Harmonic emission assessment on a distribution network: the opportunity for the prevailing angle in harmonic phasors

Abstract

Harmonic emission assessment in high-voltage networks with a number of renewable power plants (RPP) interconnected is challenging. A sound scientific methodology readily accessible to engineers is needed to validate the compliance to grid code requirement set by the distributio n system operator. Harmonic p hasors recorded coherently all over the network can cause an impractical volume of da ta. This study investigates the opportunity to improve existing methodologies by application of the prevailing angle in a harmonic phasor as an approach to significant reduction of data and then demonstrate the evaluati on of grid compliance in a network with a number of RPP interconnected. It is shown that the unrelated dynamic nature of the different non-linear energy sources does compromise the practical application of the prevailing har monic phase angle. It is then concluded that the dynamic nature of RPP necessitates continuous monitoring of grid code requirements on harmonic emission