Diagnosis of supraharmonics-related problems based on the effects on electrical equipment

Abstract Supraharmonics (SH) have proliferated in low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) grids due to the increasing use of technologies emitting distortion in the range 2–150 kHz. Currently, no recommended practices to assess the effects of SH on the electrical system exist. The propagation of SH through LV and MV grids leads to interference with the elements for power delivery and end-user equipment, e.g., light flicker, aging of capacitors and cable terminations, audible noise, and interruption of electric vehicle (EV) charging. As such incidents happen more often, the need for guidelines that facilitate the diagnosis of problems related to SH arises. Different features of the SH distortion are responsible for different interferences. This article introduces guidelines for the evaluation of the impact of SH based on the morphology of the interference. The evaluation is performed with easy-to-use methods and formulas directly related to the characteristics of the SH distortion. The adverse effects of SH considered are audible noise, light flicker, tripping of LV residual current devices (RCDs), and MV cable termination failure. This work interests field engineers and researchers facing problems related to SH; it also serves as a guide for further research.