2016 Conference on Advances in Signal Processing (CASP)

Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune. Jun 9-11, 2016

Harmonic Analysis and Mitigation in Wind Power

Plants

Shripad Ganapati Desai Vishal Vaman Mehtre Prof. Dr. D.S. Bankar
Department of Electrical Department of Electrical Department of Electrical
Engineering Engineering Engineering
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed
University College of Engineering University College of Engineering University College of Engineering
Pune, India Pune, India Pune, India
shripad.d007@gmail.com vishalmehtre7@gmail.com dsbankar@bvucoep.edu.in

Abstract—Renewable energy sources have gained a lot
of importance in the recent past due to its availability in
abundance and pollution free nature. Wind Power
Generation compared to the other renewable energy
sources has developed at a rapid pace. Like most of the
conventional Power plants, Wind Power plants must ensure
the quality of power delivered to the grid. Harmonics are
the most important Power Quality Issues related to the
Wind Power plants which occur due to frequent switching
of the Power Converters and variable Wind speed. This
paper presents the Harmonic analysis in the SCIG and
DFIG Wind Farms. A 42 MW Wind plant was considered
for analysis and a suitable strategy was adopted to reduce
the Harmonic content. The analysis and design were
carried according to the Indian Grid Codes. The results
obtained indicate the Power Quality of the SCIG and DFIG
Wind Farm with respect to %THD (Total Harmonic
Distortion).
Keywords—DFIG (Doubly Fed Induction Generator);
Power Quality; SCIG (Squirrel Cage Induction Generator);
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
I. INTRODUCTION
Today a major share of energy is met by sources like
the Coal, Gas and Oil. These sources contribute almost
67% of the total required energy whereas renewable
energy sources contribute about 20% to the total energy
demand [1]. It is well known that the fossil fuels will
deplete in the near future and renewable energy sources
will be considered as a promising option. Among the
renewable sources, the world wide wind capacity reached
360 GW at the end of 2014 and about 425 GW at the end
of 2015 [2][3] which is a rise in almost 18% compared to
the capacity at the end of 2014.
The burning of fossil fuels increases the
concentration of CO2 which is a rising environmental
concern [1]. Wind energy is looked upon as a confirm
alternative as it is a clean source of energy, available till
the existence of the universe, highly efficient and a
reliable source of energy [1][4][5].
Today the Wind Turbines are classified as fixed
speed and variable speed Wind Turbines. The drawback
of the fixed speed Wind Turbine is its uncontrollable
speed, fluctuation in output power at various wind
speeds, limited Power Quality control, mechanical stress
and uncontrolled Reactive power compensation [6]. In
the recent past variable speed Wind Turbine have
become dominant, due to its high efficiency at various
wind speeds. These machines provide enhanced Power
Quality and maintain the Generator torque constant [6].
Thus the variable speed Wind Turbine is being used on a
large scale in present Wind Power Generation.
‘Power Quality’ which is of major importance is
defined as, any power problem manifested in voltage,
current or frequency deviation that results in failure or
undesirable operation of consumer equipment [7]. One of
the major terms related to Power Quality is the
Harmonics which is defined as the alternating component
having frequency other than the fundamental frequency
[7]. These Harmonics are a cause of using Power
electronic devices, frequent switching of Converter
devices and variable wind speed [5].
This paper is a research work carried in ETAP
(Electrical Transient Analyser Program) which is a
Simulation tool to study the Harmonic content in the
Wind Farm at various locations. Depending on the
presence of Harmonics a Harmonic Filter design is
carried out to improve the Quality of Power. The
performance comparison of a variable speed SCIG Wind
Farm and a DFIG based Wind Farm with respect to the
Harmonic content with and without the Filter were
carried out to demonstrate the capability of each of these
Wind Farms. The simulation studies were carried as per
the Indian Grid codes presented in [8]. The same Wind
Farm with similar design and specifications was
considered for analysis which included SCIG (Type 2 in
ETAP) and DFIG (Type 3 in ETAP) for Harmonic
analysis. The results obtained indicate the %THD of the
two considered Wind Farms and thus the Quality of
Power transmitted to the Grid.

