1

Abstract--The desire to reduce electrical loading by using

energy efficient lighting has resulted in a high level of interest in
replacing conventional incandescent lamp with Compact
Fluorescent Lamps and LED lamps. However, their high
harmonic content was always a problem for the power quality of
the power system networks, especially the ones with a
considerable share of nonlinear loads. The problem of harmonics
cannot be neglected in cases of installations with high lighting
load. This paper presents an analysis of harmonics in a network
where lighting is one of the main loads.

CFLs and LED lamps
with electronic gear are characterized by extremely distorted
current, with high total current harmonic distortions. Hence they
cause a significant voltage distortion in electrical installations.
The network is simulated using the impedance network model, in
PSCAD/EMTDC software. A comparative analysis is
performed on the power quality, maximum loading and
economics of CFL lamps and LED lamps.


Index Terms--PSCAD; luminescent devices; nonlinear optical
devices; LED lamps; energy efficiency; power system simulation;
power quality; power system economics; power system
harmonics
I. NOMENCLATURE
f Frequency of the fundamental harmonic
I

rms Current of the th harmonic component

I
1
rms Current of the fundamental harmonic component
L th harmonic inductance
P Active power
Pf Power factor
QC Capacitor reactive power
R th harmonic resistance
S Apparent power
THD
I
Total harmonic distortion of a current
THD
V
Total harmonic distortion of a voltage

This work was supported by M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology,
Bangalore, India.
V. George, A. Bagaria, P. Singh, S. R. Pampattiwar and S. Periwal are all
with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, MSRIT,
Bangalore, 560054 India. (e-mails: victor.george@rediffmail.com;
aayushbagaria@yahoo.com; prakashsingh_100@hotmail.com;
sankalp.r.p@facebook.com; swatiperiwal@gmail.com).

X
f
Reference inductance of a phase conductor for the
fundamental harmonic

Z
f
Reference impedance of a phase conductor for the
fundamental harmonic

Greek symbol
Harmonic order
II. INTRODUCTION
HE idea of replacing inefficacious and short-aged
incandescent lamps with efficacious and long aged
fluorescent lamps has resulted in the development of compact
fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Compact fluorescent lamps were
primarily intended for residential and commercial customers.
Lasting much longer and consuming much less energy than
incandescent lamps with comparable luminous output, they
represented promising new lamp types. As a part of their
energy saving strategy, nations across the world were
promoting the use of CFLs. These countries were even
offering CFLs at a highly subsidized price to make them
popular.
The basic problem arising in the mass usage of CFLs is the
problem with the network voltage distortion that arises due to
their distorted current which contains a high level of harmonic
components even at pure sine wave supply voltage. Various
references discussing the behavior of CFLs under various
operating conditions like different system voltage, voltage
distortions in the power system etc. has been published [2].
Literature referred suggests harmonics introduced into the
networks by CFLs has been ignored earlier as individual
CFLs injection is very small. The combined effect of the
widespread adaptation of the CFL can be just as detrimental as
one large harmonic source. Moreover mitigation of harmonic
distortion caused by CFLs is very difficult once they are
widely distributed over the large power system network.

[3] It
is easier to deal with one CFL than dispersed CFLs as
harmonic filter can be designed for individual CFL to meet the
system requirements.
In recent times, LED lamps are more widely accepted than
CFLs because of their lower power consumption and longer
Comparison of CFL and LED Lamp Harmonic
Disturbances, Economics (Cost and Power
Quality) and Maximum Possible Loading in a
Power System
Victor George, Aayush Bagaria, Prakash Singh, Sankalp Rajeev Pampattiwar and Swati Periwal
T
2
life. LED lamps similar to CFLs are non linear in nature and
hence induce harmonics into the distribution system,
This paper presents the implications of widespread
adaptation of CFLs and LED lamps for distribution networks.
The real time data of the harmonic current injected by the
CFLs and LED lamps is analyzed using the Yokogawa CW
240 Clamp on meter. A simulation model for these is then
built using PSCAD/EMTDC software and the simulation
result is validated by comparing it with the obtained real time
data. A comparison between CFLs and LED lamps in terms of
harmonic disturbances, economics and maximum possible
loading in a power system is performed. Economic analysis
presented here showed an obvious advantage of the use of
LED lamps compared with CFLs and incandescent lamps.
III. CHARACTERISTICS OF CFL AS NON LINEAR LOAD
CFLs represent loads with an exceptionally unfavorable
current spectral content, i.e. with very high THD
I
values. The
pf values obtained during the real time investigation of CFLs
with powers of 11W, 15W, 20W, 23W and 27W at rated
voltage of 220 V belonged to a narrower range of 0.44 to
0.52. These tests also showed that the total harmonic
distortion factor of the current, expressed with respect to the
fundamental current I
1
and defined by means of the following
formula belonged to the range of 109% to 140%.

