Distributed Generation Harmonic Interaction in the Active Distribution Network

Abstract

Significant increase of distributed generation (DG) presence and active distribution network (ADN) development cause changes in distribution network’s power quality (PQ), mostly in distorted system voltages and currents. This paper analyses harmonics generation from multiple DG types, such as solar and biogas power plants, and simulates harmonic interactions in ADN in order to identify potential PQ issues. Each harmonic source observed in this paper was modelled according to IEC 61000 with the model parameters provided by power quality measurements in the real system on several DG power plants and passive consumer nodes. A harmonic load flow is performed on a detailed ADN model for different presumed DG expansion scenarios that indicate the complexity of the DG impact on the AND’s PQ. Quantitative and qualitative graphical presentation for cumulative and the most significant ADN nodes is given and the assessment for the potential ADN development based on PQ indices is proposed.

Keywords

• active distribution network
• harmonic interaction
• harmonic sources
• total harmonic distortion