Harmonic source estimation: A new approach for the localization of nonlinear loads

This paper proposes a novel procedure, based on a Bayesian approach, aimed at giving distribution network operators information about the possible presence of harmonic producing loads, along with an indication about the reliability of such information. Given that too many measurement instruments are needed for a complete observation of the electric quantities, a model based state estimation technique is proposed here. It exploits the few real time measurements and all the other available information to estimate the harmonic currents injected by the nonlinear loads. The robustness of the procedure with respect to the possible variations in the power demanded by the loads and in their harmonic behavior is investigated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The theoretical fundamentals of the method are discussed and some results relevant to a simple distribution network are presented.