Location of significant sources of power quality disturbance in electricity distribution networks

The best electricity supply is of constant magnitude and frequency sinusoidal waveform. However, in reality the non-zero impedance of the network system contributes to the unwanted transients, power harmonics and voltage unbalances. These unwanted characteristics of power supply directly impact the efficiency and performance of electric equipment. If not detected, these could cause serious damage to the supply network, generators, control equipment or other loads. Determining the source of these disturbances is therefore essential.
To remain competitive in global market, the need for an affordable, reliable and high quality power must be achieved. The increasing role of power quality is further accelerated by the inclusion of non-linear loads such as switched power supplies, which are found in most electronic equipment nowadays. There is also an increasing penetration of small distributed generators with electronic interfaces between the device and the power system, such as photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, etc. In addition, the commercial aspects of open electricity markets are increasingly stretching power systems' operation closer to their technical limits and narrowing the operational safety margins needed to cope with larger power quality disturbances.
This research focuses on determining the location of significant sources of power quality disturbances in electricity distribution network by simulating power harmonics across the gird using real time data from Scottish Power and the University of Strathclyde and developing a practical triangulation method to locate harmonic sources.