EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

Electric Power Quality Issues:

Harmonic Analysis for Real Network
Constantin Barbulescu, Marius Cornoiu, Stefan Kilyeni, Constantin Stoian, Petre Stoian
Power Systems Department, Politehnica University of Timisoara
2, Bd. V. Parvan, Timisoara, Romania
constantin.barbulescu@et.upt.ro
Abstract There is an increasing interest in studying the power
quality issues. It is sustained by different distorting consumers
operation within the power systems. Their operation affects the
supplied power quality within the network, having, in several cases,
negative effects for the rest of the consumers. The paper aims to
analyze a major power quality issue: large scale consumers' harmonic
evaluation, within a specific Romanian Power System region. Solutions
for improving the current situation are provided and the numerical
simulations are validated using specialized software. The power
quality measurements, performed on the field, according to the
regulations, have been confronted with the ones obtained using
the computer-aided analysis. The conclusions sustained additional
studies and analyzes for several operating conditions and
scenarios.
Keywords: power quality, distorting consumer, arc furnace, harmonics,
filters

Nowadays, the harmonic pollution study is very popular in

case of distribution networks [6]. Harmonics are defined as
sinusoidal waveform having a frequency equal to an integer
multiple of the power system fundamental frequency [7]. It is a
component of a periodic waveform. If the fundamental frequency
multiple is not an integer, then we are dealing with interharmonics.
There are several approaches for harmonics/interharmonics
estimation. In [8] a method based on meter-placement is proposed
for harmonic sources identification for a test power system.
Studies on large scale power systems have not been performed.
In [9] the work is continued, a method for interharmonics
investigation is discussed. The presented method is a mathematical
one, based on discrete Fourier transform. The authors are checking
the existence of real interharmonics for different current and
voltage waveforms.
In [10] a new method for power quality issue sources investigation is presented. The authors are analyzing the current and
I. INTRODUCTION
voltage measurements within power system monitoring buses.
Power quality represents a set of electric measures that are The disturbances are classified, the spatial disturbance source
describing the power supply of a consumer and its ability to area is determined based on voltage measurements. A deeper
properly operate supplied in these conditions. A power quality disturbance analysis is performed from both voltage and current
monitoring system and study is necessary due to the fact that point of view, together with different techniques depending
electric equipment malfunction if it is not properly supplied. on the disturbance type. Finally, the disturbance sources are
In case of a power system, the power quality issues within established. Our paper is focusing this line, working on a case
specific buses are propagating affecting other buses. The source study referring to a real consumer. Additionally, in [11] the
of these issues could be represented by an arc-furnace, steel influence of residential houses on the harmonics and their
contribution is studied. They conclude by pointing-out that the
making facility etc.
Power quality issues are including, but are not limited to [1]: residential loads are only affecting the current harmonics.
Within the harmonics analysis, the attenuation methods
service continuity, voltage variation, transient voltages and
represent a case in point. They are represented by active and
currents, waveform harmonic content.
The authors are focusing on a major power quality issue: passive harmonic filters [7]. In [12] are discussed approaches
harmonic evaluation in case of large consumers. The case study for sizing and tuning different harmonic filter types. This subject
refers to a real consumer, the interest area being the Western side also represents a focus for our paper. The interest is targeted
on harmonic absorption filters. Their influence, sizing, tuning
of the Romanian Power System.
In [2] the case of two electric furnaces is presented. A computing and placement are studied using a computer-aided technique.
in [13].
method for cumulating the flicker effect of both furnaces is Such approaches have been proposed
nd
the
introduction,
2
section
refers to the mathematical
Following
proposed. A related algorithm is presented in [3]. It is based on
model. Within the 3rd section the interest area is described.
fast Fourier transform for estimating the flicker components
The results are discussed within the 4th section. Conclusions
starting from instantaneous voltage vectors. Also the case study
are synthesized within the 5th section.
based on arc furnace has been used. An advanced computing
flicker method based on harmonics is presented in [4]. In [5] an
II. MATHEMATICAL MODEL
interesting method for flicker level estimation before connecting
A nonsinusoidal periodical voltage waveform has the following
a consumer to the grid is tackled. There are discussed simplified
expression:
flicker estimation methods used by electric utilities in France,
f
but also an electric circuit simulation model that can be applied
v(t ) V0  vk sin(k 2 S f 0 t  D k )
(1)
for real, complex networks.
k 1

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EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

where: V0 continue component voltage value; k harmonic

order; vk k harmonic order voltage amplitude; f0 fundamental
frequency; Dk k harmonic order voltage angle.
Thinking further it is obtained:
f

v(t ) V0  (ak cos(k 2S f0 t )  bk sin(k 2S f0 t )) (2)

k 1

where: V0, ak, bk Fourier coefficients, computed as:

