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I have power-recording data from 11 countries (USA-60Hz mains frequency / other nation 50Hz). These data were collected using a audio recorder (in a computer) connected directly to the power mains via a step-down transformer. So, the 50hz/60Hz electrical voltage sine wave is basically stored in the computer as a .wav file.

Now if I perform a Fast Fourier Transform on these data, a distinction arises between data collected from one generator (from a grid in a country) to another in the magnitudes of their harmonics. I am including the images after performing the FFT.

Grid A Here, only the main 60Hz component is prominent. FFT of Grid A data

Grid B Here, the main 50Hz component is prominent, but the odd multiple components also are present with decreasing significance. enter image description here

Grid C I can't post 3 images due to lower than 10 reps. Thus, Grid C has no image, but the description still holds.

Here, the main 50Hz component is prominent, but the odd multiple components also are present, but not with decreasing significance. The 3rd component has the most prominence than 1st, 5th or 7th.

My question is what makes this harmonic components arise in the first place (may be some aspect of the generator). What are they dependent upon or are they arbitary? So far, from the large amount of data in my possesion, It seems that this should be a pattern of the generators it self because data from the same grid showcases this trait consistently. Can a grid (including the generators and the load) suddenly stop producing harmonics or alter their magnitudes of different harmonics?

Moreover, I can see that in Grid A, which is from USA, the harmonics are nearly absent. Where as Grid B (Lebanon) and Grid C (Turkey) have significant harmonic components. Could this be because of the better Generator and load control mechanisms of the networks of USA in comparison to those of Lebanon and Turkey?

P.S. Any information about this would be great. It would also be great if you could point out some relevant literature.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ The voltage from a generator is not a perfect sinus wave and there are a lot of loads with no perfect sinusodial current. Rectification from AC to DC is an example for not sinsusodial load currents. If there are high voltage DC transmission systems used in the grid some harmonics are produced. \$\endgroup\$ – Uwe Mar 14 '17 at 21:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ The computer used to record those measurements might be responsible for causing at lease some of those harmonics due to the nature of its power supply. Was the same computer used for all of the measurements (probably not, but just checking). \$\endgroup\$ – brhans Mar 14 '17 at 21:28
  • \$\begingroup\$ No, the same computer wasn't used. Different computers and audio recorders were used at different countries. But, different computers were also used to record the signals from Eastern US and Western US grids too. But the US signals tended to contain less harmonics. In fact signals from France also had less significant harmonics compared to those from India, Turkey and Lebanon, which led me to assume that this might be due to better Power infrastructure in developed nation. I am not very well versed in Power engineering though. \$\endgroup\$ – Rio1210 Mar 14 '17 at 21:39
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    \$\begingroup\$ Try plotting on a log scale for the Y axis, it'll show the small components much more clearly. \$\endgroup\$ – user_1818839 Mar 14 '17 at 22:02
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It could be the generator, but it's more likely to be the type of loads being driven.

A simple rectifier/capacitor DC supply draws current only around the peaks of the supply voltage waveform, giving rise to a current with lots of odd harmonics, and a 'clipped sine' voltage waveform.

This type of supply was prevalent in computers, TVs etc for a long time, but is now being replace in new equipment above some power level like 300watts or so with 'power factor corrected' DC supplies. These use a programmable current boost converter to force the supply input current to be as if it was going to a resistive load.

It's quite plausible that there are more PFC corrected supplies in the US, and more of the old type in Turkey and Lebanon.

