Metrology for supraharmonics

A rapid connection of equipment and facilities that contain power electronics converters such as solar cells, wind power and electric car chargers increases the load on the electricity grid and creates disturbances that affect the quality of the electricity.

A relatively new power quality parameter

Harmonics, disturbances in the frequency range up to 3 kHz, have been known for a long time and are well researched. For harmonics, there are also established regulations and standards for how much harmonics equipment may emit. So-called supraharmonics, disturbances in the frequency range 2 to 150 kHz, are, however, a relatively recent power quality parameter. The need to measure supraharmonics and evaluate how they affect the electricity grid has increased. Standardization groups have worked with and presented proposals for measurement and test methods with associated requirements for measurement uncertainty.

The industry is also developing power quality meters that can measure supraharmonics, and it is important to be able to evaluate that these function reliably.

Traceable calibration

The project will develop methods for traceable calibration of power quality meters that measure supraharmonics. The National Laboratory for Power and Energy already has methods for other measurements in the relevant frequency range, and measurement of supraharmonics is a natural extension of the National Laboratory’s competence and ability.