Considerations on the Aggregation of

Harmonics Produced by Large Wind Farms

Fabio Medeiros, Dalton C. Brasil, Member, IEEE, Cristiano A. G. Marques and Carlos A. Duque,
Member, IEEE , Paulo F. Ribeiro, Fellow, IEEE,

Abstract - One aspect of assessing the harmonics point of common coupling (PCC) of transmission and
tolerated by a power system is the estimation of the distribution grids. Frequency converters are present in
aggregation or sum of harmonics arising from the various
the major of wind turbines of large wind farms and the
sources.
operation planning of the wind farms should give full
The estimation of harmonics is not exact or uniform,
since there will be unpredictable variations in either the
considerations on the harmonic currents present in the
non-linear sources and/or parameters of the system which PCC, especially in application of smart grid.
affect the summation. The combination of a number of The basis for harmonic combination is the
harmonic sources will generally lead to less than the superposition principle. To apply the superposition
arithmetic sum of the maximum values due to uncertainty principle properly, a phasorial composition should be
of magnitude and phase angle. Hence the resulting
used. However, because of the uncertainty of the
summation is difficult to estimate accurately.
amplitude and phases, mainly caused by load variation,
In this paper the harmonic summation caused by
large wind farms with harmonic sources is investigated.
alternative ways considering the impedances between
The work verifies, by computational simulations, the sources, are a simple and reasonable option. Hence, if
harmonic aggregation in the point of common coupling the harmonic currents are known for a certain condition,
(peC) of a typical wind farm under study by the Brazilian then the resultant harmonic voltages can be estimated by
Systems Operator. Results show that the harmonic alternative methods.
summation estimates for different conditions. The results
Reservations about the use of simplified methods to
are also compared with the lEe 61400-21 recommended
aggregation factors. The results indicate that aggregation
combine harmonics have been expressed. Several
of harmonics at the point of common coupling cannot be practical difficulties have been pointed out but the main
easily generalized. The topology of the wind farm, the type concern is the lack of practical measurements to back up
of electronic converter, the wind variations, the frequency the assumptions in contrast to highly sophisticated
range and the upstream supply system impedance play a techniques used in simulations.
very role in the determination of the aggregation
A number of methods and experiments have been
coefficients.
developed in the past to assess the harmonic summation.
However, no conclusive approach has been offered so
Key Words-Harmonic Aggregation, Harmonic
Summation, lEe 61400-21 Standard.
far. For example, Rowe's work at [1] was concerned
with the summation of random phasors. It was assumed
I. INTRODUCTION that each distorted load at a bus generated independent
harmonic currents with particular random properties.
REcently, an increase in the field of power electronics
There must be a sufficient number of vectors for the
has been occurring. This increase leads to more non­
method to be applied. The advantage of Rowe's analysis
linear loads in power systems. Among these loads,
is that little information is needed.
electronic converters are the main responsible source of
R. de Vre [2] showed that harmonic currents produced
harmonic currents which causes harmonic voltages at the
by one TV receiver and one light dimmer never reach
Fabio Medeiros and Dalton C. Brazil are with the Brazilian
the arithmetic summation for the 3rd harmonic. For the
National Systems Operator (ONS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 5th and higher harmonics the arithmetic summation may
docb@ons.org.br and finedeiros@ons.org.br. be reached but the probability of such occurrence would
Paulo F. Ribeiro is with Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, remain small.
Rolanda, pfribeiro@ieee.org.
Lagostena et al [3] use the arithmetic sum for the
Cristiano A. G. Marques and Carlos A. Duque are with Federal
University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
combination of lower order harmonics and the r.s.s. for
cristiano.marques@engenharia.ufjf.br and carlos.duque@ufjf.edu.br. higher orders. Lemoine [4] suggests a diversity factor
978-1-4673-1943-0/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE

364
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associated with a probability not exceeding the
arithmetic sum.
The analysis of Sherman [5] was based on the
instantaneous value of a sum of sine waves. Corbyn [6]
used Sherman's result to make the point that for one
particular harmonic the random variation of phase angles
of several loads would make the arithmetic sum a very
rare occurrence.
As previously stated, reservations about alternative
methods for combining harmonics have been expressed.
The problem is that, technically speaking, only the
vectorial composition is meaningful and that only
instantaneous spectra (waveshapes) should be used to
qualify the harmonic sources. Recently, some work
using probabilistic harmonic analysis also has been
developed by Ribeiro, Baghouz and authors [7-10]. In
these contributions, is considered that the harmonic
components are time-varying, and a statistical treatment
must be adopted.
II. IEC RECOMMENDED SUMMATION COEFFICIENTS
In accordance with the IEC 61400-21 standard [11],
the harmonic current magnitude, lhs , due the
contribution of several harmonic sources at the PCC,
with order h, is given by
(1)
simulated model. The harmonic currents are calculated
using the discrete Fourier transform.
III. RESULTS
Fig. 1 presents a typical power system wind farm
configuration under study by the Brazilian Systems
Operator. In this system, the symbol E represents a wind
generator that is supplied by a 34,5/0,4 kV transformer.
The nominal currents of the wind generator is given in
table 1.
In this paper we consider three basic cases: i) the phase
of the harmonic currents rp is considered constant and
the amplitudes vary randomly around its nominal values
(case 1), ii) the phase rp vary as a random variable and
the amplitude is fixed (case 2), and iii) both amplitude
and phase vary as a random variable (case 3).
A. Case 1
For the case 1 the amplitudes of each wind generator
was varied +1- 20% around the nominal values. The
summation currents at the bus connected at the 138 kV
source is shown in Fig. 2. As expected the currents
combine with an aggregation factor close to an
arithmetic summation.

where Nj is the number of harmonic sources connected

at the PCC, llz,i is the magnitude of the h-th harmonic A. Case 2

generated by the i-th source, and n, is the transform

In the case 2 only the phase angles of the harmonics of
relation of the i-th source. The /3 values are defined as the wind generators are allowed to vary. In this case
follows: three situations are considered: variations between -20
degree and 20 degree, -90 degree and 90 degree, -180
if h<5
{11,,40;; degree and 180 degree. The currents are illustrated in
/3= if 5.:s;h.:s;lO. (2) Figs. 3-5. Fig. 6 shows the value of the fJfor the -180 to
if h >
2,0; 10 180 degrees variation.

This work uses a methodology [12] to investigate the

harmonic summation at some aggregation points, using a
real 1 typical large wind connected to a transmission
system in Brazil. The model represents the harmonic
sources as current sources representing individual wind
generators. Random uniform distribution variations
(100 trials) of magnitude and phase are introduced to
represent the uncertainty of the currents inject. The
combined signal is then processed to calculate
magnitude of the aggregated harmonic at the PCC and
terminal of feeders using the measured waveform of the

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Current (A)
Harmonic

Fig. 2 Currents at the bus connected at the PCC with

-

magnitudes varying +/- 20% around the nominal values

and constant phase angles.

Fig. 1 - Typical wind farm configuration under study by

the Brazilian Systems Operator. Current (A)
Harmonic

Fig. 3 - Currents at the PCC when the phase angles of

the harmonics vary between -20 degree and 20 degree.
Table 1 - Nominal harmonic currents of the wind
generator conSl·dered.
Harmonic Order (II) Current(A)
2 17,33
3 13,86
4 9,82
5 25,13
6 5,49
7 33,79
8 8,95
9 6,06
10 4,33
II 11,84
12 4,91
13 10,40
14 5,78
Current (A)
15 5,78 Harmonic

16 4,62
17 7,80 Fig. 4 - Currents at the bus connected at PCC when the
18 3,18 phase angles of the harmonics vary between -90 degree
19 7,80
and 90 degree.
20 2,89
21 4,62
23 6,64

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80

60

40

20

o
·0.5

Current (A)
Harmonic

Current (Aj 1.5

Fig. 5 - Currents at the bus connected at PCC when the Hannonic

phase angles of the harmonics vary between -180 degree

Fig. 7 - Currents at the bus connected at the PCC when
and 180 degree.
the phase angles of the harmonics vary between -180
degree and 180 degree and the harmonic amplitudes vary
+/-20 % around its nominal values

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 23
Harmonics

Fig. 6 - Values of fJ at the bus connected at the PCC

when the phase angles of the harmonics vary between -
180 degree and 180 degree.

It can be seen from Figs. 3-5 that lower cancelation

happens for higher frequencies. Figure 6 shows the
range of jJvaries from less than 1 to 1.5 with higher
aggregation and even amplification (due 0 resonant
Current (A) 0.4
Harmonic
conditions) occur.