(1)




Fig. 1. Typical Current Waveform Showing Harmonic Distortions Induced by
11W CFL.
The effect of the variations of rms voltage on the current
harmonics was also investigated. The current harmonic
content, as well as the THD
I
values of the investigated CFLs
of various ratings (at rated voltage) was presented in Table III.
The most important conclusion was that the total harmonic
distortion of the lamp current increases with the increase of
the supply voltage as shown in Table I. It was also noticed
that the THD
I
of different lamps operating in parallel is lower
than the THD
I
of individually operating lamp due to partial
harmonic cancellation. There is no linear correlation between
the harmonics of the same order of the supply voltage and of
the CFL current. This was expected since the majority of the
elements of the electrical circuit inside the lamp are nonlinear.


TABLE I
THD
I
FOR DIFFERENT CFLS AT DIFFERENT SUPPLY VOLTAGES
CFL Rating
Voltage
175 V 200 V 225 V 250 V
15 W 115.6% 118.9% 128.3% 134.7%
20 W 117.4% 119.1% 124.7% 127.9%
23 W 119.1% 131.0% 138.6% 143.9%
27 W 120.3% 123.1% 130.5% 132.5%
IV. VOLTAGE HARMONICS
Voltage harmonic components can be calculated using the
impedance network model. All cables, conductors and power
transformers can be substituted by equivalent impedances.
The loads (such as resistive loads, induction motors etc) are
not shown in the impedance network model because they do
not affect considerably the voltage values. Non-linear loads
are most frequently modeled as higher harmonic current
generator.
Literature surveyed suggests that the modeling of a non-
linear load by an ideal current generator is based on the
assumption that the spectral current content is not affected by
the voltage distortion [14]. In the case of some consumers,
where very high values of higher harmonic components in the
supply voltage could be anticipated, the model of the
consumer could be extended by adding impedances in parallel
with the ideal current generator.
V. DESCRIPTION OF NETWORK
A low-voltage electrical installation representing a typical
commercial customer was analyzed. The nominal voltage of
the transformer is 20 kV/ 400 V, the nominal power is
1000KVA.
In order to obtain real and reliable data concerning the
exact current harmonic content of CFLs and LED lamps many
samples of such lamps were tested in the laboratory using
Yokogawa CW 240 Clamp on Meter. The real time harmonic
spectrum exhibited by these lamps was analyzed. It was seen
that these lamps do not produce even order harmonic current
components. It was also noticed that the phase difference
between the supply voltage waveform and the fundamental
current waveform of the tested lamps was negligible.
However, the power factor is very low in the case of CFLs
ranging from 0.4-0.52 due to the considerable harmonic
content of current. The measured values of the current
harmonics of these CFL & LED lamps are presented in Table
II. All data from the measurements are properly used as input
in the simulation model in order to estimate the influence of
CFLs and LEDs on the voltage distortion of a network.




