Frequency Response Assessment of Distribution Feeders With Capacitor Banks for Voltage Harmonic Mitigation: A Practical Approach With Field Measurements

Harmonic distortions are major power quality issues observed in distribution systems, causing overloading, overheating, increased losses, reduced equipment lifespan, malfunctioning of devices, and, in extreme cases, service interruptions and shutdowns of industrial processes. Since determining the causes of voltage harmonic distortions is challenging, and responsibility is not always easily assigned, this paper proposes mitigating this power quality phenomenon in distribution feeders by modifying their impedance matrix for the h-th harmonic order through frequency scanning process, without the need to assign responsibility or require the installation of harmonic filters. This approach suggests that the feeder’s frequency response can be adjusted to improve voltage harmonic levels solely by relocating existing capacitor banks. Applying this concept to a real case study, the appropriate locations for relocating capacitor banks were identified, and power quality measurements taken at an affected consumer’s point of service confirmed the effectiveness of this approach, ensuring the original reactive power compensation of the feeder.