V0

1 T
v(t ) dt ; ak
T 0

bk

2 T
v(t ) cos(k 2S f1 t )dt ;
T 0

2 T
v(t ) sin( k 2S f1 t )dt
T 0

(3)

The k harmonic order voltage amplitude (vk), respectively

voltage angle (Dk) are computed as follows:

vk

ak2  bk2 ; D k

b
arctg k
ak

(4)

2 Vk , it is obtained:

Knowing that vk
f

v(t ) V0  Vk 2 sin(k 2 S f 0 t  D k )

(5)

k 1

where: Vk k harmonic order voltage RMS value.

The total harmonic distortion is defined based on each
individual harmonic influence on the analyzed signal. It is
defined for both voltage and current.
f

Vk2

THDV

k 2

V1

I k2

; THDI

k 2

I1

(6)

The RMS voltage and the THD of the respective signal are
related using the following relation:

V [ RMS ] V1 1  THD 2

The distorting consumers are supplied from Resita (220 kV

bus-bar I), respectively Iaz substation (110 kV bus-bar I B).
The 220 kV bus-bars corresponding to the Resita furnace are
electrically coupled. In Iaz substation the 110 kV bus-bars are
electrically separated, allowing the distorting consumer to be
supplied separately. The two substations are connected through
220 kV OHL. 3 hydro power plants are considered within the
analyzed area:
x Portile de Fier directly connected to 220 kV Resita
substation;
x Turnu Ruieni and Raul Alb connected to 110 kV bus bar
II through 110 kV OHL.
The measurements have been performed using TOPAS 1000
[14] and FLUKE 1760 [15] equipment. The monitoring period
is one week.
The voltages have been monitored at 200 ms intervals. Data is
collected and processed within 10 minutes aggregation interval.
Minimum, average and maximum values are recorded.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

(7)

where V1 fundamental voltage value.

III. CASE STUDY
The distorting consumers are located within the Western
side of the Romanian Power System. The one-line scheme
representing the consumer integration is presented in Fig. 1.
They have been marked using blue rectangles and the power
quality monitoring points using red circles.
Otelu Rosu is a steelmaking complex. The plant produces
steel, bars and rolled products. Its facilities comprise an electric
steelmaking sector equipped with an electric furnace of 100tonne capacity and a casting machine. It 2011 the steelmaking
complex has been upgraded. It includes a new electric arc furnace
and a modern scrap metal preparation section.
The 2 nd complex consumer that we are focusing on is
represented by Resita steelmaking plant. It is also producing
steel and rolled products. It has 100-tonne capacity electric arc
furnace.

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Fig. 1. One-line diagram distorting consumer integration

within the power system

A. On site harmonic analysis

The average real and reactive consumed power for Otelu
Rosu furnace is presented in Fig. 1, 2. It has been recorded at
10 minutes intervals.

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Fig. 2. Average Otelu Rosus real consumed power

EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

The voltage harmonic spectrum corresponding to the 110 kV

bus-bar I B Iaz (Otelu Rosu furnace being connected) is presented
in Fig. 6. The variation corresponds to the L2 phase voltage.

Fig. 3. Average Otelu Rosus reactive consumed power

The figures are highlighting that the furnace operated for a

long period of time, with interruptions during the second day
(about 3 hours), on the sixth day (about 2 hours) and the
seventh day (about 16 hours). It can be also noticed that the
furnace operation is generating real and reactive power spikes.
Reactive power varies between -6 MVAr-30 MVAr. There are
situations when the system is injected with reactive power.
The average real and reactive consumed power for Resita
furnace is presented in Fig. 4, 5. It has been recorded at 10
minutes intervals.

Fig. 6. Harmonic spectrum corresponding to 110 kV bus-bar I B Iaz

The voltage harmonic spectrum corresponding to the 220 kV

bus-bar I Resita (Resita furnace being connected) is presented
in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. Harmonic spectrum corresponding to 220 kV bus-bar I Resita

Fig. 4. Average real Resitas consumed power

For both case studies, harmonics 3 and 5 are the most

representative ones according to Fig. 6 and 7. The L1 voltage
variation and L3 current variation are presented in Fig. 8 (110 kV
bus-bar I B supplying Otelu Rosu furnace) and Fig. 9 (220 kV
bus-bar I supplying Resita furnace).

Fig. 5. Average reactive Resitas consumed power

The figures are highlighting that the furnace has operated

the entire monitoring period. The real power has a relatively
regular variation and without major spikes. Reactive power
varies restricted (between -6 MVAr and 2 MVAr). The reactive
power has capacitive nature, it is injected into the system.
The 5th day AT1 from Iaz substation has been withdrawn
from service. This explains why the voltage on the bus-bar II
Iaz substation is not available throughout the monitoring period.

