Harmonics estimation in emerging power system: Key issues and challenges

The world wide increasing applications of nonlinear loads, mostly consisting of power electronics devices, have made the power quality problems a vital issue than ever before. An efficient control and mitigation of power quality parameters are highly dependent on their accurate and timely detection. Harmonics are not only one of the prime culprits that deteriorate power quality of the supply system but it also affects accurate estimation and effective control of power quality problems. In this paper, several methods of power system harmonics estimation are critically reviewed and classified based on the type of analysis tool and applications. Various estimation techniques are discussed in brief: comparison of available approaches are examined and presented. The key issues and challenges in harmonics estimations are highlighted. A vast collection of papers, books and standards are listed in the reference list, which is useful to the researchers, engineers and policy-makers in the area of power quality. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.