3



TABLE II
CURRENT HARMONICS
Normalized Current Amplitude (A)
CFL
11W 15W 20W 23W 27W
0.020 0.067 0.030 0.095 0.118
0.015 0.051 0.0140 0.075 0.088
0.010 0.036 0 0.052 0.058
0.009 0.033 0.006 0.046 0.053
0.009 0.031 0.006 0.046 0.053
0.007 0.024 0 0.039 0.041
132.0% 128.3% 124.7% 138.6% 130.5%

Harmonic
Order
LED Lamp
11W 22W 50W
1 0.054 0.099 0.234
3 0.0095 0.008 0.044
5 0 0 0.018
THD
I
37% 9% 20.3%
VI. SIMULATION
All the electrical characteristics of the network (i.e.
transformer, distribution lines and load) have to be accurately
simulated in order to obtain reliable results. The Simulation of
the electric network is performed using the PSCAD v3.0.6
software. The essential parameters describing the transformer,
the cables and the conductors (resistance and inductance) are
determined using their values for the fundamental harmonic.
A detailed view of the simulation model is described in
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Simulation Model of a CFL.
The elements are modeled by serial impedances. The
sources of the harmonics (CFLs or LED lamps) are defined
according to the adopted lamp wattage and their fundamental
current. Current sources are added in parallel to represent each
harmonic component. The magnitude and frequency of these
current sources are adjusted according to the harmonic
component that particular source is representing. The
magnitude of the various harmonic component injected by the
CFLs and LED lamps were obtained in real time and is shown
in Table II. The calculation is made under the assumption that
except CFLs there are no other non-linear loads.
VII. SOLUTIONS FOR ELIMINATING DISTORTION PROBLEMS
The harmonic distortion can be eliminated either by filters
distributed in the cubicles or by a new generation of CFLs
with a high power factor. As an example, the costs of these
two solutions are given for the case where 10 CFLs, 15W
each, are applied. The difference in the total price of CFLs
with a high power factor versus the commonly used electronic
CFLs amounts to 10*(1035337.5) = INR 2475. This value is
considerably higher than the price of commercially available
high-quality filters. For example, the price of a filter with the
rated current of 3A (which can be used for the filtering of
even 30 lamps) amounts to INR 540 only. Although there are
some additional costs for fitting the filters into the cubicles, it
is obvious that presently the filters represent an economically
better solution for the problem of harmonics than the CFLs
with a high power factor.
Two methods of passive correction are described. Fig.3
shows a method using a tuned series LC network before the
CFL or the LED. The value of L
1
and C
1
is calculated for 2.5
to 3 times the line frequency. This circuit corrects the power
factor and provides limited harmonic distortion improvement.
Y

[
u
F
]
X [H]
R
=
0
C
F
L

Fig. 3. Passive Filtering (Method 1).
Fig. 4 shows parallel tuned resonant circuit similar to
circuit shown in Fig. 3 L
1
and C
1
are tuned to third harmonic.
This circuit provides good power factor correction and limited
harmonic distortion suppression. The main advantage of this
circuit is that the cost, size and the attenuation of the third
harmonic. The major disadvantages include virtually no
attenuation of higher harmonics and slightly more challenging
task of designing L
1
. The L/C ratio is taken to be 5% to 7%
[15].
Y [uF]
X [H]
R
=
0
C
F
L

