Single Phase Power Quality Analysis of Solar Cell Power System in Harmonics Measurement

Abstract

This paper analyzes single-phase power quality in solar cell power systems, focusing on harmonic measurement issues when comparing nonlinear loads to configurations with both linear and nonlinear loads (RC Load). As photovoltaics increasingly dominate renewable energy generation, they offer a clean source of energy with significantly reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to conventional sources. The output waveforms of voltage and current generated by photovoltaic systems produce harmonics due to power electronics in inverters and nonlinear loads. We present experimental results from an interactive standalone photovoltaic system connected to various linear and nonlinear load configurations, conducted using MATLAB/Simulink with both serial and parallel methods of RC load. Key findings show that the Total Harmonic Distortion for Current (THDI) of nonlinear loads exceeds 62%, while combining linear and nonlinear loads reduces THDI to as low as 0.25%. Similarly, Total Harmonic Distortion for Voltage (THDV) improves from 11.28% for nonlinear loads to 0.09% in combined configurations. These results demonstrate that integrating linear loads effectively enhances power quality by minimizing harmonic distortion, ensuring compliance with IEEE 519-1992 standard norms. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing solar power systems and improving performance.