Let me google a reference for you ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonics_(electrical_power)

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    \$\begingroup\$ My work is basically on forensic identification of origin of recording of audio files. The Electric Network Frequency (ENF), hovering around 50/60hz also seeps into audio files (and are embedded) when recorded in an area from the background power disturbances. I am using statistical machine learning algorithms to classify the origins of the audio files (which somewhat mimics the raw power recordings that I am talking about here + noise). Now the assumption is that each Grid has a unique ENF pattern (that shows up in statistical analysis) due to unique traits of the network. \$\endgroup\$ – Rio1210 Mar 14 '17 at 21:47
  • \$\begingroup\$ These traits include, load, pattern of load usage, load control mechanism of the grid etc. Now, I am wondering, as most of you are saying, these harmonics variation are also depended on the load or the network, then they too should also be statistically unique for different Grids? Thanks for the answer. It would be even more helpful, if you could point me to some literature that discusses the power harmonics as depended on the network or type of loads. Thanks a lot. \$\endgroup\$ – Rio1210 Mar 14 '17 at 21:51
  • \$\begingroup\$ Could you please provide a reference for "power factor corrected' DC supplies". I tried searching for some, but I don't seem to be getting the exact thing. Thanks. \$\endgroup\$ – Rio1210 Mar 31 '17 at 8:44
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From wikipedia:

Current harmonics are caused by non-linear loads. When a non-linear load, such as a rectifier, is connected to the system, it draws a current that is not necessarily sinusoidal. The current waveform can become quite complex, depending on the type of load and its interaction with other components of the system.

So diodes and transformers with a ferrite core (hysteresis in core) generate the harmonics. The generator doesn't really add harmonics. Its the load.

Here is a great diagram from an article on Harmonics in power systems. It should also be noted that the line impedance also has a big factor on harmonics, because the impedance blocks the source (a big generator) from 'seeing' the load. enter image description here

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks a lot for the already helpful answer. Could you please read the comment I made to @Neil_UK 's answer for better context. It would be even more helpful, if you could point me to some literature that discusses the power harmonics as depended on the network or type of loads. Thanks a lot. \$\endgroup\$ – Rio1210 Mar 14 '17 at 21:53
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    \$\begingroup\$ Yeah, they are different for different grids, so you can use the harmonics somewhat for identification, other variations such as loads turning on also help identification. Here's where the wild part comes in: There are people that do this already and they track even local changes and spikes constantly. I read in some EE mag (probably the spectrum) that they can take an audio recording and extract the 60Hz hum and find the local variations of the grid time correlate the audio recording AND hone in on the location. Thats some crazy stuff right there. \$\endgroup\$ – Voltage Spike♦ Mar 14 '17 at 22:41
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When you consider the 'Grid' you are talking about a complex of both generators and loads.
Your AC supply may consist (locally) of either a single generator or multiples in parallel.

  1. With a single generator you will see waveform distortion mostly based on it's construction and lower levels of harmonics for larger gensets.
  2. With multiple generators in parallel you will see harmonics based on construction and synchronization offsets

Your loads may also create local waveform distortion (harmonics) based on their current consumption periods. One typical load that creates high power line harmonics are large power VFD's Read this for some ideas.

In general for your US supply, there will be fewer and possible better controlled generators on line giving low harmonic distortion.

In areas where the generator load and supply is much more variable, you may see more harmonic distortion. If you are in a local supply condition with multiple different sized generators in parallel you may see poor synchronization and hence potentially higher levels of harmonics. You may also see droop influence synchronization between different generator sizes paralleled.

For harmonic generation based on alternator construction this may help. For harmonic generation based on paralleling this may help.

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In the wealthy industrial countries there has popped up every kind of pricing mechanisms that are designed to quide how people behave. One of them is to make the reactive power cause the price increase for the electricity. Nonlinear loads cause harmonic reactive power that only cause losses just like the normal reactive power. But it's worse. Harmonic reactive power can't be compensated by reactances or equivalent synchronours motors by the local distributor. Thus there's a good reason to quide mass consumers to have linear loads (=filter out the harmonics that are caused by electronic power supplies and triac controls)

In the developig countries there are much bigger problems still to be solved. If one has got the line into his house and can pay the bill or the bribes, he can connect virtually anything as long as the wires or fuses do not go down.

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