MODELING AND ANALYZING THE EFFECT OF CONNECTION TO THE NETWORK OF A HARMONIC SOURCE HAVING VARIOUS TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION FACTORS ON LOAD SIGNAL WAVEFORMS

Abstract

This article examines the effect of a network connected source of harmonics having a total harmonic distortion factor varying from 5% to 15% on load voltage and current waveforms. When a source of higher harmonics is connected to the network, both in the network and in the load, the effective values of voltage and current increase, that can negatively affect the cable line insulation, accelerating its destruction and aging.
 To analyze the consequences of a power quality deterioration, a 20 kV network was simulated, consisting of a 20 kV symmetrical generator, an XRUHAKXS-20(1x120/50) power cable line 20 km long, a step-down transformer 20/0.4 kV with a power of 2 MVA, with windings connected in delta-star, and a three-phase symmetrical load.
 The values of the currents flowing through the cable conductor, obtained as the result of simulation were used to calculate the voltage drop between the cable conductor and its shield. Results obtained show that the connection of a harmonic distortion source to a network leads to a magnification of a current flowing through the cable conductor by more than 2%. The model proposed in the article can be used further for a more detailed study of solar photovoltaic plants connection to the grid.
 One of the biggest problems regarding solar power plants is that its electricity generation is intermittent. Thus, future efforts should be focused on modeling and studying the higher harmonics generation during switching on and off of the solar photovoltaic plants.