Factors affecting the harmonics generated by a cluster of personal computers

The penetration of nonlinear loads on power systems increases distortion levels and can cause severe problems to power systems. Many factors affect the degree of generated harmonics including attenuation, diversity, system voltage, source impedance and frequency. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate and accurately quantify the effects of these factors on the harmonics produced by a group of Personal Computers (PCs). Experimental measurements and computer simulations are performed to confirm the observations.