Power quality and harmonic distortion on distribution systems

With the increase of nonlinear loads on utility distribution systems, the voltage and current waveforms are becoming more distorted and the power quality is deteriorating. Since this is becoming a widespread problem today, and new, more strict, distortion guidelines are under development, utility engineers are having to deal with analyzing and planning for the control of the distortion. The authors introduce some common harmonic analysis techniques and apply them to voltage waveforms recorded on a typical REA transmission and distribution system.<>