Nowadays, the growing use of non-linear loads in home appliances gives rise to harmonic pollution in the electrical power distribution system, which degrades the power quality. Many domestic appliances have power electronic converters that characteristically draw a non-sinusoidal current waveform. Short-term effects of non-linear appliances are causing malfunction and damage of electronic devices and long-term effects are thermal losses in equipment and cable, hasty aging, and reduced life period of devices. The whole impact depends on the power ratings and quantity of electrical appliances and their harmonic diversity. Usually, the existence of harmonics and their effects in a domestic zone are not monitored as compared to the industrial and commercial sectors. To ensure the quality of power, it is necessary that a harmonic study is carried out to identify the details of harmonic pollution that is polluting sources, the parameters or quantities they pollute in each instance, and effective improvement methods. In this paper, experimental analysis was performed which focuses on traditional single-phase home-based electrical appliances causing the quality of power down, and implementation of the passive filter is suggested for improvement in the quality of power. All experimental harmonic distortion measurements of home-based electrical appliances were performed in the power electronic laboratory of QUEST Nawabshah. Harmonic distortion indices measurements of home-based electrical appliances have been taken using the fluke power quality Analyzer (PQA) instrument. The analysis shows that from many types of loads, switch mode power supply (SMPS) based load is rich in harmonic distortion. Therefore, an equivalent model of SMPS load in MATLAB/Simulink is developed to analyze improvement in power quality by designing and implementation of the passive filter. The outcome of this research work will be helpful to make the source current sinusoidal by reducing harmonic distortion and thus improve the power quality.
An Experimental Analysis of Harmonic Distortion Indices In Home Based Electrical Appliances and Improvement Using Passive Filter