Fig. 4. Passive Filtering (Method 2).
VIII. MAXIMUM LOADING
The maximum CFL and LED lamp loading model is
formulated using the harmonic data of a 27W CFL lamp and
an 11W LED lamp.
A large number of CFLs are connected into the formulated
network increasing the CFL loading on the network. The
loading is done on trail and run basis from 8% to 12% of total
4
CFL load and 30% to 40% of LED load, where the total real
power of the system is taken as 1MW.
Table III shows the total voltage harmonic injected at
different levels of total loading of CFL and LED lamps
respectively. It is seen that a total CFL loading of 10% and
35% of LED lamp loading defines the maximum limit of
permissible THD
V
.
TABLE III
MAXIMUM LOADING
CFL
Loading 8% 10% 12%
THD
v
6.17% 7.96% 9.64%
LED Lamp
Loading 30% 35% 40%
THD
v
6.85% 7.94% 9.14%
IX. ECONOMICS
Table IV shows the comparative study of a 150 W
incandescent lamp, a 27 W CFL and a 25W LED lamp. The
basis of comparison was the intensity of light emitted by the
above mentioned three sources. The economics were drawn
on the basis of data collected and the standard energy rates
applicable in India. Each of these sources was assumed to be
working for 12hrs each day. The actual power consumed by
each source is obtained from the real time data measured
using the clamp on meter. Energy consumed, cost of energy
per day and the running cost per annum of these sources is
then calculated.
The life span of LED lamps is approximately 15 years
[16]. Running a 150 W incandescent lamp for this lifespan
would incur an additional running cost of INR 74,343/-. This
is calculated by taking the difference between the running
costs of 150W incandescent lamp and 25W LED lamp over
15yrs time period and adding the replacement cost for
replacing 50 incandescent lamps each costing INR 15.
Similarly the use of CFL for 15 yrs would incur an additional
running cost of INR 4600/-.
Considering the cost of a 25W LED lamp and 27W CFL as
INR 3500/- [16] and INR 265 [17] respectively, installation of
CFL would cost an additional INR 1100/- over the lifespan of
an LED lamp. This additional cost is calculated by
considering that 13 CFL bulbs would be required to be
replaced during the 15yr period and additional running cost of
CFLs over LED lamp.
TABLE IV
ECONOMICS
Incandescent
Lamp 150 W
CFL
27W
LED lamp 25W
150 27 22
11 60 65
1650 1620 1625
175 26.4 24.04
2.1 0.3168 0.28848
13.65 2.0592 1.87512
4982.25 751.60 684.4188
1500 6000 75000
85312.5 12875 11719.5
Savings in running cost
Comparison
25W LED Vs 150W
Incandescent Lamp
25W LED Vs
27W CFL
INR 73593 1155.50
No. 50 13
INR 15 265
INR 750 3445
INR 74343.50 4600.50
X. CONCLUSION
The harmonics injected into the power system due to the
presence of nonlinear loads like CFL and LED lamps formed
the root of the study conducted. Simulation model designed to
analyze the performance of these sources provided results
comparable to the actual measured readings. The model was
validated by simulation on two formulated models with the
same parameters arranged in different patterns.
The performance analysis of various ratings of CFLs and
LED lamps revealed that the harmonic injection depends
largely on the design of these loads. The domestic supply
voltage varies considerably depending on the quality of
distribution network. The harmonic generation increases with
an increase in the supply voltage for a given non linear load.
Maximum loading of CFL and LED lamps are evaluated
considering a power system capable of delivering 1MW
power and are found to be 10% and 35% of the total real
power that the system is capable of delivering. The limitation
on maximum loading has to be taken into account for
designing the entire lighting in the building where lighting
load is predominant. The limit of 10% CFL loading and 35%
LED lamp loading is valid if no filtration of higher current
harmonics is made. It is more practical to design filters for
each of these loads individually than designing it for the entire
system.
CFLs cause additional line losses due to low power factor.
These heat losses affect the life of machines and cables
therefore the failure rate is higher. These losses also generate
additional running cost over a period of time.
LED lamps prove to be a better option as there is not much
heat loss and also harmonic distortion are lesser with greater
power factor. Hence these are more reliable both in terms of
economics and power quality effects.
Analysis presented here can be extended in several ways.
To begin with, active filter deign can be implemented instead
of the passive filters employed here. Active filters can
compensate more harmonics and mitigates problems like
flickers.
A further study can be conducted taking into account the
other non linear loads that are usually present in the system
along with the lighting loads. This would provide a clearer
picture of the actual maximum loading of such non linear
loads into the power system. The effect of harmonics due to
CFLs can also be studied under transient conditions.
XI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. K. Rajanikanth,
Dr. K. S. Rajanandam, Dr. V. Krishnan, Ms. S. Dawnee, Ms.
Kusumika K Dutta, and Mr. Kodeeswara Kumaran for giving
us inspiring advice, providing valuable suggestions and
5
recommendations and helping us with the simulation design
and networking.
We acknowledge the constant encouragement given to us
by all the faculty members of the department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, MSRIT, Bangalore, India.
XII. REFERENCES
Periodicals:
[1] S.A. Suflis, I.E. Chatzakis, F.V. Topalis, M.B. Kostic, Scenarios for a
large scale installation of compact fluorescent lamps: Influence on the
power quality (2003)
[2] F.V. Topalis, M.B. Kostic, Z.R. Radakovic, The voltage distortion in
low voltage networks caused by compact fluorescent lamps with
electronic gear. Electrical power systems research 73 (2005) 129-136
[3] N.R. Watson, T. Scott and S. Hirsch, Compact Fluorescent Lamps
(CFL)- implications for distribution networks (2003)
[4] F.V. Topalis, M.B. Kostic, Z.R. Radakovic, Advantages and
disadvantages of the use of compact fluorescent lamps with electronic
control gear, Lighting Res. Technol. 34 (4) (2002) 279288.
[5] R. Arseneau, M. Ouellette, The effect of supply harmonics on the
performance of compact fluorescent lamps, IEEE Trans. Power
Delivery 8 (2) (1993) 473479.
[6] M. Etezadi-Amodi, T. Florence, Power factor and harmonic distortion
characteristics of energy efficient lamps, IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol.4, No.3, 1989, pp. 1965- 1969.
[7] F.V. Topalis, Efficiency of energy saving lamps and harmonic
distortion in distribution system, IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol.8, No.4, 1993, pp. 2038-2042.
[8] E.E. Hammer, Effects of changing line voltage with various fluorescent
systems, IEEE Transactions on Industry Application, Vol.24, No.4,
1988, pp. 692-699.
[9] F.V. Topalis, I.F. Gonos and M.B. Kostic, Effects of changing line
voltage on the harmonic current of compact fluorescent lamps,
Proceedings International Conference on Power and Energy Systems,
Las Vegas, U.S.A., 1999, pp. 24-27.
[10] C. Ming-Tong, F. Che-Ming, Characteristics of fluorescent lamps under
abnormal system voltage conditions, Electric Power System Research,
Vol.41, 1997, pp. 99-107.
[11] F.V. Topalis, I.F. Gonos, G.A. Vokas, Arbitrary waveform generator
for harmonic distortion tests on compact fluorescent lamps,
Measurement, Journal of the International Measurement Confederation,
Vol.30, No.4, 2001, pp. 257-267.
[12] IEC/TR3 61000-3-6, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Part 3:
Limits Section 6: Assessment of emission limits for distorting loads in
MV and HV power systems Basic EMC publication, 1
st
ed., 1996, p.
10.
[13] IEC 61000-3-2, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Part 3-2:
Limits Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment input current
16A per phase), ed. 2.1, 2001, p. 10.
[14] Cahier technique Merlin Gerin No. 152, Harmonics in industrial
networks, 1998 Books:
[15] Handbook Of Power Quality, Angelo Baggini