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Fig. 8. 110 kV bus-bar I B Iaz voltage variation

EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

Fig. 12. 3rd harmonic voltage variation on 110 kV bus-bar I B Iaz

Fig. 9. 220 kV bus-bar I Resita voltage variation

HPPs Raul Alb and Turnu Ruieni real power harmonic spectra
are presented in Fig. 10, 11.

Fig. 13. 3rd harmonic voltage variation on 220 kV bus-bar I Resita

Fig. 10. HPP Raul Albs real power harmonic spectrum

Fig. 11. HPP Turnu Ruienis real power harmonic spectrum

It is highlighted that within both hydro power plants the

synchronous generators are acting like harmonic consumers
when these two furnaces are operating.
3rd harmonic voltage variation is presented in Fig. 12. The
measurements are recorded on the 110 kV bus-bar I B Iaz (Otelu
Rosu furnace is supplied). Fig. 13 presents the same analysis
for 220 kV bus-bar I Resita (supplying Resita furnace).

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B. Computer aided power quality analysis

The case study presented in Fig. 1 has been modeled in Etap
software [16] (Fig. 14). A base operating condition has been
computed. The Etap aided power quality analysis is necessary to
study the power system behavior in different situations. Various
harmonic pollution sources and scenarios are studied having
as a goal to validate the obtained results with the measurements
performed on the field. Once the computer model is validated
several analyses are able to be performed even if the measurements
are not available.
A peak-evening-winter operating condition has been considered.
The power system has a total number of 80 buses, 29 PV buses
(17 being real generating units), a number of 53 PQ buses, 115
network elements. Within the interest area, 400 kV and 220 kV
voltage levels have been considered. The real generating units
have been introduced at medium voltage level. Also the 400 /
200 kV and 220 / 110 kV autotransformers have been considered
within the power system one-line scheme. The consumed power
and also the equivalent one (obtained eliminating several parts
from the Romanian Power System and from the 110 kV network),
have been introduced for each power system bus [17].
From the harmonic pollution point of view, the operating
conditions with the highest voltage and current total harmonic
distortion coefficient values are important to be analyzed. Based
on the performed measurements, these values are influenced
by the distorting consumers load curve and, also, by the HPPs
operation or downtime. According to the HPPs operation
schedule the following operating conditions have been analyzed:

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Fig. 14. Etap modeled case study one-line diagram

x Ruieni and Raul Albs generating groups are stopped;

x Ruienis generating groups are operating and Raul Albs
generating groups are stopped;
x both HPPs are operating.
The voltage and current total harmonic distortion coefficient
variation are presented in Fig. 15 and 16.

Fig. 16. Current total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

Fig. 15. Voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

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10 distorting consumers have been identified within the

analyzed area. 5 of them are arc furnaces type distorting consumers
and other 5 are electrified transportation type.
Passive harmonic absorption filters have been considered
within the paper. All the loads have been modelled as equivalent
consumers, connected at 110 kV bus-bars. Thus, the harmonic
filters have been also connected at the same voltage level.

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A resistive-inductive-capacitive circuit has been used. The

current corresponding to the harmonic filtered is limited by the
resistive element. 1 : value has been considered. Considering
0.25 PF capacitance, the reactive power for one phase is [18]:
2

Q'

U
110
6
Q
Z C
2 50 S 0.25 10
3
3

0.317 MVAr

The inductance coil sizing is performed as

h Z L

1
, Z L
h Z C

1
2

h Z C
The computing process is described for 250 Hz tuned harmonic
filter (corresponding to the 5th order harmonic).

XL

The reactive power generated by the harmonic filter, for the

fundamental is:

Z L

5 100 S 0, 25 10 6
2

509, 3 :

U2
 1 MVAr .
R  j  X L  XC 

1st operating condition

The 1st operating condition has been performed based on
the 20.05.2012 measurements, Ruieni and Raul Albs generating
groups being stopped. The highest voltage total harmonic
distortion coefficient values have been recorded for this operating
condition, for all the measurement buses.
Both voltage and current harmonic sources have been
considered in case of the distorting consumers modelling.
The current and voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient
variation is presented in Fig. 17 and 18.
The harmonic spectrum corresponding to the distorting
consumers is presented in Fig. 19 and for the measurement
points in Fig. 20.