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 II. FUNDAMENTALS OF HARMONICS
An assumption among most utilities is that pure Sine
wave voltage generated indicates good Power Quality. A
periodical deviation from the pure Sine wave can be
termed as Harmonic distortion. It is caused by the use of
non- linear devices in the Power System. Owing to these
devices the current and voltage waveform do not follow
each other. These Harmonics cause several issue like
Copper losses in the windings, Torque pulsations, impact
on the Capacitor banks and Transformers leading to their
increased losses and overheating [2][7].
The pure sinusoidal waveform which indicates good
Power Quality is presented in Fig 1 below. The Fig 2
represents the distorted waveform indicating the presence
of Harmonics and poor Power Quality.
Fig. 1. Pure Sinusoidal Waveform indicating Good Power Quality
Fig. 2. Distorted Waveform indicating Poor Power Quality
III. WIND FARM UNDER CONSIDERATION
The purpose of Simulation was to compare the %THD
at various levels for both the SCIG and DFIG based
Wind Farms. The results obtained would help determine
which type of Generator to be installed at the actual
Wind Farm site. The Wind Farm under consideration is
presented in Fig 3 below along with the Single line
representation in Fig 4 The Wind Farm consists of 3
Networks which have a total of 20 WTG’s (Wind
Turbine Generator). The machine specification include a
3-Phase, 4 pole, 1500 rpm, 2.1 MW, 0.69 kV Induction
Generator with a stator resistance RS of 2.78 Ω being
coupled to turbine’s rotor through a Gearbox. The Wind
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Farm has 2 Step-up Transformers of 56 MVA each to
raise the voltage level from 33 kV to 132 kV at the Grid.
Each WTG has its own Unit Transformer to raise the
Voltage level from 0.69 kV to 33 kV. The designing of
the Wind Farm was as per the actual proposed site data
and proper care was taken of the length and type of the
conductors, rating of machines etc.
Fig. 3. Layout of the Wind Farm under Consideration
Fig. 4. Single Line representation from WTG to the Grid
IV. HARMONIC ANALYSIS
As the demand for electricity is increasing so is the
concern for Power Quality. Today Power Quality is
given a major importance for the reliable and efficient
operation of electric devices. The major concern is the
Harmonic content. The THD (Total Harmonic
Distortion) is defined as the measure of the effective
value of the harmonic content of the distorted waveform
[7]. During the Harmonic analysis of the individual Wind
Farm importance was given to the %THD at Bus 1 near
the grid. First the SCIG based Wind Farm was analysed
for its Harmonic content at various locations. The
Harmonic analysis of the SCIG Wind Farm is presented
in the Fig 5 along with the Harmonic content at various
locations in the Table 1.
 TABLE I
% THD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN SCIG WIND FARM
Location %THD
At Bus 1 3.61
At Network1 18.59
At WTG1 18.63

Fig. 7. Harmonic Waveform at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for SCIG Wind Farm

The same Harmonic analysis was carried out on the

DFIG based Wind Farm. The Harmonic analysis result
obtained in the Wind Farm is presented in Fig 8. The
Harmonic analysis results obtained at various locations
like the Bus 1, Network 1, and WTG 1 is presented in
Table 2.

Fig. 5. %THD for SCIG based Wind Farm

It is found that the %THD is less at the Bus 1 and

increased as we move away from it. It was found that the
THD obtained was more owing to the Power Electronic
devices and variation in wind speed near the WTG.
The %THD at the Bus 1 was 3.61% and 18.63% at WTG
1 in Network 1. The Harmonic spectrum obtained at Bus
1, Bus 2, and Bus 6 is presented in Fig 6 which indicates
the dominance of the 5th order Harmonics. The Fig 7
presents the Harmonic Waveform for Bus 1, Bus 2, and
Bus 6 which clearly shows a distorted waveform but for Fig. 8. %THD for DFIG based Wind Farm
improved Power Quality this waveform should have less
distortion and be sinusoidal [7]
TABLE II
% THD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN DFIG WIND FARM
Location %THD
At Bus 1 3.71
At Network1 18.03
At WTG1 18.06

The results obtained from Harmonic analysis clearly

Fig. 6. Harmonic spectrum at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for SCIG Wind Farm
indicate that the %THD at the Bus 1 is more in the DFIG
based Wind Farm as compared to the SCIG based Wind
Farm. During the analysis importance was given at
analysis at Bus 1 as mentioned earlier. The Harmonic
spectrum for the DFIG based Wind Farm is presented in

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Fig 9 along with the Harmonic waveform for Bus 1, Bus
2 and Bus 6 in Fig 10.

