INVESTIGATIONS OF ELECTRIC POWER QUALITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION
POWER SYSTEM OF RE.PUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Ljubomir Nrkoloskr, Goran Rafajlovskr, VencislavMalrnovskr
University “Sts Cyril and Metodij”, Faculty of Electrical Engineering POB 574
9 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
ABSTRACT
Power quality nowadays is growing concern both in utility
and consumers. It has many aspects, and it is difficult to
evaluate them all at the same time. This paper focuses
itself mainly on the voltage distortion measurement as a
main aspect of voltage quality. Possibility of voltage sags
and flicker measurement is also given.
At the University “Sts Cyril and Mertodij” Skopje,
Macedonia, a research program for assessing the voltage
quality in power system has been started. A short
description of measurement strategy and methodology for
the power network at Power Company of Macedonia
(ESM) is presented. They are carried out as a case studies.
In this paper the measuring system is described and the
results of long term harmonic measurement conducted
mainly in the middle voltage network of ESM.
Measurement sessions lasted 7 days and were camed out
at different locations. Some measurement results and
discussions are given at the end.
1. INTRODUCTION
In the last decade the harmonic levels have been
significantly raised due to increasing application of power
electronic converters and other non-linear loads. It is
expected that this trend is going to continue or even speed
up in coming years. Harmonics provoke numerous
negative effects well described in the literature [ 11.
Therefore, the harmonic phenomenon becomes wide
spread and constant concern of electric supply authorities.
Many countries have set limits on harmonics, trying to
prevent further degradation of power quality. Also, supply
authorities are encouraged to invest large financial
resources in harmonic research projects. The areas of
harmonic analysis and measurements are of special
interest.
The frequency of the voltage sags depends on the
overall quality of management and construction of the
network. The assessment of this aspect needs extensively
large project for monitoring and statistical analysis.
Flicker measurement also needs specially designed
instruments.
0-7803-3879-0 I 98 I $10.00
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In the countries of the so called “transition” period
(eastern European), the industry production obviously has
dropped down and so some aspects of voltage quality have
trend of bettering, without specially contrameasures taken.
But nevertheless, the power quality research is interesting,
because we almost have never made studies and
measurements in previous times. We also hope for new
rising trend in industry production in the near future. And
the rate of increasing of non-linear loads of consumer
electronics (audio visual equipment, personal computers)
is even growing from year to year also in nondeveloped
countries [2]
The negative effects of poor quality are also present in
the network of ESM. Because of lacking knowledge,
sometimes the negative effects are ascribed to other
reasons (e.g. poor insulation). The research project for the
first time in Macedonia will deal with theory, analysis and
measurement of power quality aspects.
2. THE STRATEGY OF POWER QUALITY
INVESTIGATION
Electric Power Company of Macedonia (ESM) is the only
power company in the country. Up to 1990 it was part of
power system of former Yugoslavia and UCPTE, but now
works as independent power system. It has about 570000
consumers of all sizes, around 6150 MWh annual
delivered electric energy and almost 1400 MW installed
generating power. It has 400, 200 150 and 110 kV
transmission voltage levels and 110, 35, 20, 10 and 0,4 kV
distribution voltage level (1 10 being both transmission and
distribution voltage level). The total length of distribution
lines is 22200 km 5200 of it being cable lines. Most
widespread medium voltage distribution network is at 10
kV. The level 35 kV, being most important distribution
level in the past, is not developed any more. The cites are
mainly fed through 110110 kV substations (one, two or
more depending on the city largness) and many 10104
substations. Each 10 kV feeder from 110/10 kV
substations supplies several others 10/04 substations.
The power quality measurement in the research
project are planned as case studies at different
measurement sites. The measurement sites shell be in the
-
distribution voltage level mainly I OkV and 0,4kV), and
also in chosen consumer in industry and in other housing
office and trading buildings, or some special sites (e.g. TV
studios). For the start we choosed the distribution
network. The measurement sites were chosen concerning
characteristics of connected loads grouped at certain area.
The six typical types of consumers are distinguished:
1. Large residential area with collective settlement;
2. Large residential area with individual housing;
3. Mixed area - city centre with office buildings and
shopping centre;
4. University campus;
5. Suburban area, small town and village;
6 Individual industrial loads with large power
consumption.
Usually 7 days period was chosen for every site which
is most favourable concerning harmonic generation.
The aim of measurement was to obtain overall scheme
of harmonic existence in power network of ESM, their
level and main sources, and also the possibilities of
measurement of other voltage quality parameters, such as
voltage sags and flicker. Using such knowledge, it is
planned to compare the results to the already existing
standards and recommendations and establishing a
procedure for non-linear load connection approval in
ESM.
3. DESCRIPTION OF MEASURING SYSTEM
The measurements were performed using specially
designed computer based system which is the state of the
art in power quality measurement. The system is made in
the company TEAM Gmbh from Herten [3], Germany and
is donated as a gift from Fachhochshule Bielefeld,
Germany to faculty of El. Engineering - Skopje. Block
scheme of measuring system is presented on fig. 1.
-. .-..- .- ..... ........... .- .. -. ...
__-
Voltage
--
current source
Analogue teil
............................
Figure 1: Block scheme of computer based measuring
system for power quality assessment.
The measuring system called N€2M 111 can measure
and evaluate several low frequency power quality aspects
at point of common coupling (PCC) from several Hertz to
12,5 kHz.It can measure high harmonic content (up to 50
-th order), unbalance and flicker. All measuring functions
can be performed on 3 phases (3 voltages and 3 currents).
The measuring signals are captured on the measuring
transformers (voltage and current), which is convenient
when me,asuring in power system on high and middle
voltage. 'We have galvanic insulation through optical
couplers from D/A conversion. Current signals are
captured via Hall effect transducers.
The instrument has A/D resolution of 16 bit, and
depending on measuring task, the system has different
sampling rate: For flicker measurement it uses 400 Hz,for
-
spectral analysis 5,6 kHz, for oscilloscopic monitoring of
signals .. 12,5 kHz, and for transient recorder
measurements - 6,4 kHz.
Calculations and evaluation of measuring signals is
done with compliance of technical recommendations and
standards such as IEC 1000-2-2, DIN VDE 0838, DIN EN
60555 and DIN VDE 0846 [4].
The measuring system consists of control unit (PC)
measuring unit where are the circuits for conditioning of
measuring signals and A/D conversion, and also of
connecting accessories.
The software which is used for conducting of
measurement [5] [6], evaluating and presentation of the
results, is installed on PC, better a Laptop type. The
measurement could be separated from evaluating and
presentation, which could be done "off line" in a
convenient environment. The structure of the software is
presented in fig. 2.
7-1
.- .............. .- ...
I -,
~ __1I
I I
/
Figure 2: The software structure of the NRM measurement
system.
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 mciui,%,

