Power System Harmonic Parameters Estimation
Using ADALINE-VLLMS Algorithm
Priyabrat Garanayak, Gayadhar Panda
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
National Institute of Technology Meghalaya
Shillong, India
garanayak.priyabrat@gmail.com, p_gayadhar@yahoo.com
Abstract—This paper proposes a combined adaptive linear
neural network and variable leaky least mean square
(ADALINE-VLLMS) algorithm for harmonic parameters
estimation in a distorted power signal. VLLMS method applies a
variable leaky adjustment technique for avoiding drifting of the
parameter involved in the estimation. Moreover, a variable step-
size is proposed to have faster convergence than conventional
least mean square (LMS) algorithm. Computer simulations show
that the proposed ADALINE-VLLMS method gives better
performance than the ADALINE-LMS method.
Keywords—adaptive linear neural network (ADALINE);
harmonic estimation; least mean square (LMS); variable leaky
least mean square (VLLMS).
I. INTRODUCTION
The estimation of harmonic parameter contaminated by
stochastic noise is a high challenging task to monitor the
quality of power delivered. To assess the harmonic components
in a distorted power signal, fast Fourier transform (FFT) is
most often used [1]. However, FFT based technique suffers
from leakage effect and its performance highly degrades while
determining inter and sub-harmonics, including frequency
deviations. To overcome these drawbacks, least squares (LS)
and recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms have been
commonly used [2], [3]. But these algorithms are generally
used for frequency estimation and not to be so effective for
amplitude and phase estimation. Kalman Filter [4] is one of the
robust techniques for calculating the harmonic parameters
embedded in distorted power signal. But this algorithm fails to
track any instantaneous changes of signal such as sudden
changes in amplitude, phase or frequency of signal. In [5],
Genetic algorithm (GA) is applied for estimation of harmonic
parameters present in distorted signal. But GA takes larger
time for convergence when estimating harmonic parameters.
To overcome these problems faced in the above mentioned
techniques, adaptive linear neural network (ADALINE)
structure for estimation of harmonic parameter is proposed [4],
[6]-[8]. Nowadays researchers follow this method because it
can track any dynamic changes in the system. The dynamic
changes in a system create different type of non-linearity and
hence introduce harmonics with varying amplitudes and
phases. Thus on-line adaptation in the harmonic estimation can
978-1-4678-6503-1/15/$31.00 © 2015 IEEE
Pravat Kumar Ray
Department of Electrical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Rourkela
Rourkela, India
pravatkumar.ray@gmail.com
be useful for monitoring power quality. In ADALINE
technique, weights are updated online by using learning
algorithms.
In this research work, a combined ADALINE and variable
leaky LMS (VLLMS) algorithm for harmonic parameter
estimation is proposed. For estimation, distorted signal is
modeled in a parametric form. Then combined ADALINE-
VLLMS algorithm is applied for estimation of parameter. With
the help of simulation using MATLAB, the performance of
such a formulation is compared with the ADALINE-LMS
algorithm.
II. MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF HARMONIC PARAMETERS
ESTIMATION
The power system distorted current signal can be expressed
by the Fourier series as
‹ሺ–ሻ ൌ σ୒
୬ୀଵ  ୬ •‹ሺɘ– ൅ ୬ ሻ ൅ ȝሺ–ሻ (1)
where ୬ is the amplitude of the nth harmonic components, ୬
is the phase angle of nth order harmonic, Ȧ is the fundamental
frequency in rad/sec and ȝ(t) is the additive noise. Equation (1)
can be written in discrete time domain as follows
‹ሺሻ ൌ σ୒
୬ୀଵ  ୬ •‹ሺ™୬  ൅ ୬ ሻ ൅ ȝሺሻ (2)
where T is the sampling period and n is the sampling instant.
For parameter estimation of individual signal, (2) can be
expressed as
‹ሺሻ ൌ
σ୒୬ୀଵ ሺሾ•‹ሺ™୬ ሻ …‘•ሺ™୬ ሻሿ ሾ୬ …‘• ୬ ୬ •‹ ୬ ሿ୘ ሻ ൅
ρሺሻ (3)
The above equation can be expressed in the matrix form
‹ሺሻ ൌ ሺሻሺሻ (4)
Where the time varying observation matrix ሺሻ and unknown
vector ሺሻ can be expressed as [4], [5]
 šଵ ሺሻ
•‹ሺ™ଵ ሻ
‹ሺሻ
ଵ ሺሻ
šଶ ሺሻ
…‘•ሺ™ଵ ሻ
ଶ ሺሻ ‡ሺሻ

