A Study of Harmonic Distortion Limit Changes During the Reconfiguration Process of the Smart Grid

It is of interest to determine if the applicable harmonic distortion limits of customer installations will change after the smart grid reconfigures the power system. There is wide acceptance that the smart grid will improve the power system by making it more efficient, reliable, and secure. However, there may be appreciable changes to the applicable harmonic distortion limits of the customer installations when the smart grid reconfigures the power system bus connections. This phenomenon may be an issue of concern in implementing smart grid technologies. A 30-bus power system will be used as the test system to determine if the customer's harmonic distortion limits will vary based on how the power system is connected. The variations in the harmonic distortion limit for various customers will be collected, analyzed and presented. It will be shown that the smart grid reconfiguration process will change the harmonic distortion limits of some of the customer installations. Future standardization will need to account for this phenomenon so that the power system will continue to operate in an efficient, reliable, and secure manner.