HVDC harmonic analysis using time domain software

Abstract

The research work in this paper focuses on the evaluation and application of PSCAD time domain software for conducting harmonic analysis on integrated HVAC/HVDC power systems. Typically frequency domain software is used for conducting such studies. They however do not take the dynamic behaviour of the system components into account, only giving steady-state results. To overcome this problem time domain software is used. The PSCAD software was found to have shortcomings in its library tools in that established harmonic analysis indices are not directly generated. Where such shortcomings were found adaptive tools were developed, namely, “Compact Distortion Index Tool”, “Compact Harmonic Component Power Calculation Tool” and “Apparent Power and True Power Factor Tool”. These tools were applied in a case study using the CIGRE HVDC Benchmark system. Results were generated and it was found that the developed tools were effective for conducting harmonic analysis using time domain software.