Power System Harmonics

Good power quality is essential in electrical power network. Power quality is not limited to availability of supply but also include steady frequency value and voltage magnitude and smooth waveform characteristics of the supply (Ogheneovo Johnson, 2016).The present situation of poor power quality in industrial and commercials sites, especially harmonics had created some form of attention to one of the power problems in the world; harmonics. This situation is as a result of the growth in the use of non-linear loads. The increase in the use of non-linear load had brought about the tight recommendations of IEEE standard 519 especially in the industrial and commercial sector (Robert G.Ellis, 2011).In practical terms, power quality can be defined as the rate at which the essential power parameters magnitude which are voltage, frequency and current deviates from the nominal values and can cause damage to the power infrastructure or equipment in use. In reality, there are about nine prominent power problems facing power system. These power issues are under voltage, over voltage, power sag, power surge, frequency distortion, line noise, power outage, switching transient and harmonic distortion. Power quality is said to be poor when any of the power problems is manifested within the power system.Mostly, harmonics occur as a result of alteration of the normal waveform which is generally transmitted by non-linear loads. This paper will dwell more on harmonics and its consequences in power system. Non-linear loads that cause situation of harmonics will also be reviewed in the course of this assignment. Keywords: Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Multipliers, Non-linear loads, Total Demand Distortion (TDD). DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-3-02 Publication date:March 31st 2019