A PC-based Instrument for Harmonics and Interharmonics Measurement in Power Supply Systems

Growing interest on power quality has led international working groups to define new standards for testing and measurement techniques to apply to power systems. Special attention has been paid to harmonic and interharmonic measurements. Here, the authors introduce a PC-based instrument capable of synchronising sampling frequency with fundamental frequency in order to perform on-line voltage or current distortion analysis. The instrument has been developed in accordance with currently available standards and international documents, IEC 61000-4-7 Ed. 2002, IEC 61000-4-30 Ed. 2003, Draft Guide IEEE P1159.1 Ed. 2003 and limits given by IEC 61000 Part. 3. A detailed description of the developed instrument is reported, together with an accuracy evaluation carried out by means of an electrical power standard calibrator.