Characteristics of Harmonic Distortions in Residential Distribution Systems

Harmonics produced by residential loads have become an increasing concern in recent years due to the extensive adoption of power-electronic-based home appliances. This paper presents analysis on extensive field data collected from various locations of residential distribution systems in North America. The degree of cancellation of harmonic currents from different sources is determined. A comparative study on the harmonic characteristics of residential, commercial, and industrial feeders is also conducted. The results show that the harmonic current distortion levels of residential feeders are much higher than those of the industrial and commercial feeders. The third harmonic is the most pronounced component and the low-order harmonic currents from different homes tend to add to each other, i.e., the harmonic cancellation effect is much less than those claimed in the literature.