Analysis of the use of the Hanning Window for the measurement of interharmonic distortion caused by close tones in IEC standard framework

Abstract

The widespread use of devices based on power electronics and other nonlinear loads has led to an increase in harmonic distortion that affects the quality of power systems. Therefore, the correct measurement of harmonic and interharmonic content is necessary. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards define the concepts of spectral and time grouping required for such measurements. This paper demonstrates that the procedures defined in the IEC standards are not sufficiently accurate when several close interharmonic tones interact due to the lack of stability of the values that the Discrete Fourier Transform obtains in each sampling window, and to the inaccuracy in the measurement of interharmonic groups and rates when using the Hanning window. This paper proposes novel solutions based on time aggregation and the use of other groupings and alternative windows. The results obtained are compared with the results produced by applying the rectangular window indicated in the standards, using sensitivity analysis varying one of the tones and using experimental results measuring the output signals of frequency inverters driving induction motors. The proposed method achieves greater accuracy and stability in the measurement of spectral groupings and their related distortion rates in signals with abundant and dispersed interharmonic content.