B. Case 3

Fig. 8 Currents at the bus connected at the 34.5 kV

In case 3 both amplitudes and phase angles of the
-

transformer when the phase angles of the harmonics

harmonics of the wind generators are allowed to vary
vary between -180 degree and 180 degree and the
and two conditions are considered: phase angles varying
harmonic amplitudes vary +/-20 % around its nominal
between -90 degree to 90 degree, and -180 degree to 180
values.
degree, with the amplitudes varying +/- 20% around the
nominal values. Beside of the PCC connected at the 138
kV, and also at the feeders of the 138/34.5 kV
transformers. These results are shown in Figs. 7-9.

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TABLE 2 - Harmonic distortions evaluated considering

the calculated f3 values for the case 1.
DHI(%) DHI(%)
ONS
Harmonic Operation Operation
Limit
1 2
2-nd harmonic 0,088 0,073 0.30
3-rd harmonic 0,350 0,344 0.60
4-th harmonic 0,190 0,191 0.30
5-th harmonic 0,621 0,606 0.60
6-th harmonic 0,317 0,293 0.30
7-th harmonic 0,664 0,636 0.60
8-th harmonic 0,344 0,117 0.30
9-th harmonic 0,504 0,077 0.60
lO-th harmonic 0,343 0,044 0.30
11-th harmonic 1,003 0,341 0.60
12-th harmonic 0,462 0,124 0.30
Carrent (A) 4
Harmonic 13-th harmonic 0,568 0,408 0.60
14-th harmonic 0,094 0,170 0.30
Fig. 9 Currents at the bus connected at the PCC when
-
15-th harmonic 0,020 0,052 0.60
16-th harmonic 0,021 0,027 0.30
the phase angles of the harmonics vary between -90
17-th harmonic 0,235 0,397 0.60
degree and 90 degree and the harmonic amplitudes vary 18-th harmonic 0,073 0,145 0.30
+/-20 % around its nominal values 19-th harmonic 0,047 0,052 0.60
20-th harmonic 0,075 0,062 0.30
21-th harmonic 0,072 0,034 0.60
23-th harmonic 0,020 0,062 0.30
Fig. 7 shows that with magnitude and phase varying THD(%) 1,792 1,249 1.50
high cancelation is achieved, as expected, particularly
for the lower frequencies.
Table 3 - Harmonic distortions evaluated considering the
Fig. 8, indicating currents at the bus connected at one
calculated f3 values for the case 2.
of the 34.5 kV transformer, shows a very similar pattern
DHI(%) DHI(%)
to the overall aggregation at the PCC. The currents at ONS
Harmonic Operation Operation
the end of the other feeders are also very comparable. limit
1 2
This means that that the topology of the internal 2-nd harmonic 0,132 0,110 0.30
configuration did not change the summation patterns in 3-rd harmonic 0,499 0,491 0.60
4-th harmonic 0,270 0,271 0.30
this case. Finally, when the phase angles vary around -90
5-th harmonic 0,751 0,733 0.60
and 90 and the magnitude is allowed to vary around 20% 6-th harmonic 0,369 0,341 0.30
less cancelation is achieved for the lower frequencies. 7-th harmonic 0,755 0,723 0.60
In order to analyze the individual harmonic 8-th harmonic 0,375 0,127 0.30
9-th harmonic 0,550 0,084 0.60
distortions (lHDs) and total harmonic distortion (THD)
10-th harmonic 0,374 0,048 0.30
at the bus connected in the 138 kV source, we consider 11-th harmonic 1,076 0,365 0.60
two cases of system operation, one case at the normal 12-th harmonic 0,529 0,142 0.30
operation of the power system (Operation 1) and another 13-th harmonic 0,676 0,485 0.60
14-th harmonic 0,115 0,207 0.30
one considering the system in contingency (Operation
15-th harmonic 0,025 0,067 0.60
2). In Table 2 we show the IHDs and the THD obtained 16-th harmonic 0,027 0,035 0.30
when the currents are obtained with the calculated f3 17-th harmonic 0,318 0,538 0.60
values in the case 1. In Table 3 the same results are 18-th harmonic 0,104 0,205 0.30
19-th harmonic 0,067 0,075 0.60
obtained for the case 2. We see that the DHIs and the 20-th harmonic 0,111 0,091 0.30
THD surpass the ONS limits in some cases. However, 21-th harmonic 0,107 0,051 0.60
when IEC proposed f3 values are used none IHDs and 23-th harmonic 0,036 0,095 0.30
THD(%) 2,060 1,524 1.50
THD are surpassed. What indicate a optimistic and non­
real real estimate.
Due to the fact the different amplitudes of the harmonic
currents it becomes difficult to visualize the the
aggregation characteristics at the different frequencies.
Thus, an additional case where all the harmonic currets
have the same basic magnitude is simulated. Fig. 10
shows the case with both magnitude (varying randomly

