On the Impact of High-Order Harmonic Generation in Electrical Distribution Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the effects of high-order harmonics in modern electrical distribution systems, focusing on their impact on system components and the importance of understanding these harmonics for grid stability and planning.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of high-order harmonic effects from nonlinear loads using PSCAD and OpenDSS, highlighting their influence on system performance and component losses.

Findings

High-order harmonics significantly increase total harmonic distortion.

Harmonics cause additional transformer eddy current losses.

Harmonic propagation affects substation transformer performance.

Abstract

The modern power grid has seen a rise in the integration of non-linear loads, presenting a significant concern for operators. These loads introduce unwanted harmonics, leading to potential issues such as overheating and improper functioning of circuit breakers. In pursuing a more sustainable grid, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential networks has increased. Understanding and examining the effects of high-order harmonic frequencies beyond $1.5$ kHz is crucial to understanding their impact on the operation and planning of electrical distribution systems under varying nonlinear loading conditions. This study investigates a diverse set of critical power electronic loads within a household modeled using PSCAD/EMTdc, analyzing their unique harmonic spectra. This information is utilized to run the time-series harmonic analysis program in OpenDSS on a modified IEEE 34 bus test system model. The impact of high-order harmonics is quantified using metrics that evaluate total harmonic distortion (THD), transformer harmonic-driven eddy current loss component, and propagation of harmonics from the source to the substation transformer.