Impact of microgeneration on the Quality of Power: Effect on the voltage waveform

This paper discusses the impact of microgeneration (¿G) on the quality of power of low voltage (LV) distribution networks. The work is focused on the analysis of voltage waveform, with particular emphasis on total harmonic distortion (THD), power factor (PF), voltage RMS variation and voltage unbalance factor (VUF). This analysis is carried out using detailed models of low voltage networks, considering the distribution transformer and lines, and the most representative linear and non linear loads. To obtain more accurate results, the non linear loads and the microgenerators are simulated as power electronic converters. Using these models, all the simulations are carried out in Matlab/Simulink platform for two different scenarios: one urban electric network (80% of non linear loads) and one rural network (60% of non linear loads). Also, simulation results are obtained and compared for different power operating conditions, with and without microgeneration.