368

around 20% for the nominal 25A) and the phases
varying around +/-90 degrees. It becomes clear also
from these example, that due to the wind farm topology,
supply system condition, and with high variability of
magnitude and phases the aggregation factor does not
seem to vary much and is higher than one, implying
some cancelation, but not as high as predicted by IEC
standards.
<J)
Q)
u
c
�
::J
g adjustments, and provide a more reliable result if used in
(;
z a real power system.
Current (A) 3.5
Harmonic
Fig. 10 - Currents at the bus connected at the PCC when
the phase angles of the harmonics vary between -90
degree and 90 degree and the harmonic amplitudes vary
+/-20 % around its nominal values (25A)
IV.CONCLUSIONS
The precise assessment of the harmonic combination
of a number of non-linear sources operating
simultaneously is not trivial. This is due to the
uncertainty in the magnitudes and phase angles of the
harmonic currents injected into the transmission. The
approach used incorporates the system topology of the
wind farms and system. The knowledge of the harmonic
currents injected for a penetration study should then be
performed and these alternative values calculated and
compared against the cumulative curves.
The examples simulated have shown that the
aggregation varies with frequency order, the system
configuration, the current phase angles and the relative
position within the network. These pictures could be
used to investigate harmonic impact at the point of
common coupling.
369
6
As the rise of electronic loads increase, future
customers could be requested to connect the electronic
load via a transformer with a particular phase shift. This
would be particularly important at lower frequencies, as
the amplitudes are very high. Indeed, from the examples
simulated, the current phase shift is seen to be very
effective at lower frequencies. This should be
investigated in the light of site experiments. By the
results presented, we verify that the estimates of
harmonic summation using the IEC 61400-21
methodology may present significant errors in a real
power system. Thus, in this paper, we propose to adjust
the fJ values of this methodology in order to decrease
the errors in the estimates in the real power system
which is in study by the Brazilian Operator of the
National Electricity System. The simulated results
reveal that the errors can be reduced with the
V. REFERENCES
[I] N. B. Rowe, "The summation of randomly varying phasors or vectors with
particular reference to harmonic levels", lEE Conf. pub 110, 1974, pp. 177-
181.
[2] R. de Vre, "Harmonic distortion produced in supply networks by
Television Receivers and light dimmers," lEE Conference No. 210, May
1982.
[3] L. Lagostena, "Network disturbances caused by loads absorbing highly
distorted currents," ClRED, 1981.
[4] M. Lemoine, "Les perturbations reciproques des equipments electroniques
de puissance et des reseaux," RGE 1974.
[5] W. G Sherman, "Summation of harmonics with random phase angles,"
Proc. Tee, 1972, 119, II, pp. 1643-1648.
[6] N. B. Crobyn, "This business of harmonics," Electron. & PWf., 1972, 18,
pp. 219-223.
[7] P. F. Ribeiro, "An overview of probabilistic aspects of harmonics state of
the art and new developments", Power Engineering Society General Meeting,
2005, pp. 2243-2246.
[8] Y. Baghzouz, "An overview on probabilistic aspects of harmonics in
power systems", Power Engineering Society General Meeting, 2005, pp.
2394-2396.
[9] Y. Baghzouz, R. F. Burch, A. Capasso, A. Cavallini, A. E. Emanuel, M.
Halpin, R. Langella, G. Montanari, K. J. Olejniczac, P. Ribeiro, S. Rios­
Marcuello, F. Ruggiero, R. Thallam, A. Testa e P. Verde, "Time-varying
harmonics - n. Harmonic summation and propagation", TEEE Transaction on
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[10] P. F. Ribeiro, Time-Varying Waveform Distortions in Power Systems,
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2009.
[11] IEC 61400-21 Wind turbines - Part 21: Measurement and assessment of
power quality characteristics of grid connected wind turbines, Aug. 2008.
[12] Fabio Medeiros, Dalton C. Brasil, Paulo F. Ribeiro, Cristiano A. G.
Marques and Carlos A. Duque, "A New Approach for Harmonic Summation
Using the Methodology of lEC 61400-21". 14th International Conference on
Harmonics and Quality of Power, TCHQP 2010, Bergamo, Italy, September
2010.