šሺଶ୒ିଵሻሺሻ ÇƸሺሻ
•‹ሺ™୒ ሻ
ሺଶ୒ିଵሻሺሻ
šሺଶ୒ሻ ሺሻ
…‘•ሺ™୒ ሻ
ሺଶ୒ሻ ሺሻ
(Observation Matrix)

‡ሺሻ
Weight updating using
LMS/VLLMS algorithm

Fig. 1. Block diagram of ADALINE based harmonic estimation.

B. Proposed VLLMS Learning Algorithm

ሺሻ ൌ
ሾ•‹ሺ™ଵ ሻ …‘•ሺ™ଵ ሻ ǥ •‹ሺ™୒ ሻ …‘•ሺ™୒ ሻሿ (5) If LMS of the error is considered as the cost function which
is to be minimized, then due to the dynamic change of signal,
and the linear weights of the filter may go unbounded or it may
take more time to respond due to the stalling effect. To
ሺሻ ൌ ሾଵ …‘• ଵ ଵ •‹ ଵ ǥ ୒ …‘• ୒ ୒ •‹ ୒ ሿ୘ overcome this drawback, one may applies the leaky LMS
(6) algorithm which incorporates, in addition, the magnitude of the
weights in the cost function to avoid the parameter drifting or
Fig. 1 shows basic principle of an ADALINE network for
the stalling problem. The weight vector can be updated using
harmonic estimation. It is composed of ‘2N’ number of
VLLMS algorithm as [9]-[12]
neurons who’s weighting vector

୘ ሺ ൅ ͳሻ ൌ ൫ͳ െ ʹȝሺሻȡሺሻ൯ሺሻ ൅ ȝሺሻ‡ሺሻሺሻ (10)

ሺሻ ൌ ൣଵ ሺሻଶ ሺሻǥሺଶ୒ିଵሻ ሺሻሺଶ୒ሻ ሺሻ൧ (7)
Where ȝ(k) is a variable step-size parameter. It can be adjusted
It is updated online by using LMS/VLLMS algorithm. The as follows
difference between the identified signal ‹ሺሻ and estimated
signal ÇƸሺሻ employing proposed technique results the error ρሺ ൅ ͳሻ ൌ Ƚρሺሻ ൅ ɀሺሻଶ (11)
signal ‡ሺሻ [6]-[8]. It can be expressed as
where Į and Ȗ control the convergence time, and R(k)
‡ሺሻ ൌ ‹ሺሻ െ ÇƸሺሻ ൌ ‹ሺሻ െ ሺሻሺሻ (8) represents the autocorrelation of ‡ሺሻ and ‡ሺ െ ͳሻ. It can be
A. LMS Learning Algorithm computed as
The LMS algorithm is applied to update the weight vector
ሺሻ ൌ Ⱦሺ െ ͳሻ ൅ ሺͳ െ Ⱦሻ‡ሺሻ‡ሺ െ ͳሻ (12)
used for ADALINE. The algorithm minimizes square of the
error recursively by altering the weight vector at each sampling
interval with the help of (9) where ȕ is an exponential weighting parameter. The variable
leakage factor ȡ(k) can be expressed as
ሺ ൅ ͳሻ ൌ ሺሻ ൅ ρ‡ሺሻሺሻ (9)
ȡሺ ൅ ͳሻ ൌ ȡሺሻ െ ʹȝሺሻ‡ሺሻሺሻ୘ ሺ െ ͳሻ (13)
Due to the fixed step-size (ȝ), the LMS technique suffers from
the drawback of poor convergence rate. By applying time After updating the ADALINE’s weight vector using LMS
varying step size one can resolve the problem of poor and VLLMS algorithms, the parameter of the fundamental and
convergence. ୲୦ harmonics is given by
 Fundamental amplitude with 0 dB SNR 5th harmonic amplitude with 0 dB SNR
25 15
Amplitude in Amp ADALINE-LMS

