Time-Domain Aggregation of Interharmonics from Parallel Operation of Multiple Sustainable Sources and Electric Vehicles

This paper examines the random nature of interharmonics generated by power converters connected to sustainable energy sources and loads, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and electric vehicles (EVs). Current research often overlooks the stochastic behavior of interharmonics and their impact on power system reliability and resilience, leading to gaps in effective modeling and mitigation strategies. Thus, this study examines a low-voltage installation with a PV panel, an EV and a microwave operating simultaneously, providing practical insights into real-world scenarios of interharmonic related disruptions and solutions for enhancing the reliability and resilience of sustainable energy grids. By leveraging real-time measurements of interharmonics, suitable probability distribution functions (PDFs) are initialized to develop a probabilistic model using Monte Carlo simulation. This enables the derivation of a time-domain aggregation model of interharmonics from multiple sources operating together at the point of common coupling (PCC). The findings reveal that the peak values of voltage or current fluctuations at the PCC are influenced by the randomness in the number of devices connected and the frequency components originating from different sources. Through multiple case studies, the dependency of these fluctuations on stochastic parameters is systematically established. Empirical relationships are formulated to predict aggregated interharmonic values under varying scenarios, enhancing the accuracy and applicability of the model. The results demonstrate that higher interharmonic frequencies and fewer randomly connected devices significantly increase the probability of elevated aggregated peak values. These insights can serve as benchmarks for grid operators and policymakers in mitigating interharmonic related issues in modern power systems.