Technical Reports:
[16] Carbon Reduction Technology Catalogue
[17] Havells India Catalogue
XIII. BIOGRAPHIES

Victor George was born in Kottayam, Kerala, India on
May 22, 1975. He received his AMIE in Electronics and
Communication Engineering. He completed his Masters in
Electrical Energy Systems from Visvesvaraya
Technological University, Belgaum, India.
He is currently employed as an Assistant Professor,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, M.
S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India. His
special field of interest includes Energy Systems and Power Quality.

Aayush Bagaria was born in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India on Feb 23, 1989 and
is presently living in Bangalore. He graduated from M. S. Ramaiah Institute of
Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering.
He received green belt in Six Sigma in the year 2009. His special field of
interest includes Switch Gears and Protection, Quality Management and
Electrical Machines.


Prakash Singh was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on
Nov 21, 1986 and is presently living in Bangalore. He
graduated from M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology,
Bangalore, Karnataka, India in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering.
He received green belt in Six Sigma in the year 2009.
His special field of interest includes Control Systems and
Analysis.

Sankalp Rajeev Pampattiwar was born in Nagpur,
Maharashtra, India on Mar 20, 1990 and is presently living
in Bangalore. He graduated from M. S. Ramaiah Institute of
Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering.
He received green belt in Six Sigma in the year 2009.
His special field of interest includes Power Electronics,
Switch Mode Power Electronic Devices and Digital
Electronic Circuits.


Swati Periwal was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on
Feb 17, 1989 and is presently living in Bangalore. She
graduated from M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology,
Bangalore, Karnataka, India in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering.
She received green belt in Six Sigma in the year 2009.
Her special field of interest includes Linear Integrated
Circuits, Transmission and Distribution Networks.