Amplitude in Amp
20
ADALINE-VLLMS
10
15
10
5
5 ADALINE-LMS
ADALINE-VLLMS
0 0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
9th harmonic amplitude with 0 dB SNR 13th harmonic amplitude with 0 dB SNR
8 8
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Amplitude in Amp

Amplitude in Amp
6 ADALINE-VLLMS 6 ADALINE-VLLMS

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
Fig. 2. Estimation of amplitude using ADALINE-LMS and ADALINE-VLLMS algorithms.

Fundamental phase with 0 dB SNR 5th harmonic phase with 0 dB SNR

100 100
ADALINE-LMS
Phase in Deg

Phase in Deg

ADALINE-VLLMS
80 50

60 0
ADALINE-LMS
ADALINE-VLLMS
40 -50
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
9th harmonic phase with 0 dB SNR 13th harmonic phase with 0 dB SNR
100 100
ADALINE-LMS
Phase in Deg

Phase in Deg

50 50 ADALINE-VLLMS

0 0

-50 ADALINE-LMS -50

ADALINE-VLLMS
-100 -100
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
Fig. 3. Estimation of phase using ADALINE-LMS and ADALINE-VLLMS algorithms.

III. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

୬ ൌ ටሺሺଶ୬ሻ ଶ ൅ ሺଶ୬ିଵሻ ଶ ሻ (14) In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined
ADALINE-VLLMS algorithm in estimating harmonic
parameter, discretized signal with fundamental frequency of 50
ሺଶ୬ሻ Hz is generated in MATLAB environment. The generated
୬ ൌ –ƒିଵ ൮ ൘ ൲ (15) signal used for the estimation, contains higher order harmonics
ሺଶ୬ିଵሻ
of 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th apart from fundamental
component. The distorted current waveform is expressed as
 with 40 dB SNR with 20 dB SNR
40 Actual 40 Actual
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Amplitude in Amp

Amplitude in Amp
20 ADALINE-VLLMS 20 ADALINE-VLLMS

0 0

-20 -20

-40 -40
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in sec
with 5 dB SNR with 0 dB SNR
40 Actual 40 Actual
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Amplitude in Amp

Amplitude in Amp
20 ADALINE-VLLMS 20 ADALINE-VLLMS

0 0

-20 -20

-40 -40
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in sec Time in Sec
Fig. 4. Actual and estimated signals with different SNR values.

Fundamental signals with 40 dB SNR Fundamental signals with 20 dB SNR

20 Actual 20 Actual
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Amplitude in Amp

Amplitude in Amp

10 ADALINE-VLLMS 10 ADALINE-VLLMS

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
Fundamental signals with 5 dB SNR Fundamental signals with 0 dB SNR
20 Actual 20 Actual
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Amplitude in Amp

Amplitude in Amp

10 ADALINE-VLLMS 10 ADALINE-VLLMS

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
Fig. 5. Actual and estimated fundamental signals with different SNR values.