Fig. 9. Harmonic spectrum at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for DFIG Wind Farm

Fig. 11. %THD for SCIG based Wind Farm with Harmonic Filter

TABLE III
% THD WITH FILTER FOR SCIG WIND FARM
Location %THD
At Bus1 1.07
Fig. 10. Harmonic Waveform at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for DFIG Wind Farm At Network1 1.45
At WTG1 2.66

The results obtained above clearly indicate the

After the implementation of the Harmonic Filter it was
dominance of 5th order Harmonics and the distortion in
found that the %THD at Bus 1 reduced to 1.07 % which
waveform which increases for Bus 2 and Bus 6. As
was well within the Indian Grid Codes limit. The %THD
importance was given for analysis at Bus 1, it was found
at WTG 1 is presented in Fig 12 below which is 2.66%
that the THD at the DFIG based wind Farm was more
with Filter implementation. Thus the Filter helped reduce
compared to the SCIG based Wind Farm.
the %THD from 18.63% to 2.66 % at WTG 1 in SCIG
Wind Farm, and the %THD at Bus 1 from 3.61% to
V. FILTER IMPLEMENTATION FOR HARMONIC 1.07%.
MITIGATION
The Harmonic results obtained above clearly indicate
the violation of the Indian Grid Codes which specifies
the %THD of a System Voltage at 132 kV should be less
than 3% [8]. There was need to design a Harmonic Filter
separately for a SCIG and DFIG based Wind Farm. The
Single Tuned Harmonic Filter was separately designed
for each of these Wind Farms considering the existing
and expected power factor along with the Kvar required,
Capacitance, Capacitive reactance at operating
frequency, Inductive reactance, order of the Harmonics
etc. These values were different for each of the Harmonic
Filter.
The Harmonic Filter designed was placed at Bus 6 of
33 kV. After the implementation of the Harmonic Filter
in the SCIG Wind Farm the Harmonic results obtained at
the Wind Farm are presented in Fig 11 along with
the %THD at various locations in Table 3. Fig. 12. %THD for SCIG based with Harmonic Filter at WTG1

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 The Harmonic Spectrum obtained after the
implementation of the Filter is presented in Fig 13. The
Results obtained clearly indicate the reduce order
Harmonics after Filter Implementation. The Fig 14
represents the Harmonic waveform for Bus 1, 2 and 6
which shows less distortion with pure sine wave and thus
the THD content at the concerned locations.

Fig. 13. Harmonic spectrum at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for SCIG Wind Farm
with Harmonic Filter
Fig. 15. %THD for DFIG based Wind Farm with Harmonic Filter

After the implementation of the Harmonic Filter as

shown in Fig 15 at Bus 6 it was found that the %THD at
Bus 1 reduced to 1.13 % which was well within the
Indian Grid Code Limit. The %THD at WTG 1 is
represented in the Fig 16 below. The %THD at WTG 1
observed is 3.02% presenting the use of Filter in
Harmonic filtering and following the Indian Grid Codes.

Fig. 14. Harmonic Waveform at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for SCIG Wind Farm
with Harmonic Filter

Now the DFIG based Wind Farm was considered for

Harmonic analysis with Harmonic Filter at Bus 6. Here a
different Filter was designed as per the Harmonic content
and the dominant 5th order Harmonic in DFIG Wind
Farm. The results obtained after the implementation of
the Filter are shown in the Fig 15 along with the %THD
at various locations in the Wind Farm in Table 4.

TABLE IV
% THD WITH FILTER FOR DFIG WIND FARM
Location %THD
At Bus1 1.13
At Network1 1.76 Fig. 16. %THD for DFIG based with Harmonic Filter at WTG1
At WTG1 3.02

The Harmonic Spectrum obtained after the

implementation of the Filter is presented in Fig 17. The
Results obtained clearly indicate the reduce order
Harmonics after Filter Implementation. The Fig 18
represents the Harmonic waveform for Bus 1, 2 and 6
which shows less distortion and thus the THD content at
the concerned locations.

