Mitigation of Harmonics Generated By Photovoltaic Interconnected Systems

摘要

To understand the effects of harmonics in an electrical system, it is required to investigate harmonics' causes and effects on all electrical equipment within an electrical system. Excessive heat generated by harmonics can cause equipment to malfunction or even fail and render the power system unsafe and unprotected. The literature review investigates the causes and magnitude of the harmonics generated from photovoltaic (PV) systems with possible solutions to reduce and minimise the unwanted effects. Applying the knowledge from the literature review will indicate whether the equipment can contain the harmonics generated with or without compensation. The aim of resolving the harmonic issues encountered is to eliminate the harmonic cause rather than treat the effects of the cause. There are multiple solutions to mitigate the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) voltage and current waveforms caused by harmonics injected into the power system, increasing the heat in the equipment and power losses. Introducing equipment to treat the thermal difficulties experienced will not resolve the cause but rather treat it. For that reason, the origin of the problem will be investigated where a harmonic filter will be designed using specialised software, Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP), to reduce the harmonics as per IEEE standard.