To find the effectiveness of the proposed technique are

‹ሺ–ሻ ൌ ͳͷǤͻ •‹ሺ™– ൅ ͹ͺ଴ ሻ ൅ ͺǤʹͳ •‹ሺ͵™– ൅ ͸ͻ଴ ሻ ൅
͹ǤͲʹ •‹ሺͷ™– െ ͵ʹ଴ ሻ ൅ ͵ǤͳͶ •‹ሺ͹™– ൅ Ͷ͵଴ ሻ ൅
ʹǤͷͶ •‹ሺͻ™– ൅ ͺʹ଴ ሻ ൅ ͳǤ͵ʹ •‹ሺͳͳ™– ൅ ͷͶ଴ ሻ ൅
ͲǤͺͷ •‹ሺͳ͵™– െ ͳͶ଴ ሻ ൅ ”ƒ†ሺ–ሻ
carried out with different values of the noise factor.
Simulations tests are performed with four different sets of
Gaussian noise are 40 dB SNR, 20 dB SNR, 5 dB SNR and 0
(16) dB SNR. The initial value of w and Ȗ are chosen as 0.018 and
0.01 respectively.
 with 40 dB SNR with 20 dB SNR
0.1 0.1
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Mean square error

Mean square error

0.08 ADALINE-VLLMS 0.08 ADALINE-VLLMS

0.06 0.06

0.04 0.04

0.02 0.02

0 0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec
with 5 dB SNR with 0 dB SNR
0.1 0.1
ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-LMS
Mean square error

Mean square error

0.08 ADALINE-VLLMS 0.08 ADALINE-VLLMS

0.06 0.06

0.04 0.04

0.02 0.02

0 0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time in Sec Time in Sec

Fig. 6. MSE with different SNR values.

X axis- SNR values, Y axis- Amplitude in Amp

7.07
7.06
7.05
7.04
7.03
7.02
7.01
7
6.99
6.98
6.97
40 dB 20 dB 10 dB 5 dB 0 dB

Actual ADALINE-LMS ADALINE-VLLMS

Fig. 7. Fifth harmonic amplitude with multiple harmonic estimation techniques.

The harmonic parameter of the distorted current, with 0 dB The comparative estimation of mean square error (MSE) of
SNR, for fundamental, 5th, 9th and 13th harmonics are shown distorted signal using two combined algorithms is shown in
in Fig. 2 and 3 respectively. It is observed from figures that Fig. 6. From this figure, it is observed that, MSE of distorted
estimated parameters are more accurately to the actual one with signal by applying ADALINE-VLLMS is comparatively better
a little deviation in case of ADALINE-LMS algorithm. than ADALINE-LMS algorithm.
Fig. 4 shows the actual verses estimated signals using Table 1 demonstrates the comparative assessment of two
ADALINE-VLLMS and ADALINE-LMS with different noise combined techniques such as ADALINE-VLLMS and
condition. It is observed that at 40 dB SNR, the estimated ADALINE-LMS algorithm. The harmonic parameter
signal is relatively matched with the actual signal but with the estimation employing combined ADALINE-VLLMS
decrease of SNR value there is a more deviations between technique exhibits the better precision. The computational time
estimated signal and actual signal. The actual and estimated required applying ADALINE-VLLMS is less as compared to
waveforms for fundamental with different SNR values are ADALINE-LMS.
shown in Fig. 5.
 TABLE I. PERFORMANCE COMPARISION OF ADALINE-LMS AND ADALINE-VLLMS WITH 5 ݀B SNR

Methods Parameters Fund 3rd 5th 7th 9th 11th 13th

Frequency (Hz) 50 150 250 350 450 550 650
ACTUAL Amplitude (Amp) 15.9 8.21 7.02 3.14 2.54 1.32 0.85
Phase (Deg) 78 69 -32 43 82 54 -14
Amplitude (Amp) 15.8821 8.2131 7.0234 3.1407 2.5286 1.3380 0.8614

ADALINE- Deviation (Amp) 0.0179 -0.0031 -0.0034 -0.0007 0.0114 -0.018 -0.0114
LMS Phase (Deg) 78.0602 69.2015 -31.972 42.9190 81.7433 54.192 -13.212
Deviation (Deg) -0.0602 -0.2015 -0.028 0.081 0.2567 -0.192 -0.788
Amplitude (Amp) 15.8745 8.2227 7.0258 3.1421 2.5646 1.3500 0.8601

