THD of the voltage. The measurements of harmonic distortion are done using the Unipower power quality (PQ) analyzers that are connected at different points within the industrial network. Measurements of harmonic distortion of an industrial site are compared to the simulation results performed by DIgSILENT software to validate the proposed harmonic monitoring system. Based on the validation results, it is recommended that the ESA between the power utilities and the customers should consist of the harmonic limits.

Keywords: harmonic distortion; harmonic monitoring; harmonic limit; electricity supply agreement; harmonic measurement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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