Analyzing the Harmonic Distortion in a Distribution System Caused by the Non-Linear Residential Loads

Harmonic distortion has garnered a lot of interest in the recent past due to the high advent of the non-linear electronic loads. Moreover, newer technologies including distributed generation and electric vehicles are anticipated to be part of the distribution systems at a mass scale in the near future. This makes it of utmost importance to evaluate the existing power distribution systems and analyze the possible constraints. This research study makes an effort to evaluate the harmonic distortion in the distribution systems caused by the various non-linear residential loads. The experimentally developed harmonic spectrums, of several home appliances, are deployed for the simulation of a typical UK distribution system using Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP). The results show high level of harmonic distortion, at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), in the distribution system which becomes even more aggravated when a higher loading level, of the distribution transformer, is considered.