There are two modes in measurement: monitoring and r

automatic mode. Some measuring function are possible
only in monitoring mode (e.g. oscilloscope) and some are
possible in both modes. In the monitoring mode it is not
possible to memorise the data over the time. It is possible
only to monitor the measured quantities and to memorise
screens from the display. In the automatic mode, all
measured quantities are stored in memory over the time in
compressed form. After the measurement is over, they can
be decompressed, evaluated and presented in "off line"
mode. It is not possible to carry all measurements at the
same time. Only the spectral analysis and flicker
measurement could be done together in automatic mode,
but only in consecutive time intervals. The transient Figure 3: Three days tracing of phase voltage total har-
recorder function could be performed only as an monic distortion (THD) at low voltage 230V level
independent measurement alone. The function "spectral
analysis" could be performer both in manual end 7HDIWIII

automatic mode. There are several averaging time

intervals of spectral measurement. They can be chosen 1
r
sec (only for the short measurements lasting to 1 hour), 1
min (most preferable time interval in 7 day measurement),
10 minutes and 15 minutes (appropriate in power
maximum measurement). After evaluation, also the power
over the time and unsimetry over the time could be also
presented. The unsimetry is defined as a ratio of inverse to
direct component of the 3 phase system. The amplitude of
the harmonics could be also statistically evaluated.
In the measuring function of flicker we can monitor
and measure instantaneous value of flicker and statistical
quantity such as short term and long term flicker.
With the function of transient recorder we could
record the transient phenomena such as switching or
Figure 4: THD of phase voltage, THD of current at 35 kV
voltage sags in short time intervals of maximum 5 sec.
side of feeding transformer of substation 35/10 kV
"Industriska"
4. MEASUREMENT RESULTS

The measurements have been carried out at 4 different IHDIU)I"LI

locations in city of Skopje. They have lasted normally 7

days. The measuring sites could not always correspond
purely to the type of consumers stated earlier. It was
because we carried out our measurements at the PCC and
on feeders from which many other 10/0,4 substations and
also various types of consumers were fed. But nevertheless,
a dominant type of consumer could always be discerned.
The first measurements have been conducted at 230 V
socket in a room at Faculty of El. Engineering in Skopje.
The results of 3 days tracing of phase voltage total
harmonic distortion (THD) is shown in fig 3.
There is significant increase of harmonic distortion in
evening hours. This could be explained with the fact that
there are many non-linear loads as one phase rectifiers,
such as PC. But it is also result from overall presence of Figure 5.: THD of voltage and unsimetry of voltage in the
harmonic distortion from the 10 kV PCC. They are feeder "pivara" at 10 kV bus in substation "Industriska".
characterised with the domination of the fifth harmonic.

