A numerical investigation on the harmonic disturbances in low-voltage cables feeding large LED loads is reported. A frequency domain analysis on several commercially-available LEDs was performed to investigate the signature of the harmonic current injected into the power system. Four-core cables and four single-core cable arrangements (three phases and neutral) of small, medium, and large conductor cross sections, with the neutral conductor cross section approximately equal to the half of the phase conductors, were examined. The cables were modelled by using electromagnetic finite-element analysis software. High harmonic power losses (up to 2.5 times the value corresponding to an undistorted current of the same rms value of the first harmonic of the LED current) were found. A generalized ampacity model was employed for re-rating the cables. It was found that the cross section of the neutral conductor plays an important role in the derating of the cable ampacity due to the presence of a high-level of triplen harmonics in the distorted current. The ampacity of the cables should be derated by about 40 %, almost independent of the conductor cross sections. The calculation have shown that an incoming widespread use of LED lamps in lighting could create significant additional harmonic losses in the supplying low-voltage lines, and thus more severely harmonic emission limits should be defined for LED lamps.
An experimental investigation of diversity factors of CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) in combination with LED (light emitting diode) lamps is presented in this paper. Attention was paid to the reduction of low–order harmonic currents, especially the third one; which is mainly responsible for the strong increase in power losses in the neutral conductor of low–voltage installations. The harmonic currents drawn by several LED and CFL lamps with nominal powers < 25 W were first measured to investigate the electrical characteristics of individual lamps. In addition, a series of experiments was conducted in which LED lamps were powered between lines through small autotransformers thus avoiding the use of the neutral conductor. The results showed in both cases a sensible reduction of the harmonic current of third order and therefore a marked reduction of the power losses associated with them.
The principal numerical and experimental results obtained by the authors on the harmonic power losses in low-voltage networks in the lighting area have been summarized in this review. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) loads were considered. Four-core cables and four single-core cable arrangements were examined. The cables were modeled by using electromagnetic finite element analysis software. It was found that the cross section of the neutral conductor plays an important role in the derating of the cable ampacity due to the presence of a high level of triplen harmonics in the distorted current. In order to reduce the third-order harmonic currents in the neutral conductor, an experimental investigation of diversity factors for LED in combination with CFL and LED lamps was also performed. Attention was paid to the reduction of the thirdorder harmonic current, which is mainly responsible for the strong increase in power losses in the neutral conductor of low-voltage installations. The convenience of having LED lamps designed to operate as two-phase loads is suggested for certain applications.
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