ADALINE- Deviation (Amp) 0.0255 -0.0127 -0.0058 -0.0021 -0.0246 -0.03 -0.0101
VLLMS Phase (Deg) 77.9237 68.8833 -32.004 43.1775 81.6088 54.6319 14.6330
Deviation (Deg) 0.0763 0.1167 0.0047 -0.1775 0.3912 -0.6319 0.633

Fig. 7 shows a comparison of robustness of estimation of
5th harmonic at different SNR values. It is seen that, at 40
dB SNR, estimation accuracy is more and less in 0 dB SNR.
The ADALINE-VLLMS estimation performance varies less
with change in SNR value as compared to ADALINE-LMS;
it indicates ADALINE-VLLMS is more robust as compared
to ADALINE-LMS.
IV. CONLUSION
This paper presents an ADALINE-VLLMS algorithm for
accurate estimation of harmonic parameters in a distorted
power signal. The proposed algorithm is based on applying a
leaky adjustment technique so that drifting of parameters of
the weight vectors is avoided. Since step size is also updated
in the proposed ADALINE-VLLMS algorithm, convergence
of the algorithm becomes faster. The simulation results
presented in previous section demonstrates the better
performance of combined ADALINE-VLLMS in compared
to ADALINE-LMS algorithm.
REFERENCES
[1] A. A. Girgis, W. B. Chang and E. B. Makram, “A digital recursive
measurement scheme for online tracking of harmonics,” IEEE
Transaction on Power Delivery, Vol. 6, pp. 1153–1160, July 1991.
[2] M. Bettayed and U. Qidai, “Recursive estimation of power system
harmonics,” Electrical Power Systems Research, Vol. 47, pp. 143-
152, October 1998.
[3] A. K. Pradhan, A. Routray and A. Basak, “Power system frequency
estimation using least mean square technique,” IEEE Transaction on
Power Delivery, Vol. 20, pp. 1812–1816, June 2005.
[4] P. K. Dash, D. P. Swain, A. C. Liew and S. Rahman, “An adaptive
linear combiner for on-line tracking of power system harmonics,”
IEEE Transaction on Power System Harmonics, Vol. 11, pp. 1730-
1735, November 1996.
[5] M. Bettayed and U. Qidai, “A Hybrid Least Squares-GA-based
algorithm for harmonic estimation,” IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 18, pp. 377-382, April 2003.
[6] M. Joorabian, S.S. Mortazavi and A.A. Khayyami, “Harmonic
estimation in a power system using a novel hybrid least square-
Adaline algorithm,” Electric Power Systems Research, Vol. 79, pp.
107-116, July 2008.
[7] A. Sarkar, S.R. Choudhury and S. Sengupta, “A self-synchronized
ADALINE network for on-line tracking of power system harmonics,”
Measurement, Vol. 44, pp. 784-790, January 2011.
[8] M. Marie, F. Saadany and M. Salama, “A processing unit for
symmetrical components and harmonics estimation based on a new
adaptive linear combiner structure,” IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 19, pp. 1245-1252, July 2004.
[9] B. Subudhi, P. K. Ray and S. Ghosh, “Variable leaky least mean-
square algorithm-based power system frequency estimation,” IET
Science, Measurement & Technology, Vol. 6, pp. 288-297, January
2012.
[10] K. Mayyas and T. Aboulnasr, “Leaky LMS algorithm: MSE analysis
for Gaussian data,” IEEE Transaction on Signal Processing, Vol. 45,
pp. 927-934, April 1997.
[11] M. Kememetsky and B. Widrow, “A variable leaky LMS adaptive
algorithm,” Proceddings, 38th IEEE Asilomar Conference on Signals,
System and Computers, pp. 125-128, 2004.
[12] O. J. Tobias and R. Seara, “On the LMS algorithm with constant and
variable leakage factor in a nonlinear environment,” IEEE
Transaction on Signal Processing, Vol. 54, pp. 3448-3458, September
2006.