Residential load harmonics in distribution grid

Purpose of the present paper is to provide the results of the study performed in order to assess current distortion of domestic loads and corresponding voltage distortion in the residential distribution networks. For the study harmonic current amplitudes and phase angles of different home appliances were measured and afterwards the corresponding models were composed in DIgSILENT Power Factory. The focus of the study was to analyse the characteristics of the residential distribution network with different amounts of real nonlinear loads. The results of the study showed an extensive harmonic distortion in residential load current and considerable voltage distortion at the substation´s busbar. The results presented in this paper are especially important when dispersed generation (DG) and electrical vehicles (EV) are going to be connected in bulk into the distribution networks.