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 However, the level of harmonic is below limits fig.6), third voltage harmonic beeng up to 0,5%, f i l l up to
stipulated in harmonic standards and recommendations. 2,2% and seventh up to 0,75%. Because the measurement
Some results of 7 days measurement at 35 kV level in the were carried out in winter time when some feeding lines
substation "Industriska" in Skopje are shown at fig. 4. were overloaded, there were many supply interruptions.
The measurement were carried out at 35 kV side of Especially because the network there is mostly aerial,
the 8MVA feeding transformer and the whole fecding sensitive at moisture and fog conditions.
current were measured. This load is mostly industrial
(approximately 75%) but there are also some residential
areas of the town fed from it. The fith voltage harmonic is
about 1,3% and the seventh abouth 0,35%.
l
For the feeder "Pivara" (beer factory) at the 10 kV bus
of substation "Industriska" we have purely industrial load.
THD is below limits. The third voltage harmonic reaches
0,3%, the fifth up to 1,5% and the seventh 1,2%. The
maximum THD of voltage is about 2%.

Figure 7: THD of voltage and current (all three phases) at

110 kV level in 110/10kV substation "Glavinov" in Skopje
The current is measured at one of the two 35MVA feeding
transformlxs.
Figure 6: THD of voltage and current of residential area
(high housing) in the substation 110/10kV "Aerodrom" at
the feeder No 6 (10 kV)
I

Fig 6 shows THD of voltage and current in 10 kV I

feeder which supplies residential area in Skopje, all of
them high residential buildings. There is dominant 5-th
harmonic in voltage, characteristic for non-linear one
phase rectifiers. The third voltage harmonic reaches 0,6%,
the fifth up to 3,4% and the seventh 1.4%. The maximum
THD of voltage is about 4%.
In fig.7 the THD of phase voltage and current on 110
kV side of feeding transformer of substation 110/10 kV
"Glavinov" in Skopje is shown. The fed area is mostly
residential, but there is approximately 1/3 of it as an
industrial load. The dominant voltage harmonics are the
fifth (up to 1,1%), the third (up to 0,6%) and seventh (up Figure 8: Voltage and current THD for feeder No.4 at 10
to 0,5%). kV level in substation "Glavinov" Skopje
The results shown in fig. 8 are recorded at feeder No 4
(10 kV) at substation "Glavinov". The feeder supplies The next measuring period we connected the
residential area with individual housing, mainly villages in instrument on the same feeder in transient recorder mode,
Skopje surrounding. But also on this feeder is and we captured some transients and voltage sags, as
approximately 1/3 industrial 1oad.Tlie harmonic distortion shown in fig.9.
is lower then in residential dense populated area (compare

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 harmonics are generated from power electronic,
converters, mainly from three phase rectifiers, either
controlled for DC motor drives or uncontrolled for AC
motor drives (rectifier inverter sets).
However, in all cases, voltage harmonics were below
limits indicating that harmonic capacity of the network
have not been filled. Voltage THD limits of 5% were
applied as reference, which is widely accepted in many
country's standards. The results of measurement that such
limiting values are also acceptable in case of power
network of Macedonia.
Voltage sags measurements is difficult to measure in
large scale. For this we need many measuring devices
located in different sites of the network. With only one
instrument we could carry only case study, but also with
0 6 difficulties, because for statistical evaluation the time
uro interval for measurement can be very long.
For flicker evaluation we use the instrument in
combined measurement, spectral and flicker measurement
*m
in consecutive time intervals in our case studies of Power
Quality measurements.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the help from Prof.

Dr-Ing. J. Schlabbach from Fachhochschule Bielefeld,
Germany and Dr-Ing. D. Blume from TEAM Herten
,.. ,.... - Germany for steering and helping this work.
I This paper is in part sponsored by Ministry of
Science and by Electric Power Company ESM of
Macedonia.

Figure 9: Voltage sag and transients at switching on of 6. REFERENCES

the feeder No. 4 (10 kV) in substation 110/10 "Glavinov"
in Skopje [l] J Arillaga, D. Bradley, P. Bodger: "Power System
Harmonics", J. Wily & Sons, Chichester, 1985.
[2] V. Katic: Computer based harmonic measurement
systems: Discussion and realisation, IEEE - Int. Conf.
5. CONCLUSIONS
on Harmonics in Power Systems, ICHPS, V, Atlanta,
Sept. 1992, pp. 16-22.
The presented results show that with this instrument we
[3] Dirk Blume: Informationtechnische Analyse Leitungs-
can carry out case studies and evaluate different aspects of
gebundener Netzruckwirkungen, Dissertation Uni
power quality.
Dortmunt 1994.
The results of harmonic measurements show presence
[4] Standards: IEC 1000-2-2; DIN VDE 0838; DIN VDE
of voltage and current harmonics, the fifth being dominant
0846; VDE 0839; IEEE 519.
in residential areas, while the fifth and the seventh in
industrial loads. It is interesting to note that in residential
[SI Ljubomir Nikoloski, Goran Rafajlovski: Voltage
areas the level of the TKO is higher than in industrial. Quality - First Experiences in Republic of Macedonia,
2nd International Conference on Electrical Equipment
This could be ascribed to lowering of industrial production
Diagnosis, Electrical Energy Quality, Pula, Sept.
in the last years.
The main cause of it in residential areas as well in 1997, Croatia
[6] J. Schlabbach: Expert system measures harmonics and
mixed (industrial and residential and commercial) are
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equipment, video games and similar). In industry, the

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