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Fig. 17. Harmonic spectrum at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for DFIG Wind Farm
with Harmonic Filter
Harmonic content was less in SCIG based Wind Farm
compared to DFIG based Wind Farm, both the Wind
Farms were violating the Harmonic Limit as per the
Indian Grid Codes. The implementation of individual
Harmonic Filter in both the Wind Farms were useful in
limiting the Harmonic content as per the Indian Grid
Codes. It was found that even after the implementation of
independent Harmonic Filters the %THD in SCIG based
Wind Farm was much less and thus having good quality
of power. Thus the results achieved strongly recommend
the selection of SCIG machines for the proposed Wind
Farm considering the Harmonic aspect related to Power
Quality.

REFERENCES

[1] S. S. Das, S. C. Gupta and M. Swain, “Harmonic mitigation

methods for wind energy conversion systems: A review”, IEEE
International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy,
Information and Communication (ICCPEIC), pp.369-377, 2014.
[2] V. Preciado, M. Madrigal, E. Muljadi and V.
Gevorgian,“Harmonics in a Wind Power Plant”, Conference on
Power and Energy soceity general meeting, pp.1-5, IEEE, 2015.
[3] Khaled Saleh Banawair and Jagadeesh Pasupuleti, “DFIG Wind
Fig. 18. Harmonic Waveform at Bus 1, 2 and 6 for DFIG Wind Farm Turbine Modeling with Reactive Power Control Integrated to
with Harmonic Filter Large Distribution Network”, IEEE International Conference
Power & Energy (PECON), pp.298-303, 2014.
[4] Aradhya Sambhu Satpathy, N. K. Kishore, Debaprasad Kastha
The results obtained above clearly indicate the and N. C. Sahoo, “Control Scheme for a Stand-Alone Wind
Energy Conversion System”, IEEE Transactions on Energy
capability of the SCIG based Wind Farm with Conversion, vol. 29, no. 2, June 2014.
reduced %THD after the design of Harmonic Filter. The [5] S. S. Das, S. C. Gupta and S. K. Bhargava, “Harmonic reduction
reduced %THD amongst the two Wind Farms clearly methods for wind energy conversion systems: A review”, IEEE
indicates the successful implementation of the Harmonic Students' Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer
Filter. After the implementation of the Filter too, Science, 2014.
the %THD content in the SCIG Wind Farm was Less as [6] Jun Li, Nader Samaan and Stephen Williams, “Modeling of Large
Wind Farm Systems for Dynamic and Harmonics Analysis”,
compared to the DFIG Wind Farm, this results clearly Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, pp.1-
demonstrate the reduced Harmonics content in the SCIG 7, IEEE, 2008.
Wind Farm as compared to the DFIG Wind Farm. The [7] Roger C. Dugan, “Electrical Power Systems Quality” Tata
Comparison result with and without the Harmonic Filter McGraw Hill, pp. 197-324, 2012.
is presented in the Table 5 for both the Wind Farms. [8] Draft Report on, “Indian Wind Grid Code” by PRDC Bangalore,
India, July 2009.
TABLE V
% THD RESULT WITH AND WITHOUT HARMONIC FILTER Shripad Ganapati Desai – He is pursuing his
%THD of %THD of %THD of M.Tech in (Electrical-Power Systems) from
SCIG DFIG SCIG %THD of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University College
Wind Wind Wind DFIG Wind of Engineering, Pune, India. He has completed
Location Farm Farm Farm Farm with his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
without without with Harmonic from the University of Pune and his Diploma in
Harmonic Harmonic Harmonic Filter Electrical Engineering from CWIT, Pune. His
Filter Filter Filter research interest includes Wind energy and Power
System Planning.
At Bus1 3.61 3.71 1.07 1.13
At Vishal Vaman Mehtre – He is pursuing his M.
Network 18.59 18.03 1.45 1.76 Tech (Electrical-Power Systems) from Bharati
1 Vidyapeeth Deemed University College of
At WTG Engineering, Pune, India. He was working with
18.63 18.06 2.66 3.02 Suzlon Energy Ltd, Pune in the Wind Power
1
Evacuation Department.
Dr D. S. Bankar –He is working as an Associate
VI. CONCLUSION Professor and HOD in Electrical Department of
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University College of
The analysis conducted on both the Wind Farms Engineering, Pune. He has completed his Ph.D. at
independently indicates a good Power Quality result for the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University
SCIG based Wind Farm. It was found that although the College of Engineering Pune, India.

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