TABLE I
MAIN USED HARMONIC MODELS
CFR
No.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

I
[%]
32,4
18,3
11,9
8,27
-

U [%]
0,03
3,1
2,82
0,01
3,02
0,07
3,65
0,03

Cuptoare
I
U
[%]
[%]
5
0,03
20
3,1
3
10
2,82
1,5
0,01
6
3,02
1
0,07
3
3,65
0,03

CFR
No.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

I
[%]
5,86
4,16
2,95
2,08
1,49

Cuptoare
I
U [%]
[%]
0,68
0,01
0,51
0,58
0,53
0,09

U
[%]
0,68
0,01
0,51
0,58
0,53
0,09

CFR
No.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
29

I
[%]
0,73
0,54
0,3

U
[%]
0,11
-

Cuptoare
I
U
[%]
[%]
0,11
-

Fig. 19. Distorting consumers harmonic spectrum variation

Fig. 17. Current total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

Fig. 20. Measurement buses harmonic spectrum variation

Fig. 18. Voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

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Due to the use of 100 Hz harmonic absorption filters the 2nd

harmonic order for an arc furnace distorting consumer has been

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EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

limited. 2nd, 4th and 7th harmonic order high values have been
recorded for the distorting consumer buses corresponding to the
electrified transportation system [19].
2nd operating condition
It is a peak load operating condition performed based on
the 14.05.2012 measurements. Ruienis generating groups are
operating and Raul Albs generating groups are stopped. In this
case, the highest current total harmonic distortion coefficient
values have been recorded (both from the measurements and
from the Etap computed operating condition) for the two Iaz
substation autotransformers.
The corresponding results are presented in Fig. 21 and 22.

Fig. 24. Measurement buses harmonic spectrum variation

The 2nd and 5th harmonic order passive filters have been
implemented for the distorting consumers supplied from the
Resita substation bus-bar, due to their high values. High values
are also recorded for the 5th and 7th harmonic order distorting
consumers represented by the electrified transportation system.
3rd operating condition
It is an operating condition based on the 18.05.2012 measurements. One Iaz substation autotransformer has been taken
out of service and both HPPs are operating.
The corresponding results are presented in Fig. 25 and 26.
Fig. 21. Current total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

Fig. 25. Current total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

Fig. 22. Voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

The harmonic spectrum corresponding to the distorting

consumers is presented in Fig. 23 and for the measurement
buses in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26. Voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient variation

Fig. 23. Distorting consumers harmonic spectrum variation

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The harmonic spectrum corresponding to the distorting consumers is presented in Fig. 27 and for the measurement buses
in Fig. 28.

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EuroCon 2013 1-4 July 2013 Zagreb, Croatia

The use of Etap software for computer-aided power quality

analyses proved to be a very good approach. It provides two
powerful distorting operating condition analysis facilities:
harmonic frequencies and harmonic power flow computing.
All the conclusions provided are both valid for the measurement
data and for the computer-aided power quality analysis (using
Etap software).
REFERENCES

Fig. 27. Distorting consumers harmonic spectrum variation

Fig. 28. Measurement buses harmonic spectrum variation

Analyzing both figures it is highlighted that the entire

harmonic spectrum does not exceeds the limits imposed by the
standards. However, predominant values are recorded for 7th
and 11th harmonic orders.
V. CONCLUSION
Resita furnace is provided with facilities for reactive power
compensation. Probably they are fixed accordingly, taking into
account that most of the time reactive power is injected into
the system. During the operation of these facilities, reactive
power is kept between acceptable limits and therefore limits
the voltage fluctuations. But, Otelu Rosu furnace is equipped
with capacitor banks. Their effect in reducing the reactive power
variation is almost null.
The Otelu Rosus operation affects other buses within the
neighbouring area introducing significant voltage fluctuations.
It has the greatest voltage fluctuation influence within the area.
During its downtime periods the voltage fluctuations are significantly decreasing. Even during the periods when only the Resita
furnace is operating, the situation within the area is not ideal.
The voltage fluctuations in case of the HPPs Raul Alb and Turnu
Ruieni are produced by both distorting consumers.
The highest voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient
values have been recorded for Raul Alb HPP bus-bar (irrespective
of the Ruieni or Raul Alb HPPs operating state). According to
the measurements and computer-aided analysis, the 3rd, 5th and
7th harmonic orders are the most dominant ones. The voltage
total harmonic distortion coefficient value increases (by 20 %)
during the morning peak load, when Ruieni HPP is operating.
On Sunday (20.05.2012) both Ruieni and Raul Alb HPPs are
not operating, having as a consequence an increase about 45 %
of the voltage total harmonic distortion coefficient. The voltage
total harmonic distortion coefficient value decreases (about
15-30 %) due to the Raul Albs HPP operation (for all the analyzed
operating conditions).

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963

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