Analysis and control of harmonic distortions on electrical distribution systems in Benin-the case of Abomey Calavi Network

Abstract

The quality of electrical energy is characterized by the stability of voltage, current and frequency, in addition to the active and reactive power, power factor, peak factor and harmonic distortions of the alternating or sinusoidal wave forms. The consequences of harmonic distortions of transmitted electrical energy might be damage of con-densers, untimely release of circuit breakers, resonance in the networks, warming of transformers and over heat-ing of electrical appliances. In this respect, the harmonics on the distribution networks of the Beninese Compa-ny of Electrical Energy (SBEE) at Abomey-Calavi were studied to develop techniques for analyzing and contro-lling the system stability to meet International Standards for power transmission. The electrical filter systems of the transmission networks were modeled and simulated by MATLAB Simulink numerical tools to obtain data on the levels of harmonic reduction. The harmonic disturbances caused by the nonlinear loads were reduced by 92.85 %. Also, by reducing the effective current by 18.20 % and apparent power by 18.04 %, an improvement of the power-factor by 12.65 %, mean annual energy gain by 445 kWh and increase in the capacity by 18.00 % of the electrical distribution network were achieved. Therefore, integration of filters on the networks reduced the harmonics on the electrical energy distribution systems