Experimentally evaluated impact of nonlinear loads on the energy transmission losses and distortion of voltage waveforms

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of nonlinear

loads on the losses related with energy transmission and

distortion of voltage waveforms. When the field tests are

performed in an electric network, it is impossible to assure that

the voltage total harmonic distortion is caused exclusively by

the observed nonlinear load. On the contrary, in this paper the

evaluation is performed under controlled conditions. A

controlled voltage source is applied. It is able to generate

sinusoidal terminal voltage with the total harmonic distortion

under 0.1 percents regardless on nonlinear behaviour of the load

and waveform of the load current. The loads are connected to

the voltage source by a four-wire cable. The impact of the

nonlinear load on the total harmonic distortion and losses

related with the energy transmission losses is evaluated using

measured line currents and voltages measured at the terminals

of the voltage source and load.