Analysis of measurement of harmonic power of non-sinusoidal currents in modern electrical networks

Abstract

Precise measurement of power and other AC parameters is essential across all levels of the electrical power system, benefiting both suppliers and consumers. Traditionally, measurement devices have been designed under the assumption that voltage sources produce sinusoidal waveforms and that loads are linear, resulting in sinusoidal currents. However, with the growing prevalence of non-linear loads and the increasing demand for measurement accuracy, these assumptions often no longer hold true. As a result, there is a growing focus on understanding how non-linear loads affect measurement accuracy and on developing new instruments capable of operating reliably under non-sinusoidal conditions in power networks. This study contributes to that effort by developing and validating a digital sampling wattmeter designed for accurate measurement under non-sinusoidal conditions, meeting standard laboratory precision requirements. It also seeks to enhance understanding of the challenges involved in measuring in such environments.