Harmonics propagation and distortion caused by a nonlinear load in balance distribution network

Abstract

It is very useful to monitor and maintain a good power quality in an electric power system especially on
the distribution network. This paper describes a numerical method for calculation the propagation and
distortion of harmonics caused by a nonlinear load such as Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD) in a balance
distribution network. ASD injects harmonics current into the network, which causes voltage distortion
problems. Usually, the harmonics current, harmonics voltage, and Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) are
used as indices of power quality in harmonics case. They can be calculated at every buses of a
distribution network, as objective of this research. Another aim is to evaluate VTHD in every bus according
to its limitation in IEEE Standard 519-1992. This research uses harmonics current spectrum of an ASD as
sources and power flow study in ETAP Powerstation. Final conclusion of this work will be compared with
the IEEE tests and ETAP Powerstation as a validation. The IEEE Test System 13-buses, a balance
industrial system, were used as a case study. This work uses the Matlab software in m-file and the ETAP.